Rishikesh & Panch Kedar 2025 Review

Rishikesh:

This year we stayed at “The Himalayan Tree on the Ganges” hotel, which was the same place as last time, with the same staff, but a new name and new management company. I love this venue. The rooms are basic but clean, the food is wonderful and the location is perfect. You are right on the banks of the Ganges, but a short walk from Lakshman Jhula with it’s markets and cafes.

It was not without it’s excitement this time. Early in our stay we had a massive thunder storm that lasted all night and the stream we cross to get to the hotel washed out the town end of the bridge and the power cable. We had no access and no power, but as is typical in India, they soon ran a new cable and welded an add on to the bridge and we were back in business by lunch time. Normally the short walk into town is a delight but this year we had to negotiate a troop of monkeys at times and also Esther had a little scare with a snake crossing her path. You know that you’re not in Aotearoa/NZ when this is what you’re experiencing. We all came through unscathed.

The Ashtanga Yoga Workshop Mysore morning practices went really well. There is nothing quite like the energy of practicing with Mama Ganga right there in front of you. Thank you to Becs for being the wonderful assistant tht she is. Very beautiful and powerful energy!

I was a bit nervous about the afternoon/evening sessions. Not so much for the recovery stretches and breathing, but more for the “Yoga Philosophy” sessions. I had done quite a bit of preparation, but I always worry that I don’t have anything relevant or worthwhile to share and that I’ll run out of things to say. I guess that I should know by now that once I get started, the trouble is stopping me. No one walked out, or fell asleep (I think), so I guess that it went okay.

I want to thank everyone who travelled with us this year. Again, you made my job easy by being great company and by organising your days and taking India in your stride. I hope that you’ll join me again in 2026 if you can.