Solo Trip to Rishikesh

While trying to cope up with crazy schedules of a high profile corporate job, the wanderer inside me knew that I wasn’t best suited for it. I was looking for something else. I was looking for answers. And I knew the only way I could find them is by unravelling the adventurer in me. On the hint of an impulse, I decided to take an unplanned trip to the Yoga Capital of India- Rishikesh. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh offers a perfect blend of adventure, breath-taking natural beauty and spiritual awakening.

Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun is the nearest airport to Rishikesh. The Airport was one of the smallest ones I have been to but also one of the most beautiful one. It was a surprisingly cool afternoon in the month of June.  In India, June is a transit month between summers and monsoons. The sky was filled with dark clouds; the air was moist and chilly. The onset of the first monsoon winds came as a welcome relief to mother earth. “This is going to be a great trip” I thought.

Sunset from the Ghats

 “In Rishikesh, use public transport as far as possible” warned my father before I took off for the airport. Northern parts of India are generally notorious for its crimes against women. Cases of rape, and other heinous crimes against women are common. This required me to be on a high alert all the time. On landing, I immediately started my search for the nearest public bus station to Lakshman Jhula Road, the place where Anand Dham Aashram was located. Aashrams are essentially residential quarters of spiritual masters which were also open for travellers and devotees to provide for food and shelter.

When I came outside the airport gate I could not see a bus station anywhere nearby. “There are no public buses that run from Dehrdun Airport to Rishikesh, you can take a private taxi from there” pointed out the security officer at the airport gate. On my left, I could see a fleet of private taxis with all male drivers, eyeing every passenger as though searching for their next target. I had all sorts of imaginations running in my head. I knew I had no choice. I gulped some water, took a deep breath and walked towards the ticket window.

My diver, Manoj was a thin man in his late thirties with a significantly large moustache. I had insisted for an old and experienced driver. Probably he was the eldest they had. I took a picture of the number plate and car on my phone camera, just in case. Manoj did not seem to like the idea of me taking a picture of his car. He protested. I Ignored and took the picture anyway. It was an hour drive to Lakshman Jhula Road.

My phone battery was at 40%. “Should be enough” I thought, till we reached the Aashram. I was hoping it survives since I had to make sure Manoj was taking the correct route. Around 15 minutes through, we were going on the right route. I was relieved. Just when I thought of dismissing all thoughts of suspicion, the car changed the route to the left instead of right. My heart was in my mouth. “The road to the Aashram is towards the right” I said. No reply. Trying hard to keep my nerve, I asked again. He pointed out to a petrol pump on the edge of the road. “Sigh” I leaned back and stopped panicking, but still alert. While he was filling up the petrol tank I was studying the route on Google Maps to check if there were any back roads or jungle ways. The shortest route was a fairly straight highway. I was hoping he takes that. This was a decision which had pushed me to the edge.

Soon we found ourselves 25 minutes through the drive, steering through beautiful valleys and plains, on the Rishikesh - Dehradun Highway. Breaking the silence, he asked me if I needed to pick up something to eat or some water. I politely dismissed his question, now a little relaxed.

We soon found ourselves stuck in traffic, hinting at the start of civilisation. “It’s Yatra time and hence all this traffic” said Manoj explaining why the area was so crowded. The months of May and June are considered to be holy among pilgrims across India as this is the time when the gates of Amarnath Temple open. All “Yatris” or pilgrims generally flock this region during these months to get the first glimpse of “amaranth ji” the shiv linga made of ice. In order to make it to Amarnath, Rishikesh is generally their base camp. The traffic prolonged the journey by another 30 minutes according to Google Maps.

As we went farther along the way, Manoj and I became friends. We spoke about everything from tourism in Rishikesh to the people of Uttarakhand and Garhwali culture. He spoke about his journey from being a flood victim to taking up a job in a taxi company. He even spoke about his dream of starting his own private taxi business. I told him about my connections back in Mumbai and how I could help. He was delighted. He offered me to visit his home and said he and his family- his wife and 2 daughters would be happy to host me for tea. I found it rather ironic, that the same man, who I had pictured as a rapist just half an hour ago, was actually a decent man of character, who is trying to make ends meet to support his family and pursue his dreams.

