Steemit Engagement Challenge S11/W2 | What you did on your last trip | We visited Uttrakhand State

I am glad to be part of Steemit Engagement Challenge S11/W2 | What you did on your last trip and I am here to give you all about my last travel. As you said, we love traveling, and like everyone else I love traveling too.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Augustine of Hippo

𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗?

Haridwar and Rishikesh are considered the gateway of Uttarakhand so I had Haridwar and Rishikesh in my mind for last few days. People come to see and have a holy dip in Haridwar at Har Ki Pauri, besides visiting Bharat Mata Temple, Mansa Devi Temple, Chandi Devi Temple, Shanti Kunj, Kankhal, etc. are the main pilgrimages here.

But let me accept that religion is not my reason to travel to these places called Haridwar and Rishikesh, the twin cities at the foothills of the Himalayas. I always visit this place for the natural beauty Mother Nature has provided to this place.

𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑?

I have been traveling since my childhood, so whenever I get a chance, I still travel with my wife, and sometimes my friends are also with us. But getting my wife ready to go somewhere in the hills is not an easy task because she has a tendency to get nauseous while traveling in the hills. I live in the Himalayan region, so here is how I feel, "Convincing my wife to visit a hill station is like conquering Everest."

If I ask her to go somewhere, she reacts in such a way that I don't dare ask her to travel in hilly areas, but something happened this May that made her agree to travel, not in the mountains, but close enough. My wife and I set out for a trip to Haridwar and Rishikesh, the most visited places in the world, right at the foothills of the Himalayas.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

I wanted to go further, but she did not agree to go beyond Rishikesh and a little further (15 km). We set out from Delhi, fully prepared for this trip, in our rental car. We had kept trekking shoes, rucksacks, some mats, and some food along with all this in our car.

𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚏𝚞𝚗 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚒𝚗?

On the way from Delhi to Haridwar, we had an advance booking for our stay in a motel where I had stayed before, and it was a very convenient place. Let me tell you here that we went to Haridwar in April as well but came back within two days.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

So this time after visiting Har Ki Pauri, Ganga Temple, etc., we left for Rishikesh. Reached around 11 a.m. via the route passing through Rajaji National Park. Whenever I come here, my priority is Parmarth Niketan of Swargashram. Parmarth Niketan is the biggest ashram in this area and has a large number of rooms in Rishikesh.

There are Parmarth Niketan, Geeta Ashram, etc. in Rishikesh just after crossing the Ganges from Laxman Jhula. From here, the route splits in two directions. The path on the left leads to Gangotri and Yamunotri, and the path on the right leads to Kedar Nath and Badrinath.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ


We reached Parmarth Niketan after crossing Ram Jhula and checked in there. Parmarth Niketan is known for spirituality, but all my attention remains on nature. There is a gathering of local and foreign people in the ashram. Some people come in search of spirituality, some for yoga, and there are some who have no reason to come, and I am one of them. The main gate of the ashram opens onto the banks of the Ganges, where Ganga Aarti is performed every evening. Hundreds of people become part of this aarti.

After keeping the luggage in the ashram, we left for Laxman Jhula. There was a huge crowd on the Laxman Jhula and the rapid flow of the Ganges below. We went a little further and enjoyed watching white water rafting. I will give you a full post on this topic in the future but I will stay on the topic here.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

The next day we got up early in the morning, and after sitting for some time on the ghats of the Ganges, we once again set out on foot. They were going through the Swarg Ashram area. The greenery spread on both sides was mind-blowing. Now the road from Ram Jhula to Laxman Jhula has been paved, and benches have been installed along the way. We took breakfast right there on the banks of the Ganges.

The wind was very strong today at Laxman Jhula. There was no crowd, as it was early in the morning. There are many small and big yoga ashrams here.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

After some photo sessions and roaming here and there, I left. We had dinner in a restaurant and reached the ashram. By now it was 11 o'clock, and it was check-out time, so we came back to our motel in Haridwar.

There was some big function going on in Haridwar, so we got stuck in heavy traffic and reached Haridwar by 2 p.m. The sun was strong. We wandered on the banks of the Ganges for some time and then went back to the hotel.

In the evening, we once again strolled around the city and visited the crowded markets. We came back to the hotel after having dinner in the evening.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

Haridwar is one of the holiest cities in India, surrounded by the Himalayan mountains. Every year, people come to the Himalayas to pay obeisance, take a dip in the Ganges, worship, and perform the last rites of their loved ones. Also, in the months of July and August, millions of devotees come here. If you want to take a break from your boring life and roam somewhere, then definitely go to a peaceful place like Haridwar.

