What more could I ask from my first fully packed ride?

2 Wheels, 2 Souls, 3 Days, Total 464 Miles, Holy dip in River Ganga, Temples and more Temples, Local sightseeing at world capital of Yoga.... After all a first memorable ride.

It had been almost two and half months since I bought my beloved contraption, I thought to go for an outstation ride but I was in a bit perplexity about to which place to head for. Finally I decided for Haridwar and Rishikesh. We finalized 24th Oct. as the date for the commencement of the ride.

The riders were:

1. Nitul Kumar Singh

2. Gaurav Goel

Day 1 (24th Oct., 2008)

(Gurgaon-Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut-Muzaffarnagar-Roorkee-Haridwar)

We started our journey at 12 pm and I was riding the bike. As it was our very first long ride so we decided to not to over speed. Delhi and Ghaziabad, both were jam packed so it took us almost two and half hours to cross Ghaziabad. I don't remember exactly whether before Ghaziabad or after it we took our first halt, for photo session, under a signboard saying D'dun 207 Kms.

I forgot to tell you one thing that we borrowed Haider's Sony K810i for clicking photographs in exchange for Nitul's phone. Thanks a lot Mr. Haider Khan. Thereafter we started cruising at a speed of 60-70 Kmph. Our next stopage was a motel named as Moolchand Highway Resort.

It is approximately 110 Kms from Delhi and 42 Kms. from Meerut. Captivating greenery was making it quite relaxing and peaceful.

Now it was time to fill our tummies so we ate burgers with cups of tea. Burgers were so so but couldn't compete with Mcdonalds ones.

We rested there for half an hour and again started hitting the roads. This time I was pillion. The road condition was really bad and at many places the work of widening of the roads was going on.

After this two breaks were taken, one was for tea and another one was for nature's call and we reached at the gate of Patanjali Yogpeeth- Divya Yog Mandir (Trust) at Kanhal (20 Kms from Haridwar). You must be knowing that it is an institution for scientific research and treatment in yoga, spiritualism and Ayurveda with the world's largest OPD with a capacity of over six to ten thousand patients per day.

We wanted to go inside but as it was winter season, it had already become dark so we decided to move towards our destination and at 7:30 pm we were in Haridwar. It took us almost 15 minutes to find a suitable hotel and we booked a room for 250 ` per day. I am unable to recall the name of that hotel but it was on the main road. We unloaded the bike and put the bag in room and went to market for having dinner.

We asked two three people for a good restaurant and the result of discussion with them was Hoshiyarpuri Restaurant. While having dinner we clicked our piks. Meanwhile clicking photos two waiters requested us to click theirs. They were really happy as I did the same what they wanted. After having sumptuous meal we went to Har Ki Pauri and came back to hotel. As I was exhausted due to seven and half hours ride I slept soon after reaching our room and Nitul watched television for sometime.

Day 2 (25th Oct., 2008)

(Haridwar-Rishikesh)

We woke up at 7 am and within half an hour we were over with our morning activities but didn't take bath because it was to be done by taking a holy dip in the river Ganga so we went to Har Ki Pauri. It is one of the famous ghats on the banks of the Ganga.

This sacred place is considered as one of the major landmarks of the holy city of Haridwar. Literally, "Har" means "Lord Shiva", "Ki" means "of" and "Paudi" means "steps". In the Vedic times, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are believed to have visited the Brahmakund in Har Ki Paudi.

Here thousands of pilgrims gather to become a part of Kumbha Mela which comes in every 12 years. Har Ki Pauri is also the exact spot where the Ganga no longer remains the part of mountains, it enters into plains.

After reaching to Har Ki Pauri we booked a priest for Pooja-Paath purpose. Soon we put off our clothes and entered into the river and finally took holy dips in freezing cold water. I was shivering when I came out of the water.

Then priest gave us earthen diyas, with burning flickers and flowers in them as a symbol of hope and wishes and started chanting some mantras and after few minutes he asked us to float the same . Now we were over with both, the sacred bath and the pooja- paath. We went to the market for breakfast and had it at Brijwasi Chai wala.

Thereafter checked out at the hotel and kept the bag there at the reception and moved towards the second destination of the day i.e. Mansa Devi Mandir. It is dedicated to goddess Mansa, located on the top of Bilwa parvat on the Sivalik Hills. In half an hour we reached our target, parked the bike at a safe place.

