Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), India

Rishikesh

It is said when Raibhya Rishi did hard penances, God appeared by the name of “Hrishikesh” and this area was henceforth called by the name “Rishikesh”.

Rishikesh, situated on the right bank of Ganga and surrounded on three sides by Himalayan ranges, known from medieval time as celestial abode, is a great pilgrimage centre of India, attracting a large number of pilgrims. It is believed that Bharat, brother of Lord Rama, subjected himself to severe penance here. A temple known as Bharat temple was later constructed at the site and the town of Rishikesh sprang up around the temple. It has since been the abode of saints and sages from where they sojourn before undertaking the arduous pilgrimage that lay ahead on the distant Himalayan peaks.

This gateway to the Abode of Gods and pilgrimage to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri is clustered with Ashrams, finest Hotels, Tourist Rest Houses and Dharamsalas.

The Yoga centres of Rishikesh have enhanced the significance of the place, home and foreign tourists from all over the world visit this place to have lessons in yoga and meditation.

Places of Tourist Interest and Pilgrimage

Neelkanth Mahadev, Rishikesh (distance is 14 km from Rishikesh): It is located at a height of 1550m, is also famous for its healthy climate and scenic beauty. There is a temple dedicated to Neelkanth Mahadev. At Neelkanth good food and accommodation is available. From here it is worthwhile to visit Bhuvaneshwari Devi Temple – 2 km trek and further 3 km is Jhilmi gufa. Nowadays it is motorable.

Rishikund and Raghunath Temple, Rishikesh (distance is 1.6 Km): Legendary tank where Lord Rama took bath, is a popular bathing spot for pilgrims.
Triveni Ghat, Rishikesh (distance is 1.6 Km): A bathing ghat, where three streams of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati are said to flow together. This is a sacred place where ‘Pind Shradha’ is performed. There are several temples around.

Bharat Temple, Rishikesh (distance is 1.6 Km): Opne from 5.00 A.M. to 11.00 A.M. and 1.00 P.M .to 9.00 P.M. A very old temple built and surrounded by massive walls, this temple is situated in the heart of Rishikesh town.

Laxman Jhoola, Rishikesh: It is about 3 km north of Rishikesh. There was a hanging jute rope bridge (without pillar) till 1889 and was rebuilt with iron ropes in 1939, on the Ganges with a span of 240 metres, is a beautiful sight. Raghunathji’s temple and Thirteen Storey Temple are the main attractions around Laxman Jhoola.

Uttarakhand - “Ancient Haven for Pandvas, Poets and Pilgrims”

The Pandvas, wearied by the years of struggle against their wicked brothers, came here to rest and the Tibetan Poet – saint Milerapa listened to the echoes of nature and voice from beyond. Buddhist books are replete of instances where the Lama hermit travels in response to his guru’s summons – his sojourn on earth is coming to an end and he has sent for his disciple – who hears his guru’s voice from one thousand miles away. Mysteries still live along the Himalayas slopes – ever present for those who search with an open heart for those who search for the truth, sublime beyond all conflict – beyond all destruction.

Overcoming all strife, the spirit of the Himalayas distils its influence in the world’s philosophy, poetry, music, painting, sculpture and architecture. The birth place of immortal thought and concepts that hover over its peaks – Shambhala, the Holy Grail and the Heavenly Jersusalem are the symbols of the hope and aspirations of horrified mankind. The quest of the spirit forever remains the supreme end of a mankind looking beyond the emptiness of present existence. This life is only the means for the spirit to gain experience when the material existence is over – the real man comes into his own and continues in a different state and sphere. We cannot accept that fact that the creators of the world’s masterpieces of art and literature, that have survived for centuries, have disappeared and exist no more – beyond all destruction stands the eternal concept of spirit. These thoughts fill the mind in the pure and rarified atmosphere of this “Abode of the Gods”.

This is the land where the Ganga, Yamuna, Alaknanda and the Mandakini are born and can be seen in their pure blissful infancy, which sent the late Prime Minister Pandit Nehru into raptures during his visit in the youthful years in 1938. Here the Himalayas appear in varying and fascinating hues depicting, sometimes, their rugged grandeur and at others, the beauty of their softness in the symmetry of careless abandon, “Among mountains, I am the Himalayas”, says Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. An endless source, in fact a cornucopia of material prosperity, as well as bringing spiritual peace to India’s culture, the Himalayas are both mighty and humble.

Here in the land where India’s holiest rivers begin and pilgrimages and the temples of the Lord soar into the cosmic blue, yonder man and surrounded by the dizzy beauty of eternally frozen lakes, majestic waterfalls, meandering rivers, undulating meadows, incredible lush green mountain valleys and a large variety of exotic flora and fauna willingly surrenders his soul to the Absolute Being.

Uttarakhand - “The Abode of Gods”

In the heart of these mighty mountains, touching Tibet, the roof of the world, in the north and the great Indo-Gangetic plain in the south, is an area, known, over the centuries as ‘Uttarakhand’, as a ‘paradise’ on earth and the most glorious temple of Nature. In magnificence and stupendous sublimity, there is no other mountainous region in the world that can be compared with the Uttarakhand Himalayas – a region under-laid by rich mineral deposits, still almost untouched, and a beauty that is unexcelled.

