rishikesh and haridwar

just wondering whether rishikesh and haridawar are worth a visit? probably shall be in the area around the end of november

Not if you want to learn about South American history.

On a more serious note, it depends what you want to see/do.

I've checked your profile and your other posts; there are no clues there.

I've heard Rishikesh is a nice place to relax, if that’s what you want to do.

I've wanted to go to Rishikesh ever since I read a thread and saw a photo (that has vanished from the thread ) about 2 years ago, click on the link below to read the thread.

The monkey attack!

BTW, Welcome to indiamike.com

i would like to know is it cold

Both are relaxed religious places on the banks of Ganga. Lots of ashrams teaching yaga, meditation .....
I personally like Rishikesh, its less crowded and cooler. Plus the water of ganga is less polluted.
Bythe end of Nov, yes it will be bit cold.with temps around Max: 21 C and Min: 11 C

What's the best way to get to Rishikesh from Delhi?
From what I can see there is an express train (4 hours or so) but it only goes to Haridwar - is it easy to get from Haridwar to Rishikesh by car or other train? I'd rather not spend 12 hours on the only train I can see that goes Delhi- Rishikesh direct..


Also any recommendations for things to do/see in that area, or accommodation would be great!

It's best to take one of the Shatabdi trains - fast and comfortable in Chair class. There's one in the early morning which means you can be in Rishikesh by lunchtime. If this doesn't suit your plans you could take the evening Jan Shatabdi, stay overnight in Haridwar and then on to Rishikesh the following morning.

There are frequent buses that go to Rishikesh from Haridwar. The bus station is almost opposite the train station. You could also take a shared tempo (large auto rickshaw) from just outside the station if you've just missed a bus and want to get there in a hurry.

It's late here - I'll post on accommodation etc tomorrow.

Alan D is right. The morning Shatabdi to Haridwar and then a bus to Rishikesh is the best option.

There are a lot of ashrams at Rishikesh, the two bridges - Laxman Jhula and Shivanand Jhula- across the Ganges are Rishikesh's added attractions. You may also try your hand at river rafting.

There is a number of hotels / guest houses near the Laxman Jhula and in downtown Rishikesh.

Go to rishikesh. Its worth it. A good sleeping bag would help nights and early mornings. Its cold but the sun comes out. I always feel much at peace and feel good in the environs of rishikesh And especially in winters.

As indiawise says, you stand a good chance of being out of the fog belt that can lie over the Ganges plain at this time of year. And yes, a sleeping bag would be useful but not absolutely neccessary as most hotels and guest houses provide adequate bedding.

I would stay in the Swarg Ashram area on the Eastern side of the Ganga. It's much quieter and you have access to some good riverside and jungle walks.

There's a choice of hotels. We've stayed at the Green Hotel before - the rooms on the top floor are bright and airy but some of the others are pretty dismal. Next door is the Hotel Brijwasi Palace which has large, light filled rooms and very helpful management and staff. Rooms at these two hotels will cost about 200-300 Rupees.

Indyboy has recently written up the Laxman Jhula Guesthouse in the hotel listings section. We haven't stayed there but it has a good location in a quieter area, which in Swarg Ashram means very peaceful.

As for things to do - you can study yoga, go river rafting, walk to the Neelkanth temple in the mountains behind, or walk north on a minor road alongside the Ganges or just sit on a bench by the river and watch the world go by. No hassle, honest!

There are some good places to eat, especially the 2 Chotiwallah restaurants and the Green Restaurant (specialises in Italian food - pizza and pasta) and just opposite the Green is a good internet place.

And chai in Rishikesh is only two rupees!

Mmm, cheap chai

Thanks for the tips guys, I will definitely make my way over to Rishikesh - sounds like just the thing to relax a bit before going home!

guerik,

A better place to relax before going home is Mussoorie, which is just 34 kms. from the nearest railhead Dehradun.

It is best visited from October to Dec. and April to June. So, if your exit from India is somewhere around these times, I suggest you make Mussoorie your final destination in India.

so Haridwar and rishikesh seems to be very nice places - but what ist about the temperature in February?

Too cool - or can it be quite nice after two weeks in Rajasthan?

Manas

Haridwar and Rishikesh will be delightfully cold in February. Rajasthan in Feb. will be cold too, it starts getting warm on the North Indian plains from March.

Temperatures for Rishikesh and Haridwar in January are about maximum 20C (68F) and minimum 5C (42F). For February you can add a couple of degrees centigrade to these.

These are for days when the sun is shining. Bear in mind that if it's cloudy or wet, which it occasionally is in winter, temps will be lower. For most people this means varying from t-shirt to light woolens during the day plus a warm jacket in the evenings.