Deepak Chopra's India

Guidebooks will direct most visitors to India's must-sees: Delhi, the Taj Mahal and surely the all-important Ganges. But in the March/April 2008 issue of Endless Vacation magazine, author and spiritual guide Deepak Chopra invites Westerners to experience India the way he most appreciates it.

In his first column for the magazine, Chopra contemplates the transformative powers of three uniquely Indian holy cities located along the Ganges. The full article is available at http://endlessvacation.com/TravelTactics/Inspired-by-India.aspx. Some highlights include:

Rishikesh: "The holy Ganges cascades from its glacier-fed source in the Himalayas to emerge through a gorge and enter the foothills town of Rishikesh. A mix of pilgrims, yogis, hippies and curious tourists gather here to enjoy the tranquil energy and the many temples and ashrams. Three life-changing experiences (for visitors to the city): Meditate in the cave where the Hindu sage Vasishta practiced centuries ago; chant with the orphans during the evening aarti (a Hindu ritual, with song) at the Parmath Niketan ashram; and take a dip in the ice-cold Ganges."

Haridwar: "Some 30 miles downriver is Haridwar, the gateway to four sacred pilgrimage towns in the Himalayas. The main attraction here is Har Ki Pauri, a riverbank bazaar. During the aarti ceremony, the air is filled with melodious chanting and the warm sent of incense as devotees set lamps and flowers afloat on the river. The Ganges glows with hundreds of flames, carrying the hopes and dreams that become one with the Absolute."

Varanasi: "Some pilgrims come to India's holiest city (also known as Benares) to be cleansed of their sins by bathing in the Ganges; others come to mourn and cremate their loved ones. The day begins at sunrise, with wading pilgrims offering prayers to the sun and the holy mother. In the evening, the river is alive with the sounds of bells and chanting and lamps lit for the aarti. Burning ghats, or funeral pyres, lines the banks. All at once, in Varanai, you experience birth, death and life."