Rishikesh and The Ganges

Rishikesh, our first stop outside of Delhi, is considered the gateway to the Himalayas, and it's known for its ashrams, temples and yoga. It's located in forested hills adjacent to a national park occupied by monkeys (we saw them) and elephants (didn't). A visit by The Beatles in the 1960s put Rishikesh on the map, but the Ganges River is its real claim to fame. The river is sacred to the Hindu world. So pilgrims, worshipers and tourists alike come here to partake of ceremony, and there care orange-robed, self-proclaimed "holy men" everywhere. People toss marigolds in the Ganges' fast-flowing current; bathe in it; carry its water in vases atop their heads, and celebrate the river with fire and flames at sunset "Ganga Aarti" ceremonies held on its banks. You can't help but get caught-up in the power of it all. So I, too, took a dip.