After a very authentic breakfast of saffron rice with vegetables and nuts, followed by a big bowl of fruit, we caught a taxi organised by the hotel to take us up to Neer Waterfall for the morning. Our next door roomie Sara, who we first met during our yoga class, is travelling in her own and was keen to join us which was fab! All packed up, the three of us set off!
The hike up to the waterfall was fairly strenuous with steep steps up to the top of the vast mountain. Often the steps were very close to the edge with a sheer drop, thank god we brought our proper hiking boots!
On reaching the top, the waterfall did not disappoint! It was stunning! The waterfall fell into a natural pool beneath it where the water was crystal clear! Both Matt and I got in for a swim. As a woman, I had to go in fully dressed which I didn't mind too much as it was a tad nippy. It was only once I got out that this became a problem as I didn't have a change of clothes. However, the day before Matt had bought some Indian dark green striped cotton trousers... yes you read that right, and luckily he had packed them! So I changed into those. Unfortunately in doing so I managed to rip my white Indian style trousers, I'd only bought them the day before! Im not usually one for all these classic travelling style loose trousers with elephants on but in India you really have no choice. It's so hot and you have to cover up so they really are the best form of trousers to wear as they are perfectly light.

We trekked back down the mountain which is always more of a challenge than going up if it's dangerously steep but we managed without any broken bones. Unfortunately, Matt's trousers (made for men without bums may I just add) also ripped during my hike back... he hadn't been worn them bless him! Clearly these clothes weren't made for women with junk in the trunk!

After the waterfall we walked from the hotel down to the Ganges River as Matthew was keen to wash in it as per Rishikesh tradition. Matthew dived in while I, waist deep and fully dressed, enjoyed a quick dip. We then headed back to our favourite cafe along by the bridge called 'Flavour's' for some lunch. Cows are considered a sacred animal in India so they do not eat beef, in fact they have one of the lowest meat consumptions in the world. Therefore, most of the meals in restaurants are vegetarian, unless you go somewhere expensive of course. I am actually really enjoying the vegetarian meals though as I love veg. I've not yet had a meal I didn't really enjoy. In fact I also had a veggie burger at McDonald's which I think I actually preferred! Matt has told me my new found love for vegetarianism will never last, and he's probably right if mum has anything to do with it! Having said all this, when asking Matt what meat he is already missing the most, in which he shrugged his shoulders, I said in possibly the loudest voice considered socially acceptable that I was really missing beef! I really should think before I speak sometimes!

That evening we caught another taxi with Sara to Haridwar for the Aarti at the Ganges River. The Aarti is a Hindu religious spiritual ritual of worship that takes part in three main cities: Rishikesh, Haridwar and Varanasi. The ritual happens every night at sunset no matter what the weather. We purchased a small Diya, with flowers and a candles as an offering for 10 rupees. After lighting the candle, the fire represents the offering for the good health and wellbeing of your family, the Diya is placed into the Ganges River. Hundreds of people do this at one time. Following the ritual, devotees raise there palms to the sky in order to get the blessing of the Goddess. We chose the Haridwar ceremony as it is the biggest, but there are lots of people trying to entice you into making large donations of money to them and the ceremony. One man claiming to be a priest said a prayer for all of us and then wanted 4000 rupee (approx £50). He said this was a donation to the Gods. Now he may have been genuine but in my opinion, after paying for your offering and then again to stand and watch, I didn't feel it was right to pay quite a large amount for a prayer that was said in about 45 seconds. I didn't want to offend him but it is starting to feel that on most occasions when we're enjoying something authentic, it then turns to money. It didn't feel genuine. It's not the fact they want money, it's the fact that it feels that they are trying to trick you into it. It's making me very defensive and sceptical which is not my nature and actually a real shame.
Nevertheless, the ceremony was absolutely amazing to be apart of, we really embraced the atmosphere of it all and got fully involved in the whole ritual. We very much enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone.

After the ceremony, we headed an hour back to the hotel, grabbed some snacks from the organic store, as well as the cereal bars mum shoved into my bag just as I left her at the airport, and enjoyed another chilled evening before bed.