Rishikesh
Rishikesh is situated in the Dehradun district in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand. Considered as one of the holiest cities in India, Rishikesh is a very popular travel destination with both Indian and foreign tourists. Rishikesh gets its name from Lord Vishnu who is said to have appeared before the sage Raibhya as a reward for his penance. From ancient times, Rishikesh has been a favorite spot with the sages who have meditated here with the lofty hills of the Himalayas and the majestically flowing Ganga for company. River Ganga, the sacred mother Goddess of the Hindus and beloved of all Indians possesses a mystique shared by very few rivers in the world. Situated just 24 km from Haridwar, at the confluence of the Chandrabhaga and the Ganga, Rishikesh, is renowned as a centre of spirituality from times immemorial, and abounds in temples. Known as the gateway to the Himalayas, Rishikesh is the starting point of the Char Dham Yatra to Kedar Nath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Lying at an altitude of 1360 feet, and surrounded on three sides by verdant hills with the holy Ganga flowing through it, it is no surprise that the beautiful landscape and the clean, pure air breathes serenity, peace and spirituality.
The holy city of Rishikesh covers five distinct sections comprising not only the town but also settlements along the banks of the river Ganga. These include Rishikesh, the commercial centre. Muni-ki-Reti or the suburbs where the sandy beaches lie,, Shivananda Nagar, the home of Shivananda Ashram and the Divine Life Society founded by Swami Shivananda, the temple section in Lakshman Jhula, and the various ashrams around Swarg Ashram.
Triveni Ghat is a popular bathing ghat where pilgrims take a dip before they visit various temples. The ghat is aptly named Triveni as it is believed to be the meeting point of the three holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. The evening Ganga ‘arti’ ceremony is a spell binding and spiritually elevating experience. The Bharat Mata Mandir, built by Adi Shankaracharya and said to be the oldest temple in Rishikesh has the idol of Lord Vishnu carved out of a single black stone called saligram. Near the ghat is Rishikund where the saint Kubz is believed to have been blessed by the goddess Yamuna who filled the pond with water. The pond reflects the temple of Raghunath, dedicated to Lord Rama and his consort Sita.
The swarg Ashram area comprises many ashrams, cafes and shops. This is one of the most fascinating parts of Rishikesh for those interested in spiritual exploration. Kali Kumbliwale ashram founded by Swami Vishnudhananda and Parmarth Niketan ashram are two of many ashrams one can visit. One of the oldest and well known ashrams is the Shivananda Ashram also known as the Divine Life Society. It runs many yoga and meditation courses. The Gita Bhavan, one of the oldest temple complexes, founded in 1950s, is famous for the paintings from the epics that adorn the walls. The Transcendental Centre of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is situated in this area.
Neelkanth Mahadeo temple, situated at a height of 5500 ft, just 12 km away from Rishikesh, commands a spectacular view of the surroundings. It is believed to be the spot where Lord Shiva drank the poison that came out during the churning of the ocean.
Situated just 2 km from Swarg Ashram is Lakshman Jhula, a 450 ft long bridge across the river Ganga built in 1939. It is believed that Lakshman crossed the river using a bridge made of jute ropes. The river Ganga abounds in fish which are fed by pilgrims. There is a newer bridge called Ram Jhula too. There are several temples on either side of the river including the well known Lakshman temple at Tapovan. An interesting ashram, very popular with tourists is the Kailash Niketan temple, a thirteen storey structure with sculptures of gods and goddesses, with each storey dedicated to a different deity.
Besides the temples and ashrams, there are other monuments to delight a visitor like the Tomb of Fateh Jung, which exhibits a fine blend of Islamic and Hindu influences in its architecture. The Ganga Museum has an extensive collection of 18th and 19th century paintings of the Mughals and Rajputs. The Vijay Mandir Palace and the Jaisamand Lake built in 1910 by Maharaja Jai Singh are very popular with tourists. Just 17 km from Rishikesh is the Rajaji National park at Chila, one of the biggest parks in North India, situated at the converging point of the Himalayan foothills and the Indo-Gangetic plains. It has a good collection of wildlife including leopards, tigers and wild elephants.
Narendra Nagar, 15 km from Rishikesh is located in the town of Narendra Nagar built by the king of Tehri Narendra Singh. It is a town of historical and archeological importance with a royal palace worth visiting. Kunjapuri, near Narendra Nagar, situated at a height of 7000 ft, and covered with dense forests has the Shakti temple set on top of the hill, commanding a breathtaking view of the Himalayas. Just an hour’s drive from Rishikesh is Vashishta Goofa or cave where saint Vashishta meditated on the banks of the river Ganga. This serenely peaceful place is a perfect place for meditation.
