Rishikesh

 

Rishikesh

When we moved there we were a little astray … with the usual foreboding of an unknown place … and we were met with strong winds and lights going out in our new home and petty logistic issues.. sort of dimming our spirits further

But slowly we started noticing the quirkiness and beauty of the place

The gloom was dispelled as I went to the nearby petrol pump and just peeked over the other side and laid my eyes on the vast serene blue green of the ganges.. that was my first view.. as we’d travelled at night. The sight filled my heart with joy .. I remember that well

And when we were fatigued with the unpacking etc Ajeet said “Lets walk” .. so we walked down aastha path ..flanked by the most beautiful trees ..  just a 5 min walk from our place … flanked by the blue green ganga .. leading to triveni ghat .. walking in the rain there … sitting and staring into space while someone strummed a guitar and hummed a tune somewhere nearby.. the stillness of the place just filled you up.

Walking along the same path we could reach aekanshs school .. ( although he dint really get to go to school owing to lockdown) .. we could actually walk to the end of Rishikesh just following the rivers course which was such a romantic proposition

Waking up to the morning rooster crowing every morning… and we knew we were home !

The market was a simple one and of course there was no home delivery but that was a really small price to pay.. people were straight with no airs .. quite lazy too in an almost endearing way ..hehe

Our huge rooftop .. a tourist spot in itself.. full sky visible .. no concrete obstructing the view.,. the ganga just visible at a distance … flanked by hills .. which would twinkle with the scarce lights at night … thunder almost every evening .. ( white thunder as aekansh would say ) .. watching the beautiful pink n purple colours of the sky shift as the sun set

Those few movies of doing Yoga at 6 am every morning.. wanting to wake up early  .. getting ajeet to join in ( reluctantly of course) .. kids joining in at times fresh faced with their funny yoga maneuvers and poses …. And giggling uncontrollably

Witnessing the beautiful bonding flourish between Manna and Aekansh … Manna the older protective loving sister and aekansh the ideal follower .. not to be parted for a second .. manna loved playing the teacher and aekansh would get all grumpy on “more padhai” … hehe .. he would take the ruler and copy mumma being all strict .. the little monkey jumping all over the place ( I could write a book about the lil ones cute togetherness and frolicking)

Ajeet taking over Aekanshs "padhai" and started teaching him with a ruler in hand ..full Indian method .. daily ritual of aekansh scrunching his little face and crying during the session and then ending with chanting of mantra, all teary eyed , while ajeet was all stone faced .. in the end aekansh collapsing into ajeets arms with repeated  “Papa chahiye ! “ was actually quite hilarious to tell the truth .. and papas fear led him to learn rather quickly .. but really that had to end 

 

Doing langdi or playing hopscotch with the kids on the rooftop .. chai on the terrace .. play badminton at times.. the two little ones would whizz by on their scooters and cycle.. skating lessons for the kids… aekansh running behind papa on his tiny little feet circling the terrace .. scores of bats would circle the skies exactly at around 7-8 … almost blocking the sky view..

The eagle that would circle our balcony and the terrace and perch undaunted near us .. the owl couple that wed look out for whenever we sat in our balcony .. the two would gen be perched together .. and we could see them twist their heads time and again

Fireflies on our circling an ich from my face and we excitedly showing the kids !

The vastly coloured range of birds .. we hardly recognized their species .. but could marvel nonetheless .. loads and loads of parrots … hardly any crows ! wasn’t that wonderful

Literally a swarm of bright yellow butterflies appeared one day .. so they covered the ground visible from the balcony .. and all the way to AIIMS and sort of commemorated ones walk with their beauty .. how odd and unique was that  ! and they stayed for a couple of days before going their separate ways !

A gargoyle of sorts made In AIIMS from where one had a clear view of the ganga.. what a great way to unwind in between work !

The beautiful ashram right beneath our balcony .. immaculate and a picture of serenity .. a utopia of sorts .. visitors living in pretty little huts observing silence or reading or doing yoga … pretty little well spaced out bushes with flowers in full bloom … was quite curious and  visited there soon  and resolved to attend their yoga class ,.. alas that never happened

Hide-out .. Ajeet took me there in the first few days after one of our stressful days…another 5 min drive from our place .. a quaint little café serving delicious coffee right on the ganga banks .. we just fell in love with the place at first go.. and thereon became our favourite haunt

Discovering the barrage (dam ) with the the river flowing in a beautiful canal ..running right next to our house ..  and the reserve Rajaji forest making the view so pretty  from our balcony

Cycling early morning along the ganga right upto the end.. a silver sheen on the surface of the water lending it a mystical quality.. saying hi to the cows grazing all along the way … repeatedly being warned of stories of leopard attacks and hence not venturing on the other side where the reserve forest lay.

