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Episode 2: Taj Rishikesh

Episode 2

Location: Taj Rishikesh, Singthali, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand

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Imagine taking in deep breaths of pure mountain air as you gaze over the River Ganga flowing through forested Himalaya hills towards Rishikesh, a town sacred to Hindus. This spiritual idyll is just six hours' drive from Delhi or a short flight and a 90-minute drive. The hotel's gentle hillside, almost enclosed by the twisting river, was spotted by Canadian-Indian entrepreneur Arjun Mehra while white-water rafting; he remembered his mother's pilgrimages. Working with Montreal architects YH2, he created the hotel retreat of his dreams using local kath-khuni building techniques that mix Himalayan river stone, slate and wood, as you see in nearby villages; and he chose Eco-id for the sleek interiors with local references. Some guest rooms are in the main building which evokes the area's darbargadh palace-forts; others are in chalets on the garden terraces that stretch down to the pool, riverside pebble beach (morning meditation), yoga pavilion (professional instructors) and quality Jiva spa - a signature of the Taj group which manages the hotel. The food is fascinating, many dishes using local herbs, pulses and vegetables unknown in the rest of India. Mehra's aim to create a deluxe-appointed private mountain lodge works. Tempting to stay put, enjoy the view, eat, read, treat yourself. But experiences outside this sophisticated Himalayan hide-away are probably irresistible.

Tea or cocktails on the terrace at twilight is a must-do!

Taj Rishikesh buzzwords: mountain air, spiritual calm, forest bathing

Ideas for unpacking your kind of slow-down wellness at Taj Rishikesh

Drive up twisting lanes to enjoy dramatically different mountain views, and walk mountain trails from village to village with the hotel guide-naturalists.
Give your taste buds a treat with some of the 40 or so locally grown dals cooked with fresh mountain herbs.
Immerse yourself in the significance of the sacred River Ganga - walk beside it to spot medicinal and culinary herbs, practice peaceful meditation on the hotel's riverside pebble beach, take a rafting trip downstream to Rishikesh.
In the Rishikesh bazaars choose your own locally gathered rudraksha seed worn by Shiva devotees for protection, stay on to observe sunset lamp-lighting and rituals beside the Ganga.
Learn the ambitions of school children when you explore mountain villages - many want to teach yoga in Rishikesh, a global centre for serious practice.
Make your own auspicious pilgrimage to Devprayag and touch the water where the Alaknanda, Saraswati and Bhagirathi rivers meet to become India's holiest river, the Ganga.  

Episode 3 visits the Deccan near the great site of Vijayanagar ('Hampi')

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My 2020-2021 Small-group Tours will be suffused in wellness - it's what we need!

If you have not traveled with me before.....

please know that we experience great sights in the best possible way, with lots of add-on encounters and visits to offbeat places. We meet conservationists, curators, craftsmen and musicians, we walk with naturalists, we cook with local chefs. In sum, we imbibe the essence of each area thanks to my four decades of studying and visiting India - and making great friends who I share with you.

I also create tailor-made trips to all corners of India, for all budgets, for all interests and special needs, for families and parties of friends, for business groups and for honeymoon couples - India is ideal for everyone!

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Episode 1: Swaswara Retreat
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Episode 3: Cabo Serai
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