Tour to Rishikesh with friends by own car

                                          

                                     Tour to Rishikesh with friends by own car

I wished to travel to Rishikesh for the Shri Neelkanth Temple with my friends by one of our four friend’s car. What I believe is travelling to religious places formulate both targets of visiting to religious places and touring with enjoyment and entertainment. It is really amazing travelling with friends as freeness to eat, speak, fun and frolic is fantastic with friends only. I talked to three of my friends for the tour and asked them to bring some time for the recreation and entertainment away from the hectic work life and day to day busy schedule. Life is always busy in working because earning bread along with satisfying other life needs keep people stressful and unhealthy. Some time, some separation from this life is needed to refresh and revamp the mind and body for the circulation of regular working. With the wish of travelling to a religious place which automatically mixes up with the tour enjoyment, I offered program to my friends and with my hopeful expectation, they agreed and planned for the tour. We all were working people and had to decide free 2 days keeping in mind the easiness for all four. One of us was business class and three were in service. So, Saturday and Sunday were felt best day for us all as three could get good adjustments due to Sunday. So, saturday and Sunday were decided for the tour.  

The tour for the date 17^th of December, 2022 was decided as it was comfortable for all to make adjustments with the working. It was 11^th of December, 2022 when we were deciding the program. There were 5 days to go and we all were excited, specially me, as I was going after a long time on any tour. The weather was at its peak in the winter season, the excitement was also at its peak. We planned the tour by car for it was winter season otherwise it was to be planned by motorbikes. I waited for 6 days with eagerness along with preparations by shopping for some necessary items needed on the tour. It was nothing so extra needed other than clothes but then also I bought track suit, cap, sports shoes, sleepers which would be comfortable and suitable at the time of tour. I had sleepers but bought to use new ones as I thought the old ones would not look appropriate. The date 16^th arrived and we all 4 friends met once in the evening to discuss the plan once before starting the next day which was decided for evening.

On 17^th, we all were busy since morning for preparing for the tour. 2 of us decided to prepare one time food for all. In the afternoon, we all contacted on phone and asked for the preparations. All were ready around 3 pm. We scheduled to start the tour at 5pm. We all gathered at 4pm at a little restaurant on the highway near the border of the city. We planned to have tea before starting because to be active, fresh and just had to have tea together at that time. By 4:30, we were ready to start the tour. The excitement was great because it was a religious tour and that was with the old fast school friends. We all managed with our families and families also co-operated with us as we planned tour only with friends. All each others’ families knew us all and were satisfied with our good friendship. So, it was the time to start the car whose tank already got filled full with petrol. We all sat in the car and one of us who was the driving man started it. we all chant the holy name of God and the driving man gave the excelator and car started to move to its destination. It was the happiness and excitement both as it was going to be a fabulous tour because we, specially I, didn’t travel for a long time on any tour. All were very happy and singing songs to make the tour more enjoying. I was more happy to enjoy and travel as tour was my planning. We travelled to a distance of 50 kms and stopped at one of the series of tea shops. We all were fond of tea and with friends it was amazing. We sat in chairs in the restaurant and talked about the second stop for dinner. There were many restaurants on the way and after a little discussion while sipping hot tea, the restaurant was decided. It was around 70 kms away from the place we were sitting.

 

