I'm back in the Himalays! Albeit, a lot lower down at just 370m altitude. Hence, Rishikesh is a lot hotter than Mcleod and only slightly cooler than Amritsar. I had to get up around 545 to get to Amritsar station for my train to the nearby city of Haridwar. The whole journey was a bit.. dull. It was in fact very easy using the train here in India. Nothing like the images of horrific overcrowding, this was a fancy commuter train between 2 big cities, equipped wit...

It's been a hot sweaty day here in Punjab! I set out of my hostel, by far the nicest I've been in so far in India. After a stop for an unidentifiable breakfast (some form of beans i think, with a very good bread!) I headed to the Jalianwala Bagh. Jalianwala Bagh is the site of where Colonel Dyer massacred innocent civilians in the name of the British Empire 100 years ago in a turning point that signalled the escalation of the resistence to British rule. It was a...

I'm in Punjab! A surprisingly small region that packs a punch as India's economic, agricultural and cultural powerhouse where a significant proportion Indian/Pakistanis in the West can trace their roots. It's been a long gruelling day but one to remember. India's government public buses are a once in a lifetime experience. Once. Having made my way to McLeodGanj Bus station and successfully deflected tuk-tuk drivers trying to convince me it wasn't a bus station,...

It's been a relaxed day here in Himachal. I got up around 9 and decided it best to head into the Himalayas earlier rather than later to beat the rain. I promptly headed uphill in completely the wrong direction. After heading downhill and having a strong coffee I found the right way to the Bhagsunang Waterfall. On the way there I passed through the Bhagsu Hindu temple. Bhagsu is a strange touristic town, the upper reaches the preserve of hippies and backpackers, ...

I'm slightly underwhelmed by McLeodGanj-Dharamsala-Bhagsu etc. Its a bit confusing because they're three seperate towns that sort of merge into one touristic area. Dharamsala is actually not frequented by many tourists and is the main population centre. McLeodGanj is the Tibetan Capital in Exile and so is the centre of the Tibetan peoples in the region. Bhagsu where I'm staying is a mish mash of yoga retreats and backpacker inns on the hills and concrete benidorm...