Rishikesh Trip

Day one

This was one trip that I was looking forward to for many days now. I was handling the biggest group of my life; it was 120 people for NDTV MEDIA. It began about a fortnight back, when Karan, from Priya kapoors called up our office and had a talk with harpreet. Then began the process of negotiating the costs and many other factors. To finalize everything Priya Kapoors herself came to Delhi and then visited the camp to inspect the facilities and services, after being satisfied with the arrangement we started the process of managing this mammoth group.
The group began to reach Delhi on 9th Oct, it started at 6 in the evening with some misunderstanding with the training company people at the airport, but soon it was resolved. Almost 50% of the group was coming from various cities in the country the rest was from Delhi only. It took us about 4 hours at the Domestic airport to receive the group as they were coming from different flights. All of them were to assemble at NDTV MEDIA gurgaon office. Soon we realized that air conditioning in one of the bus at the airport was not working, after an animated discussion with simit ( the Priya kapoors guy) and with the transporter, we decided to change the bus on our way to rishikeh in Delhi. The journey back to gurgaon was an eventful one on the Shining Endeavour of the company, with the driver Gopal showing his skills on the road. It nearly give a heart attack to one of the client.
Later simit and I went for booze shopping, the shops at Iffco Chowk, gurgaon had a killing as we shopped for snacks and water bottle for 120 people.
We all started the journey to Rishikesh about an hour late and by the time I reached Delhi-UP border after changing the bus and tanking up the fuel tanks, Simit had called me about 30 times. At the border all the drivers were given instructions to stop at Rossette inn for some snacks.

We reached Rossette Inn at about 3 in the morning; half of the group didn’t even left their seats and were sleep. Soon we realized that we are one bus short, then began the panicky situation between Simit and Karan, but after I had a talk with the driver they calmed down. The 6th bus reached there about 30mins later. After some small discussion with the drivers and some more instructions we all left for Rishikesh. The later part of the journey was uneventful as everyone except Naveen and the drivers were sleeping. We reached Rishikesh at 7:30 in the morning and the shivpuri campsite about an hour later.

On arriving the camp, I was left stranded for an hour at the parking to guard the luggage, which looked like a small river of bags. When I reached the camps, there was chaos as some people didn’t got their luggage, soon with some shouting( on the camp staff) it was all taken care of . Then everyone had their bath and were at the breakfast area, while we were running from place to place for the arrangements. Soon with the help of the 2 walkie talkie ( I got 4 but only 2 worked) we were able to manage things easily.

We had booked 2 camps due to the size of the group, one of the campsites was at the beach and the other one was up at the road. The camps were at a beautiful location, with mountains all around you and the river on one side moving with a thunderous noise. After breakfast the group assembled at the lawns of the upper camp, for briefing session. They were already divided into 10 teams, with each team having a slogan, flag, team t-shirt and a marshal. Due to the size of the group, there were two simultaneous activities planned. For river rafting 5 teams were chosen and the remaining five for trekking. I went for the rafting and for the trekking a team of our staff who knew the trek very well was sent.
Originating from the heights of the great Himalayas, river Ganga speed down with all fury and its takes a true adventurer’s guts to ride on. Rafting put to test your strength, both physical and mental, and it is in this that the whole excitement of rafting lies.

The rafting was a fun as always, with our guide successfully maneuvering the rapids, and keeping us afloat. The body surfing on the rapids was something to look forward for my future trips also. We reached the camp at lunch time; I was to go on with the next group on the next stretch about which I had heard stories of raft getting flipped. After lunch when we all assembled with a new group for rafting, I found out that in this group due to more people there was no space left on the rafts so I decided to go for this stretch the next day.

One of my friends were at the camp( I have fixed them there), so I met her there after almost 3 years despite being living in the same city and talking to each other almost everyday.
So with all the teams busy in their activities, we( I, Harry, Naveen and vijendra) were left with virtually nothing to do and then we all decided to sit at the stream near by and enjoy the nature.

After about and hour there, we went on to check out the dinner arrangements. The evening cocktail party was a huge hit with the group( the party was the at upper camp as parties are not allowed at the beach). I and Naveen were at the bar, and I had loads of fun making some very interesting cocktails with whatever we had.
There were live performances by a small unknown band and soon everyone was crooning along. We had to unwillingly shut down the music by 10 pm due to the regulation there. The party continued after dinner with a small group of enthusiastic people returning to the bar.
Later we (I, Harry and Naveen) had our dinner with some RUM and then we were off to our special alpine tents.
The next day had lots of work and fun in store for all of us.

Udit bhalla
http://www.adventures-india.com