Why We Added Rishikesh (And Almost Didn't)

When we began drafting the Before Maps catalog, Rishikesh seemed completely antithetical to our mission. It is India's most famous spiritual tourism hub - crammed with yoga ashrams, river rafting agencies, vegan smoothie bars, and souvenir stalls. It felt too crowded, too marketed, too noisy.

Yet on a scouting trip in late November, I woke at 04:30 AM and walked down to Triveni Ghat. The commercial shops were pitch black. In the pre-dawn stillness, a handful of local priests were chanting ancient Sanskrit hymns over brass oil lamps, their reflections rippling across the dark, powerful current of the Ganges. The sacred depth of the place was undeniably present - simply waiting beneath the midday noise.

The Design Breakthrough: Instead of treating Rishikesh as an isolated weekend tourist stop, we connected it across the Shivalik range to the ancient kingdom of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh - a 7.5-hour scenic drive into the mountains that almost no commercial tour operator runs.

Chamba is an ancient Himalayan kingdom that was never conquered by Mughal or British armies due to its natural mountain fortress geography. It preserves 1,400-year-old stone Shikhara temples, living bazaars, and the extraordinary 84-temple complex of Bharmour perched high among deodar forests.

The Contrast: By pairing the visceral river energy of the Ganges with the timeless, quiet temple architecture of Chamba, we created a journey that explores sacred Himalayan geography through an entirely original editorial lens.