10/11/2021
WEEK LONG GETAWAY : DEHRADOON MUSOORIE HARIDWAR RISHIKESH
Distance from Bengaluru: > 5000 Kms via Delhi Dehradoon Musoorie Rishikesh Haridwar and Back
Transportation: AIR till Delhi Train to Doon Trek to Musoorie Taxi to Rishikesh Hardwar Train to Delhi and Air to Bangalore
Essentials Needed:
Proper Lay over Time Gaps
Confirmed Ticketing
Proper Clothing
Huge Energy to Walk and Walk
So guys, we began on an early Sunday morning and the airport was like a good quality bus stand with a 300 people line outside the terminal building. It took 120 minutes to reach the aircraft through airline counter and security check.
Delhi was as usual smoggy / crowded but fast.
Next day dawn was in Dehradoon where an immaculate home stay option awaited us ( lately lots of Delhites run to the hills just to evade the gas chamber that Delhi has become ).
First point of visit was Robbers Cave , an amazing tunnel through huge mountains in which flowed a pure stream of water , zero mixing by nature but lots by humans after it comes out of the tunnel.
Next were some government institutes to be visited, you will be surprised at the big names that have their HQ out there.
DAY 3 : we began our trek to Musoorie , the locals laughed at us , it takes 90 minutes by taxi but then did we did want to be with nature , and boy we sure were alongside nature for 3.5 hours . Finally at Barlowgunj where the trail and the road mixed up we ended our trek and later checked into our hotel “ Mountain Quail “a quaint little 26 room hotel with occupancy in 4 rooms at that time . The majestic Himalayas with snow cap peaks could be easily seen from our room. The tariff was reasonable. Hanuman Chatti / Bandar ki Pooch, Gangotri + 3 and a few more could be seen easily. We strolled onto Mall Road in the evening ended the day with Pahadi Khana ( Kode ki roti , Fanu , Palak veg and Salad ). By the time we were back to our hotel it was now 8 degree Celsius and dropping.
DAY 4 : Company Garden ( remember Omkara ka dialogue ) was close by , Kempty Falls was within 30 minutes and the gang was a little tired but I prevailed upon them to go on one more trek , Surkhanda Devi temple at 44 Kms and what a trek this was.
Of course we took the village trail and not the one made and cemented for the usual tourist. Mussoorie at 6000 feet looked low in front of Surkhanda Devi at 10000 feet.
The only guys for 1.5 hours of a km up climb were the four of us with super-duper trees, chilly winds and sudden steep climbs for company. Just as our spirit began to sag the top came into full view , the temple being that of Sri Kantha Devi now called Surkhanda Devi is a Shaktipeeth among the 54 such temples that dot the landscape.
We returned and on our way back passed through Dhanaulti which was nothing much (only in snow it is nice). Lunch was again Pahadi while the children had it at Kalsang (Tibetan food). Settled down at the hotel and after a quick frugal dinner with some Glen for company went off to sleep.
DAY 5
The children seemed too enthusiastic, more than me and woke me up for a 3 km walk up to Camels Back to have a view of the snow peaks as first light hit them. It was a nice sight but more importantly we met an old man of 76 years selling Chai and son of a famous astrologer R V Bharadwaj. He explained the importance and science behind offering of Jal / Water to Surya Devta as he arrives. It was mesmerizing to hear him, no spectacles no limp no shake voice and at 76. High time we look a little more closely at our customs and practices. We were just in time at the end of the Mall road to take a state bus to reach our hotel back . the bus driver gave an idea to visit Kempty falls.
After a return to the hotel we made a dash for Kempty Falls which was not in the plan. The falls are huge and the tallest ever I have seen in my life but the degradation and human development is terrible . Do NOT go to the falls in season.
Breakfast done we left for Rishikesh and by 1 pm were at the hotel a Swiss cottage themed hotel with a young hep hotel staff as well its occupants. After some rest ambled off to Ram and Janaki Jhoolas to cross the Ganga river and do some shopping as also watch the Aarti in a very peaceful manner. Retired early while kids sat on the terrace around a bon fire.
DAY 6
Early on at 6 am under the Laxman Jhula along the banks of the Ganges was pure thrill. Visited a 13 storied temple serving Bhagwan as also a lot of citizens.
Hot Chai was always around followed by a heavy breakfast and we were off to our rafting the high point. Rafting was super, had a beaten down rate 16 km event. A lady went under from our boat but was rescued. Midway was a stop where it was an awesome experience to jump deep into the Ganga from a cliff as much as 25 feet high.
After a two hour stint got back to the hotel had another heavy lunch and left for Hardwar to catch the evening Aarti just in time. The Ganga Ghats are now almost 5 km long and give an idea of the enormous sea of humanity that goes there.
Had Dinner at the hotel, a fully vegetarian one and went off to bed.
DAY 7:
Left for Saptarishi Ghat right at the end of Haridwar and had the best time on the Ganges by walking through it on the banks and across streaming rivulets to watch the sun rise as well as to see a host of birds majestically swimming to and fro across the river. Had a very long time of 3 hours in the river followed by breakfast on the roadside and a quick visit to Shanti Kunj where purest honey and camphor was available. Then a visit to the Moti Bazar and various ghats ( I went to the ghats ) was on followed by lunch ( Fulke Dal Rajma Rabri Kalakand and Kulfi ). Oh the taste, it was awesome.
Finally left for the rail station to catch the Shatabdi express which was bang on time on a very clean station. Reached New Delhi right on the dot. Took a taxi to reach T3 to while away a few hours before taking a Dreamliner to finally reach Bangalore back on Sunday 7th November