As we reached the Ashram, I took down Manoj’s number and promised to call his services in case I needed a taxi. He also gave me his address and said I could reach out to him anytime during my stay in Rishikesh. I gave him a tip of 100 bucks. He smiled and drove away.

“Can I see Ram Baba?” I asked the thin teenage boy guarding the main temple of the Aashram. He took me to Ram Baba, a petite long bearded man nearing his eighties robed in his saffron dhoti and kurta. He gave me a warm welcoming smile, as though I did not need to give an introduction. His deep brown eyes widened as he looked at me. “Have you come alone all the way from Mumbai?” he asked while chanting on his rosary beeds. “Yes” I said. Giving an expression mixed with surprise and confusion, he guided me to my room. “Lunch is ready, do come out once you have rested” He said while closing the door behind me.

The Aashram was a simple place, reflecting the sheer simple living of the spiritual masters. It consisted of residential quarters of the Gurus, a kitchen and food area, a garden, a temple, a yoga hall, and a separate building having rooms for travellers and devotees for their stay in the Aashram. Behind the temple, there was a cowshed where the cows and their calves were fed and taken care of.

A still from "Anand Dham Aashram" at Lakshman Jhula Road.

The Ashram family was blissfully ignorant of urbanisation or westernisation in India. They never seemed to have taken the airplane or heard about the metros, restraunts, touch screen mobile phone or malls. It was overwhelming to comprehend a life that was so different and simple. They cooked food with simple utensils did all the accounting on pen and paper.

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Lakshman Jhula Bridge- Rishikesh

Soon after breakfast the next morning, I decided to explore Rishikesh on foot, which was, of course, a bad idea. Since the famous Lakshman Jhula was close by to the Ashram I set off to explore the iconic bridge. It was flocked with tourists taking selfies, cattle and motorcycles. What was a rather unusual experience that when I was there I got stuck in a first of its kind Human traffic Jam. Since it was “Yatra time” the bridge was more crowded than usual. It actually took 2.5 hours for me to only walk through the bridge, which would otherwise take me not more than 10 minutes to cross on foot! It took a whole fleet of traffic policemen to clear the human traffic. This was the last thing I expected!

After a sumptuous lunch at the Little Buddha café and a rejuvenating head massage at a local ayurvedic centre, I headed off to Parmarth Nikean Asshram to witness the beautiful Ganga Aarti. The environ created by the Aarti left me infused with energy, much of what I needed for my adventure the following day. 

Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat

The next morning, I went to Shivpuri, near Rishikesh for an adventure with the white water rapids. Rishikesh is one of the most popular sites for white water rafting around the world. And it is true to every word. A host of adventure companies offer this activity in the mighty river with varied difficulty levels depending upon ones appetite for adventure.

Rafting in the white water

After experiencing simple Aashram Life, a human traffic jam, a rejuvenating massage and a satiating river adventure, it was time to explore the natural beauty of the Uttarakhand region. So, I decided to call Manoj and asked if he can take me to some interesting places around Rishikesh.

We started off by going to a famous Shiva Temple called Neelkanth Mahadev literally meaning “the one with a blue throat”. Legend has it that this was the place Lord Shiva had come to meditate after inhaling the fatal poison of halahal which gave him a blue throat and he came to be known as the “Neelkanth”. Outside I temple, I noticed some local shopkeepers with a cart full of round berry like fruits and people crowding around them. Curiosity took me to observe what was going on. What I saw took me by surprise. The fruits that were in the cart were no ordinary fruits. They were the “Rudraksh fal”. On finding out from the shop keeper he told me “You chose a fruit from this basket and we will peel it for you. The seed of the fruit which lies beneath its outer skin is actually the rudraksh seed which has a great significance in Hindu mythology.” “It is said that the trees on which these fruits are borne grew out of the teardrop of Lord Shiva. These fruits are rare and are only found around this region. The seed can be of varied faces or divisions from 1 to 12, and each type of seed has a significance of its own. The seed with one face is said to be a manifestation of Lord Shiva himself.” He continued. I picked the Rudraksh with 4 faces, known to be lucky for higher education and learning.