The name of this holy bank of the Ganges River means "feet of the Lord". The people that come here to Hari ki Pauri feel heavenly peace in both their minds and hearts. It is believed that taking a dip in the Ganges washes away all sins, but I don't do that.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

I can't prepare myself for taking a bath in a place where hundreds of thousands are taking a bath together. But yes, I touch and feel the cool water of the river Ganga, which is so different. Even though the flow here is too fast, the Iron chains and bars installed here save you from disappearing in the fast flow of the river.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

After attending Har Ki Pauri and Aarti, and resting at night, you can leave for Mansa Devi Temple the next day. Mansa Devi Temple and Chandi Devi Mata Temple are both face-to-face. You can buy a cable car ticket to go here. Both of these temples are situated on the peaks of the mountains, where you can also go on foot. But you must enjoy the cable car ride once, because, from such a height, the city of Haridwar looks very beautiful. Along with this, you can also see the river Ganga flowing from above.

After sightseeing, we went go to Chotiwala restaurant, located at Har Ki Pauri. The taste of delicious poori, kachori, halwa, and lassi here will fill you up, or maybe you'll crave more. There is a proper arrangement here to sit, but there are cheaper places too where you can just sit and taste the food. The tea and coffee are also very popular here, and you have to wait a long time before you get served.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

Many temples are also present in foreign countries, and everyone is stunned to see their beauty. You will see colorful bottles hanging from shops near Pauri. From here, you can take Ganga water home in anything from a small bottle to a bigger bottle. Rudraksha, Shiva idols, clothes, and many other items are also available here.

Haridwar is home to popular pilgrimage centers as well as a number of professional yoga centers. You can also visit the ashram to get an insight into the lifestyle and culture here. There is also a 100-foot-high idol of Lord Shiva in the middle of the river Ganges, which looks huge.

𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚘𝚍?

Haridwar is one of the holiest places not only in India but on Earth. Apart from this, this place is no less than a paradise for its delicious food. From tangy papdi chaat to spicy chole bhaturs, Haridwar has plenty to satiate your taste buds. If you are going to visit Haridwar, then you should also have a little knowledge about the Tasty Street Food here.

Famous all over North India, Aloo Puri is one of the tastiest street foods in Haridwar. Not only is it a popular dish in the city, but it is also the most preferred choice for lunch and dinner. In this, puris are fried and served with spicy and tangy potato curry. Sometimes we eat them with sweet desserts. After coming to Haridwar, we never forget to eat street food, which is available here in abundance.

Just like in Delhi, Kachori is a famous street food in Haridwar as well. Kachoris are served with vegetables and chutney. You can eat it at any time of the day, like breakfast, lunch, or dinner. However, people mostly like to eat it for breakfast. If you do not want to miss out on this dish while staying in Haridwar, then wake up early in the morning and head to the restaurant at Har Ki Pauri Ghat to relish fresh and delicious Kachoris.

Although there are many options for street food in Haridwar, the most delicious and best option is Chole Bhature. This dish is almost everyone's favorite in North India. Along with a plate of Spicy Chole Bhature, one can have Kheer or Lassi to round out the taste. Just keep in mind that in the afternoon, when there is a larger crowd, do not go to eat in the restaurant here.

𝙳𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐?

Not much, because there is nothing much that we need from this holy place, so our shopping remains limited to a couple of necklaces or gift pieces made of ivory, rudraksha, etc. So not much shopping for us.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚊

This entire area is located in the middle of the beautiful Shivalik hills of Uttarakhand, which are situated at an altitude of 300 meters above sea level. The holy river Ganges and the temples here filled with faith are two of the main attractions.

We always learn something new about this economically prosperous area, which is spread over an area of 2360 sq km. Although it is not the only area of our country or this state where, apart from the holy river Ganga and temples, the supernatural image is seen in one place, it is one of the most important of them all.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

In the evening time, people sing Ganga Arti (Worshipping the Ganges River) collectively, and we watch them sitting on a bridge in the distance. We can see the beautiful reflections of the tiny earthen pots in the river and the shining lights of temples. And the view of the sunset behind the Mansa Dedi Temple gives this entire scene a different look.

I am sure if you visit the place, you would love it. I invite, @josevas217, @deepak94 and @jyoti-thelight to please share your views.