INDIA – UTTARAKHAND – Rishikesh

Welcome to Rishikesh, “Yoga Capital of the World”, and land of the countless ashrams, temples, and diverse inhabitants!

This image says it all about Rishikesh

Sacred wandering cows

View from the Lakshman Jhula (bridge) with our host Mr Rhesus Monkey

Let me introduce you to Mr The Common Hanuman Langur

 

Acquiring more in-death knowledge into the PATH of YOGA, and learning to teach the same

Learning from one of the masters ;)

Learning and sharing the newly acquired essentials

Beautiful closing ceremony

Beautiful closing ceremony

The Holy Ganges River, the famous and the infamous touristic attractions...

 

Holy Ganges River

Near Ram Jhula (bridge)

 

Temples, temples, temples...

One of the oldest and most famous Indian restaurant in Rishikesh

Chotiwala Restaurant. One can find the pink guy sitting on his chair every single day

!

 

Ruins of the famous Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram where the Beatles rocked up in the late 60s. It is said that the ashram closure was later forced by the government under the pressure of the citizens who did not approve foreigners behavior in this sacred region

Ruins of the famous Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram

Sunset in Lakshman Jhula

India's blurry line between past, present and future ...

Wise words defeating time and religious beliefs from any nation...

AROUND THE KATHMANDU VALLEY - Pashpatinath

As suggested in my guide book, I walked from Bodhnath to Pashpatinath. This is Nepal'smost important Hindu temple; although non-hindus cannot enter the main temple.

 

Temple entrance for Hindus only

Many Nepalis choose to be cremated on the banks of this holy river. I personally found the holy Bagmati and site in general extremely polluted and monkeys have definitively taken ownership of the place ;)

In Pashpatinath even the dogs worship Shiva

Holy Bagmati River

Non-hindus entrance after paying 1500 NPR allowing to wander around but not enter the main temple