Sandra, Day 6
The day didnt start very well, after several phone calls and 90 minutes waiting our driver finally arrived. Today we wanted to go to Rishikesh and Hardwar to see the pilgrims washing off their sins in the holy Ganges. After an exciting drive through the whole town we had to find out that the road was closed. We were very disappointed since this was the last day in Dehra Dun for Kevin. We started to figure out some new targets and the driver tried to bargin with the price, which wasnt acceptable for us 
So we decided to visit the Tapkeshwar Mandir Temple first, which is 7,5 kilometres from Dehradun. The temple is a cave housing naturally cast “Shiva-lings” that date back to more than 5000 years. The Hindu worship those stones because they believe that the godness Shiva dropped them on the earth. This temple area was huge and there was alot to see, pitty i cant post all pictures on this blog.
Next we wanted to go to Sahastradhara to visit another temple. While heading there we saw a golden cupola shimmering in the sun and asked the driver to bring us there first. As we found out it was the Gurudwara Nanaksar, which is some kind of temple where the “Sikh” worship their Gurus. Gurudwara means “the doorway to the Guru”. Before we entered we had to take our shoes off and also cover our head.
After some smalltalk with the Sikh dudes we continued our travel to Sahastradhara. The temple there was surrounded by hills with natural sulphur springs and a river which people been using as swimmingpool again. One thing that really drives me mad about India is that people throw there trash everywhere, which often makes a beautiful place look like a trash bin.
Next up on list “Robbers Cave” popularly known as Guchhu Pani. After passing the river without falling into the water we wanted to explore the cave. After taking our shoes off we tried to go into the cave but the stones just hurted too much on our feets, so we never found out whats in the back of the cave.
Next we went to Clement Town to see the golden Buddha Statue and the Mindrolling Monastery. The Monastery is situated on a specially chosen spot surrounded on four sides by the Himalayas and Shivalik Mountains, and the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. This place was amazing and there was so much to see. I took alot of pictures of the whole area and the monks, pitty we couldnt go inside the Stupa. On the several floors inside the Stupa are shrine rooms with elaborate murals excuted in the finest tradition of Tibetan Buddhist art. Sacred relics have also been placed in the Stupa. Anyways that place was still worth visiting and i got some nice souvenirs from the shops there.
The 31m high Buddha Statue was very impressive. The Statue was dedicated to the Dalai Lama and below the statue is a temple room with beautiful wall paintings.
Last place to visit for today was the Gurudwara Ram Rai.
This Gurudwara was established by ‘Ram Rai’, the 7th Sikh Guru. There is a legend behind the creation of this Gurudwara. The great Sikh guru Ram Rai was casted away for becoming the Sikh guru and he was forced to go away from his home town and settle down in Dehradun valley and then built the famous Ram Rai Gurudwara of Dehradun.
That was a great day but now i need to relax my poor feets and might get a Pedicure tomorrow at the Spa
