The year is young. But if you’ve been feeling it’s time for a breather, you’re not alone. We hear you. Well, Rishikesh is here with an antidote for your blues — a festival that celebrates ‘nothingness’, adventure gigs that spike your adrenaline, and food so delicious you’re bound to go for third helpings.

“But I just have a weekend to spare,” did you say? Well, you’re in luck with our itinerary charted with this in mind. Here’s to a trip that will guarantee you some amazing visual souvenirs to carry back home.

Where to stay in Rishikesh?

1. Tiny Farm Fort

A stay here is almost like squeezing into the gap between reality and fairytales. The modern myth is that travel has devolved into a fast-paced rendezvous that takes its toll on the planet. But this beautiful plot, designed by brothers Raghav and Ansh Kumar, is an exception. The duo moved to the mountains in 2021, keen to build a homestay reflective of their sustainable ideologies.

Elaborating on how they achieved this with cob, Raghav shares, “We chopped wheat and rice straw, put it on a tarp, and then invited the group to dance on it until it formed a burrito-shaped dough. Once stable, the dough does not break and can be used as a building material.” The ‘group’ Raghav is referring to isn’t a team of contractors, but instead, 90 people from 18 countries across the world who volunteered to build Tiny Farm Fort.

Address: Dhunar Gaon, Neelkanth Road, near Phoolchatti Ashram, Gram, Kota, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand – 249304.

Book your stay here.

2. Aashraya on the Ganga

Depi Chaudhry (56) wanted his daughters to grow up to love nature. This sparked the idea of building three cottages on this beautiful parcel of land that is (thankfully) isolated from Rishikesh’s touristy side. Named Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, and Ganga, the cottages are built using natural methods while being equipped with modern amenities.

Depi cautions, however, that getting here might be an intrepid adventure. “It takes a beautiful 2.2 km, one-hour moderate trek. The trek takes you across a river bridge and then through a forest and a village. A good fitness level is required to walk this stretch comfortably. Our staff will receive you at the starting point of the trek and help you out with your luggage. Mules can be hired on prior request at Rs 300 per mule (to be paid by guests).”

© The Better India