October 23 Uttarkashi to Haridwar via Rishikesh

We boarded the buses at 8:30AM, today saying bye to Swami Dhyanannadaji and his efficient staff members.  As we followed curvy road, we got to enjoy the majesty of the Himalayan mountains with mother Ganges flowing by our side.  Intermittently, we got glimpses of snowcapped peaks of Gomukhi Mountains where Gangotri and Gomukh reside.
Guruji and Mitrananadaji shifted between the buses, interacting with all of us, as we took a few tea stops and ate our lunch packets packed fondly by Dhyanandaji’ team on our way.
Rishikesh is considered the Yoga capital of the world and is a famous centre of pilgrimage.
It is also known as the gateway to the Himalayas and is located 25 km from another holy city, Haridwar. Rishikesh is the starting point for travelling to the sites that form the Char Dham pilgrimage – Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
It was here that Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda began his spiritual journey, when he met the great Swami Sivananda, who initiated him into sanyasa. Sivananda Ashram on the banks of the Ganga is one of Rishikesh’s many famous ashrams.
The nearby Haridwar is famous for its temples. In Haridwar, the Ganga first emerges from the mountains to bless the plains.
The point at which the river is considered to enter the plains is known as Hari-ki-Pairi, or the feet of Sri Hari. Thousands of pilgrims come to the spot every day to take a holy dip in it.
We reached Swami Sivananda’s Ashram in Rishikesh by about 4PM to a warm welcome.
We offered our prostrations to Swami Sivananda’s Samadhi shrine.  Swami Sivananda was Swami Chinmayanda’s Dhikhsa Guru, initiating him into Sanyas, before he moved to Uttarkashi to pursue further instruction under the tutelage of Swami Tapovan. We then visited Swami Sivananda’s kutir where he spent his time while at Rishikesh.  This is maintained immaculately by his devotees.
Every day the Divine Life Society has bhajans at Sivananda Kutir, followed by Ganga Aarti.  This evening Guruji was their honored guest leading bhajans and aarti.  As we performed the Ganga aarti in the sunset, our diyas merging with other diyas from the temples was a remarkable and uplifting sight to see.
Then we proceeded to Siyaram Janaki Vallab Seva Sadan, a wonderful dharmshala run by the family of one of the fellow Yatris, Kamal and Shashi Gupta and is fully equipped with all amenities including internet, a/c etc.
Their heartfelt welcome to Guruji and his Yatris with special garlands from all the way from Vrindavan and rose petals followed by a sumptuous meal personally attended by the owners who looked after each and every needs of us was indeed touching and showed us Indian hospitality in all its grace. “Athiti Devo Bhava”
During Guruji's satsang there, he gave each of us a pot of Ganga Jal provided by our kind hosts.