Abode of Shiva
5/6/09 The conference in Garhwal University, Srinagar is just the excuse to pack my bags and ride off on my bike. Gagan is the only other person who is free, so both of us start early morning (6 am, if it is early enough!). The ride up to Dehradun is nice with a breakfast stop at Nahan. Here we meet a Swiss couple on a BMW who are riding from their home to Nepal! We can not keep pace with the Beemer but surely make quick work of the ride to Dehradun through lovely green forests. Till so far the ride has been a song but now the blistering heat and chaotic traffic starts taking its toll especially as it is high noon. It takes us best part of an hour to cross Dehradun and another to reach Rishikesh. A leisurely lunch and a siesta later we walk down to the Ganga. People flock in droves for the ritual baths absolving themselves of all the sins (and boy do we sin?). Some sit meditating afterwards while others frolic. As the sun drops towards the horizon the beautiful “ Ganga Aartis ” start