At 5:50am I said goodbye to the Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi, grabbed a cab and headed to the New Delhi train station. Luckily, being a New Yorker prepared me for the journey. The station is laid out pretty well, and I was able to locate the correct platform and find my coach and seat. After 4 1/2 hours, I arrived in Haridwar, only to have an hour taxi ride to Rishikesh.
Next, I walked across the narrow Lakshman Jhula pedestrian bridge packed with people, motorbikes (which shouldn't be there), and of course a resting cow. The bridge spans the Ganges River, and you definitely can feel and see the bridge move, swaying precariously above the river. My destination was the Sant Seva Ashram... I paid extra for the deluxe air-conditioned room, but when I entered I realized I would be in the exact opposite of the 5-star accommodations that I've been accustomed to these past 6 weeks. The one bright note is that I have a balcony that overlooks the roaring Ganges River, filled to the brim with monsoon water. The view is spectacular and worth the trip. And at least I packed toilet paper (there's none in the room) and extra hand sanitizer.
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