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| || The Past || Don't Miss || Festivals || When to Go || Getting There || |
Rishikesh,
the 'place of sages' is an eminent spiritual town on the banks
of River Ganga and is surrounded by the Shivalik range of the
Himalayas on three sides. It is the starting point for the Char
Dham pilgrimage of the Hindus, wherein pilgrims go to Yamunotri,
Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath to seek spiritual salvation.
Proclaimed in the '60s by The Beatles as the 'Yoga capital of the world', Rishikesh surged into eminence when the cult group met their guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi here. Not only an ideal destination |
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for pilgrims, Rishikesh is the place to head for those who want
to delve deeper into meditation - Yoga and aspects of Hinduism.
Aside from its wonderful scenery and the numerous pilgrimage
sites it offers, Rishikesh is famous as a popular adventure
sport destination for river rafting, trekking, rock climbing
and hiking. |
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According
to Hindu mythology, the sage Raibhya Rishi did severe penance
and, as a reward, God appeared to him in the form of Hrishikesh.
Rishikesh also represents the site where Lord Vishnu vanquished
the demon Madhu. The place is known as the Tapo Bhumi or the
place for meditation of the Gods. Tapovan, on the other bank
of the Ganges, houses a temple dediated to Lakshmana. It is
believed that Lakshmana, the younger brother of Lord Rama, carried
out penance here. The Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is believed to
be the site where Lord Shiva had drunk the venom that came out
during the churning of the ocean. |
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The
Lakshmanan Jhula (a suspended iron bridge)
was built in 1939 and has been a major tourist attraction. Legend
has it that Lakshman crossed the River Ganga on jute ropes built
on the very place where this new iron bridge stands. A site
offering wonderful views, during the monsoon season, the water
level of the river increases considerably along with the speed
of the current. Close to the Lakshman Jhula is another suspended
bridge called the Ram Jhula.
Bharat Mandir, the oldest temple of Rishikesh, was built by Adi Shankaracharya. The inner sanctum of the temple has an idol of Lord Vishnu carved out of a single saligram (marble). Statues, coins, pots and other items of historical importance have also been excavated from the premises of the temple. Known for its substantial work on Hinduism, |
Parmarth Niketan organizes marvelous
Ganga Aarti and Hawan on the Parmarth Ghat every evening. When
here, watch out for one of the 13 most important Goddesses of
Shivalik range, Kunja Puri, which also offers
a scenic view of the sunrise and sunset on the Greater Himalayan
Peaks.
The Triveni Ghat is the main ghat in the town, which witnesses pilgrims taking a holy dip during the day and the Ganga Aarti during the evening. Close to the Triveni Ghat is Rishikund, a pond reflecting the temple of Raghunath, dedicated to Lord Rama and Sita. The Neelkanth Mahadev Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is the place where he drank the venom which had oozed out when the ocean was being churned for amrit (potion for immortality). The Shivanand Ashram, situated
close to the Lakshman Jhula conducts lectures, discussion and
meditation and yoga classes daily. In case you plan to stay
for a longer time, contact the Secretary at least a month in
advance. |
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The International Yoga Week is held here for a week every February, which sees masters in the art of Yoga performances from all around the world in Rishikesh to teach a variety of Yogic disciplines. Discourses by spiritual masters and scholars are also provided and cultural programs are held. |
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Rishikesh
is best visited in the months of September to March.
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The nearest airport is Dehradun (Jolly Grant), 25 kms Vayudoot services operate from Delhi to Dehradun (Jolly Grant). |
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Rishikesh
is connected by rail via Haridwar (24 kms), to Howrah, Bombay,
Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi and Dehradun. |
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By
road Rishikesh to Haridwar 24 kms, Dehradun 47 kms, Mussoorie
77 kms, Badrinath 301 kms (Son Prayag), Kedarnath 228 kms, Gangotri
258 kms, Yamunotri 288 kms (Hanuman Chatti), Srinagar 105 kms,
Joshimath 252 kms. |
