Know Everything About Rishikesh | Rishikesh Tourism 2023 | DevdhamYatra

Tourism in Rishikesh| Rishikesh Tourism 2023|Everything about Rishikesh

Rishikesh is located in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal region right on the banks of the river Ganges. This ancient city has several mythological and religious legends associated with Lord Vishnu, Lord Bharat, and various prominent sages and is said to have been established in the 9th-century AD by Adi Shankaracharya.

The scenic beauty of Rishikesh is due to its location at the foothills of the lofty Garhwal Himalayas and is accentuated by the mighty Ganges cutting right through the city. The picturesque city looks stunning between the riverside promenades, acres of forests, lush mountains, and clear blue skies.

The city is synonymous with its grand temples, rituals, architectural marvels and yoga ashrams. Every temple here, be it the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Raghunath Temple, or the 13-storey Trimbakeshwar Temple, has its own beautiful legend that attracts people from all over the world. The twin Ram & Lakshman Jhulas are outstanding architectural feats in themselves. These suspension bridges span for over 750 ft. over the Ganges. There are numerous ashrams here that lead people into the spiritual world of ancient forms of yoga, meditation, and vipasana to cleanse their soul and de-stress.

Rishikesh offers offbeat and adventure activities too. If you are not enjoying the adrenaline rush of white water rafting available up to grade 6, you can spend time enjoying amazing experiences like cliff jumping, kayaking, body surfing, etc. There are picturesque waterfalls here like Patna fall and Neer Garhi fall, etc. that are perfect to escape into the raw wilderness of nature. If you are the spiritual kind, you can’t miss attending the jaw-dropping spectacle of the Maha Aarti.

The summer months (March-June) here are extremely hot & humid with temperatures reaching up to 36°C. Winter months (October-February) are cold and sunny with temperatures dipping to a low of 6°C, making them the best months to visit. Monsoon months (June-September) see a lot of rains accompanied by humidity.

Main Highlights of Rishikesh:

Longitude & latitude: 30°06′30″N 78°17′50″E
Weather: sunny, cloudy, windy, snowy, and rainy
Sea Level: 372m
Near Visited places: Ram Jhula, Lakshman Jhula, Ganga Arti, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Rishikund.
Things to Buy: Precious and semi-precious stones, holy music CDs, puja items, woolen clothes. handicrafts
How to reach: By bus, car, train, flights

History of Rishikesh:

Rishikesh has been a part of the legendary “Kedarkhand”. Legends state that Lord Rama did penance here for killing Ravana, the asura king of Lanka; and Lakshmana, his younger brother, crossed the river Ganges, using two jute ropes at the point where the present ‘Lakshman Jhula’ is located. The ‘Kedar Khand’ of Skanda Purana, also mentions the existence of Indrakund at this very point. The jute-rope bridge was replaced by a 248-foot-long iron-rope suspension bridge in 1889. After it was washed away in the 1924 floods, it was replaced in 1927 by the present stronger bridge built by the United Provinces Public Works Department. 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.

The Ganges, one of the most sacred rivers to Hindus, flows through Rishikesh. Here the river leaves the Shivalik Hills in the Himalayas and flows into the plains of northern India. Several temples, ancient and new, are along the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh. Shatrughna Mandir, Bharat Mandir (Lord Vishnu’s avatar), Lakshman Mandir are the ancient temples established by Adi Shankaracharya. Shatrughna Temple is near Ram Jhula and Lakshman Mandir is near Lakshman Jhula.

How to reach Rishikesh Uttarakhand:

By Air:

JollyGrant Airport is located in Dehradun district and is the nearest airport to Rishikesh which is around 20 Km away by road.

By Train:

Rishikesh railway station offers well connectivity and is situated in the town itself.

By Car:

Rishikesh is well connected by road from New Delhi which is around 250 km away and from Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, which is around 50 km away.

By Bus:

One can travel to Rishikesh by Government Buses from Dehradun or Delhi directly. Direct buses are available from respective bus depots.

Famous Places to visit in Rishikesh:

Rishikesh is known for its temples, spirituality, and adventure sports. Below are listed some of the top places to visit in Rishikesh:

Triveni Ghat:

Triveni Ghat is a ghat situated in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. Triveni Ghat remains overcrowded with devotees to take ritual baths to get cleansed from their sins. It is believed that the ghat was visited by Lord Krishna when he got hurt by the arrow of Jara – a hunter. The ghat is famed for the Ganga aarti performed to the chants of Vedic hymns. The sight of oil leaves, filled with Diya and petals, which are released by devotees, floating on the pristine Ganga and the traditional aarti is a sight to hold on to. It tops the must-visit place in Rishikesh in the list of all those who wish to explore the religious sanctity of this place.

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple:

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, a must-visit temple near Rishikesh, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is situated at a height of 1330 meters and is located about 32 km from Rishikesh in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, India. The temple architecture is very much influenced by the Dravidian style of temple architecture.

The temple is one of the most revered holy shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site.

Divine Life Society:

The Divine Life Society (DLS) is a Hindu spiritual organization and an ashram, founded by Swami Sivananda Saraswati in 1936, at Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh, India. Today it has branches across the world, the headquarters is situated in Rishikesh. Also, many disciples of Swami Sivananda have started independent organizations in Mauritius, the US, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, South Africa, South America, and Europe. It is a must-visit place in Rishikesh for all spirituality seekers.

The Beatles Ashram:

Beatles Ashram, also known as Chaurasi Kutia is an ashram close to the north Indian city of Rishikesh in the state of Uttarakhand. It is located on the eastern bank of the Ganges river, opposite the Muni Ki Reti area of Rishikesh, in the foothills of the Himalayas. During the 1960s and 1970s, as the International Academy of Meditation, was the training center for students of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who devised the Transcendental Meditation technique. The ashram gained international attention between February and April 1968 when the English rock band the Beatles studied meditation there, along with celebrities such as Donovan, Mia Farrow, and Mike Love. It was the setting for the band’s most productive period as songwriters, where they composed most of the songs for their self-titled double album, also known as the “White Album”. It is a must-visit place in Rishikesh for all creative minds.

Jumpin Heights:

Jumpin Heights is India’s first and the highest Bungy at Rishikesh, Tapovan, set at a formidable height of 83 meters, over the river Hull, a tributary of the river Ganga. It is the only Bungy facility in India to be recognized by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, for Bungy operations in the country. Along with Bungy, Jumpin Heights Rishikesh also offers India’s most extreme Giant Swing (height: 83 meters) and Asia’s Longest Flying Fox (Length:1 km) and is a must-visit place in Rishikesh for adventure lovers.

Top best hotels in Rishikesh:

Aloha On The Ganges

Check here: https://www.alohaontheganges.com/

Lemon Tree Hotels

Check here: https://www.lemontreehotels.com/beta.aspx

Veda5 Ayurveda & Yoga Retreat

Check here: https://www.vedafive.com/

Salvus Hotels

Check here: https://salvushotels.com/

Live free Hostels

Check here: https://www.livefreehostels.com/hostel/Rishikesh

Shopping places in Rishikesh:

Rishikesh is famous for quite a few products like pooja essentials, sarees, shawls, and religious artifacts. There are a few great places to shop from which are listed below: