Rishikesh Religious Place

Rishikesh: Explore, meditate and experience magic

Peacefully nestled in the soothing foothills of Himalayas in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, Rishikesh has been the melting point of religion, spirituality, yoga, meditation, healing and self discovery for several years. This beautiful little town, also known as 'Place of Sagas', is located at the confluence of river Ganga and Chandrabhaga, bestowing a magical appeal to the vicinity. It is also called as the 'Adventure Capital of India' as tourists can enjoy river rafting and trekking to the Himalayas.  The International Yoga week held every February here is known for attracting a large number of spiritual enthusiasts from all over the world.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Rama practised penance here in Rishikesh for killing Ravana, the main antagonist in the Ramayana. It is also believed that the Lakshman Jhula was created by Lord Rama's younger brother Lakshmana by a jute for crossing the Ganges river. Several ancient temples are also found in Rishikesh, few of them being Shatrughna Temple, Lakshman Mandir and Bharat Mandir. Rishikesh shot into limelight with the Beatles visiting the sacred ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the late 60s.

The main attractions of Rishikesh

Triveni Ghat: The term 'Triveni' means 'three' and 'confluence.' It is believed that the Triveni Ghat is the confluence of the sacred River Ganga, Yamuna and legendary river Saraswati. Tourists love experiencing the divine trance created by the 'Maha Arti' performed every day during dusk. Legend reveals that Lord Krishna, after mistakenly being shot by a normal hunter called Jara, did visit Rishikesh. The Swami Narayan Mission Society offers the boat service which lets the tourists enjoy the very best of views and enraptuing experiences.

Trayambakeshwar Temple: This unique temple is located in the centre of Rishikesh, quite near to the Lakshman Jhula. Known for its unique features, the temple is also called as Tera Manzil Temple. Its imposing size due to its 13 storeys makes it a unique attraction in the town.Adi Guru Shankaracharya founded the temple in the 12th century. The magnificient Lingam of Lord Shiva adorns the beauty of the temple. It is also believed that the Lord Shiva fulfils the wishes prayed here.

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple: This holy temple of Lord Shiva is located around 12 km away from main town. It is located near to the Nar Narayan mountain ranges. It is believed that the Lord Shiva drank the poison 'halahala' after the Gods and the Demons had churched the ocean to obtain 'amrita'. The churning of the ocean, called as 'samudramanthan' has been depicted in the forms of idols of gods and goddesses over the temple.

Bharat Mandir: Known for being one of the most ancient temples of Rishikesh, it is believed that Adi Guru Shankaracharya installed the idol of Lord Vishnu in this temple on the sacred day of Basant Panchami in 789 AD. This event created a religious custom, practised every year during Basant Panchami, when the Shaligram is taken for a holy and sacred dip in the Mayakund and then reinstalled in the temple.

Laxman Jhoola: Constructed quite close to the Ram Jhoola, which is a similar suspension briidge, the Laxman Jhoola is mythologically believed to be built by Lord Rama's younger brother Lakshmana while he crossed the River Ganges on jute rope. After being destroyed by fooding and water inundation, the 450 feet suspension bridge was built again in 1939 by the British.

Excursions from Rishikesh

Offlate Rishikesh has become the sought after hot spot for river rafting, kayaking, cliff diving, kayaking and bungy jumping. Learning classical dancing and jewelry making are also one of the top favourites along with learning the beauty of yoga and meditation. Tourists can also visit near by places such as Haridwar (20 km),  Dehradun (46 km) and Mussorrie (73 km), , Hemkund Saheb (285 km) and Valley of Flowers (290 km).

When to Reach: Tourists come and visit Rishikesh all round the year. Though, the ideal time would be between August and October, along with February and March.

How to Reach:
Air: Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest one to Rishikesh, situated at a distance of 35 km.
Rail: The closest railhead to Rishikesh is in Haridwar which is 25 km away from it.
Road: Decent bus connectivity makes it quite easier to reach Rishikesh through road, especially from cities like Delhi, Dehradun, Mussoorie, Haridwar and Mathura.