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On the Road to Tarkeshwar
The Canadian boys - Ivan and Greg, Karina (French part of Canada), Francesca (Italy), Silvia (U.S.A) and I survived the 6 hours taxi ride to Tarkeshwar. Some of the drive was spectacular if a little scary. We drove through one area of mountainous road where there had been a bit of a land slide and left the spare wheel behind in the mud. It was soon retrieved and hoisted onto the roof rack.
At last we arrived, all be it a tad bone sore at this little peace of heaven far, far from the madding crowds of India. I think we all breathed a collective deep sigh.
This is where Swami Rama lived for many months.(It is Swami Rama’s ashram where I am staying in Rishikesh).Tarkeshwar has a small very old Shiva temple, a very old ashram where we stayed, forests of tall pine trees and the cave where Swami Rama used to live. It is quite high in the Himalayas and the air is cool, clean and clear. You can hear beautiful bird calls and there are monkeys playing in the tree tops. The ashram dogs are joyful and the
food is amazing. A very special place to be.
The crazy thing is that I think I could actually live somewhere peaceful like this. I no longer feel the need for lots of people, theatre, restaurants and lots of ‘life’ as I used to. Not necessarily here in Tarkeshwar, or even in India, but I think I will need somewhere peaceful.
Getting to Swami Rama’s cave was a real feat for me, but one that I had to attempt. As you can probably see from the photo, we had to skirt a deep valley and then climb a very steep, slippery, twisting path, more of a goat track than anything. I would never have made if without my trusty stick and the odd helping hand. But it was worth it. I am an absolute devotee of Swami Rama’s and to sit where he must have sat in seclusion for many months was very special for me. The climb down was even more difficult and more than once I thought that I might do it the extra quick way, but once again, helping hands were there.
Three of us shared a room but some little
night creatures decided that they would like to join us. One was a huge, huge rhinoceros beetle about 6cm long. He was flying around the room while we all flew around the room yelling for the boys in the room above to come and help. They did. Five minutes later I spotted a large spider. The boys were called again but I think they were as scared as us. The spider was eventually persuaded outside, but unbeknown to us crept inside again as there he was the next morning. Oh well, that’s what happened living in the middle of a forest.
The three days consisted of long walks through the forest, lots of meditation sitting on fallen logs, yoga under the trees as the sun came up, reading and eating. The food was really something and one night we had locally collected ferns that only grow during the monsoon season. Very special and very delicious - truly! After dinner we all would get together and there would be Indian music, singing and even a bit of dance. I wish I could convey the feeling, I can’t do it justice.
It was time to leave and we
all felt a little sad. Karina loved it so much that she decided to stay a while longer. Goodness knows when we shall see her again!
But it’s not so bad being back here at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama. The monsoons started with vengeance this morning so the temperature has gone down which makes things easier. I went into yoga at 5.15a.m. and it was dry and hot, I came out to mini oceans of rain everywhere. The rain doesn’t bother me as it isn’t cold. You just have to give into it and enjoy plashing through the puddles like a child. Easy for me!
Sorry that all the photos are out of order, but that feature on this site seems no to be working!
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Jackie
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jackiewilliams1@bigpond.com
Fabulous photos Beverley. Thanks for sharing - feel like I'm there. Enjoy and keep safe. Jackie xxxx