Back to the task in hand. Marathon training. I’ve arrived in the foothills of the Himalayas – surely there’s no better place to run? I’ll literally just step out my door and set off in any which way I like and it will be wonderful. Or not, as the case may be. I’m met with running not possible here, danger too much, too much hilly, Sunrise? You want see sunrise? I am taking you sunrise. Uh no, I just want to run, I’m surrounded by mountains and I don’t believe any of you.
Change of plan. If you want something in a touristy area in India you have to pay. Now I just want advice but I figure I am willing to buy something for that advice. A silver ring I decide should be sufficient if I can find the right jeweller. Enter Arun who provided me a 10km circuit, an out and back route along the ganges, advice against where I was considering to run that evening as the wild elephants and come out at dusk to drink from the ganges along that route and a lovely silver ring. Pretty decent for 700 rupees I thought (7 pounds).
This was the start of a week of fantastic hill running. An initial run included many incredulous stares, people sticking phones out of car windows to capture the ridiculous westerner on camera and three young lads running along with me in flip flops. One of them in particular was keen to tell me that he was very into running – his specialties being the 1600m and wrestling.
Having now scoped out the possibilities, early the next morning I did the most beautiful 2 and a half hours I have ever run – the views were spectacular, the roads empty and the Indians along the way were encouraging if a little baffled. I found myself involved in a downhill 11k race at one point with a particularly enthusiastic Indian man intent on pulling me along by the hand, a lorry driver wanting a picture of me and his friend, and the army offering me water.
Rishikesh being as it is the yoga capital of the world, means I have also found the perfect evening yoga class to stretch out on a rooftop as the sun goes down. Bliss.
Scottish Girl Runs 
This is one of my favourites – and I love the photo of you and your man. Cracked me up that guy trying to pull you along by hand, and imagining what the Indians must have thought of you running through their country. You’re so tough I love it!
PS that yoga spot looks lovely
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Where abouts is this magical run!? I’m in Rishikesh now and I brought my runners..dying for a good run!!
Thanks
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Hi Morgan!
So I was staying in laxman jhula – that was my starting point. So if you run from there down the Main Street towards Swarg Ashram. you head out the road and it splits after about 10 minutes if I remember correctly – you head LEFT up the hill rather than staying close to the Ganges. You run through the bus station / jeep station and it’s one straight road up up up through trees for about 20 mins. You get to the top and it’s a t junction – go left and you will see rishikesh from above after 10 mins or so – great view! Then you just continue all the way down the other side – you can see rishikesh the whole time at this point so you won’t go wrong. You come back on to the main road and go left back onto the Main Street. Probably 10km or so. There’s a jeweller called Arun – an old genuine friendly guy – on the Main Street in laxman jhula – he told me about the run so if you can find him he could help you! Go early morning – there could be wild elephants in the evening.
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Love your post! I’ll be heading to Rishikesh in a month. How early is too early to get a morning run in? Is it safe to go for a run in the early morning when the sun isn’t up yet?
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Thanks Marguerite! Your blog is lovely – just read your “nobody promised us a rose garden” post – really liked it.
I wouldn’t really go running before sunrise as a female alone- the roads are quiet and you just never know. But in a months time sunrise will be about 0530-surely you don’t want to go out earlier than that?! Enjoy!! It’s a wonderful place 😉
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Hi there!
I’m about to head to Rishikesh and Dharamsala and am a runner also. Did you find any good routes you would be willing to share with me?
Also, any advice on what to wear while running? I don’t think my regular clothes will fly but was unsure if it’s okay to wear the tight yoga pants while running outside?
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Hi Mushi387! OH you’re going to RIshikesh – I am jealous! So there were 2 main routes, one is about 10km and goes out of town up into the mountains and the other just followed the Ganges as far as you want then come back. Starting point for me was the side of Rishikesh where there are lots of tourist – not at the bridge called Ram Jhula, but further south I think, Sorry it was 5 years since I was there and having checked google maps and I don’t recognise much. But you can head south out of Rishikesh on Rte 7 then onto Rte 34 then take a right towards Chidderwala I think then just carry on along there as long as you want and it was quite quiet. The 10km route went up into the hills out of rishikesh… I think it might have been rte 34 in the other direction but I can’t link it up on google.
I wore below the knees lycra cut offs then with a loose t-shirt on top and I think that was fine. Enjoy!
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Thanks so much! It looks like if I keep following rt 34, it goes into rajaji national park. Does that sound familiar? Did you feel safe running by yourself (with regards to people and animals both!) ?
Appreciate the info, looking forward to getting my run on over there! 🙂
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I looked up raja national park on google – I don’t remember going through there – I think I would take a right up towards Chidderwala, but the national pari sounds like a better bet!
Yes I did feel safe there was no problem with that, I would only going out in daylight though (although it is pretty hot!). Just have to be careful of elephants at sunset I think – they come down to the river at that time 🙂
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