After offering prayers at the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, we headed off for Mussourie, a tiny hill station to the north of Rishikesh. En route Mussourie, we visited a different kind of Shiva Temple. Manoj told me that this was the only Shiva temple in India where it was prohibited to make any monetary donations by devotees. This temple was not a public property unlike most other temples in India; this was a private temple belonging to a local Garhwal Brahmin family. I found this interesting and decided to pay a visit. The vibrations and peace of the temple was nerve chilling. Not many people knew about this temple. “Benefits of making a local connection” I thought to myself.

Sahastradhara falls, Enroute Mussourie 

It was around early evening by the time we reached Mussourie. While I was enjoying the breathtaking view of the hills from a local café, Manoj seemed to be rather unsettled. “What happened, Manoj?” I asked. “Madam, It will take us atleast 3.5 hours to get back to Rishikesh” before I could ask him what was unsettling about that, he continued “we need to get back before 8.00.p.m.”“We can leave by around 6.00 p.m. Manoj, the view from here is beautiful. I would like to stay for another half and hour and then we can leave.” Manoj reluctantly agreed. It was only two hours later that I realised, what was so unsettling about the 8.00 p.m. deadline.

While going from Dehradun to Rishikesh there is a road which is surrounded on both sides by thick forest. The forest is home to fierce, violent, wild elephants. Every evening after sunset, the elephants generally come on to the road and cause damage to any passing vehicle or human. Cases of vehicles smashed by the elephants was common and were reported by local media everyday. Due to this, the local people avoid taking this road after sunset. For people who have to travel after 8 p.m., the local police has deployed a special force to take the cars through the road to the end. For this, cars are only allowed to go in groups of about say 20- 25 cars at a time, led by a local police van. A single vehicle or two wheelers are not allowed through this road after 8.00 p.m. One can also not walk through this road on foot after sunset. The local policing is strict and the entire area is highly regulated. It was about 8:30 p.m. and were waiting with another group of 15 cars along with us. There were no street lights on the road. It was dark. We could hear a loud noise. Possibly a trumpet.

I was scared, and excited. The police van ahead of us signalled us to wait. They could not risk the cars going through. After about 30 minutes, the guard signalled green. We were 20 cars by now. All took off together, at the same speed. While we were halfway through the road we heard a loud “Thud”. “It is probably a tree bark thrown by an elephant” said Manoj. A part of me was hoping to see the wild beast in action while the other half wanted to get to the end of the road safely. “This trip turned to be more of an adventure than I had expected” I thought as we left the mysterious jungle road behind us and entered the town of Rishikesh.

My return flight back to Mumbai was at 2.00 p.m. the following day. Manoj was waiting outside the Aashram Gate at 12.00 p.m. sharp, as directed. I bid adieu to everyone at the Aashram, and donated a small amount towards maintenance of the cows as a gesture of appreciation for hosting me in this wonderful place. The small donation brought immense happiness to them. “It was great having you here, do visit us again” said Ram Baba.

On reaching the airport I cleared Manoj’s dues and walked towards the main gate. Before I went too far I heard Manoj call “Madamji one minute”. I turned around and saw him holding out a small box. “My wife had made this today, she has sent this for you.” The box contained ‘kachoris’ a local snack. I was overwhelmed by his gesture. “Thank you Manoj, this means a lot”

 
 

Love the idea of water adventure sports but hate the idea of swimming ? Here is your answer !

For all those who haven’t tasted the exotic and untouched beauty of the Mauritian Island, guys you are missing on something. Mauritius is a beautiful country, the best part being its small size, making it totally explorable within a matter of 4 to 5 days. Yes, 5 days is all you need to explore this magnificent country inside out.

