People from all over the world come to Rishikesh to be part of this massive culture of spiritualism. I have listed 5 spiritual activities that you can be part of when you are travelling to Rishikesh.
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Attend Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat
If you have come to Rishikesh, you cannot afford to miss Ganga Aarti. You can attend either at Parmarth Niketan or Triveni Ghat. I personally like Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat because it is less crowded and there is a proper place where people dance to the tunes of Aarti. I always have a blissful experience sitting on the staircase of the ghat, feet in the river and listening to devotional songs.
Yoga and Meditation sessions
Rishikesh is considered to be the yoga capital and a lot of yoga centres here will teach you the practice of yoga and meditation. When you are visiting for less than a week, there are many centres that charge per day. The yoga centres are mostly situated in the Tapovan area which could be a little expensive. If you could find centres in the main city, that will be cheaper.
Attend Classical music concerts
This may sound a little odd but yes Rishikesh gives you the opportunity to enjoy various forms of classical music. A number of classical music concerts are held at various times of the year in Rishikesh, or even if you are not in time for a recital, the temple complexes always have some classical or devotional recitals going on, which are a pleasure to hear. If you are into music, this will be the moment to experience a different kind of music
Visit Beatles Ashram
You could find a number of ashrams in Rishikesh where people go to find their spiritual side but the most famous and happening place to visit is the Beatles Ashram, named after the Beatles visited the ashram in the 1960s to learn about Transcendental meditation. You could find traces of their visit in written text and pictures all over the place. You could also meet many like-minded people. Last time I visited I sat near Maharshi's resting place overlooking the river Ganga and played a Beatles song. I know it's quite a cliche but it was a mesmerizing experience.
Get yourself a relaxing Ayurvedic Spa
I always want my travel experience to be relaxing and different. Rishikesh offers you a variety of Ayurvedic spa centres where you can relax and detoxify yourself. All the ingredients used for the spas are completely herbal and derived from the mountains around. The medicinal herbs and plants greatly help in healing and calming down the senses and it is one of the best things you can do for yourself. The practitioners here are completely trained in the art of ayurvedic healing and tend to you with their experienced hands.
If you are planning to visit Rishikesh, do check out our homestay where we offer 1 BHK and 2 BHK apartments with a private kitchen and WiFi. Click here to book rooms at our homestay