Activities in Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal)
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Vina Maharaj Music School
In Lakshman Jhula, Vina Maharaj Music School offers sitar, tabla, harmonium and flute lessons at Rs200 per hour, and organises concerts.
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Yoga Study Centre
According to locals, this is one of Rishikesh’s most highly regarded yoga schools and runs two- and three-week Iyengar yoga courses for all levels (payment by donation). It’s a small ashram on the river south of the town, off Haridwar Rd.
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Cable Car
From midway along the Mall, a cable car runs up to Gun Hill (2530m), which, on a clear day, has views of several peaks, including Bandarpunch. A steep path also winds up to the viewpoint. The most popular time to go up is an hour or so before sunset and there’s a minicarnival atmosphere in season with kids’ rides, food stalls, magic shops and honeymooners having their photos taken dressed up in Garhwali costumes.
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GMVN Tourist Office
Contact the GMVN tourist office which offers Rajaji safaris even when the park is officially closed. These are five-hour trips (Rs1750 per person) that include being taken on a short safari, watching a parade of wild elephants, and visiting a tribal village of Gujjar buffalo herders.
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Nainital Mountaineering Club
The enthusiasts at Nainital Mountaineering Club offer rock-climbing courses at the rock-climbing area, a 15m-high rock outcrop to the west of the town.
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Shanti Kunj Ashram
A large ashram set in beautiful gardens on the road to Rishikesh, this is an inspirational community (founded in 1971) that offers simple accommodation. It suits serious students of sadhana (spiritual achievement), as meditation and mantras start at 5am, followed by yagyar (fire ceremony) and meditation in a hall dominated by a model of the Himalaya. Contact the foreigners office (the ‘Abroad Cell’) for further information. The ashram has established its own university and runs ‘spiritual camps’ (in Hindi and English) running from nine days to one month.
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Elephant Rides
The village of Chilla, 13km northeast of Haridwar, is the base for visiting the Rajaji National Park. Elephant rides, which can take up to four passengers, are available on a first-come-first-served basis at sunrise and 3pm, but there are currently only two elephants. Contact the Forest Ranger’s office, close to the tourist guesthouse at Chilla, where you can also pick up a brochure, pay entry fees and organise a 4WD. These take up to eight people and cost Rs700 for the standard safari (plus Rs100 entry fee for the vehicle).
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Ashrams
While most travellers make a beeline for Rishikesh to partake in yoga, spirituality and stay in an ashram, Haridwar has several excellent ashrams where you'll be surrounded by serious ashramites and fewer foreigners. You can join in with ashram activities as long as you obey the strict rules. Everything - lodging, meals, religious practice - is usually free, but a donation is expected.
Most ashrams try to be self-sufficient mini-utopias - some grow their own herbs which are made into Ayurvedic medicines, publish books and literature or run schools.
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Ananda Spa
Part palace, part exclusive, luxury spa resort, the prize-winning Ananda Spa is the last word in indulgent pampering, and plays host to the rich and famous from India and abroad. Perched high up in the hills 18km north of Rishikesh, Ananda Spa occupies part of the palace of the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal and spreads out over a manicured estate that includes luxury accommodation, a six-hole golf course, a jogging track, garden restaurants, an amphitheatre and a swimming pool.
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Mohan’s Adventure Tours
From his office next to Chitra Talkies cinema, Sanjeev Mehta of Mohan’s Adventure Tours can organise any kind of tour, including trekking, fishing, birdwatching, cycling, motorcycling and rafting. An accomplished wildlife photographer, he specialises in five-hour safaris (Rs1750 per person) around Rajaji National Park. Sanjeev also runs three-day trips to Corbett Tiger Reserve – these tours operate year-round.
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Landour Language School
Mussoorie is home to many schools and colleges. The Landour Language School is one of India’s leading schools for teaching conversational Hindi at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, group classes are Rs175 per hour, and private tutorials are Rs275 per hour. There’s an enrolment fee of Rs250, and course books are an extra Rs2000.
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Omkarananda Ganga Sadan
On the river, at Muni-ki-Reti, this ashram has comfortable rooms and specialises in Iyengar yoga classes at the Patanjala Yoga Kendra centre. There are daily classes (except Sunday; Rs250) and intensive seven- to 10-day courses (Rs800) on offer from October to May. The ashram has its own ghat and evening ganga aarti.
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Mohyal Ashram
More a yoga retreat than an ashram, Mohyal has peacefullawns, marble floors and a meditation and yoga hall with wonderful acoustics. The spotless midrange accommodation includes meals and classes. This is not a usual strict ashram (although smoking, alcohol and meat are prohibited), and casual guests are welcome.
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Sri Ved Niketan Ashram
Also called the International Vishwaguru Meditation and Yoga Institute, this place in Swarg Ashram has a large inner courtyard, a spacious meditation and yoga hall offering hatha, pranayama, meditation and philosophy classes, and spartan rooms with private bathrooms. Minimum three-day stay.
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Mohan’s Adventure Tours
Mohan’s Adventure Tours offers Rajaji safaris even when the park is officially closed. These are five-hour trips (Rs1750 per person) that include being taken on a short safari, watching a parade of wild elephants, and visiting a tribal village of Gujjar buffalo herders.
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Horse Riding
Mangy horses gather west of town on the road to Ramnagar to take you on rides to beauty spots such as Dorothy Seat, Land's End and Tiffin Top. A three-hour ride costs Rs 175, or Rs 250 if you go with one of the touts down at Tallital (transport to the horses included).
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Parmarth Niketan Ashram
Dominating the centre of Swarg Ashram and drawing visitors to its evening ganga aarti on the riverbank, Parmarth has a wonderfully ornate and serene garden courtyard. The price includes a room with a private bathroom, all meals and hatha yoga lessons.
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Snout Adventures
Snout Adventures is a recommended outfit offering treks in the Kumaon and Garhwal mountains (from Rs2200 per day, all inclusive), it also conducts rock-climbing courses (Rs400 per day) and organises adventure camps.
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De-N-Ascent Expeditions
Specialist in kayaking lessons and expeditions. Paddle and eskimo roll with an experienced instructor from Rs1000 per day; kayaking expeditions cost from Rs2400 per day. Also organises rafting and trekking trips.
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Mountain Rovers
Mountain Rovers offers one- or three-day rock-climbing and abseiling courses from beginner to advanced levels for Rs 750/2000. They can also organise treks in the Kumaon region and to Pindari glacier.
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Phool Chatti Ashram
This modern yoga retreat 5km upstream from Lakshman Jhula offers seven-day beginner and intermediate yoga courses in a very peaceful, rural environment. Includes accommodation and meals.
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Eskimo Adventures
Offers treks and rock-climbing expeditions from Rs1500 per day, and equipment rental (for trekking and skiing), as well as white-water rafting trips on the Ganges.
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Anamika Travels
Travel agency Anamika Travels is along the Mall. It offers bus tours of the local lakes and tours to Corbett National Park.
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Elephant Safaris
Two-hour elephant safaris are available at Dhikala, Khinnanauli, Gairal and Jhirna Gate at 6am and 4pm on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Om Rudra Cultural Society
Om Rudra Cultural Society is run by an enterprising couple and offers kathak (classical) dance, flute, tabla or Hindi lessons.
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