Week 7

My first aerial view of the Ganges by cable car in Haridwar

Doing a pooja (prayer) for my parents on the bank of the Ganges at Har - ki - Pari

which means foot of god-said to be the place where the Ganges formed into a true river.

This is an extremely holy place to say goodbye to your loved ones.

The prayer is called a Barsi, as it was on the anniversary of my fathers death, where a dough like substance and flowers are offered with my prayers to the holy water of the Ganges river.

The evening Aarti (religious service) at Har-ki-pari

Ravi using the holy Ganges as a great foot spa

What a lovely place to spend an evening. In a couple of days time i have been told i am going to be immersed in the Ganges to wash away all my impurities!!!

The very next day i had a tummy upset - i managed to hold it together and get on the bus to Rishikesh.

Ravi found a lovely hotel, green view 

and i spent 2 days recovering with the help of antibiotics.

 

We managed to go to evening Aarti at Trevenni Ghat. An area along a flat section of the Ganges in Rishikesh.This is a photo of the oil lamps before they were lit for the evening POOJA.

Eventually on Sunday i made it outside and we ate pasta - safe food!

We went on a trip up a very big hill, by jeep with smooth tyres, driven by a boy who looked no older than 14 and went to see a special temple called Neelkanth. 

A temple dedicated to Shiva ,who swallowed snakes poison, when the oceans were churned by the gods and poison was released.Shiva did this to save save the universe.

We also drove back down. Walking would have taken 3 to 4 hours each way.

 

Above at sunset- I sent a banana leaf boat full of flowers, a oil candle and incense down the Ganges to the memory of absent loved friends and family - I'm thinking of you all.

Below is a gentle stretch of the Ganges river we have been white water rafting .

We had a blast with 5 or 6 grade 3+ rapids and one grade 4 and we didn't fall out, but got very wet!

                  A view from our restaurant near Laman Jula in Rishikesh

 One of our team,Michael, turned up with suede safari boots,very smart casual!

 Our guide was an American called Scott and our fellow co passengers were Michael, Dennis, Nesa and Becca. We had great fun and ended up having lunch together in a great very busy cafe!

 Our guides Scott and Sahdev from Red chilli rafting

                                  Yes we look cool, Nesa said Ravi looked like a bumble bee!!!!!!!

                                 The rafting crew with the Ganges valley below in Rishikesh

 Ravi having his ears cleaned....the stuff that came out yuk yuk - no wonder he doesn't hear me!!

We are heading on a 'luxury' bus to Delhi overnight at 9pm and then catching a flight to Katmandu on wed am. 

Bye bye India. Thank you for giving me some fantastic experiences. I'll be back!