Blawgg

Rajaji National park (website) has multiple entrances – two are the Mohand entrance just before Dehradun, and one in Hardwar. Despite a 40 km ride through the forest, we really didn’t see anything beyond the deers and peacocks. Never mind the brochures saying that summers are a good time to visit the forest as animal spotting is more likely around the water holes – the forest at this time is mostly dry and dusty and not as dense as you’d want.

You need permission to go in to the forest – from the forest deptt officials. The road trail is cemented and rocky/sandy in most part, but not too bad if you have a good vehicle.

Rajaji National Park map

Rajaji National Park Mohand Entrance

Forest trail

Forest at evening

Hardwar Barrage

Elephant enclosure just before the 2nd entrance to the park

Deer

There’s a peacock if you looked closely…

Shivpuri – Starting point for rafting to Rishikesh – about 17 kms between them by road.

Shivpuri

Cliffjumping enroute the rafting

Arranging to raft is very easy in Rishikesh since there are zillions of operators – earlier in the morning you get more options of rafting course, while the last group usually leaves Rishikesh for Shivpuri around 3 PM. It cost us Rs 450 per person to join a group of 6 other guys, on a 20 odd km stretch from Shivpuri to Rishikesh – going through some of the best rapids on course including Golf course, Roller Coaster, Butterfly, Tee off and 7 others (not in order) but not including Marine Drive which is supposed to be one of the best.