Hello-I'm going to be in Delhi for work at the end of March and am staying on by myself for some vacation. After much agonizing over what to do, I've decided to spend two days visiting Agra and then am spending a week at Ananda spa to relax and hike and see some of the surrounding towns. Originally, I was going to do more of the "Golden Triangle" but it seemed like it was going to be many days with 6-8 hour drives, lots of rushing and changing hotels every night.

I still want to experience some different facets of India rather than just be at a spa for a week. I plan to visit Rishikesh and attend the Ganga Aarti there. I'd also like to go to Haridwar. The hotel can arrange a day trip for me--the Kumbh Mela is going on but they could arrange a trip on a "non-bathing" day. Any feedback on what to expect? Will it be crazy crowded or less so if it is not a bathing day? Also, if you have any other suggestions of things to do in the area so I can assuage some of my guilt at choosing to go to a spa instead of seeing more "traditional" sights for a first-timer, that would be great! Thank you.

Do you know the exact dates of the Ganga Aarti and the Kumbh Mela? A friend was just asking...

<b>Coll</b>, the Ananda is a wonderful place, and please don’t worry about not seeing “traditional;” tourist sights, as you will actually have a chance to see <i>traditional India</i> on your trip, which IMO is far more interesting. First of all, you are close to Rikisesh, which you can happily spend time wandering the little alleys and going into temples and ashrams. The evening aarti is very moving, but you can also make a trip during the days to see the town. There are very few tourists, and it is a very walkable place in a beautiful setting (which is more than I can say for Agra, much as I enjoy that city). There is a charity organization there run called Ramana’s Garden run by an American woman who works with orphans, you may find visiting the orphanage to be a rewarding experience. See http://www.sayyesnow.org/ (The orphanage has an amazing children’s dance troupe which performs at Ananda, which is how I found out about them. The woman who runs it is a force of nature I will say, an amazing spirit.)

The hotel offers some trips, including a free early morning walk up to the Kunjapuri temple which I would highly recommend. They can also help you plan other hikes, I think you would find the area excellent for hiking and there is a good bit of wildlife (my guide on the Kunjapuri hike had seen a tiger just the day prior to our hike). You can also just walk out the hotel grounds and get a taste of local village life by walking around the area; locals will more than likely come out to speak with you (or at least say hello) esp. the children. The hotel also has very good yoga lessons if that is an interest, or even if not one of their private lessons in the outdoor pavilion with peacocks strutting on the lawn is a very memorable experience.

I can’t speak to going to Haridwar even on a non-bathing day during a mela, as I have not been during the festival. There will still be hundreds of thousands of people in town for the festival, which could be wonderful or could be overwhelming. If you have a sense of adventure, I would probably say to go, as it clearly is something you would never forget. I am not sure I would try to attend an aarti in Hardiwar during the festival; that could be overwhelming. (And personally, I found the aarti in Rikisesh to be more intimate and moving than the one in Hardiwar.) But just seeing the town would be interesting. I have always wanted to go for the Kumbh Mela, so post a report if you do go!

Rajaji National Park nearby as well for wildlife viewing which I have not done but might be worth a day trip. Dera Dun is close by and might also be worth a trip for some colonial Raj memories.

<b>lcuy</b>, the hotel has posted a calendar for the Kumbh Mela, which goes on for several months, see http://www.anandaspa.com/kumbh/kumbh_cal_facilities.asp

The town of Haridwar is always very crowded & more so with the Kumbh mela on. It would be impossible on the bathing days, which fall, I think, on 28 March & 14 April???. The town will get to fill up as early as 10 April & none of the tourist services shall be available.
In any case, the Ganga aarti at Rishikesh will, as pointed out by Cicerone, give you a close-up close up view of invocation to the river & lord Shiva.
You could do a lot in Rishikesh. It is haven for water sports. You could also take some most wonderful hikes above Shivpuri.
Incase, you are looking forward to a wildlife tryst - I have some great memories of the Corbett during the Easter holidays - Corbett is but a few hours drive from Rishikesh. The Infinity Resort is a fine property to overnight. The able gillies will help you catch a Mahaseer or two, on the Kosi, which flows below this resort.
Enjoy your travels!

Thank you very much for the replies.

@lcuy -- looks like Cicerone provided a link to the bathing dates and the aarti in Rishikesh seems to be a a daily evening ritual performed at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram according to papers Ananda emailed me.

@Cicerone and vp_singh -- thank you for the additional ideas. I appreciate you taking the time to provide some thoughtful, detailed information. The trip came up fairly last minute and after considering various permutations of Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Varanasi and Agra, I went in a totally different direction. Thanks for helping me feel good about my plan! The more I learn about the area, the more excited I am for the trip and to discover this part of India. I will report back later in April.