Invitation to Rishikesh
Mansion "Wisdom Villa"

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German version

That's how it looks like. Not really a five star bungalow, but decent enough to live in. Anyway, I'm not here on holiday :-)

My address:

All friends, relatives and acquaintances are invited to visit! This is how to reach me:

1. Get to New Delhi in any way you prefer. From there take the bus (Interstate Bus Terminal ISBT) directly to Haridwar/Rishikesh, or take the train. I recommend the train. Do not take the night bus; it's robbed frequently by armed highwaymen.

2. Go to "New Delhi Railway Station" (be careful: there's an "Old Delhi Railway Station" as well) and buy a ticket. The best train towards Rishikesh leaves at 7 am from platform 12 and is called "Dehradun Shatabdi Express". Buy a ticket in the standard way (consult your travel guide for this) or (recommended) as follows: Opposite platform 12 outside of the station building there's an extra ticket office, where you can reserve a seat one hour previous to departure. Queue up, get a form, fill it in (enter correct train number 2018). As destination enter either "Haridwar" or "Dehradun" (see 3.), submit the form, pay the fee (costs about 500 Rupees, 10 €) and take the ticket. Go back to platform 12, look for the correct train (there are two; the wrong one [to Amritsar] leaves a little earlier), find out your coach and seat (written on the ticket) and relax.
Warning: Never, in no case, follow anybody who offers you a ticket! You'll be cheated mercilessly! Don't even talk to them!!!
Instead go directly to platform 12 (last platform from entry Paharganj) and ask a TT (conductors, generally middle aged, obese gentlemen in white shirt and black suit with name sign) for the train and ticket office.

3. Get off at Haridwar or Dehradun. If you want to sleep in the train, get off at Dehradun, it's the terminal station.

4. To proceed to Rishikesh, there are several possibilities. Three wheeler taxi (from Haridwar), jeep (from Dehradun) or bus from both. Of course you can take a taxi or a motor rickshaw as well, but these are expensive. I recommend the bus. Take a rickshaw to the bus station, enter the correct bus, and off you go. Get down at Rishikesh bus station.

5. When arrived in Rishikesh, call me from the next telephone shop. I'll come to fetch you from there. Alternatively you may take a Rickshaw and give the driver my address.

Have fun and good luck in the journey! Looking forward to see you soon...

Leo