Apart from the virgin white sand beaches, exotic wildlife and vast variety of flora and fauna there is one activity which totally sets Mauritius apart from the rest of the world. For all you adrenaline junkies (and pragmatic folks with a fancy for adventure) this activity is a must do. I am talking about Underwater Sea Walking. This activity is unique to Mauritius and oh! totally worth it. And it is actually what its title says- walking on the sea bed. 3.5 metres underwater, and no, you do not need to know how to swim ! Want to know more? Read on.

Once you get to Mauritius, there are two places which offer this activity. One is at Blue Bay and the other at Grand Baie. I did this activity at Grand Baie. Getting to Grand Baie is simple. For economic travellers, you would need to take an express bus to Port Louis which could cost you anywhere between 20-60 MUR (about 40-120 INR). At Port Louis, you would need to go to the central bus station (there is only one there) and take an express bus to Grand Baie (which would cost you another 60 MUR). Taking a taxi in Mauritius is generally exorbitantly expensive costing anywhere between 500-2000 MUR for a one way ride to Grand Baie depending upon the location you are travelling from and its distance from Grand Baie. However, if you are willing to take that extra bit of spending, a cab ride is faster than the bus. You can choose to travel locally in a rented self-driven car too. This is usually the most popular option amongst Indians who can drive. However following the roads in a new country could be a challenge and unnecessarily stressful. 

Once you get to Grand Baie, there are a number of Adventure Sport Companies with their display boards on the main road. There is just one company called “Underwater Sea Walk” which offers this activity in Grand Baie. The best time to experience all water sports are the summer months in Mauritius which are from December to February. At this time, the waters are clearer and more predictable. 

Underwater Sea walk timings are from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The activity is conducted in a group of 5-6 in various batches. The entire activity takes about 1.5 – 2 hours including the 20 minute to and fro boat ride to the diving platform. The 2:30 p.m. batch is the last batch for a typical summer day, so you have to be on time to get it. The Activity will cost you about 1500 MUR if you go there and book on the spot. If you are a solo traveller or a couple, do not book in advance online as that would be for double the actual price. However, if you are a large group, prior booking may be essential.

The adventure starts with taking the group in a glass bottom boat to the diving platform which is about 20 minutes away from the shore in the centre of the sea. The ride itself is picturesque and thoroughly refreshing. Once the group reaches the diving platform, the head instructor gives an introduction to the activity. 

The group is provided with underwater walking shoes. You obviously have to be in water friendly clothes (swimwear is not necessary). For all those folks with eye glasses there is good news! You do not need to remove your glasses or wear contact lenses. Simply, because the helmet that is worn on the head while going underwater doesn’t let water inside it.

Now, another good news for partially hydrophobic people like me- You do not need to know how to swim. In fact, every person who goes underwater is tied a weight band on the waist so that the person sinks and does not float. That is precisely why I loved this activity- you do not need to know how to swim, but you must know how to walk!

Now, it was time to go underwater. Yes, I admit, it was scary for once, especially when you realise that the only thing around you is water, and nothing else. The group is accompanied by two divers who are essentially like guides and monitors. They monitor the overall performance of the person walking underwater and make sure the group is comfortable. 

Every person is made to wear a helmet containing oxygen before diving underwater. The shelf life of the oxygen in the helmet is about 15 minutes. That is the duration of the total time spent by us “walking” under water. There were a few cautionary measures explained to the group before taking the dive, which must be heard attentively. 

As for the walk itself, it was an experience that cannot be explained in words. It was a different world altogether. The depth of the sea bed was around 3.5 metres. It gets a little difficult keeping one’s balance while walking underneath, but you get accustomed to it after the first five minutes. Also, the air pressure causes ear ache, which almost as much as that in an airplane. Everything underwater seems to be going on in slow motion.

Any communication with the dive monitors can be made only by gestures since there is complete silence underwater and even if you speak, nobody will be able to hear you. The water monitors will also be filming the entire activity with their underwater camera, which you can also purchase after the activity for 2500 MUR. It would be cheaper to buy your own camera for 600 MUR, by doing that you get to keep the camera too!

