One of the highlights of this trip was exploring the abandon ashram the Beatles stayed at and recorded their white album in Rishikesh. The ashram has been closed for 13 years because of insane amounts of tourism because of the Beatles, and now is just abandon and ownd by the Forest Authorities. But you can sneak in the back way, so you don't have to pay any bandits, who guard the main gates. The ashram is quite the fascinating grounds, filled with little mediation pods made of stones, with stairs going down to a living quarter with a window, bookshelf, plug (some with a kitchen). Nature has completely taken over especially in the high monsoons. There are a couple of main buildings as well, including room where hippies have made some awesome paintings. We met some sadhus well there and sat with them and enjoyed their company. Afterward with the heat I could not resist but wash myself in the river Ganges (Ganga here in India), not going under but just splashing water over me, so refreshing, and wither it was just in my head or the beautiful the river, the water felt so purifying.
After the ashram we went to the fire puja on the river Ganga. The puja was very beautiful, and I even for a small price got to put a candle down the river that laid in the a big leaf with flowers around, sending my prayers down holy mother Ganga.
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