Rishikesh Memoirs

With the number of times that I have been to Rishikesh, it is only logical that I write about them. To help you acquaint with what the number has been I just want to tell you that last year I had gone there for 2-3 days, came back to Delhi for 1 day and left again for 4 days in Rishikesh. Each trip has its own fond memories and if I put them down in print it will take too much space and you might not have the patience to read through it completely so I'll just be putting in jist.

I really do not know what I actually like about the place, I mean it is one of those small Indian religious towns with even smaller bylanes spattered with garbage from the houses. It hurts to see it like this but I'll come back to it later.

I have almost always gone with my cousins who are just the most amazing people in this world and we all gel like clockwork, so that helps as well. We miss breakfast not because we want to sleep till late but because we want to eat buns and drink coffee that the nearby Uncle in a shop makes. The Ganga is not too far from where we stay so walks to the river and the frequent swim keeps on happening. Those night strolls on the terrace oblivious of the time, those constellation spotting walks,those chocolates shared among almost everybody you meet, three dinners followed by kada milk and jalebi (I do not know what it is called in English), followed by late night dinners of maggi, the bon fire on the new years eve are just heavenly.

In summers the weather is pleasant but in winters it is spine chilling but then who cares.

Now coming to the part I skipped, Rishikesh is a sleepy town but not so sleepy I think that it is unable to protect its natural heritage, the very reason why it has been named Rishikesh -- THE GANGA. With constructions happening on the bank of the river I do not know how long the river will survive. Now only one can see the vast difference between the river during monsoons and during summers. But it is not just the river there is general apathy everywhere,it seems no one really cares about their home, garbage is just thrown on the roads, taps are left open, trees are cut without any rhyme or reason. Every time I go a new patch of the forests have been deforested.

Come to think of it I do not know how long the river will live but if the inevitable all I can say now is IT WONT BE GOOD.