Here, which they designated “Dev Bhoomi”, came ancient Aryans to seek divine knowledge amidst the mighty ranges of the west, and towering peaks of the east, with their unparalleled beauty and grandeur that gave to doctrines and teachings equally mighty. Invested with scenery of indescribable grandeur, of a magnificent variety, this ‘Abode of God’ is studded with places of pilgrimage and shrines. Under the towering peaks were born pure thoughts in places unsullied by the selfish passions generated in the struggle for existence and self gratification.

Here, in the quest of the spirit, which remains the supreme effort of mankind, came the great teachers of mankind to receive in that rarified explaining the mysteries of Nature, long before science was able to explain them, the atomic theory, the theory of relativity and vibration. Maya and Tattavams, proclaimed telepathy long before the human brain was found to emit waves. Enclosed in the folds of the mighty ranges are memories of the great Gautam Buddha in search of salvation for mankind. Rishis – Vyas, Narada and Agastya seeking inspiration to carry down to struggling humanity, while from Europe came the great Pythagoras and Appolonious of the Tiana who certainly contacted these illumined men, when they came to India in search of wisdom. Along the winding valleys and gorges Guru Charaka gathered his precious healing herbs, their qualities also described by Huen Tsang in 1300 A.D. in his travelogue on the sojourn in India.

Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand, India

Tourist Spots:

1. Sahastradhara, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
2. Guccu Pani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
3. Lacchi Wala, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
4. MDDA Park, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
5. Malsi Deer Park, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
6. Sai Temple, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
7. Buddhist Monastry, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
8. FRI Campus, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
9. Tapkeshwar Temple, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
10. Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Hospitals:

1. CMI, Haridwar Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
2. Mahant Indresh Hospital, Saharanpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
3. Kalhan Hospital, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
4. Himalayan Institute of Medical Science, Bhaniyawala, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
5. Kohli Hospital, Haridwar Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
6. Doon Hosiptal, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
7. Coronation Hospital, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
8. ONGC Hospital, Chakrata Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
9. Military Hospital, Garhi Cantt, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Cinema Halls:

1. Krishna Palace, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
2. Prabhat, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
3. Nataraj, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
4. Orient, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
5. Chaya Deep, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
6. New Empire, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Schools:

1. Doon School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
2. Raja Ram Mohan Rai Academy, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
3. Asian School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
4. Welham Girls School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
5. Welham Boys School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
6. Doon International School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
7. Ann Mary Convent School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
8. KV ONGC School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
9. KV FRI School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
10. KV Birpur Cantt, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
11. KV Clement Town, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Colleges:

1. Dehradun Institute of Technology, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
2. Graphic Era Institute of Technology, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
3. DAV College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
4. MKP College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
5. ICFAI University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
6. Doon University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
7. Dev Bhoomi Institute of Technology, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Food and Beverage Outlets:

1. Cafe Coffee Day, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
2. Cafe Coffee Day, Dharshan Lal Chowk, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
3. Cafe Coffee Day, Chakrata Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
4. Barista, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
5. Barista, Vaibhav Sweets, Indira Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
6. Mackozy, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
7. Pizza Hut, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
8. Dominos, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
9. Nirula's, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
10. Mcdonald's, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
11. Prez Bar & Restaurant, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
12. Black Pepper Bar & Restaurant, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
13. KFC Bar & Restaurant, Chakrata Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
14. Naveen Foods, Chakrata Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
15. Count Down, Subhash Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
16. Indian Dollars, Kanwali Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
17. Kohat Restaurant, Chakrata Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Being Diplomatic – Cause of Ruin

Wherever we go, we find people are so dissatisfied because somewhere it is the Government not working up-to the mark and somewhere there are system’s not performing as per the expectations. Therefore, we cry, cry and cry for all of our woes in closed quarters. But still we want to keep our chimera of being diplomatic all the time to reap the maximum benefit wherever it is possible, rather than pointing out fault at its face.

Therefore, it is not the government or systems which are inefficient, but it is us who are to be blamed wholly for all the woes and problems around us. How often we stand for a cause and convey our heart rendering feeling or thoughts. We all love our “Chalta Hain” attitutude, whenever we need to confront the problems at the face to weed it out from the society.

I have heard people saying, government machineries are not performing and often we have to oil the system let the system move and because of this our state or country is languishing in terms of growth and prosperity. But, whom should we make scapegoat for all our miseries and problems? It is the systems or the individual or our society at large? Perhaps being Diplomatic is the Cause of Ruin of our Society, State and Country.

We want to run away from asking the tough or rude questions from the people accountable, responsible and are at the helm of affairs because we want to be nice, good and diplomatic. And in this process we are simply giving them unaccounted power to rule the way, they want to rule us and not the way we want to have systems or rule in place. Therefore, we have to shun this nature of being diplomatic all the time and stand up with courage to ask and challenge the wrong doing being done around or against us.

Team Spirit – A Myth

It is quite often that noticed that global Multi National Companies are seeking workforce who can work in sync with a big team, as accomplishment of any work requires coordination and support of the team members. Therefore, often such coordination is mixed-up with the concept of team-spirit. However, it is very important to distinguish the concept of team-spirit and coordination.

Everywhere, where results are yielded by the workforce, we noticed that work has been batched into several components and each individual is given a separate batched work to finish it in stipulated time to accomplish the desired objective. Therefore, team manager / coordinator’s job is to check each individual and create a semblance between them to finish work as per the time line. Each individual is working separately to finish the work assigned to him / her.

Therefore, no way it’s team-spirit which is often quoted as the desirable criteria for eligible workforce, it is the person’s sincerity, his sense of understanding the issue at individual level and group level makes all difference to finish the time which is again a coordination between various individuals.