Before I talk about Rishikesh, I’ll tell something about Dehra Dun. I had to pass through Dehra Dun, because my train was stopping there. It’s about 2h by bus to Rishikesh. I took a autorickshaw which was dropping me off at this nice, big, new building supposed to be the central bus station. It look very strange because it was somehow almost empty. I followed the signs for the ticket counters but every singe one was empty. After checking about 20 ticket counter (all about 10m from each other), it seemed the place was somehow like a school during summer holiday. There was some life at the places where the buses left (people selling stuff) and one single counter with a guy giving directions but not selling ticket. Why build about 30 ticket counters when you sell the tickets in the bus?
Also the buses were not fitting in. They were very old, rusty, dirty. Nothing compared to clean and neat bus station. It was like the bus station was not fitting into this city, not really fitting into India. Somehow put there by accident and then abandoned. When my bus finally came there were only like 3 people waiting for it including me. I was looking forward to a nice and relaxed trip. Then the bus left the bus station and as soon as he passed the gate, there was a crowd of 30 people. They were waiting for exactly this bus. More than 30 people in a bus build for 20. Very cosy.
But why have a big, modern, nice bus station which probably cost a fortune here – when the people are not using it at all?
It’s kind of like having churches in East Germany I’d say
😉