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Rishikesh travel blog
Asia, Destination, Guest Posts, India, Uttarakhand

Rishikesh Travel Guide: Yoga Capital of the World

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Below the Himalayan foothills is the beautiful city of Rishikesh. Rishikesh is known as the land of the saints or the land of the gods. Life in India is great, more so when you are live in one of India’s most beautiful cities reflecting and containing spirituality, community, and devotion. Rishikesh has everything that feeds the entire soul. It has beautiful temples, breathtaking waterfalls and natural landscapes, delicious food, and warm-hearted and welcoming people. People in search of the ‘Truth’ and the divine, traverse to the city of Rishikesh. Rishikesh also is one of the most prominent and active yoga hubs in India. In fact, it is popularly known as the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’. There are fantastic yoga schools (make sure you have good comfortable yoga pants if you wish to enroll in these school or practice yoga at home) that conduct yoga teacher training courses and yoga retreats in India. BEST TIME TO VISIT RISHIKESH Rishikesh in Summer  The summers here are from March-June, where June is the hottest month of the year. The average weather in Rishikesh ranges from 15 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius. The weather gets scorching in the summer in Rishikesh, so remember to drink lots of water. Early summers are perfect for adventure sports like river rafting and so much more. Rishikesh is known as the adventure sports capital of India, with many adventure sports to offer to the adventure spirit inside of you. Yoga festivals also happen around summertime in Rishikesh, where hundreds of people from around the globe come to experience the depth of yoga and meditation that Rishikesh has to offer. Rishikesh in Winter The winters here go on From October to February. Winters are the best time to visit Rishikesh, as it is one of the most pleasant and beautiful places to witness during the winter. The temperature here fluctuates between 6 degrees Celsius to 20 Degree Celsius. Winter is the perfect time to practice adventure sports such a rock climbing, doing a yoga retreat, or the fantastic yoga teacher training courses that the yoga schools in Rishikesh have to offer. In the day, it is perfectly sunny for you to do your yoga practice and meditate. In the evenings, it gets chilly for you to enjoy a bonfire and feel the warmth of the fire. Remember to pack your warm clothes for winter so you can be cozy and enjoy the beauty of winters in Rishikesh. Rishikesh in Monsoon A lot of festivals take place in Rishikesh during the monsoons. August is the wettest month of the year. All water sports and adventure sports activities are closed during the monsoon season. HOW TO REACH RISHIKESH  35 kilometers from Rishikesh is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. You can take a flight from your city of origin to Dehradun. At the airport, there are cabs available for Rishikesh. You can also take a train to Rishikesh Railway Station from your city of origin. Nearest Railway Station to Rishikesh is Haridwar, which is 25 kilometers away. Haridwar is connected to all major cities in India via regular and express trains. Buses to Rishikesh from nearing cities are available. From Chandigarh to Rishikesh, the bus takes about 5 hours. From Delhi to Rishikesh, the bus takes approximately 6 hours. From Dehradun to Rishikesh, the bus takes around 2 hours. You will have to reach one of these destinations to reach Rishikesh. As from other cities, there are no direct buses, trains, or flights to Rishikesh. HOW TO TRAVEL IN RISHIKESH  You can hire taxis or cabs to travel around Rishikesh. There are also local jeeps that traverse around Rishikesh, which charge on a per-seat basis. Auto-Rickshaws are also readily available for you to travel around and get to your desired destinations. Traveling on foot to nearby destinations that are 15-20 min away by walk is also a healthy and budget-friendly option. LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN RISHIKESH  Hindi is the primary language spoken in Rishikesh. Feel free to communicate with some local people who know English to help you with learning a little bit of Hindi. Garhwali is another local language that is spoken here. BEST PLACES TO STAY IN RISHIKESH  Valley View Camping & Rafting Experience in Rishikesh This is a beautiful campsite where you can camp and enjoy the serene and magical beauty of Rishikesh. You can enjoy the view of the valley that is opposite and facing the campsite. A soothing and beautiful waterfall flows near the campground. The campsite is surrounded on all sides by luscious green mountains and a serene view of the flowing river. This campsite is a beautiful balance of peace and adventure. While you enjoy the beautiful luscious nature, you can also participate in various adventure sports like Cliff Jumping and others. Beach Camping and Rafting in Rishikesh One of the best campsites in Rishikesh, this campsite is only 50 meters away from the holy river Ganges. Located in the Gattu Ghat, this campsite is surrounded by pristine and soothing nature all around. You can enjoy various adventure sports here, eat some good and healthy food, and have a refreshing time here. Ganga Kinare Hotel It is one of the best riverside hotels in Rishikesh if your budget for the trip is on the higher side. It is right on the river banks of the river Ganges where every morning and evening, a Ganga aarti is conducted to pay respect to the divine river of Ganges. This hotel also hosts the International Yoga Festival every year. Sanskriti Vedic Retreat This is one of the best places to stay for Spa treatments. Sanskriti Vedic retreat offers some of the best spa facilities and treatments to soothe your body, mind, and soul. It is located in the Market area facing the Ram Jhula Temple and very close to the Sivananda Ashram. The rooms have a river. The hotel also offers yoga retreats and meditation sessions for those that are interested. Divine Ganga Cottage If

