‘For the very first time, I actually belong somewhere’: Dutch filmmaker recalls emotional Rishikesh visit

A Dutch filmmaker and storyteller has shared how a recent trip to India, particularly a visit to Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, left her with an emotional sense of belonging that she said she had never experienced anywhere else. Isha Branderhorst described the moment in an Instagram video, recalling how she began crying while walking across a bridge in the holy city.

Branderhorst said the experience in Rishikesh affected her in a way she had not expected. Known for its yoga centres, ghats and the Ganga, the city has long drawn visitors from India and abroad looking for peace, reflection and spiritual experiences.

“I have never felt a sense of belonging until I walked on the bridge in Rishikesh, and it just hit me. I started to cry,” Branderhorst said.

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A post shared by Isha | Storyteller & Filmmaker (@isha.branderhorst)

‘For the very first time, I actually belong somewhere’

Branderhorst said the tears came as she walked through Rishikesh and described the moment as particularly significant because she had found it difficult to cry for a long time.

“Just for the information, I wasn't able to cry for such a long time because I was just carrying such a harsh layer around me, and I tried to protect myself so much,” she said.

She recalled that the emotions eventually surfaced as she continued walking.

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“And that time, I was just walking, and I cried, like tears were coming out of me. And I felt like for the very first time, I actually belong somewhere,” she added.

According to Branderhorst, the experience gave her a feeling of connection that she had not previously associated with any place in the world.

Social media users share their interpretations

Her video drew reactions from users who offered their own interpretations of what she experienced in Rishikesh.

One user said the city had a distinctive atmosphere and described its “very different and strong vibes”, adding that they experienced something similar whenever they visited.

Another commenter said Branderhorst had found the emotional connection she had been seeking.

“It was your sentimental attachment to that soil. You found what you were looking for. God bless,” the user wrote.

A third commenter gave the experience a spiritual interpretation, saying different Indian cities were associated with different deities. Referring to Rishikesh as a city of Mahadev and Vrindavan as one associated with Krishna, the user said people who felt close to the “parmatmatattva”, described as the God code within oneself, could experience such places subconsciously.

The commenter added that visiting holy sites could also bring intense emotions, saying they too had cried at the thought of such places.

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Another user reflects on identity and self-image

Another reaction focused less on the spiritual aspect and more on the idea of identity.

The user argued that experiences in India could challenge the identity a person carries and leave them disconnected from the image they have built of themselves. According to the commenter, maintaining that image can become a burden because people may spend significant time protecting and justifying it.

“What India does is destroy the very identity you carry, leaving you disconnected from the image you have of who you are,” the user wrote.

The commenter added that constantly maintaining an image of oneself can eventually become so consuming that a person may forget what it means to simply live.

Branderhorst’s account of her time in Rishikesh has therefore prompted a range of responses, from personal memories of the city’s atmosphere to broader reflections on spirituality, belonging and identity.