FRIENDLY CAFES OF RISHIKESH (CV)

8th June -10th June 2017

"Revolutions have always started in Cafes", said by Martin Firrel.

This was my fourth visit to Rishikesh and I chose Zostel as my home and 'exploring cafes of Rishikesh' as my business. Every cafe here has its own vibes, its own colours and culture. The best part about the cafes here is that they do not bring bills to the table (and that is with every cafe I had visited) and one could sit for hours watching the flowing Ganga and the green mountains with no one to disturb.

Cafe 60's (Cafe Delmar/Beatles Cafe)

1. 60's BEATLES CAFE

With a view of Ganga, peaceful ambience and Beatles music in the background, Cafe 60's is the perfect place for the people who love silence and the food. With delicious food and amazing Masala Chai, Cafe 60's became my favourite cafe. 

View from Cafe 60's

2. ZOSTEL ROOFTOP CAFE

Zostel in itself is a 'must visit' place in Rishikesh. A perfect place to stay for a backpacker, Zostel provides all amenities with chance to interact with different travellers from different countries. My love of graffiti increased after visiting this place. Even if one is not staying in Zostel, one could visit its beautiful rooftop cafe in evening to have its amazing Dal Fry with hot chappatis. 

Graffiti on one of Zostel's walls

Zostel Cafe at dusk

3. CAFE MOKTAN

We went to have early morning breakfast in Cafe Moktan. Well, I would call it a brick cafe. The interiors of cafe was made of appealing raw bricks with one corner of the cafe covered with books. We had delightful cheese omelette and garlic breads with sumptuous fresh fruit juices.  

The Brickhouse

4. CAFE DE-GOA

"All our waiters are married. They know how to take orders." With a view of Laxman Jhula, Cafe De-Goa is a place to sit where one could observe people walking on Laxman Jhula and wishing and hoping to go on the other side of the river. While we were looking for another cafe to munch-on it started raining in Rishikesh and we found shelter in Cafe De-Goa. The green tea and hot ginger lemon tea were enough to satisfy our taste buds.

Graffiti in front of Cafe De Goa

Graffiti near the cafe

View of Laxman Jhula from the Cafe

Cafe De Goa

5. CAFE LITTLE BUDDHA

Cross Laxman Jhula and walk for few minutes towards right and  one would come across a hidden gem- Cafe Little Buddha. I started climbing the dungeon stairs of the cafe and wondered where I was heading to. To my surprise the dungeon stairs opened upto a beautiful cafe full of people of different colours with amazing Ganga view. We named it the Happy Buddha Cafe.

 

6. CAFE CHATSANG

Very near to Little Buddha Cafe on the road side was Cafe Chatsang. The name of the cafe lured me (from Satsang came the Chatsang) and I couldn't control myself entering the cafe. Grabbing just a cup of tea with my book in my hand I spent some silent time here.

"Sore Today, Strong Tomorrow"- Wall of Cafe Chatsang

 7. GANGA VIEW RESTAURANT

We had heard a lot about Cafe Moksha and in efforts of finding it we ended up landing at Ganga View Restaurant. Cafe Moksha, as was told, is the most happening cafe of Rishikesh with live music in evenings. As we had our bus back to Delhi in evening we visited the cafe from outside and decided to spend some more time with view of Ganga at the Ganga View Restaurant.

The Cafe hopping in Rishikesh gave many beautiful moments to me- the rains, the rising moon, the setting sun, the Ganga water with rafts and bloats floating, the bridge with loads of people walking peacefully over it, the cool breeze and yes the amazing sumptuous delicious food.

Exploring galis of Rishikesh

The Rising Full Moon

AWESOME WEEKEND GETAWAY FROM DELHI- MORNI HILLS (XCIX)

10th September, 2016- 12th September, 2016

Fun of hills and plains
Beauty of forest and road
Attraction of history and nature

Morni hills have it all. Situated in District Panchkula, some 260 kms from Delhi, Morni Hills is perfect weekend getaway from Delhi.

HOW I REACHED MORNI HILLS FROM DELHI

HRTC Bus from ISBT, Delhi till Chandigarh- got down at Zirakpur bus stop before Chandigarh

From Zirakpur to Morni Hills- Bike, Duke. Roads are perfect and one could easily travel by one's own vehicle from Delhi to Morni Hills.

I reached Kasmere Gate bus stop, ISBT early morning at 5 am. My bus was at 6 o'clock. Sleepy but excited about the trip I was waiting for my bus to come. It was Saturday morning (God Shani Dev day) and I could see atleast 6-7 people carrying Shani Dev idol and roaming around the bus stop seeking dakshina. I saw people giving money to the Lord and for a while I got lost in my thoughts. I wondered that we don't love God, we fear God. While I was still pondering whether I love or fear God my bus came and I started searching for number 17 seat.

I reached Zirakpur bus stop and was waiting for Ashish to come from where we had plan to go on bike to Morni Hills which was some 40 kms. I had read it somewhere, "Roads are made for journeys and not the destinations." The journey from Zirakpur to Morni Hills is beautiful. Dense forests on both the sides and the turns on road - it was quiet and adventurous.

WHERE TO STAY

UV Resorts owned by a retire forest official- We found it on Goibibo website.  

Morni Hills is a place where you go and do nothing. It is a place to relax, to read, to write, to enjoy that cup of tea watching the hills, to enjoy that cool breeze touching your skin, to enjoy the conversations and to experience the silence. The view from UV Resort was beautiful. It was like an open amphitheatre. I was watching the changing of colours of sky in evening- from blue to orange to dark orange to grey to black. I love nights in hills. The star studded sky, the faded mountains, cool breeze, the far off dim lights- Nights in hills are beautiful.

PLACES TO VISIT

TIKKAR TAAL

View of  Tikkar Taal and Chota Tikkar Taal

When I am amidst nature, I am ignorant of everybody, everything around me. I am at peace with myself and my surroundings. I was looking at that soft flowing water, the distant boats, concentrating on the sunlight merging and emerging in water. It was hypnotic. Nature is the best gift God has given to mankind.  

A trek till Morni Waterfall

MORNI FORT

On Monday morning at 11.00 am we started our journey back to Delhi on our beloved Duke. We had to cover 260 kms which were ahead of us. But we knew that it would surely be fun as it is rightly said-   

"If you want to be happy for a day, drink.
If you want to be happy for a year, marry.
But if you want to be happy for a lifetime, ride a motorcycle."

Ashish's Duke and my Avenger at India Gate, Delhi
Picture taken on 13th September- the next day of completion of our trip

For more pictures and quotes on Morni Hills visit- Everything out there is for A reason  - A page owned by Ashish Sohal and The Day I Realised that I Am Alive-  My Facebook Page