Things to do in Taipei
Asia, Destination, Guest Posts, Taiwan

5 Unique Things to Do in Taipei for an Amazing Experience

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Taipei, the capital of Taiwan has been my home for the last 10 years. I met my wife, Emily, in this city where we also celebrated the birth of our two kids. We spend most of our weekends exploring Taipei and the city never seems to run out of surprises. So, if you are planning a trip to Taiwan then you have to include Taipei in your Taiwan itinerary. There are so many things to do in Taipei than what you will be able to squeeze into your visit to this city. Below, I am providing five experiences of Taipei that are very unique to its city and should be a must when you are traveling in this country. And I am sure it will be either impossible or hard to find them anywhere else in the world. 5 Unique Things to Do in Taipei Soak Yourself Into a Japanese Colonial Era Hot Spring Did you know that Taiwan was a Japanese colony for 50 years? Soon after the occupation began in 1895, the Japanese discovered that Taiwan was rich in thermal hot springs. Since bathing in hot springs is a favorite Japanese pastime, they began developing Taiwan’s wild hot springs almost immediately. So, one of the best activities to include in your Taipei itinerary would be spending some time in these hot springs. Beitou Hot Spring Beitou Hot Spring is the first Japanese hot spring village in Taiwan’s Taipei City. There were over 70 hot spring establishments at its peak. However, it went into a decline later after the Japanese left. Today, some of the Japanese era wooden buildings in Beitou have been preserved that also includes the original train station and several bathhouses. Long Nai Hot Spring Long Nai Hot Spring dates back to 1913 and is the longest running bath house in Beitou. A stone stela in the entrance courtyard commemorates a visit by Crown Prince (and at the time soon-to-be emperor of Japan) Hirohito. Note: If you go for a soak, remember that according to the Japanese custom bathing suits are not allowed! The facilities are basic but very authentic. So you can truly get a feel for what it would have been like to bathe in a Taiwanese-Japanese hot spring 100 years ago! Cost: It only costs NT150 to bath in a sex-segregated bathhouse. Further, couples can get a private tub as well for NT400. Also Read: 6 Awesome Things to Do in Ao Nang Resort Town Wander Amidst a Military Community Converted Into an Artist Village When the KMT lost the Chinese Civil War against the communists in the late 1940s, they fled and occupied Taiwan. The occupying government then established numerous “military dependent villages” to house the soldiers and their families. Over time, many of these villages fell into disrepair, but some of them have been restored into creative arts villages. Treasure Hill Artists Village Treasure Hill Artists Village in Taipei is one of the finest examples of creative arts villages. Several original Chinese families still remain here. On the other hand, the unoccupied homes have been converted to art exhibits. It also serves as residences for both the local and international artists. The village feels like an open-air art gallery and visitors are free to wander here. The village is built on a hill that faces the river. You have to ascend on a maze-like series of staircases to reach here. You will also discover art everywhere you look while climbing. All in all, the village is really fun to explore. Further, it is a must for anyone who is visiting Taipei and is interested in arts or alternative communities.  Cost: The indoor exhibits are free to enter, even when no one is there to guard them. Outside, you can see examples of urban farming and communal living. Ride a Glass-Floored Gondola Over Oolong Tea Fields Sure, riding a gondola is not unique and probably there are already many other cable cars in the world with glass bottoms. But how many of them whisk you over the terraced fields of Oolong tea? The Taipei Maokong Gondola takes passengers on the southeastern edge of Taipei City for a 30-minutes ride amidst the mountains. The Maokong area is famous for its Oolong tea, specifically for its Baozhong category which is light and fruity and has the aroma of melon. It is one of my personal favorites as a tea lover. After you alight at the terminal Maokong station, you can choose from one of the many teahouses to while enjoying the views of tea fields that stretch all the way to Taipei. However, tea houses can be a little pricey as you are usually expected to buy a whole bag of tea so that you can share it with a large group and sit there for hours. If that’s not what you are looking for then you can grab a single cup of tea or an Oolong-tea flavored ice cream from one of the shops near the gondola station itself. Cost: You simply need to swipe your EasyCard (Taipei MRT card) or you can pay NT100 for a one-way trip. The gondola runs from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Get a Knife Massage and I-Ching Reading Knife massage is not some kind of a new alternative therapy. It actually goes back thousands of years in the Chinese culture. The remedy has been forgotten to a great extent. However, in recent years, knife massage organizations in Taiwan have been bringing it back and also certifying practitioners. Recently an old acquaintance of mine in Taipei got in touch with me to tell me that she has gotten certified as a practitioner. She was running a new knife massage and I-Ching reading shop in Ximending which is one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods. And thus, she invited me to give it a try. I must say that getting pummeled with two meat cleavers was more relaxing than the sounds of it! After the massage, I also

