The river Ganges, which flows out of the lap of the
Himalayas, leaves the mountains and flows on to the plains
at this point. The Ganges in its untamed and turbulent
form gushes over the craggy mountain sides and in Rishikesh,
it changes into a serene, calm river.
Flowing
beneath the shadows of thick green forests, the beauty
of Ganges never fails to attract the tourists who come
here. In spite of being a very small town Rishikesh is
still very well known as an important pilgrim center.
That's why when you go strolling down the banks of this
river towards the various ashrams you find not only Indians
but also Americans, Japanese, French, Germans and other
Europeans in meditation. Rishikesh is called a town of
sages and temples. Today,
this town is a combination of the ancient tradition
and modern progress. This has enhanced its glory. In
spite of progress its natural beauty is still untouched.
That is why Rishikesh is very popular with tourists.
Close by water sports like river rafting, etc are conducted.
Boating has its own charm.
1160 feet above sea level,
Rishikesh is 25 kms from Haridwar. According to the
ancient holy books, its earlier name was Kubjamrak.
The four famous pilgrim centers of Garhwal-Badrinath,
Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri all share Rishikesh
as their common gateway. In the old days, these pilgrim
centers were very difficult to cover. But now there
are roads from Rishikesh to these points making traveling
easy. So, not only do the pilgrims go to these places
but also tourists.
Rishikesh is popular with the
foreigners. The various Yoga asanas taught on the banks
of the river Ganges draw them to this place. Many yoga
centers are found here.
A person visiting Haridwar invariably
visits Rishikesh. Since the distance is not too much,
one can take a bus, train, taxi or even a three-wheeler.
Tourist spots :
Lakshman Jhula: This
is a bridge made out of steel wires made in 1939, over
the river Ganges. This bridge swings from side to side.
This bridge is 150 meters above sea level. Once you
cross this bridge, you reach Swarg Ashram.
Ram Jhula:
Near Swarg Ashram this is another swinging bridge which
was made a few years back. This is also called Shivanand
Jhula.
Triveni Ghat:
This is where people come to bathe in the river. Many
sit on the steps and gaze at the beauty of the Ganges
before them. Surrounding it are many temples.
Temple of Bharat: The
oldest and most talked about spot of Rishikesh is the
temple of Bharat.
Swarg Ashram:
This place is full of Ashrams and temples. The spiritual
atmosphere here calms many souls. Plenty of stores and
restaurants are found around here.
Neelkanth Mahadev:
12 kms from Rishikesh is this temple at a height of
1700 metres where there is a peaceful and calm forest.
Narendra Nagar: 15
kms away on the Tehri-Chamba Road, is a small town known
for its historical memories. The ruler of Tehri Kingdom
Narendra Shah founded it. The palace is exotic.
Kunjapuri:
Close to Narendra Nagar, 7000 feet above sea level,
this pilgrim center is surrounded by the jungles of
Banj Burans. Its peaks and valleys are worth a view.
Dev Prayag: Situated
on the Rishikesh -Badrinath road, this mountainous spot
is the place where the rivers Alaknanda and Bhagirathi
meet. When they flow out of here, they are together
called the Ganga. An old temple of Ram here is well
known.
Travel Plans :
Air: The closest
airport is the Jolly Grant which is 18 kms away. One
can get there from Delhi.
Road: The Government
operates regular bus services from Delhi, Agra, Dehra
Dun, Mussoorie, Haridwar, Chandigarh, Shimla, etc.
Shopping :
Handicrafts made with shells, pearls, etc and also
colourful semi precious stones. Close to Ram Jhula is a
place called Gita Bhavan where one can buy bedsheets,
sarees and various other clothes. The asafetida of
Rishikesh is very famous.
Distances from cities and towns :
| Cities |
Kms |
| Haridwar |
24 |
| Dehra Dun |
42 |
| Mussoorie |
77 |
| Kedarnath |
228 |
| Badrinath |
297 |
| Delhi |
238 |
| Chandigarh |
252 |
| Uttar Kasi |
154 |
| Gangotri |
258 |
| Yamnotri |
288 |
|
