Rishikesh calls itself the Yoga capital of the world with some justification as there are masses of ashrams and all kinds of yoga classes. The town's setting on the banks of the Ganges, surrounded by forested hills, is conducive to meditation and mind expansion. In the evening, the breeze blows down the valley, setting temples bells ringing, as sadhus, pilgrims and tourists prepare for the nightly Ganga Aarti ceremony.
The town is very new age, you can learn to play the sitar or tabla on the roof of your hotel: try laughing yoga: practise humming or gong meditation: experience crystal healing and every style of massage: have ago at chanting mantras: and listen to spiritually uplifting CDS as you sip Ayurvedic tea with your vegetarian meal.
The Maharishi & the Beatles
In February 1968, Rishikesh hit world headlines when the four beatles and their partners stayed at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Ashram in Swam Ashram.Ringo & his wife did not like vegetarian food, missed their children and left after a couple of weeks, but others stayed for a month or two. They relaxed and wrote tonnes of songs, many of which landed up on their double disc 'White Album', but the Maharishi's demands for money and his behaviour towards some female disciples eventually disillusioned all of them, "You made a fool of everyone" John Lennon sang about the Maharishi.
But nearly 40 years on idealistic westerners still swarm to Rishikesh seeking spiritual enlightenment from the teachers and the healers in their tranquil ashrams scattered along the Ganges River.
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