Many decades after the painstaking filming of "Apocalypse Now" gave rise to the country's perhaps first surfing destination when the film crew left their surfboards behind, the name Baler had become synonymous with surfing. While Colonel Kilgore in the film referred to the Viet Cong as "Charlie" who "don't surf," in real-life Baler, everybody surfed.

Rishikesh, also known as the "Gateway to the Himalayas" and the "Yoga Capital of the World," was one of the Hindus' holiest places. It was a pilgrimage site dotted with centuries-old temples. The River Ganges, which was considered sacred in India, began its flow in the state of Uttarakhand, where Rishikesh was located. Made famous when the Beatles visited in the winter of 1968, Rishikesh had become a place where one could find spirituality, tranquility, adventure, culture, good food, and more. Here were some things to do and places to see in Rishikesh to learn more about it.