Gateway for pilgrims: Muni Ki Reti, Uttrakhand
Muni Ki Reti, is located around 27 kms from the town of Rishikesh and one needs to exit Rishikesh to reach the river Banks of Muni Ki Reti. Situated at an altitude of around 1496 feet above sea-level this holy place is today a dwelling campground. Dubbed by many locals as the next Shivpuri of Uttrakhand.
The literal meaning is “Sand of the sages” so Muni Ki Reti is traditionally considered the gateway for the Char Dham pilgrimage — Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. It is also known as the place where King Bharata of Ramayana did penance.
The best way to reach Muni Ki Reti is by self driving or hiring a taxi from the town of Rishikesh. Be prepared for a bumpy ride all the way from Rishikesh to the river bank. The latter part of the road trip is pretty much driving through barren unpaved roads which have nothing but gravel and river pebbles to drive on.
Over the years, Muni Ki Reti has transformed from a meditation and yoga hub to a place which is known for its campsites by the river side. If you’re planning on camping here, then make sure that you reach the location before sundown or driving the last stretch of the road is one hell of a task if you’re new to this side.
Another downside is that the network is very bad so you have to pretty much rely on the place having Wi-Fi. This again is very unlikely since Muni Ki Reti is actually pretty remote so much so that it’s more a place for people who want to disconnect from their phones rather than for people who are socially connected and need to be continuously online. If you are somebody who falls in the latter category, then this is in the place for you to go camping. If you are someone who is looking to disconnect from civilisation then Muni Ki Rati is the perfect place for you.
Driving through Muni Ki Reti will give you the feeling of how unpaved roads in Ladakh and Spiti Valley used to be in the early 2010s. Make sure you are driving in a car which does not have a very low ground clearance or you’ll end up ripping the flooring off your car.
Once you reach Muni Ki Reti accommodation options are in plenty there are tons of campsites and cottage stay options along the river banks. All these campsites have their own private swimming pool and some direct access to what they have termed as their own section of the river stream.
Food options are again mostly vegetarian and limited to Indian food options only. The campsites operate with an all inclusive meal plan which covers everything from your lunch, dinner, breakfast and even evening tea in most cases.
Muni Ki Reti
Spending time by the river side is something which is an absolute must while in Muni Ki Reti since this is one of the few places where you won’t actually have too many people around you while on the banks of the river Ganga.
Make sure to carry enough money in cash since there are no ATMs and with the internet being a hit and miss in this region, it’s best to come with enough money so as to not complicate things on your vacation.
The best time to visit Muni Ki Reti is during the dry months from October to June. Monsoon is a no go during the months of July to September with rising water levels, it’s pretty much impossible to make your way around this river bed camping destination.
