Rishikesh or Haridwar?

rachelinindia · Mar 4th, 2008, 23:58

so... rishikesh or haridwar? which do people prefer?

i know rishikesh is more touristy but then i'm also not into hardcore yoga/ashram/spiritual stuff either so will haridwar be too intense? i'm going to mussoorie for a long weekend at the end of march and want to spend a couple more days up in uttaranchal. i'm playing it by ear for now so can i just turn up and get accommodation in either place? what about trains back to delhi, should i book a ticket beforehand?

also - is rajaji national park worth a visit? still gotta see me a tiger...

any help appreciated, ta!

praveen_yadlapalli · Mar 5th, 2008, 00:30

I prefer Rishikesh

I personally found Haridwar to be more noisy, commercialized. Just like any other crowder city in the Gangetic plains

edwardseco · Mar 5th, 2008, 00:34

Exactly, crowded, dirty tourist city with little redeaming value beside aarthi. Rishikish magical..

Dilliwala · Mar 5th, 2008, 00:41

Rajaji is leopard country. And elephant. Still good though.

Himalayan boy · Mar 5th, 2008, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by rachelinindia

so... rishikesh or haridwar? which do people prefer?

i know rishikesh is more touristy but then i'm also not into hardcore yoga/ashram/spiritual stuff either so will haridwar be too intense? i'm going to mussoorie for a long weekend at the end of march and want to spend a couple more days up in uttaranchal. i'm playing it by ear for now so can i just turn up and get accommodation in either place? what about trains back to delhi, should i book a ticket beforehand?

also - is rajaji national park worth a visit? still gotta see me a tiger...

any help appreciated, ta!

hi,
rishikesh is the best place for u.. if u r not intrested in yoga,ashram,spiritual stuff so try white water rafting in river ganga and beach camping, rappling, hiking and some small treks...

rachelinindia · Mar 6th, 2008, 23:18

well thats unanimous! i would be interested in doing a couple of hours of yoga - just the not the crazy stuff because i'm not very bendy

so any recommendations for classes are welcome, as well as for places to stay.

unclelach · Mar 7th, 2008, 07:34

The cluster of guest houses and cafes at High Bank, Rishikesh is perfect if you don't wish to immerse yourself in the ashram experience. There are great views from the guest house balconies down to the river and across the valley. My stay there last year was probably the best I experienced.

OcoeeG · Mar 7th, 2008, 07:43

I agree as well, I was just in Haridwar a few months ago and didn't really like it nearly as much as Rishikesh. So we jumped on the bit and headed up to Rish for the rest of the weekend. It is much more relaxing and naturally beautiful. The places that the previous poster is talking about is called the Swiss Bhandari(sp!) Lodge. There are two up there and they are both good, with good resturants. Continental and Indian.
Have fun

kullukid · Mar 7th, 2008, 18:01

Why not visit both? it's only a 1hr bus journey between them & if you are travelling by train then you will depart at Hardwar anyway, so at least take a dip in the Ganges there or make an offering, it's verreeee auspicious place. But yes Rishi is the better of the two from an entertainment point of view. Here's a great hotel at Highbank www.bhandariswisscottage.com
rooms are 2-600 depending on view of Ganges. KK

Martinji · Mar 7th, 2008, 18:53

They are just pilgrim sites. I would go there 4 da K.M. which takes place every 12 jears...
Rishikesh has good value g.h.es and some decent eateries. nice to meet felow travelers, take walks, practice some yoga and buy some books on spiritual matters! Interesting folks from allover India and the world to be met there. I would definitely visit the famous Ananda Spa in the Himalayas http://www.anandaspa.com , just 10km away and walk up to the Kanjapuri temple in the west, about 3 h and 1200altimeters away:-), offering spectacular views. the trek is not eaasy but rewarding!

rachelinindia · Mar 7th, 2008, 20:45

thanks guys! i'm thinking i'll go from mussoorie to rishikesh for a couple of days. indian rail website is saying there are no trains from risikesh to delhi so i'll go to haridwar for one day and night to check it out and get the train back to delhi. and the link you sent me to the guest house looks fab, yay! so happy to be going back to india!

dcamrass1 · Mar 7th, 2008, 21:24

Four of us hired a car for the day and also went to the Ananda Spa. For 300$ a night- minimum 3 nights seems a bit much for a visit. Went there last November woud not let us in,claimed that the tourist were spoiling the stay of the residents.The day itself was great
Have found the Ram Jula bridge area quieter than Laxman Jula area.
Night Train from Haridwar to Delhi can get quite booked up (SL +3AC) so if can book ticket in advance maybe better.

rachelinindia · Mar 7th, 2008, 21:34

the ananda spa is WAAAAAY out of my price range as a student, sadly

. i've already checked avaliability for the train tickets and i'm waiting on my friend in delhi to send me her address so i can book it.

rachelinindia · Mar 8th, 2008, 00:13

arghhh just about to get my tickets and its timed out! no reservations allowed between 6pm and 11.30pm GMT. is the bhandari swiss cottage the kind of place i can email to ask about avaliability/reservations and get a reply or is it better to ring?

unclelach · Mar 8th, 2008, 05:50

I arrived at Highbank without a booking to find that most of the better guesthouses including Bhandari Swiss Cottage were full.

I found a very good room though across the lane from Bhandari SC at the Peasants Cottage, a place still run by the family who started guest houses in that locality.

Had most of my meals at the Bhandari SC cafe, a very friendly place with simple but appetizing food.