After having tea, and paying payment, we started again and the journey seemed too cool and interesting with our togetherness. The car belonged to one of four of us  and he had maintained it nicely. It was running smoothly and in a controlled speed. We all had already communicated for a slow and safe travelling whether it would take little more time to reach the destination. Our motto time to reach Rishikesh was 9 O’clock. We didn’t book hotel room in advance as it was possibility of availability of rooms in the winter season. Yes, in the new year festival, it is difficult and costly to book a room it was early days before new year celebration. Moving nice, we travelled for 60 kms and 10 more left to visit the planned restaurant. We had food with us but needed a place to sit, we liked to order least 2 dishes which were going to add more taste in the dinner. After 15 minutes, we reached the dining place and placed order for 2 special dishes which we all liked. If it was day, we would have food some where near highway in the open. It would be a new style and feeling having food in the open with friends. Dishes were served and we all had food happily enjoying the moments of tour. We loved dine because it was a touring dinner with loving old school friends. Actually, we got together after a long time from our busy life working schedule. We had conversation for some time after meal then had tea once more which gave a sense of relaxation. Our next final stop was our visiting destinated hotel. We stood and moved towards our car and car took us again on the road for our journey. We had to drive for little long now because had to reach the city of Rishikesh on time as no advance booking of room we had. If we would get late, there were chances of no availability of any room. Driving  again at the limited speed, listening songs and singing together, we were enjoying the darkness all around. The road lights and vehicles’ beams were the medium of vision of road. we targeted to reach the hotel by 9 O’clock at Rishikesh. The night became cold and fog appeared just after it started to dark. But on the road because of vehicles’ movement, fog had little impact on the vision. It was good for the vehicles to move easily. As expected, we reached the hotel by 9:15. It was a nice travelling and we were not so tired because we had food and tea at proper time. We talked for a double bedroom room and luckily we got it. we were happy because the room front was facing to the holy river Ganga. We already had food, but wished to have tea once more in the room. We ordered tea and did some communication about the next day travel to the temple. After 5 minutes, tea was served to us. We had tea, changed dresses, had conversation while lying on beds, then slept after about 1 hour.

In the next morning, we woke up at 7 O’clock. The temple we had to visit was not far, it was around 30 kms, so, we had program to get ready and move not so in hurry. Around one and a half hour later, we all four were ready to move. We left the hotel with our bags and took our car for our planned holy destination. We were spiritually excited with refined soul and mind. I also visited two years back and my three friends had also visited some time back. The road to the temple was fine and car was running smoothly. From Rishikesh, the mountain roads started. It was the starting point to various religious places at high altitudes. Moving to the destination, we were feeling amazed because the road had turns in the mountains and the journey at that time was amazing as driving on the mountain roads was not our routine journey. At the hills stations, season wise, many tourists visit such places to have the different nature sights which give beautiful extraordinary views leaving fabulous impressions on the tourists. We saw many visitors going to and coming from the temple on the way. Many were by their vehicles, some were travelling by public transportations. Altogether, the journey was beautiful. Driving while turning to various rights and lefts through the mountains, we reached the holy place of God Shiva Temple.

There were shops of dainty, small restaurants and snacks. Shops of regular trending dresses of Rishikesh, Rudraksh, and other holy things were also available. We walked towards the temple after parking our car in the parking and crossing the little market including of dainty shops and little restaurants, we reached near the temple. We purchased dainty for us and leaving our shoes inside the shop we entered the temple gate. The temple area was open and wide for many people to sit, stand or stay together freely. There was the queue for the visit to the temple of God Shiva Shivling (Shivling is a form of God Shiva) and we without wasting any time joined the queue. The environment all around was too spiritual and chanting sounds of holy words were making the atmosphere spiritual and holy. All look was beautiful and separate from day to day human life. We were also chanting the holy words with all devotees. There were little kids also looking so beautiful and attractive with the orange religious mark on their forehead. Slowly moving step by step we were walking towards the place of God Shiva. There is a tendency of pouring water on the holy Shivling while chanting his pure name. Devotees feel blessed and ask to fulfill their wishes for what they visit to the holy place. People also visit to just receive blessings of  God.

We reached at the exact frame of God form, we poured water, bowed head one by one and chanted the holy name of God Shiva. This was completely spiritual and energized for everyone. After bowing head and taken blessings, we moved forward because other devotees were also to pray to God. We were feeling great, energized, blessed after offering prayer and holy view. The moment was pleasing and unforgettable. Slowly, we moved out of the temple gallery and stood in the yard inside the temple premises. The sun was shining good, the heat was giving warm pleasing heat and some devotees were sitting in the sun all around inside the premises who were looking satisfied with their facial expressions. We also stood for 15 minutes in the sun feeling comfortable and warm because the cold was there in the appropriate level and the sun was giving fine coverage of heat to the devotees. After staying there for some more time, we moved back to the car as we had to return home the same day. Walking back the same route, we wore our shoes, thanked to the shopkeeper, reached to our car. There was a open snacks shop where fresh snacks were being seen getting ready for the visitors. They were looking tasty and we could not stop our wish all together to have little snacks with tea. The place was already amazing and people were having varieties of snacks of their choice happily. Actually, the sight was pleasing. There were hilly and valley both sights which people were enjoying to stay for some time. We had some snacks with hot tea and the taste was also pleasing. It was tasty and interesting. After some little time spending in clicking pics and viewing the place, we started our car for our returning journey to our home city. It was around 2 pm when we finished with the visit and snacks.