The dive company generally gives each person a banner to hold while walking under water saying "My holiday in Mauritius" and captures it in the camera. When you look at it coming back home, it brings sweet memories back.

The dive monitors also give you crumbles of bread to feed the fishes. You see a large variety of underwater animals which is a wonderful experience. When the fishes crowd around your face, the feeling is very different. It feels worth it. After 10 more minutes of walking, the group is then taken up to the diving platform via a ladder.

Once you are on sea level again it feels like you are transferred into another world. The experience leaves you in a state of awe. You feel thrilled and overwhelmed. Remember to carry a large towel with you since that will be required to dry yourself. No matter the season, the boat ride till the shore is generally accompanied by cold winds. Sometimes there are also light showers. A sudden temperature change may not be good for the body so it is better to keep a large towel or a coat to cover your body and give it some warmth after the activity. 

Once you are back to the shore at the adventure company’s office you can collect your dive certificate and DVD/ pendrive of your amazing adventure and go back home with a treasure of memories.  

In is the only way Out

This Article is actually the outcome of a very profound experience that I had recently.

It all started with a book given to me by a friend. A book called "Zero Limits" - by Joe Vitale. This book explains  in detail, a Hawaiin philosophy and healing method called the Ho'oponopono, more specifically Self Identity through Ho'oponopono (or SITH for short). This process was first mastered by a Hawaiin psychologist Dr. Hew Len who became a rage overnight when he successfully treated a whole ward of mentally ill criminals at a Hawaiin Hospital using this method without even meeting them.

This magical method professed by the book seems to have the answers for all of life's problems. So, for a lot of us realists (including me), who believe that "problems are a part of life" and that "there can be no perfect life" may actually have to rethink about the way we have been living all this time. Atleast, it made me do so.

So what is really this magical method ? This article may not be able to explain the nitty grittys of the practice, but i can sure make an attempt to present to it to my readers in a nutshell.

Ho'oponopono literally means 'to make right' or 'to rectify an error'. According to the ancient Hawaiians, error arises from thoughts that are tainted by painful memories from the past. Ho’oponopono offers a way to release the energy of these painful thoughts, or errors, which cause imbalance and disease Ho’oponopono is a process of letting go of toxic energies within you to allow the impact of Divine thoughts, words, deeds, and actions. But How ?

Basically, the method of SITH revolves around the concept that 'there is no out there'. Your conscious world, your reality, is a reflection of your own unconscious mind. Basically the entire universe resides inside of you and that you are responsible for the reality that you create.

The Idea is taking total responsibility for whatever comes in your conscious being. So, not only for yourself, but even if there is someone else in your life-  your spouse, your parents, siblings, friends anyone,who is facing a problem or error, you are responsible for it since you share that energy with that person, but that also means, you have the power to heal it within you. Still Confused?

SITH explains that whenever you come across someone who is facing a problem, you question yourself that what is it inside you that has caused this person the pain or that you are experiencing this reality? It is then when you start healing, or as SITH explains it- start "cleaning"

SITH is actually a two stage process. First, we take our minds to our 'zero state'. The state where there is nothing. Yes it is similar to what Zen Buddhism professes but with a tweak. According to this theory, All of us have a point of Zero. We all know that the Universe began from zero. This Zero state is where there are no thoughts, no memories, no limitations. It is a state of complete bliss. This Zero State is in complete sync with the Divinity. In this state you have no limitations. It is simply a state of no thoughts. Zero. Complete Zero. It is when you are at this state you are at your creative best.

The Second Stage is, the cleaning process. When we are at the zero state and in sync with Divinity, all we have to do is petition Divinity to erase off all the painful past memories, all errors that have caused the problem in your life or the life of someone who you know. How do you do this? The answer is by saying four simple phrases-

I love you, I am sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you

This is all that you say to the Divine. repeatedly. while in your state of zero.