Last year I spent ten weeks in India/Nepal without booking a single night. Only on a few occasions did I have trouble finding a room eg in central Delhi.

Mar 4th, 2008, 23:58	#1
rachelinindia Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK Posts: 112	Rishikesh or Haridwar? so... rishikesh or haridwar? which do people prefer? i know rishikesh is more touristy but then i'm also not into hardcore yoga/ashram/spiritual stuff either so will haridwar be too intense? i'm going to mussoorie for a long weekend at the end of march and want to spend a couple more days up in uttaranchal. i'm playing it by ear for now so can i just turn up and get accommodation in either place? what about trains back to delhi, should i book a ticket beforehand? also - is rajaji national park worth a visit? still gotta see me a tiger... any help appreciated, ta!

Mar 7th, 2008, 07:34	#7
unclelach Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: melbourne, australia Posts: 171	Where to stay The cluster of guest houses and cafes at High Bank, Rishikesh is perfect if you don't wish to immerse yourself in the ashram experience. There are great views from the guest house balconies down to the river and across the valley. My stay there last year was probably the best I experienced.

Mar 7th, 2008, 18:53	#10
Martinji Account Closed Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Swisherland? Very nice country! Posts: 29	Haridwar 4 da Khumba-Mela and Rishikesh for the winter months They are just pilgrim sites. I would go there 4 da K.M. which takes place every 12 jears... Rishikesh has good value g.h.es and some decent eateries. nice to meet felow travelers, take walks, practice some yoga and buy some books on spiritual matters! Interesting folks from allover India and the world to be met there. I would definitely visit the famous Ananda Spa in the Himalayas http://www.anandaspa.com , just 10km away and walk up to the Kanjapuri temple in the west, about 3 h and 1200altimeters away:-), offering spectacular views. the trek is not eaasy but rewarding!

Mar 8th, 2008, 05:50	#15
unclelach Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: melbourne, australia Posts: 171	Bookings at Highbank I arrived at Highbank without a booking to find that most of the better guesthouses including Bhandari Swiss Cottage were full. I found a very good room though across the lane from Bhandari SC at the Peasants Cottage, a place still run by the family who started guest houses in that locality. Had most of my meals at the Bhandari SC cafe, a very friendly place with simple but appetizing food. Last year I spent ten weeks in India/Nepal without booking a single night. Only on a few occasions did I have trouble finding a room eg in central Delhi.

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Mar 5th, 2008, 00:30	#2
praveen_yadlapalli Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gangetic Plains Posts: 114	I prefer Rishikesh I personally found Haridwar to be more noisy, commercialized. Just like any other crowder city in the Gangetic plains

Mar 5th, 2008, 00:34	#3
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,410	Exactly, crowded, dirty tourist city with little redeaming value beside aarthi. Rishikish magical..

Mar 5th, 2008, 00:41	#4
Dilliwala Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dilli Posts: 2,742	Rajaji is leopard country. And elephant. Still good though.

Mar 6th, 2008, 23:18	#6
rachelinindia Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK Posts: 112	well thats unanimous! i would be interested in doing a couple of hours of yoga - just the not the crazy stuff because i'm not very bendy so any recommendations for classes are welcome, as well as for places to stay.

Mar 7th, 2008, 07:43	#8
OcoeeG Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uttarkhand Posts: 49	I agree as well, I was just in Haridwar a few months ago and didn't really like it nearly as much as Rishikesh. So we jumped on the bit and headed up to Rish for the rest of the weekend. It is much more relaxing and naturally beautiful. The places that the previous poster is talking about is called the Swiss Bhandari(sp!) Lodge. There are two up there and they are both good, with good resturants. Continental and Indian. Have fun

Mar 7th, 2008, 18:01	#9
kullukid Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: u.k. Posts: 857	Why not visit both? it's only a 1hr bus journey between them & if you are travelling by train then you will depart at Hardwar anyway, so at least take a dip in the Ganges there or make an offering, it's verreeee auspicious place. But yes Rishi is the better of the two from an entertainment point of view. Here's a great hotel at Highbank www.bhandariswisscottage.com rooms are 2-600 depending on view of Ganges. KK

Mar 7th, 2008, 20:45	#11
rachelinindia Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK Posts: 112	thanks guys! i'm thinking i'll go from mussoorie to rishikesh for a couple of days. indian rail website is saying there are no trains from risikesh to delhi so i'll go to haridwar for one day and night to check it out and get the train back to delhi. and the link you sent me to the guest house looks fab, yay! so happy to be going back to india!

Mar 7th, 2008, 21:24	#12
dcamrass1 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kibbutz Hamadia. Israel Posts: 63	Four of us hired a car for the day and also went to the Ananda Spa. For 300$ a night- minimum 3 nights seems a bit much for a visit. Went there last November woud not let us in,claimed that the tourist were spoiling the stay of the residents.The day itself was great Have found the Ram Jula bridge area quieter than Laxman Jula area. Night Train from Haridwar to Delhi can get quite booked up (SL +3AC) so if can book ticket in advance maybe better.

Mar 7th, 2008, 21:34	#13
rachelinindia Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK Posts: 112	the ananda spa is WAAAAAY out of my price range as a student, sadly . i've already checked avaliability for the train tickets and i'm waiting on my friend in delhi to send me her address so i can book it.

Mar 8th, 2008, 00:13	#14
rachelinindia Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK Posts: 112	arghhh just about to get my tickets and its timed out! no reservations allowed between 6pm and 11.30pm GMT. is the bhandari swiss cottage the kind of place i can email to ask about avaliability/reservations and get a reply or is it better to ring?

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