The Ganga cuts its passage through the last foothills and enters a complex of three localities. First is the area where the famous Laxman Jhoola bridge spans the river and lends its name to the locality, then comes Muni-ki-Reti (sands of the sages) where the wise ones spent time in devotion, meditation and yoga, and then comes the expending township on the bank of the river. The whole complex is called Rishikesh. Pilgrims flock to this gorge-centred town, 40 km from Dehra Dun. Ashrams, or religious retreat centres, offer lessons in meditation, and treatment for a variety of stress-induced ailments using the ancient medical techniques. Rishikesh is also the gateway and the start – off point for journeys to important religious places like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri. Rishikesh is also acquiring greater significance as a centre for white water rafting. Other riverine sports, a base for treks and hikes in the beautiful Garhwal Himalayas and trips to the Sikh Gurdwara at Hemkund Sahib and the Valley of Flowers. One also starts from Rishikesh for skiing at Auli and expeditions to the Nanda Devi massif.

Rishikesh can be visited all round the year. The winters are short and not so severe. Cottons in summer and light-to-medium woollens in winter are required.

Getting there
By Air: Indian Airlines / Allaince Air operates a thrice-weekly flight to Jolly Grant Airport from Delhi.
By Rail: While there is a rather slow shuttle train between Haridwar and Rishikesh, it is better to get to Haridwar on a mainline train and then do the 22 km by road.
By Road: Rishikesh is served by good roads and is connected by buses to other towns in Garhwal, U.P. and Delhi.

Crossing the River
The river is spanned by the delicately fashioned suspension bridge of Lakshman Jhoola. Local Legend has it that, in the days of the epic Ramayan, this was a rope bridge which swung whenever people walked across it. Now another suspension bridge has been constructed 2 km downstream of Lakshman Jhoola. The swift flowing river can also be crossed by ferries fitted with outboard motors.


Places of Interest
Even though all the three hundred and thirty million Hindu gods do not have temples dedicated to them in Rishikesh, a majority of gods and goddesses are worshipped here. Shiva and Vishnu have the maximum number of temples with their numerous forms represented as installed idols.
Some of the important temples in Rishikesh are:

Bharat Mandir: Reputedly the oldest temple in Rishikesh. Though some scholars believe that this temple has not been named after the loyal brother of Lord Ram, popular belief contends otherwise. The image installed here has a distinctly Himalayan cast of features. Though the temple is dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu, it holds a number of images normally associated with the worship of Lord Shiva.

Nilkanth Mahadev: This is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva drank the poison churned out of the cosmic ocean. It turned his throat blue which is why he is also called Nilkanth. The temple is located atop a hill accessed by a 10 km walk or a 32 km drive. Every Shivratri and Shravan (mid-July to August) fairs are held here.

Raghunath Mandir and Triveni Ghat: Generally regarded as the most important place for religious ceremonies in Rishikesh. It is believed that the Ganga is joined here by the Yamuna, and the Saraswati Rivers. Geographically, however, the Yamuna joins the Ganga in Allahabad and the legendary Saraswati has not been located by surveyors as yet.

The Dusk Aarti: On the Triveni Ghat is most impressive. Barefoot, ranks of devotees sit in rows on the steps of the Ghat. As the sun begins to set, plating the river with gold, bells and gongs ring and chants fill the air. A row of religious celebrants hold plates of flaming ghee, moving them in a circular salutation to the Goddess of the River. Devotees also release flower-filled leaf boats carrying tiny oil lamps and let them float out on the river. It is a ceremony of worship, rememberance and hope.

Chandreshwar Temple: The temple stands where the Chandrabhaga merges with the Ganga.

Someshwar Temple: Situated on Haridwar Road, this temple has been mentioned in ancient scriptures as standing amidst water. Perhaps the Ganga flowed here centuries ago.

Lakshman and Shatrughan Temples: are dedicated to two of Lord Rama’s brothers. The present Laxman Temple was raised by the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir – Gulab Singh – in 1885.

Hanuman Mandir: Located at Maya Kund, this temple was erected in 1924 by Swami Ramdas alias Oriya Baba. It draws a large number of devotees every Tuesday – the day traditionally fixed for Hanuman worship. Another important Hanuman Temple is at Sivanandnagar.
Other important temples in Rishikesh include the Pushkar Temple, the Venketshwara Temple and the two ‘modern’ temples across the Ganga at Lakshman Jhoola. One of these temples is an imposing 13-storeyed structure with many smaller temples in each storey. A temple which has come up on the right bank of Ganga has the world’s biggest Shiva Lingams.


