Page 32 of Indian Subcontinent by Audley Travel

the ganges at rishikesh rishikesh one of india s seven hindu holy cities and bisected by the mighty ganges rishikesh is home to many ashrams offering spiritual learning yoga and meditation the river is the focal point of the fascinating evening aarti which starts with a holy fire ceremony priests offer a purifying mixture of herbs and ghee to the fire whilst prayers are chanted and small lamps are lit to thank the river for being the source of life and prosperity in the area since ancient times rishikesh has been a rest stop for holy men and pilgrims heading into the himalaya seeking purity ananda near rishikesh haridwar a fascinating and somewhat off-the-beaten track town on the ganges haridwar is easily accessible by rail from delhi and like rishikesh is one of india s seven hindu holy cities legend has it that it was sanctified by vishnu s footprint on the riverbank where the captivating evening aarti ceremony takes place at dusk priests seem to appear at every window and doorway along the ghat to sing chant and swing fire as worshippers float lights down the river overlooking the forested foothills of the himalaya the ananda is set in the 100-acre estate belonging to the maharaja of tehri-garhwal primarily a spa the hotel offers a fabulous range of activities including yoga and there is a resident ayurvedic doctor for consultations for the more active the hotel offers kayaking rafting on the ganges and even cookery lessons whether or not you wish to treat yourself in the spa this is a restful place to spend time relaxing during your tour of north india near glasshouse rishikesh on the ganges this small hotel approximately 23 kilometres north of rishikesh is stunningly situated on the banks of the ganges as it flows through lush green hills the terrace makes a fine spot to watch the powerful river surging by on its way to varanasi while the multicoloured patchwork of flowers in the garden and the small temple add to the atmosphere rafting and fishing can be arranged for those who want a more active ganges experience evening aarti haridwar 32

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