Rishikesh gained world wide attention when the Beatles came here in search of salvation and to meet Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Rishikesh is a popular travel destination for those who wish to learn about yoga, meditation and spirituality. It is popularly called the ‘World capital of Yoga’ and there are many ashrams in Rishikesh offering courses in yoga and meditation. A one week International Yoga Festival is conducted here annually.
Rishikesh is a popular haunt of those interested in adventure sports like white water rafting trekking, camping, and skiing in addition to pilgrimage, yoga and meditation.
The holy city of Rishikesh covers five distinct sections comprising not only the town but also settlements along the banks of the river Ganga. These include Rishikesh, the commercial centre. Muni-ki-Reti or the suburbs where the sandy beaches lie,, Shivananda Nagar, the home of Shivananda Ashram and the Divine Life Society founded by Swami Shivananda, the temple section in Lakshman Jhula, and the various ashrams around Swarg Ashram.
Triveni Ghat is a popular bathing ghat where pilgrims take a dip before they visit various temples. The ghat is aptly named Triveni as it is believed to be the meeting point of the three holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. The evening Ganga ‘arti’ ceremony is a spell binding and spiritually elevating experience. The Bharat Mata Mandir, built by Adi Shankaracharya and said to be the oldest temple in Rishikesh has the idol of Lord Vishnu carved out of a single black stone called saligram. Near the ghat is Rishikund where the saint Kubz is believed to have been blessed by the goddess Yamuna who filled the pond with water. The pond reflects the temple of Raghunath, dedicated to Lord Rama and his consort Sita.
The swarg Ashram area comprises many ashrams, cafes and shops. This is one of the most fascinating parts of Rishikesh for those interested in spiritual exploration. Kali Kumbliwale ashram founded by Swami Vishnudhananda and Parmarth Niketan ashram are two of many ashrams one can visit. One of the oldest and well known ashrams is the Shivananda Ashram also known as the Divine Life Society. It runs many yoga and meditation courses. The Gita Bhavan, one of the oldest temple complexes, founded in 1950s, is famous for the paintings from the epics that adorn the walls. The Transcendental Centre of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is situated in this area.
Neelkanth Mahadeo temple, situated at a height of 5500 ft, just 12 km away from Rishikesh, commands a spectacular view of the surroundings. It is believed to be the spot where Lord Shiva drank the poison that came out during the churning of the ocean.
Situated just 2 km from Swarg Ashram is Lakshman Jhula, a 450 ft long bridge across the river Ganga built in 1939. It is believed that Lakshman crossed the river using a bridge made of jute ropes. The river Ganga abounds in fish which are fed by pilgrims. There is a newer bridge called Ram Jhula too. There are several temples on either side of the river including the well known Lakshman temple at Tapovan. An interesting ashram, very popular with tourists is the Kailash Niketan temple, a thirteen storey structure with sculptures of gods and goddesses, with each storey dedicated to a different deity.
Besides the temples and ashrams, there are other monuments to delight a visitor like the Tomb of Fateh Jung, which exhibits a fine blend of Islamic and Hindu influences in its architecture. The Ganga Museum has an extensive collection of 18th and 19th century paintings of the Mughals and Rajputs. The Vijay Mandir Palace and the Jaisamand Lake built in 1910 by Maharaja Jai Singh are very popular with tourists. Just 17 km from Rishikesh is the Rajaji National park at Chila, one of the biggest parks in North India, situated at the converging point of the Himalayan foothills and the Indo-Gangetic plains. It has a good collection of wildlife including leopards, tigers and wild elephants.
Narendra Nagar, 15 km from Rishikesh is located in the town of Narendra Nagar built by the king of Tehri Narendra Singh. It is a town of historical and archeological importance with a royal palace worth visiting. Kunjapuri, near Narendra Nagar, situated at a height of 7000 ft, and covered with dense forests has the Shakti temple set on top of the hill, commanding a breathtaking view of the Himalayas. Just an hour’s drive from Rishikesh is Vashishta Goofa or cave where saint Vashishta meditated on the banks of the river Ganga. This serenely peaceful place is a perfect place for meditation.
Rishikesh gained world wide attention when the Beatles came here in search of salvation and to meet Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Rishikesh is a popular travel destination for those who wish to learn about yoga, meditation and spirituality. It is popularly called the ‘World capital of Yoga’ and there are many ashrams in Rishikesh offering courses in yoga and meditation. A one week International Yoga Festival is conducted here annually.
Rishikesh is a popular haunt of those interested in adventure sports like white water rafting trekking, camping, and skiing in addition to pilgrimage, yoga and meditation.
