Bathing ghats at Rishikesh.

Sitting inside the modern Cafe Coffee Day was like watching a

movie outside.

Getting my feet wet in he crystal clear Ganges a few kms outside of Rishikesh.

One of two swinging bridges in Rishikesh.

Tarun

The Ganges as close to its source as I got.

Om sign on the gate to the temple Tarun's mom's family went to.

Outside the temple.

These two fellows posed, and soon

two more joined the photo shoot.

Rishikesh

We left Delhi and travelled a short distance (?200 kms) to the village.  All the family were awaiting us.  It is a different type of village from Lakhu's.....I would say more modern?

After some time and food all were ready for sleep.  Ohhhhhhh what a night.  The mosquitoes just loved the new flavour in the village, ME.  I couldn't take it anymore and when Tarun woke (about 3 a.m.) I  asked him to open the car.  I slept in the car for the rest of the night.  In the morning my eyes were swollen with bites.  I could barely open my eyes.  Although we were going to spend two nights there, I said that we should go on to Rishikesh immediately and we did.

Rishikesh is the world yoga capital and full of Indian and non-Indians.  It is the easiest place to feel at home.  The food is geared to non-Indians in a lot of restaurants and the shopkeepers do not overwhelm with come-ons.  I liked it there.

There were still those stairs......everywhere, but I guess I am becoming more used to them.  There are two swinging suspension bridges which are a little daunting at first.  The monkeys also lay in wait on the bridge!

Our guest house was very conveniently located, but not so easy to climb to.  Right next door there was a fab Italian restaurant at the guest house.  The cook/chef was truly good. He had worked in Italy and knew what good Italian meant.  We enjoyed breakfasts and dinners there.

Rishikesh was the only place that shopping was enjoyable because they did not call out things like "special prices for you".  I only bought three items, but it was painless.

We looked around and then spent time at the Vasishta Cave and then went for lunch at the Glass House. a highly recommended hotel.

Tarun went for a bathe in the Ganges.  I went in only to my calves because I did not have a swimsuit.  The water was crystal clear and clean.

We attended the aarti that evening.  It was smaller and much more intimate than that at Varanasi.  A wonderful evening of prayer.

Some photos.