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| On the banks of the holy river - Ganga |
Known to many as the Yoga capital
of the world and India’s spiritual hub – Rishikesh is a popular getaway from
Delhi. A lot of us go there for rafting on the Ganges, for others, it is a
spiritual sojourn. I went there earlier this month for some quiet time after an
extremely hectic period at work. Although I had booked an ashram, we were later
upgraded to their yoga retreat centre and resort due to some urgent renovation
work at the ashram.
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| Amidst nature at Tapovan Vatika Resort |
Situated a few metres from the
tempo stand and the main road, Tapovan Vatika Resort is a great place to get in
touch with your inner self. It has three large gardens, blooming flowers and is
surrounded by fields and mountains. With regular yoga and meditation classes,
it can be a great getaway for anyone looking to get in touch with their
spiritual side.
My friend and I had taken a book
each to read on our trip. In between reading, we went to different eating
joints across town in search of good food. Being a religious place, Rishikesh
is largely vegetarian and alcohol free (unless you are carrying your own). Here
is my list of where to eat while you are there.
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| Ayur Pak |
1. Ayur Pak – This is a quiet, green
homestay away from the city’s hustle and bustle. We had vegan dosas with
sambhar and imli chutney, grilled vegetable sandwiches and a chocolate pancake.
It was the most fulfilling breakfast I had on my entire trip. Although the flavors
were different from what I am used to, it felt wholesome and filling.
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| Meat Lovers pizza |
2. Bistro Nirvana – Probably the only non vegetarian
bistro in Rishikesh, it was a welcome break from all the vegetarian fare. After
a long hike to the Beatles ashram on an unusually warm day in March, a cold
soft drink and a meat lovers’ pizza was the perfect comfort food. Surrounded by trees, Bistro Nirvana is a
welcome escape from the heat.
3. Himalayan Kitchen - Rooftop Cafe & Restaurant – We had
dinner here on two consecutive nights as the ambience and views were great. The
food was not that bad either; do try their ginger tea, tomato soup and pancakes.
4. Tulsi Café – Located on the main road
in Tapovan, it is a cosy café. Food is great but their service was incredibly
slow when we were there. A Hawaiian pizza and fresh lime soda took about an
hour to arrive. They were quick with the hummus and pita after which we along with
other diners had to wait a lot. It is worth a visit but go there if you have a
lot of time to kill.
