Rishikesh, Haridwar - Yoga Capital of the World
Rishikesh, popularly referred to as the 'Yoga Capital of the World', is heaven to all spiritual seekers and serenity lovers. Large number of ashrams (spiritual hermitage), yoga centers and meditation classes has turned Rishikesh into a health resort. The meandering Ganges, surrounding hills and Hindu shrines make Rishikesh one of the popular places of visit for tourists and devotees. The evening prayers on the ghats of the Ganges bring in a large crowd of visitors. Rishikesh is not only a holy town but is also getting popular for its white water rafting and is an important gateway for treks to other Himalayan towns.
It also acts a base to devotees traveling to Haridwar, Kedarnath and Badrinath. For international tourists, this city in the Lesser Himalayas is the ultimate place for rejuvenation through meditation and crystal healing methods. An international yoga festival takes place here every year during the month of February.
The best time to visit is from September to March as this is the rafting season here.
Rishikesh - Background
According to Hindu beliefs, Rishikesh is the site where Lord Vishnu appeared and vanquished the demon called Madhu. Other legends also reveal that Rishikesh gets its name after Lord Vishnu appeared to Raibhya Rishi to bless him after his hard penance. The Lakshman Jhula is considered the site from where Lord Rama's brother crossed the Ganges.
Places to see in Rishikesh
Rishikesh is home to uncountable temples, ashrams and smaller shrines.
Laxman Mandir - The 1200-year-old shrine dedicated to Laxmana, is the only temple in the country devoted to the brother of Lord Rama who is believed to have crossed the Ganges from Rishikesh. There is also a temple dedicated to Bharata, the youngest brother of Lord Rama, who also meditated here.
Triveni Ghat - The evening aarti or prayers take place on the Triveni Ghat along the Holy Ganga. It is one of the beautiful places in Rishikesh and devotees take holy dip in the river early in the morning. It is also the intersection point of the three rivers- Ganga, Saraswati and Yamuna. Tourists can sit for hours on this ghat and enjoy the cool breeze.
Lakshman Jhula - This suspension bridge is a landmark in Rishikesh now and was made a permanent structure only in 1889. Earlier, it was a hanging bridge made of jute rope to cross the flowing Ganga below. The Ram Jhula is a similar bridge that connects Swarg Ashram with Shivanand Ashram on the other side of the river.
Swarg Ashram - Also known as the heavenly abode, the site of Swarg Ashram is a beautiful place situated on the left banks of Ganga and you need to cross the Lakshman Jhula to reach this place. The ashram is popular for its mediation and yoga classes and tourists often enroll for a long session. The place also finds a mention in the holy texts such as the Puranas.
Neelkanth Mahadeo Temple - The highest temple of Rishikesh that is situated at 5000 feet. Devotees often trek the hill from the Swarg Ashram. According to Hindu mythology, this was the site where Lord Shiva drank the venom after Sagar Manthan (churning of sea for amrit) and his throat turned blue (Neelkanth). The Neelkanth Mahadeo Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and a fair is held in its premises in July-August. There is a spring adjacent to the temple and the place offers picturesque views of Rishikesh town.
Adventure sports in Rishikesh
White water rafting in the Ganges, camping, trekking and kayaking are prominent adventure activities that tourists indulge in besides sightseeing and yoga services. The first camp for bungee jumping was also started in Rishikesh.
