Letting Nature Nurture in Rishikesh by Ireland Travel Trade Network

“The planet earth is an island in space. If we pollute an island here on earth, we can always move to a cleaner island, whereas should we pollute planet earth, we cannot just move to another planet.” That was the haunting statement made at the PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference held between 13th – 15th February in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, reports Declan Hughes.

Extracts from Article: Please visit the ITTN website for the full feature

The conference had the theme ‘Letting Nature Nurture – Rejuvenating My Soul Through Travel’, and the quote above was made by Apoorva Prasad, Founder, Chief Executive and Editor-in-Chief of the Outdoor Journal & Voyage.

In a world where we are encouraged to eat less meat, this is a perfect time to visit Rishikesh, which is a vegetarian city and is considered a holy city along the fast-moving Ganga (Ganges River), and a gateway to various pilgrimage sites (Haridwar, Badrinath and Kedarnath). Being Holy to Hindus, Rishikesh by law is a purely vegetarian city. No meat, fish or alcohol are allowed in the city – indeed, Uttarakhand’s slogan is ‘Simply Heaven’.

The river…

Nestled amid lush greeneries guarded by the breath-taking hills of northern Uttarakhand, every corner of Rishikesh has stories to be told. Beyond its marvellous temples, pilgrimage site and the magnificent Ganges River, the city attracts tourists from all over the world for its numerous adventure sports, including white-water rafting, cliff-jumping, kayaking and camping.

…crossing

It’s a place where the locals believe that every living animal, every living being has a soul – hence Rishikesh being considered the vegetarian capital of India, if not the world. Doctors are prescribing nature, in order for nature to nurture. Rishikesh has become a sanctuary for those seeking peace and tranquillity from the modern world, in which humans are becoming more like machines and machines are becoming more like humans.

Rishikesh is also the yoga capital of the world, where yoga is the deepest dimension of relaxation. Should you find yourself to have tears in your eyes, a lump in your throat and a sinking heart, Rishikesh is ready to heal you. A place where you will see the lighter side of life. A place that creates magic for your clients, who, in turn, will create magic for you. Rishikesh offers many wellness and soulfulness programmes in its many retreats and ashrams. Combining these with adventure and relaxation is the perfect combination. Many women solo travellers are drawn to this magical place, the vast majority of whom stay for at least 28 days.

Recommendations from this feature include Atali Ganga and its High Ropes Course:

Where to Stay

The Atali Ganga Boutique Hotel, located at Atali Dogu perched atop the valley of the upper Ganges, offers spectacular views with amazing food – which includes meat as it is 30km outside Rishikesh.

What to Do

High Rope Course: dares you to push limits and face those fears. Turn walking on a rope into an amusing challenge by taking the High Rope Course that includes various modules such as Wave Dance, Zig-Zag Walk, Swing Bridge, and more at Atali Ganga Boutique Hotel, Rishikesh.

By: Declan Hughes of www.FlyCruiseStay.com

The Author: Declan Hughes of www.FlyCruiseStay.com attended AT&RTCM 2019 as a guest of the High Commission of India and, as a result, was kindly hosted by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board.