We all were satisfied with grace and glory which spiritual blessings showered on us. It was all interesting and fruitful holy visit. We had no plans to stay again in Rishikesh or some near city because we wanted to return home on time. We didn’t talk about lunch on the way because fried snacks became heavy and we all had no mood for lunch by evening. The journey was around 130 kms from home to the temple. Although, it was not a so long distance to be worried for but it was a journey and we all old school friends were together in the tour. The most important part was that we all four were of same interest of religious mindset. That’s why the journey was much interesting and up to date what we expected. Moving down the mountain road, we reached the city of Rishikesh and crossing the city market which was full of people moving for their needed articles, we moved out of the city in some time. It was around 4:30 when we moved out of the city. Now, what we talked about was where and what time to have dinner and what would be the reaching time to home. We were all talking about the temple and the sight all around there. The chatting was also interesting because some new spiritual conversation we did was not in knowledge of all. The environment in the car was happy and graceful.

The car ran around 50 kms and we all advised to have tea and little snacks as we were feeling hungry because it was 2 O’clock when we had snacks and tea at the temple place.  Moving some more little kms, we saw a nice little tea shop where we wished to stop. There, we ordered tea with some not heavy little snacks because we wanted to have some food too at some restaurant. Tea and snacks were good. After refreshment, we again started to our home and happily started talking about our jobs and businesses. It was a cool night, so little fog appeared but it was not disturbing the journey. We know already that in the beginning of december, fog doesn’t appear so much. Running around more 45 kms, we stopped at a restaurant which had a large parking space and a little rush could be seen inside it. People were having dinner and some were standing outside the shed talking and having tea. We found a free dining table for four people and we sat for our turn for food. We ordered some famous food of that place and waited for our order to be served. The weather was cold but lovely. Although it was much cold, we were feeling it also, but it was nice. We got the food served and we started eating. It was a delicious food as our expectation. Interestingly eating and talking little, we finished dinner. It was a nice food. On the way food at a restaurant was a different type of experience which gave lovely memories. We all moved to our car after payment and started again on our journey back to home. It was around 8 O’clock when we finished dinner. 

It was dark on the road and lights of the vehicles were looking perfect in the night. Moving carefully and at a limited accurate speed, two of us at the back were feeling little sleepy and tired. They asked for tea because dinner made them feeling sleepy. We all agreed and looked if there was some tea shop on the way because all were feeling to have tea then. Yes, then after 10 minutes of travelling, we found a nice tea shop where some people already were having tea and enjoying night little stay at that time. We all got out of our car and asked the shopkeeper for tea. We got tea in no time and it was really tasty at that time. The place was nice. A few metres away from the road, having appropriate parking place, the shop was decorated with some lights and frills. We actually stopped due to this decoration and parking space. And of course, tea was also nice. We paid amount for the tea and again started moving back to home. It was around 50 kms more to travel for our home city. One of our friend was the only driver and he only knew to drive the car. He was not tired as he was habitual of driving for long drives for long hours. We all chatted for some time and then we were just waiting for reaching the home town. We drove for 35 kms and then we saw the name board of our city which showed it 15 kms away. We were happy and smiled all together. Tiredness went off and we sat straight feeling happy. We all decided to have tea once more before entering our city because feeling so little bit for tea. After some time, we saw the name board of our city at the city border and the restaurant from where we started our tour after tea. We stopped the car and ordered tea for all. We had tea quietly without whispering anything. We took 15 minutes there for all this and paid the amount of tea. Then, the car owner friend one by one dropped all at their homes because his home was at the last. All waved bye and messaged good night after going to bed. I was in my bed, so, I slept quickly dreaming the temple sight for long. I thanked God Shiva for the pleasing visit and journey and went into deep sleep.