Welcome back to our personal travel log! We love sharing our journeys, day-to-day life, and all the details of our stays with you.
Now, if you’ve followed us for even a little while, you’ll know my husband and I are passionate about fitness, just not in the traditional “gym” sense.
We much prefer activities like walking, yoga, and Zumba—anything that helps us keep our bodies, and especially our hearts, fit.
As long-time yoga enthusiasts, we’d always dreamed of practicing in Rishikesh, the ‘Yoga Capital of the World,’ but had never gotten the chance. We finally decided to make the trip, specifically to experience something beyond our usual practice. After a thorough search, we booked a 3-day Aerial yoga session at a studio in Tapovan. It was all a very spontaneous plan, so we didn’t have time to arrange any other bookings.
We just hopped in the car and drove to Rishikesh with no hotel booked! Once we got there, we checked out a few places in Tapovan near our yoga class and picked one that felt right.
The two-hour morning yoga session was an absolute blast—we tried aerial yoga and instantly connected with a few new friends. We all ended up chatting for a good half-hour afterward. That’s when we found out they were staying in a hostel and had an epic night, making friends with other travelers and staying up super late.
They also suggested we move from our hotel to their hostel, The Social Stays, so we could all spend more time together at night and head to yoga together in the morning. It sounded like a great idea, and since our one-day hotel booking was just about to end anyway, we decided to make the move.
Trust me, that impulsive decision truly added life to our trip and saved us a few thousand rupees! From its perfect location to its hygiene and food, everything at The Social Stays was excellent, and all well within our budget.
We checked in that afternoon, and after a quick one-hour nap, we decided to take advantage of the lively play zone, which was packed with games like pool, foosball, and carrom. The group that convinced us to move—two Indian girls and one Israeli couple—instantly became our playmates. We spent the next hour bonding, and from that moment on, we did everything together.
The location of The Social Stays is a huge benefit; it sits right in the heart of Rishikesh, within walking distance of Laxman Jhula and the site of the new landmark, Bajrang Setu, the highly anticipated glass bridge over the Ganga river. We headed there in the evening, followed by the beautiful aarti at Triveni Ghat.
We were exhausted afterward, so we returned straight to the hostel. We ordered food and tried to rest, but no one was ready to sleep! Instead, we all decided to pile onto the sofa and watch a movie. They even have a projector set up right there, perfect for streaming your favorite content together on OTT platforms.
The Israeli couple were interested in watching an Indian movie, so we suggested watching 3 Idiots. The staff at The Social Stays were incredibly helpful, setting up the projector and guiding us through all the settings. The next couple of hours were a fun movie session, sipping hot tea while relaxing on the sofas.
The following morning, we repeated our routine: yoga, then breakfast at the hostel. The Social Stays is perfectly situated. Beyond being close to Laxman Jhula and the yoga center, it is surrounded by a wealth of fantastic cafés. This means you can easily access the best food and atmospheres, all within a short walk.
Anna’s Mess became our next stop for lunch. I was particularly craving some authentic South Indian food, and everyone decided to go with my choice—and I can honestly say I haven’t eaten such excellent South Indian food anywhere in North India!
We ordered a feast: Medhu Vada, Masala Dosa, Ragi Dosa, Uttapam, Plain Dosa, and a Parotta, sharing it all among ourselves. It was unbelievable how every single dish was so good you can’t choose a favorite. Anna’s Mess is an absolute must-visit if you’re staying anywhere in Tapovan.
The best part is that The Social Stays is not only close to Anna’s Mess but is also surrounded by numerous great café options, including Ganga View Cafe and Beatles Cafe, making all your meals easy.
Later that day, after lunch and a quick nap back at the hostel, the evening became a beautiful mix of calm and fun. The first half was pure serenity: we enjoyed our coffee at the hostel’s rooftop café. It was perfectly decorated with ambient lights, featuring a spectacular mountain view and soft music playing. We spent that time soaking in the quiet beauty without much talking, and it felt completely perfect.
The second half of the evening, however, was much more happening. As new guests checked into the hostel, one of them pulled out a guitar. When he started playing,the entire group joined in to sing along—even though we were all terribly out of tune! But sometimes, it’s not perfection that is required; it’s about sharing the enjoyment of the moment. And it’s always easy to be yourself with people who don’t judge you.
We met exactly this kind of wonderful group at The Social Stays. Isn’t this the essence of hostel life? It’s about the social circle, meeting new people, gaining fresh insights, and having new perspectives on everything. Even better is the freedom to enjoy yourself with people you just met in a new place. And when a hostel provides the perfect space for that, it truly is the cherry on the cake.
The Social Stays proved to be just that. They offered us a peaceful rooftop café, an amazing open space for games and movie nights, and, of course, clean, hygienic rooms and warm service.
The next morning, it was time to bid goodbye to our new friends. After exchanging numbers and Instagram IDs—to share the hundreds of photos we’d been clicking on our phones—we parted ways. While these kinds of numbers are seldom dialed after the initial few months, the beautiful moments and shared memories we made will undoubtedly stay with us forever.
That’s it for today! We’ll be back very soon with a detailed account of our Aerial yoga session. Until then, we wish you happy travels: make wonderful plans, meet new people, and live your life to the fullest!
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