Travel+Leisure India & South Asia – August 2019

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From top: Rajaji

National Park is

a great place to

observe elephants;

rafting is integral

to a Rishikesh

experience in

the summer.

We are a group of six, led by Rishikesh-based Pawan
Rana, and our agenda is to navigate the rapids, take a
dip in the river, and enjoy a roller-coaster ride to the
finish line at Nim Beach. During the expedition, we
encounter as many as 10 rapids, a raft capsises behind
us, we rescue a team member from the water, and I end
up learning the importance of rules in adventure
sports. For instance, when the leader asks you to “sit
down”, you do so, otherwise you end up in the river
(hopefully, not in a whirlpool) trying to swim against
the current. The 26-kilometre stretch takes us close to
four hours, with a stop at Shivri, where we recharge
with some food (read fizzy drinks and chips).
Back at the hotel, Chef Rana has prepared makke ki
saag for dinner, and I ask for a second helping, tempted
by the freshness of the vegetable (and probably because
the day-long exercise has put my metabolism in shock
mode). The next morning starts with a yoga session led
by Rakshit, a graduate of the Bihar Yoga University. A
session of hatha yoga does wonders to your mind, body,
and soul. After a breakfast of homemade granola, poha,
and porridge, I head out for yet another experience from
the stable of Roseate Ganges. Spread over 820 square
kilometres, Rajaji National Park is situated across three
districts of Uttarakhand. While I don’t spot any tigers
or leopards, I recommend the park for its avian
biodiversity and population of wild elephants.
A trip to Rishikesh is incomplete without
experiencing the Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan
Ashram. The sunset ritual draws thousands of
visitors every day, and as you wade through the crowd
to get a glimpse of the aarti, an ethereal sense of peace
emerges from the chaos. It is an apt end to my
Rishikesh journey in that it sums up my takeaway—
FROM TOP: ROBERTO NISTRI/ALAMY; IMAGEDB/ALAMYa sense of bliss and spiritual connection.

GETTINGTHERE

Rishikesh is located approximately 240 kilometres

away from Delhi; it takes six hours to get there by

road. The closest airport is in Dehradun, from where

Roseate Ganges is a 45-minute drive.

STAY

Roseate Ganges comes with 16 well-appointed

villas, each with a private balcony. The property

provides a comprehensive menu of spa and yoga

services along with signature dining options based on

local cuisine. There are three villa categories

available: Deluxe (from `27,000 per night), Premium

(from `30,000), and Executive (from `35,000), rates

include breakfast and exclude tax; roseatehotels.

com/rishikesh/theroseateganges

THE DETAILS