Mr and Mrs Gour’s Ultimate Anniversary Trip to Uttarakhand with Thrillophilia
Every trip has its charm, but there's something about Uttarakhand that speaks to your soul.
Our anniversary escape to the hills was a beautiful concoction of nature, spirituality, and a hint of adventure, crafted by the folks at Thrillophilia.
Oh, and what an experience it was – a rollercoaster of emotions, fun, and a dash of drama!
The Great Escape
You know that feeling when you're all set for a trip, yet your mind is a whirlwind of things like “Did I lock the door?” and “I hope we didn’t forget anything!”
Well, that was us. But once the flight took off, the excitement hit us.
Rishikesh was our first stop, and oh boy, what a vibe! As soon as we checked into our hotel, Aloha on the Ganges, we were greeted by the ever-so-gentle breeze of the Ganges that whispered, “Relax, unwind, and let go.”
A perfect start for our Uttarakhand rendezvous.
Then we went to see the iconic Ram Jhula and Laxman Jhula. But as we approached, we were greeted by a sign that said, "Laxman Jhula closed for construction."
Not going to lie, it was a bit of a letdown. But, we moved on to Ram Jhula and let the sight of the sun dipping behind the mountains make up for it.
An Evening with the Ganges
If there’s one thing you must do in Rishikesh, it’s attend the Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan. Now, this is where things got real.
The atmosphere, the chanting, the smell of incense—it felt like a spiritual detox. We stood there mesmerised, hands joined in prayers, and for a moment, everything else faded.
There’s something humbling about watching the Ganges flow; it makes you feel small yet connected to something much bigger.
The magic of the place had us completely in its grip.
The next day was all about Haridwar, and it felt like we had walked into an ancient epic. Each temple had a story, and each story had a heartbeat. The Vaishno Devi Temple transported us straight to Jammu, minus the long trek.
The Bharat Mata Mandir was a love letter to India, a towering symbol of the country’s rich tapestry of history and culture.
Maya Devi Temple, though, had a peculiar sense of stillness to it. It felt like time had paused there. Maybe it was the aura of devotion, or maybe it was just the quiet beauty of the place, but we found ourselves lingering longer than we planned.
My wife, a history buff, couldn’t stop narrating the tales she knew about the goddess. By the time we left, it felt like we’d walked in as tourists and emerged as pilgrims.
That Never-Ending Road to Joshimath
The road to Joshimath was… long.
Not kidding.
Nine hours on winding mountain roads, passing through Devprayag, Rudraprayag, and Karnaprayag, witnessing the breathtaking confluence of rivers, was a sight straight out of a painting.
But here’s where the drama kicks in—mountain roads, while scenic, have this special ability to mess with your stomach.
“Pull over! I’m gonna…” Before I could finish, we had stopped for a quick “adjustment” break. Let’s just say, mountain roads: 1, us: 0.
But despite the dizziness, the beauty around us kept us going. Each confluence felt like nature’s masterpiece, and by the time we reached Joshimath, we had forgotten all about the bumpy ride.
The Snowy Dream
Auli, also known as the Switzerland of India, is everything it promises to be. Blanketed in snow, this place felt like stepping into a winter wonderland.
My wife, who's not exactly a fan of the cold, was wrapped up in layers but still couldn't resist the allure of the pristine white landscape. I, on the other hand, was ready to channel my inner adventurer.
Skiing in Auli? Well, it was a mix of thrill and oops moments. Let’s just say, after a few falls and lots of laughter, I managed to stay upright for more than 10 seconds.
My wife cheered from the sidelines, but even she couldn’t resist giving it a shot. "Watch me, I’m a pro!” she joked, only to slide down and end up face-first in the snow. We laughed until our sides hurt.
Later, we visited the famous Auli Artificial Lake and enjoyed a chairlift ride with views that felt straight out of a postcard. The ropeway offered panoramic scenes of snow-capped peaks that made us feel like we were floating amidst the clouds.
We didn’t say much; we didn’t need to. The view said it all.
But it wasn’t just about the thrill; it was about the quiet moments too—standing on top of a snowy hill, gazing at the Himalayas, feeling a sense of peace wash over us.
We wrapped up the day with a visit to the Chenab Lake, which felt like the perfect ending to our Auli adventure.
The mirror-like water, the towering peaks, the cold breeze—it was nature's way of saying, “Come back soon.” And we knew we would.
Farewell, Uttarakhand
Our trip ended with a bittersweet drive back to Delhi. As the mountains disappeared in the rearview mirror, we couldn’t help but feel grateful—for the moments of laughter, the shared silences, and the memories that we packed along with our bags.
And as we said goodbye to Uttarakhand, one thing was clear—this wasn’t the end. It was the beginning of more adventures, more stories, and more moments to cherish.
People say know—
“Travel is not just about the places you visit but the stories you bring back.”
Thank you, Thrillophilia, for making this a trip to remember.
Read more: Thrillophilia Uttarakhand Reviews