So, three things - 1. Take total responsibility of your conscious world, understand that any problems that exist whether in you or another person is due to past toxic memories playing in your universe which have created errors that manifest in your conscious world. Understand that there is no 'out there' and that your conscious world is merely a reflection of the universe inside of you;

2. Identify the problem and then go to your zero state ;and

3.Say these four phrases repeatedly to the divine - I love you I am sorry please forgive me thank you . This helps divinity erase the errors caused by you in the form of your past memories and fills the void with love.

Continuous cleaning also keeps you in a Zero State. So it is a circular pattern, clean to get to the zero state and once you are in the zero state, clean again.

I found the concept quite interesting so I tried doing the cleaning. And I cannot say it did not work at all. I do not want to be like one of those marketing persons about the philosophy. It is purely to be experienced. No matter what i say or anyone else does, one only believes what they experience.

This Philosophy also has a close connection to the Bhagwad Gita. Bhakti yoga is said to be highest form of yoga as explained in the Gita. And the central theme of bhakti yoga is love for Krishna. Unconditional and Unbounded love for him. Bhakti has a lot of power. The ancient scriptures said it can even move mountains. somewhere, I felt, the SITH method also revolves around the power of love for divinity and the way it can transform our lives. Making love the centre point can go a long way in changing negativity into positivity, darkness into light, fear into hope and confusion into clarity.  

So, try this practice and see if this brings some change in your life. Who knows, a miracle may be round the corner.



p.s.- Please note that the views expressed in this Article are purely personal to the writer and an interpretation of the understanding of the writer. For a better and deeper understanding of the subject please refer to the book "Zero Limits"- by Joe Vitale

Killing Lonliness

Killing Loneliness

They say – “It’s all in our minds” and so true it is.  Loneliness is more of something that is an outgrowth of over -thinking. We tend to feel lonely when we feel that we are deprived of something or someone or that our lives are incomplete without a particular kind of activity. Killing loneliness would not be a question, had we valued everything that we already have in our lives. Nonetheless here are some ways to kill it.  

1.      Keep yourself Busy – If you are an undergraduate, look for an internship in what ever field you may belong to. Apart from gaining practical experience, you tend to remain so busy during a major part of the day that you never have the time to feel lonely. If you are already working, scroll down.

2.      Try new things – Life is a bundle of little things. If you have ever had some hobby, its time to try your hand at it. It may be playing sports, or brushing up your skills on a musical instrument, or maybe even bringing out the artist in you. You have ample time on your hands and it is never too late to go back to childhood.

3.      Take up a new course or a new stream of study- If you have finished graduation, you can take up a course to better your skills, or specialize at something. It is never too late to learn. If you are still studying, you can take up a diploma or certificate course in any field that you may be interested in. It may be a new foreign language or the like.

4.      Do something special for the people in your lives- It may be your parents, friends, brother, sister, grandparents, anyone. It is time that you value the people who matter, who will remain in your life forever. Buy something new for them or spend some quality time with them. This goes far is killing loneliness.

5.      Reconnect with old friends- Scroll through your contact list to reconnect with old friends that you may have lost touch with. Sometimes just a random conversation with an old friend is enough to bring some great memories back.

6.      Attend social functions- Being asocial will not take you anywhere. Lack of networking  often leads to loneliness. There is nothing wrong about going for social functions or get togethers, ofcourse if you have ample time on your hands.

7.      Adopt a new fitness regime- pull out half an hour of the day to go to the gym or join yoga. Adopt any one fitness regime that may suit you. Keeping fit not only makes you feel much more confident but also goes a long way in beating stress and keeping away all the negative thoughts.

8.      Last one and this is my favorite, TRAVEL- the world is a big place. Log on to google and key in the unexplored destinations near your city. Venture out to explore the goodness of mother earth. There is so much to explore and to do. Carry your camera and venture out of the most adventurous trip of your life. Travelling alone is one of the best experiences one can have.

There is nothing wrong in being alone. It is a matter of choice. Finding happiness within oneself is something that most people cannot do and hence they fall into this misnomer called “Loneliness”. So go out there and prove that being lonely is something that is not in your dictionary.