Feb. 22nd: Exploring Rishikesh

The nearest bridge (Lakshman Jhula) seen from the west side of the river

Cows wander back and forth across the bridge all day

After a very long morning with a travel agent, spent finalizing our air travel for the rest of the trip, we took the afternoon to explore the east side of the river. We headed south from the bridge near our hotel (Lakshman Jhula) through the marketplace and temples to the other major suspension bridge (Ram Jhula), and even further south to the remnants of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram, where the Beatles stayed in 1968. The ashram was abandoned in 1997 and is slowly falling apart, but it was an interesting place to see nevertheless. The path on the east side of the river is theoretically pedestrian only, but is also full of motorcycles…and cows, and monkeys, and stray dogs, and Hindu ascetics (sadhus).

Monkeys! Now with more aggression!

A statue of Shiva in a chariot at Ram Jhula

What's left of the Maharishi Ashram

Hindus, especially those devoted to Shiva (one of the trinity of gods that make up the top of the Hindu pantheon, along with Brahma and Vishnu), also known as Shaivites, consider this area very holy, since it is where the holy Ganges River leaves the mountains and enters the plains below. Since the area is so spiritually significant, it is a pilgrimage site for both Hindus and “new-age” westerners alike.

Another statue of Shiva - this one depicts his ascetic aspect

We got back to the hotel in the late afternoon and spent the time before dinner reading Hindu mythology (Chris is a lot more familiar with the stories than I am). We had a very tasty dinner at an open-air restaurant and went to bed early since we’re both feeling a little under the weather (a result of breathing too much Delhi air, I suspect).