Crossing the barrage bridge on my Activa or bicycle with the Ganga beneath with the wind roaring in my ears. Just riding out there whenever I liked and sitting there in solitude by the banks with the lone cow n the dogs n the multitude of birds dotting the trees, punctuating the song of the river with their quiet chirping.

The knowledge that wherever we went we were always accompanied by the Ganga flowing nearby… so comforting. A sheltered existence of sorts . A hand holding.

Finding a tortoise on the road .. withdrawn completely into its shell.. and then we placed him safely inside the bushes..

Spotted a cow stranded right in the middle of the raging ganga on a rock .. from the bridge overlaying the ganga … must have wandered onto it when the tide woulda been low ..  my heart went out to it .. sure hope the tide died down n the poor dear was rescued somehow

Repeated instances of honey bees stinging ajeet while he drove the active specifically on the bridge overlying the ganga  leading us to a staggering stop .. and always on the upper torso .. more than a coincidence ! some debt from a previous life ?? lol.. ajeet grew fearful of bees and wasps and all creatures that stung from there on ! he was always on his guard when travelling over the bridge .. hehe

No malls/ theatres/ high-rises .. phew ! We often joked that barricading and regulation of traffic on roads was done by the cows congregating all over  !

Taking the kids along for veggie shopping  and buying some extra greens to feed the cows circling us nearby.. manna and aekansh loved it

The mango trees loaded with mangoes.. literally loaded !! studded with parrots .. somehow the sight just sort of solidified our love for the place

Our precious discoveries.. our small beach hidden from view… no other visitors so we considered it our private beach .. hehe …  with the exquisite delicately crafted blue green pink coloured pebbles glinting in the sun … hardly 5 mins active ride from home .. going there almost every morning .. aekansh and manna taking turns throwing pebbles into the water and watching them go plop plop .. counting the fish in the too clear water … or playing in the sand .. taking a dupki when we felt like it or just feeling the lap lap of the cool gurgling over our feet … sip tea .. oh yes ! tea was a necessary accompaniment everywhere we went.. peer throught he mist at the shifting colours .. or in times of clarity just marvel at the beauty unfolding in front of our eyes .. our hearts were smiling when we were there .. some of our purest moments as a family  

Feeling the tantalizing chill of the Ganga on our skin .. staying immersed for as long as one likes.. aekansh running in and out of the water, shivering in the chill but nevertheless going in full throttle.. he enjoyed the river bank immensely !

Then bringing the beautiful rocks home...  making the kids do rock painting .. although I always felt a slight tug putting artificial colours on them .. their colours were so pristine and reflected light beautifully.. it was natures art and not to be tampered with .. little treasures of Rishikesh

The various ghats .. each time we went we felt closer to ourselves just by the proximity of the river and mountains

The rainy thundering morning when we all went up to the terrace with the kids and just sat there drinking in the ethereal view.

There was ganja growing in huge bushes just below our building ! and not infrequently did we see foreigners delving into the bushes to pluck out a few.

The orange clad sadhus who were really sort of on their own here .. not clammering for money or trying to sell anything … which was a change

Triveni ghat .. witnessed the famous ganga aarti although its pretty much choreographed so not a lot of novelty in that .. but did enjoy the beauty of the ghat and as ever looking deep into the ganga .. it was just calming and nice

The day I first visited laxman jhula was later during our stay .. bcz of the lockdown .. and my heart was just jumping at the vibe … and also cursing ajeet that he dint bring me earlier ! as hed visited earlier .. how could he keep me from this place ? he shoulda smuggled us in somehow .. and we actually smuggles ourselves in only after showing AIIMS IDs..and wasn’t I glad we did !

 we were at tatva café .. sprawled out on the balcony .. had anyone witnessed such beauty .. while sitting with a unique and tantalizing concoction.. cinnamon tea … our eyes soothed with the green stillness and then a beautiful turbulence … longing to flow with the river .. it was the perfect tranquilizer and the perfect high !

We spent many days at either tatva or beatles café from then on .. aekansh grew so comfy there hed fall asleep on one of the couches there while we revelled in the beauty and the stillness and the connection you couldn’t help but form with the surroundings there.. and sipped one of their special teas ( those were exquisite!)

Walked right up to the gates of beatles ashram with great anticipation but that was closed too .. another time !

When I saw the lone rafter in the middle of the river the longing I felt to be on the raft …before I left this beautiful place.. the heartache was so palpable.. this was when I knew id be leaving soon 

We experienced Rishikesh at the time of lockdown and it just added hugely to the charm, not perturbed by the noise and chaos of the pilgrim crowd. I did not experience the adventure capital at all, which I know I would enjoy immensely .. theres a promise of a whole new dimension whenever we go back

Rishikesh was a revelation .. it was just pure love .. it was love that grew on us and just seeped in and now theres a constant tugging nostalgia ..