Rishikesh and Manali

Spent Monday and Tuesday in Rishikesh, a paradise several hour east of Delhi where the Himalayan mountain range meets the Ganges river. We went rafting, hiking and swimming in the river. Incidently three Hindu Gods live in that river, although a little down stream from where we were, but they have about 15 million so I guess they have to live somewhere.
In many ways Indians have had a hard time of it, the people who had their capital in Delhi lost nine successive battles from the 1600s (that's relegation form), then got bossed about by the British for a century and dragged into a world war in which the Nazis had nicked one of their favourite squiggles. They don't get to eat beef because someone decided cows, of all creatures, are sacred and barely drink, that's not to mention the grinding poverty. However, they've done allright with Rishikesh. The hills are dotted with waterfalls and te river is lined with white sand, it must be one of the most naturally beautiful places around.
Manali - further north, still in Himilayas - is also brilliant, but right now its raining and I'm only here for a short while. Everyone is stoned here, cannabis practically grows by the side of the road like, well like grass.
The Delhi bomb casualties grew to about 30 the next day, don't know what it is now. I did speak to some people but didn't get a story together.