{"id":100512,"date":"2021-08-21T07:11:41","date_gmt":"2021-08-21T11:11:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/omtimes.com\/?p=100512"},"modified":"2021-08-20T17:19:00","modified_gmt":"2021-08-20T21:19:00","slug":"ganges-hollywood-to-the-himalayas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omtimes.com\/2021\/08\/ganges-hollywood-to-the-himalayas\/","title":{"rendered":"Call of the Ganges – Hollywood to the Himalayas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rishikesh is laid out on two sides of the Ganges (correctly, Ganga) River, a bustling downtown on the western side and a quieter area on the eastern side.<\/p>\n

An Excerpt from Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation<\/h2>\n

Written by Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The southeastern quarter centers itself near Ram Jhula, a swinging footbridge named after Lord Rama, the divine hero of the Ramayana, while the northern part is centered around Lakshman Jhula, a similar bridge named after Lord Rama\u2019s brother, Lakshman. Lakshman Jhula is where most of the hotels, shops, and restaurants for tourists are. The Ram Jhula area, also known as the Swargashram (literally, Heavenly Abode) area, is lined with ashrams.<\/p>\n

In September 1996, the Green Hotel was the only hotel in the Swargashram area of Rishikesh, sitting on a small lane that runs parallel to the Ganga, just behind the ashrams. Of course, Lonely Planet did not mention that in order to reach there, you have to schlep your bags across a nearly half-mile-long footbridge. So, when we arrived at the Ram Jhula taxi stand to discover that our hotel was across the water, the driver instructed helpfully, \u201cYou cross bridge.\u201d No mention of the large, convenient motorboat that pilgrims can use to travel easily from bank to bank of the river, no offer to find a coolie\u2014the driver simply pointed his finger toward the swinging footbridge, more than 300 yards past where he had to drop us off.<\/p>\n

You couldn\u2019t find a hotel that doesn\u2019t require schlepping our bags across a river? <\/em>I berated myself as we found ourselves sharing a bridge, barely two feet wide and precariously suspended a hundred feet above water, with stray cows, sugarcane-laden bullock carts, fruit and vegetable vendors, motorcyclists, and two-way foot traffic. I was sure we had walked onto the set of the Indian version of The Bridge of San Luis Rey<\/em>. Finally, hot, sweaty, and already done with India, I followed Jim through the doors of the Green Hotel.<\/p>\n