Offbeat Places in Meghalaya
Asia, Destination, Guest Posts, India, Meghalaya

5 Offbeat Places in Meghalaya

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Cherrapunji or Sohra is a place we all have heard of as the wettest place on Earth. A quiet suburban town in the East Khasi district in Meghalaya, Cherrapunji is known as the abode of clouds and is nothing short of a dream. It is a town where the clouds come so low to sweep you off your feet. You can literally walk amidst clouds and that is just the beginning of the wonders in North East India. Cherrapunji has several natural scenic landscapes to see and activities to do. While you might find the most common ones like Nohkalikai Falls and Root Bridges in every list, read on to know the 5 off-beat things that you can do in Cherrapunji. Disclaimer: This article may contain links to our affiliate partners such as Amazon, Booking.com, etc. If you find our website useful, please consider booking through our links. When you do we earn a small percentage at no extra cost to you.     Mawlynnong Mawlynnong is a tiny village in the East Khasi Hills that is popularly known for its cleanliness. This will definitely rank first in the list of offbeat places in Meghalaya. It is lined with small cottage shaped houses and surrounded by colourful flower gardens. The narrow lanes through these houses are spotless and a delight to walk around. There is no entrance fee to enter the village. Further, the bonus of this place is that if you do not have the time to go to the double-decker root bridge trek, you could still catch the living root bridge which is just 10 minutes from Mawlynnong. A short climb down from the starting point, it will cost INR 10/- and take less than 15 minutes for you to reach this beautiful root bridge. The mesmerizing ways of the roots and strength over the streams is overwhelming to see with the naked eye.   Nohsngithiang Falls Nohsngithiang Falls or Seven Sisters Falls as it is commonly known as a seven segmented waterfall located near the Mawsmai village in Cherrapunji. It is one of the fourth largest waterfalls plunging from a height of 1035 metres, the seven sister falls is a sight to see during monsoons. Further, it has an abundance of water that gushes out in parallel from the plateau. The falls are visible from the carpark itself and have no entry charges. While the waterfalls may not be much prominent in the non-monsoon period, they have amazing swings just before the cliffs where the waterfalls begin. It is fabulous. Further, more than the waterfalls itself, one would not like to get off those amazing swings.   If you want to a detailed travel guide on Meghalaya, read our blog post here – How to Travel Solo in Meghalaya in a Budget   Mawsmai Caves The caves are a very different experience in Cherrapunji. It is an experience of looking at natural limestone rock formations in darkness in contrast to the rest of the town that is usually filled with sunshine, lush green hills and cliffs. While the caves itself are much longer, only a small portion of them are open to visitors. The best part being the entrance fees is a mere INR 20/-. Enter the world of darkness as you walk into the caves and follow the dimly lit path to find your way out. There is no better offbeat place to discover in Meghalaya than this one. You will find also yourself mesmerized by the varying shapes and sizes nature has taken in those rock formations. I found a small opening in the caves wherein natural light fell from above. I was completely awe-struck by its beauty.   Also Read – 54 Hill Stations in India that We have Explored     Orange Roots A restaurant all run and managed by the Khasi women should be on the top of your list if you are in Cherrapunji. With a lovely car park just by the Mawkdok Dympep Valley view point, this restaurant offers lovely vegetarian Indian cuisine options for travellers. A great place for a breather amidst hopping view-points. Further, the service here is quick and excellent and the food is extremely tasty and very reasonably priced.   Sa-I-Mika Resort We managed to stay in Sa-I-Mika Resort and I cannot recommend how good this place is to stay. A beautiful resort with cottages built in the traditional Khasi architecture spread out in the Hills. It feels like each room is in the lap of nature. Every cottage has a lovely sit out balcony with a view. The approach is slightly worse with the maps pointing you to a location that seems to be inaccessible. But believe me when I say that the bad roads are worth it. If you are staying elsewhere, still make a trip to this lovely resort. Within the resort premises, you will find a small park with swings, see-saws and slides amidst a gushing stream and beautiful lush green gorges. For those who choose to stay here can experience waking up to the beautiful hills in the morning. Also, you can enjoy a lovely on idyllic stone chairs outside and dinners with a campfire and lovely live music. If you are looking for more options on accommodations, maybe in a homestay or a hotel you can check the website below. The best thing about this website is that you do not have to pay any amount in advance. just reserve the room through them 🙂 Booking.com  

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