Rishikesh, situated in the lap of the Himalayas, has been a place of pilgrimage for Hindus from time immemorial. Ancient temples set amidst verdant forests take you back to the time when the Gods walked the earth. A heaven for travellers!

Rishikesh, the Tapo Bhumi or the place of meditation for the Gods nestles at the foot of the Himalayas. Flanked by hills on three sides and by the Ganges on the fourth, it is a place of surpassing natural beauty. Rishikesh has something to offer all kinds of visitors. Numerous temples attract the devout Hindus while the banks of the Ganga are strewn with the habitats of sadhus and yogis.

Because of the proximity of the Himalayas many trekkers make Rishikesh their base camp from which they set out to seek adventures on the slopes of the mighty mountains. For the adventurous there are other attractions as well. The Ganges, though calmer here, is still turbulent enough to tempt the sporting ones to try rafting on her rapids. But what really gives Rishikesh its worldwide fame is the practice of Yoga. When the Beatles came here in the 60's with their guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi they made Rishikesh known to the western world as the Yoga capital of the world. With such a wide variety of attractions Rishikesh is a major halting spot for any visitor to India.

There are many worthwhile spots to visit at Rishikesh. One of the foremost places of interest is the Lakshman Jhula, a suspended iron bridge constructed in 1939 along the ancient route to Badrinath and Kedarnath. This has recently been reinforced by the Ram Jhula and together they present an awe-inspiring sight. Along the Ganga is the Triveni Ghat where devout pilgrims flock for a bathe and stay to enjoy Maha Aarti performed here every evening. The cool evening breeze and the sylvan beauty of the surroundings make this ghat a peaceful retreat for those who are tired of the clamour and din of city life. Of course a visit to Rishikesh would be incomplete without an excursion to the many temples dotted among the hills.

For the curious the ancient Bharat Mandir holds an irresistible charm. It is one of the few temples in India that are dedicated to the worship of Bharat, the brother of Lord Rama. The story goes that Bharat's mother wanted her son to be king so she extracted a boon from her husband to sentence Rama to an exile of fourteen years. But Bharat refused to accept the gift of the throne thereby exalting himself in the eyes of the populace to the status of a God. Incidently, another temple dedicated to Bharat is the Koodalmanikyam Temple, which is about 21 kms from Thrissur in Kerala. Temples to Rama's other brothers, the twins Lakshman and Shatrughan are also to be found in Rishikesh. Other shrines of importance are the Pushkar temple, Raghunath temple, Venkateshwar temple and the Chandra Mauleshwaran temple.

Besides these Rishikesh also houses another very ancient temple, the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, which is located at a distance of 12 kms form Rishikesh. According to Hindu mythology, when the ocean was being churned for Amrit (nectar that would ensure immortality) it first spewed out venom. Threatened with the danger of annihilation the devotees prayed to Lord Shiva to save them. He drank the venom and it turned his throat blue hence the name Neelkanth. The temple is dedicated to the memory of this event.

Considering the richness of its history and mythology the government has constructed Gita Bhavan to house some of the famous paintings and sculptures depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. Rishikesh has enough to interest the tourist but if you are inclined for further touring there are excursions to many places starting from Rishikesh.

Nature lovers should make the Rajaji National Park at Chilla, 20 kms from Rishikesh their next stop. A reservoir fed by the Ganges is a favourite watering hole for the animals and they can be viewed in large numbers. A tourist lodge near the sanctuary provides adequate rooms for the visitors.

Fifteen kms on the Rishikesh- Chamba road is located the historical town of Narendra Nagar. Built by the King of Tehri, Narendra Singh the royal palace and the magnificent Nandi Bull attract attention.

Devprayag, the site of the holy meeting of the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi, is another stop-over for the pilgrim. It also houses the ancient Raghunath temple.

From Rishikesh there are excursions to the holy shrines of Badrinarth and Kedarnath, situated at a distance of 228 kms, considered the most holy of pilgrimage places for Hindus.

Kunja Puri Temple and Vashishatha Gufa Ashram, both located 25 kms off Rishikesh are also recommended.

Two hill stations that offer a cool retreat during the summer months are Dehradun (43 kms) and Mussorie (77 kms).

Situated as it is at the foot of the hills, Rishikesh enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year. No time of the year is really uncomfortable, but the best time is between the months of May and November.

Accessibility is a bit of a problem. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun, which is 40 kms away. But the railways provide a well-connected service to Rishikesh from all parts of the country. Uttar Pradesh State Transport runs an adequate number of buses from Dehradun to Rishikesh for the comfort of travellers.

Once you have reached Rishikesh you can be sure of comfortable hotels though none are in the five-star class. You could try the Inderlok Hotel, Basera Hotel, Ganga Kinare or Hotel Natraj.

If yoga is what brings you to Rishikesh then the ashrams and yoga centres will offer accommodation as well as teachers. The main Ashrams at Rishikesh are Shivanand Ashram, Muni ki Reti, Mahesh yogi Ashram, Shankaracharya Ashram, Swarg Ashram, Parmarth Niketan, Ved Niketan, Yoga Study Centre, Shanti Kunj and Maa Anand Mai Ashram.

Beautiful Rishikesh with its rich cultural heritage and history is a tourist's delight. Whether you come here to enjoy the scenic beauty, the trekking, to practice yoga or as a pilgrim you will go away satisfied that you have found what you were looking for.

- Sujata S

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