Why camping in Rishikesh is my go-to for a long weekend

Posted by The Wandering Pen on January 3rd, 2021

Long weekends are a blessing, but deciding what to do for one really is a bane. Can you imagine, I spent half the weekend just hunting for a plan! Google is godsent in these situations, so I hopped onto it in search of a quick getaway near Delhi. I clicked on the first two-day package that popped up on my search, and booked my train tickets and trip spots in a panic — I would die before I let my weekend go to waste. And lo and behold, within a matter of a few hours, I was ready to go camping in Rishikesh.

The cool breeze and refreshing green of Rishikesh was extremely welcoming. Once I checked in at the campsite, I already felt pretty good. I met with a few groups who were checking out and they shared their exciting tales of Rishikesh rafting with me. My tent was tiny and cosy, allowing me to escape into my own little world in the midst of nature. Our campsite was a short distance from a tributary of Ganga, and my favourite moments of the day were spent listening to its gushing and gurgling. 

After lunch, the group decided that it was time to explore the surroundings so we headed into the sal forests surrounding the campsite. We reached a clearing and chomped on hot samosas from a stall. The samosas made us too sleepy to walk back to the campsite, so we hitchhiked a tempo to take us back. The day ended with a bonfire and a view of the sun setting over the river. As I retreated to my tent, I layed down and immediately fell asleep to the faint sound of the river.

The next day, it was finally time for us to go Rishikesh rafting. We woke up early to go to the rafting site where we met our guide. He was an enthusiastic fellow - he briefed us on the safety guidelines and prepared us for the thundering rapids that we would face. We hollered a cheer following the instructor and got onto our rafts.

I wish I could reiterate my entire experience, but the next three hours were a blur. My eyes were sprayed with water, my body drenched in chilly river water and I was holding on to the paddle for dear life - but I was having a total blast. We paddled hard, bouncing in the boat as the rapids tossed us about, struggling to keep ourselves from falling into the gushing river. We survived rapids creatively named Three Blind Mice, Roller Coaster, Golf Course and Return to the Sender. 

By the end of it, we reached calmer waters. We were exhausted but still fuelled by adrenaline, so I did what anyone reeling an adrenaline high would do. I decided to jump off a cliff (I know, it sounds insane, but trust me, it made perfect sense then). I took a few steps away from the edge and charged towards it, plunging into the cold water. I came up gasping for air, but I felt alive.

As the rafting session came to an end, so did my time of camping in Rishikesh. I made my way back to the campsite with a heavy heart. I couldn’t believe that a coincidental long weekend and a quick Google search led me to one of the most unique experiences of my life, but somehow it did and I wouldn’t have it any other way.