Rishikesh: Preparing the Mind for the Mountains
The next leg of our journey took us from Haridwar to Rishikesh — a short ride of just 40–45 minutes, yet a world apart in spirit. We checked out of our Haridwar rooms by 9:00 a.m., grabbed a simple breakfast, and made our way to Bharat Mandir Dharamshala, our reporting base camp for the upcoming trek.
There, we submitted our admit cards and medical reports — including blood tests and ECGs — the paperwork that confirmed our bodies were ready. But I couldn’t help smiling at the thought: while medical reports prove the body’s strength, the mountains will always test the mind and heart far more.
The Beatles Ashram – A Walk Into Stillness
With half a day free before orientation, Sakhi suggested we explore the Beatles Ashram. After lunch, an auto dropped us at Janki Setu, and from there we walked through quiet forest trails to the gates of this once-famous spiritual retreat.
The entry was steep — ₹200 per person — but we were curious. Inside lay the abandoned ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the guru whose teachings once drew seekers from across the world. In the 1960s, the Beatles themselves spent time here, searching for something beyond fame and music — searching, perhaps, for themselves.
Today the place lies in ruins, but walking through its crumbling meditation huts and graffiti-filled walls, I felt a strange hush. It was as if the silence itself was urging us inward, reminding us that the real journey is always the one you take within.
Orientation and an Evening of Song
By 5:00 p.m., we were back at base camp for the orientation program — a simple but important session on do’s and don’ts at high altitudes. The words were practical, but I heard something deeper between the lines: the mountains demand respect. One careless step, one ignored instruction, and the journey can end before it begins.
As the session ended, we hurried to Triveni Ghat to witness the Ganga Aarti. To our surprise, that evening’s prayer began not just with chants but with a live bhajan sung by a devotional singer whose voice carried across the waters. The rhythm of his song blended with the roar of the Ganga, and the result was indescribable — a living harmony of music, river, and faith.
We sat in silence long after the lamps were extinguished, our hearts stirred by the bhajan and the river’s eternal song.
Why Rishikesh Matters
Rishikesh was not just a stopover; it was a reminder. A reminder that before you climb higher, you must ground yourself deeper. The Beatles came here seeking inner peace. Pilgrims still come here to cleanse their spirits. And we, too, found in its ashrams, ghats, and songs a quiet preparation for the trials that awaited us in the Himalayas.
That night, we returned to Bharat Mandir Dharamshala early, for the next day would begin at 4:30 a.m. A bus to Joshimath awaited us — the gateway to the mountains, and the real start of our trek.
Beautifully penned 😍👌
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