This place of worship is an abode of Gods. It is surrounded by the Shivalik range of the Himalayas on three sides. Rishikesh holds a deep spiritual and cultural significance for visitors. It is the starting point of the Hindu Char Dham Yatra including Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath to seek spiritual salvation.
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How does The Place know As Rishikesh? The word ‘Hṛṣīkeśa’ is believed to have been derived from two words: hṛṣīk which means senses, and īśa which means master, referring to Vishnu, the master of the senses, who had appeared in that form (Hrishikesh) to bless Raibhya Rishi. As per several mythological stories, the history of Rishikesh states that a famous saint named Raibhya Rishi performed penance on the banks of the Ganga River rigorously, as a reward for it Lord Vishnu appeared to him in the form of Hrishikesh. Therefore this place became renowned after Lord Vishnu’s name Hrishikesh which later came to be known as Rishikesh.
By What Name is Rishikesh Also Known? This place is also known as Agni-tirtha, as it is believed that Agni deva had prayed here in penance, after earning the wrath of Shiva. Rishikesh is also mentioned in the puranas as the place where Vishnu had defeated the powerful asura, Madhu. Rishikesh has been a part of the legendary ‘Kedarkhand’ (the present-day Garhwal). The ‘Kedar Khand’ of Skanda Purana, also mentions the existence of Indrakund at this very point.
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About The Town History of Rishikesh – The town of Rishikesh also plays an important role in the epic Ramayana, because it is in this sacred town that Ram along with his brothers came to offer penance after killing Ravan. While Ram performed his penance a little ahead of Rishikesh in Devaprayag, his two younger brothers Lakshman and Shatrughna performed it on the side of the river Ganga in Rishikesh.
The point where the two brothers meditated has two temples to mark the sacredness of the spaces. The point where Lakshman had crossed the Ganga had a jute-rope bridge for many centuries, which remained as such until 1889, after which an iron-rope suspension bridge name Lakshman Jhula was built to facilitate the pilgrims. After this bridge was washed away in the 1924 floods, a new one was built in its place by the Jhunjhunwala family from Kolkata.
A little distance away from Lakshman Jhula, near Sivananda Nagar, another similar suspension bridge was built in 1986, which was named Ram Jhula. This bridge connects the two districts of Tapovan, Tehri and Jonk, Pauri Garhwal. Another similar suspension bridge Ram Jhula was built in 1986 at nearby Sivananda Nagar. Ram Jhula is also known as Sivanand Jhula.
Lord Rama’s younger brother has also performed deep penance in Rishikesh. Therefore Bharat Temple is named after him located near Triveni Ghat, a grand temple of Lord Vishnu. The historical records also mention that some pilgrims used to stay at Rishikesh as a resting place before moving onwards to the higher mountains for the pilgrimage while a larger number used to visit Rishikesh as the original destination. However, Rishikesh has in recent decades shifted from a pilgrim to a tourist town.
Nowadays About Rishikesh – The International Yoga Festival introduced in year 2000 has brought a new influx of tourists. Local markets have evolved from commercializing goods such as “local and religious handicrafts” to a more service-oriented tourist industry with “provision stores, cafes, hotels and yoga and meditation” as well as water sports.
Yoga Capital Rishikesh – Located in the Northern part of Uttarakhand, Rishikesh promotes a serene environment for yoga and meditation. The Yoga festival celebrated in Rishikesh is most popular in India and abroad. Yoga experts and teachers from different parts of the country participate in this yoga festival. Ganga Arti, a religious ceremony celebrated in Rishikesh is one of the major attractions for tourists.
The people interested places to visit in Rishikesh include Bharat Temple, Lakshman Jhula, Ram Jhula, Kailash Niketan Temple, Neelkanth Mahadev, Vashisht Cave, Kunjapuri Temple, Gita Bhawan, Swarg Ashram, and Raja Ji National Park.
About Lakshman Jhula Rishikesh – Lakshman Jhula is built over the river ganges flowing from Rishikesh to Devprayag. This bridge connects the border areas of Tehri and Pauri Garhwal. Ramchandra Ji’s younger brother Lakshman performed penance here. After his name, this hanging bridge is known as the Lakshman Jhula. A grand temple of Lakshman is also situated in the vicinity of the bridge.
After crossing Lakshman Jhula, Kailash Niketan Temple is situated. This is a 13-story temple structured slightly differently from regular temples. The temple has sculptures of all the Gods and Goddesses.
Shatrughna Temple is located near the Ram Jhula (on the Sivananda ashram side), while the Lakshman Temple is located near the Lakshman Jhula. These are the two places where the two brothers had meditated, and the sacred sites now hold temples in their names.
Ram Stambh is also located in Rishikesh. It is a monument dedicated to Ram, which collects all the paper chits that come with his name written on them. It is near the Ram Jhula.
This article is prepared by Varun Puri
