I never liked Haridwar…

Truth be told, I don’t like any city build as religion as a backbone; and me being an atheist is not the reason.

The so called ‘Holy’ cities of India, specially the Holy places, are crowded as hell (or heaven; I don’t know…), And nasty enough to trigger my OCD (I’m very sensitive to Smells, and Sticky Sensations).

Still, I decided to spend mt penultimate day of Uttarakhand in Haridwar; because of the food.

There, I’ve said it. I started this tour with upset stomach, and pulled my punches since then, but not today…

Anyway. As planned, I left Joshimath at exactly 4.30 AM. Took a Share Taxi, and reached Risikesh by 12.30.

From there, I took another share Taxi to Haridwar. Fortunately Enough, in order to avoid Traffic, the Taxi took a detour through Chilla, the place where I stayed, almost 8 years ago…

Much has changed since; the Rajaji National Park is now Rajaji Tiger Reserve…

With 39 Degree Celsius burning my skin, I reached my Hotel at around 2 PM, as far Oyo’s are concerned, this one is up to the mark. A well equipped room, with working AC and Free Wifi…

I took a bath, ate and Slept till 5 PM. Went out to Har-Ki-Pauri to Find “Mathura Walo Ki Peacheen Dukaan” and Dada Boudir Hotel. Found them both almost without trying.

Ate some…

No. Not now… I’ve never described my food, nor I will now. Maybe, there will be a post dedicated to all the food I ate… Maybe…

I wanted to take some pictures of the Famous “Ganga-Aarti” of Har-Ki-Pauri. Once again, I was super uncomfortable with thousands of people around me chanting Ganga Stotra…

Thousands of people, standing, and praying to the biggest River of Northern India…

Not Just Hindus; Sikhs, Muslims… All…

I remember, Civilizations were built on the banks of Rivers…

Ganges, Nile, Mississippi…

It’s the water that connects us, reminds us how our precious civilizations came into existence; Hindus worship ‘Ganga’ as the Goddess, but before Religion itself, Ganges made this wasteland the Green, Fertile land it is now…

The very bridge I was standing on, was vibrating in sync with the waves…

I could remember so many quotes and references now… But all just faded away in the roar of the River…

And I stood there, in the banks… With hundred diyas floating in the River… Thousand of people Chanting…

“Devi Sureswari Bhagabati Gange

Tribhubantarini Taral Tarange…”

Peace…

Neel…