Took of our shoes and started climbing stairs, midway we bought some prasad and had lemonade. After that, we sighted the temple and came out with the left out prasad. We took some rest and moved further. The other two temples we visited were Chandi Devi Temple and Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple.

First one is dedicated to goddess Chandi Devi, located on the top of Neel Parvat of Shivalik Hills and latter one is dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated in the town of Kankhal, about 4 kms from Haridwar.

The temple is named after the king Daksha Prajapati, the father of Dakshayani, Lord Shiva's first wife. We had our lunch outside Chandi Devi Temple.

After covering these two temples we went to the hotel, took our bag and got ready to leave for Rishikesh. One kilometer from Har Ki Pauri we found a place named as Bhim Goda.

It is believed that while Pandavas were going to Himalayas through Haridwar, prince Bhima drew water from the rocks here by thrusting his knee (goda), to the very ground. Not worth visiting, totally crap.

We rode almost 25 kms to reach to the world capital of yoga and it was 5 o'clock that we were in Rishikesh. Rishikesh, also known as gateways to the Himalays, is a name of Lord Vishnu, also known as "Lord of senses".

Rode on Laxman Jhula, also seen Ram Jhula (both being Iron Rope Suspension Bridge), got view of white water rafting from it. Rishikesh has many yoga centers which is one of the main reasons for tourist attractions.

We kept on roaming here and there and then parked our bike on road and went to the bank of the river and, there, spent some good time. Came back from there and checked in House cum Hotel in 250 `.

The room was pretty good and so was the hotelier. Rested in room for some time and went for dinner. We walked through the narrow streets and found many dhabas in a line. We had dinner at one of the dhabas, wasn't good enough and went to the Cyber Cafe, surfed internet for more than half an hour. Then we had a desire to have coffee, we asked few people about a good coffee shop and soon we were in the same.

We sat beside the windows and ordered two coffees. About 50 meters away from that building the river was flowing with great speed and the great sound and a cool breeze was blowing. What an amazing and soul touching ambiance I can say ! The coffee spoilt the mood as it was completely fucking.

We had to manage with the ambiance. We spent almost an hour there and went back to hotel, parked the bike inside. Now we were in our room and discussing about the both, two days spent and the coming day. Soon we were snoring.

Day 3 (26th Oct., 2008)

(Rishikesh-Neelkanth-Rishikesh-Haridwar-Gurgaon)

It was very cold though a sunny day and I woke up at 7:30 am and found that I was having cold. I got freshened with 15 minutes, went downstairs and had a cup of masala tea and maththi.

Nitul kept on sleeping as I didn't wake him up. I went to the market and got myself shaved at a barber shop & purchased the required medicine for cold and took it. After coming back to the room took bath and made him wake up.

Soon we, both, were ready to leave the hotel. Here again we did the same thing as we did in Haridwar, checked out from the hotel and kept our bag there at the reception. We went to a famous Rajasthani Restaurent and ordered paranthas and tea.

At that time we were the only two persons eating there. We were getting a magnificent view of the river and the greenery along the banks of the river from the window. Sunlight was directly falling on me and I was feeling a bit relief.

By the time waiter brought the paranthas with butter and cups of tea. As paranthas were sumptuous we kept on eating until our tummies were full. It was time to leave for Neelkanth.

Yesterday in the evening we enquired about the route leading to Neelkanth so we had no doubt regarding it. Firstly we filled one litter bottle, which we purchased from the market yesterday, with the Holy water of the river and left for our today's destination.Enchanting greenery along the sides of the metalled roads and river flowing along one side made the whole scene mesmerizing.

It was 12 kms ride to Neelkanth Mahadev Temple which is dedicated to Neelkanth (Lord Shiva), situated at an altitude of 1330 meters in the Puari Gharwal district. As we reached to the temple we were spell bounded by the celestial aura and the spiritual ambiance. One natural spring is also a part of the temple complex where devotees use to take holy bath.

We offered our Prashad to the priest and got back the left out. We stopped at a natural spring while coming back and spent half an hour there. Soon we reached Rishikesh, collected our bag and left for the back journey. Two-three tea and snacks were taken on the way and we also ate yummy burgers at Meerut Mcdonalds. We again faced the jam in Delhi but somehow we reached our home at 10 pm.

What more could I ask from the Almighty after all it was my first ride !!!