Ashrams
Most ashrams are centers for spiritual studies which also, often, calls for physical disciplines. Some ashrams, however, are monasteries. Among the better known ashrams are:

Sivanand Ashram: Modestly started by Swami Sivanand as an ashram, it has today grown into the Divine life Society with branches in India and abroad. The activities of the society include studies of Vedanta and Yoga, a hospital and the production of herbal medicines.

Yoga Niketan: An important meditation and Raja Yoga centre.

Omkaranand Ashram: Located above the Yoga Niketan, Omkaranand Ashram is also known as the Durga Mandir. The organisation runs a school, maintains several temples and conducts classes in Sanskrit, Hindi, music, classical dance and English at the Omkaranand Vishvakul at Muni-ki-Reti.

Swagashram: One of the oldest ashrams in Rishikesh, its founder Swami Vishudhanand was also known as the ‘Kali Kamli Wala’ (One with The Black Blanket). Today the Kali Kamliwala Kshetra is a mammoth organization embracing many activities.

Geeta Bhavan: Founded in early 1950s, it runs a free Ayurvedic dispensary and has a branch of the Gita Press, Gorakhpur. There are several hundred rooms for visiting pilgrims. Foreigners are not accommodated in the Ashram.

Parmarth Niketan: Across the Ramjhoola Bridge stands the mammoth Parmarth Niketan Ashram. The ashram has hundreds of rooms. It conducts many religious programmes. Foreigners can stay only with special permission.
Other important ashrams include: Vanprastha Ashram, Ved Niketan, Dayanand Vedanta Ashram, Vanmali Gita Yogashram, Shankaracharya Nagar Transcendental Meditation Centre, Vithal Ashram and Yoga Study Centre.


Yatras
The most important reason for visiting Rishikesh is for the ‘Yatra’ to the ‘Char (four) Dhams’ of

Other places of religious significance are Rudraprayag, Devprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandaprayag, Vishnuprayag, the Panch Kedars and the Panch Badris, and Hemkund Sahib.


Entertainment
WILDLIFE
Chilla Range, Rajaji National Park, about 8 km from Rishikesh, is a wildlife sanctuary with a good elephant population. Other animals here include tiger, wild boar, nilgai, sambhar, spotted deer and langur. There is a GMVN rest-house at Chilla.


Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary: The dense forests here are home to the rare musk deer. Other inmates include leopard, black bear and tahr-a wild
mountain – goat.

TREKKING
Rishikesh can be made the base for treks into the Garhwal Himalayas offering a very wide range of trekking. One can do religious treks, scenic treks, botanical treks, treks to experience the land and its people – with the option of doing a low altitude trek or a high-altitude trek.

Two popular treks out of Rishikesh are to Neelkanth from Swarg Ashram, 10 km, with option of using motor transport also, and Kunjapuri Temple, from Tapovan, again a distance of 10 km. Both temples are on hilltop and provide beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.
Garhwal has over 100 peaks more than of 6000 metre high.

TREKKING ROUTES

Valley of Flowers Trek: July & August: 8 days. Rishikesh – Joshimath – Govindghat – Ghangharia – Hemkund Sahib – Valley of flowers – Badrinath – Rishikesh.
Har – ki – Dun Trek : Summer: 9 days. Rishikesh – Sankri – Taluka – Osla – Har-ki-Dun-Osla-Sankri-Rishikesh.
Roopkund Trek: Summer: 10 days Rishikesh-Mundoli-Wan-Bedni Bugyal – Baggubasa – Roopkund – Homkund – Sutola – Ghat.
Binsar Trek: Round the year: 7 days. Rishikesh – Pauri – Thalisain – Binsar – Gairsain – Rishikesh.
Nagtibba Trek: Round the year: 6 days Rishikesh – Pantwari – Nagtibba – Devalsari – Thatyur – Mussoorie – Rishikesh.

Rishikesh – chakrata – Mundali – Dakpathar Trek:
Round the year: 5 days. Rishikesh – Purola – Kathiyan – Mundali – Kharambha Top-Chakrata – Dakpathar – Rishikesh.

Note: Foreign nationals are not permitted in Chakrata.
Trekking Tour Rates (Continental Treks / Tour) 1to 5 pax: Rs. 2,000 per day per pax. Minimum 3 pax required. 6-10 pax: Rs. 1,810 per day pax. Minimaum 7 pax required.


Trekking to Tour Rates
1-5 Pax: 70 $USD Per Pax Per Day
(Minimum Three Pax Required)
6 to 10 Pax: 50 $USD Per Pax Day
(Minimum 7 Pax Required)
More then 10 Pax: Rates on Request


Adventure Sports
Rishikesh is fast emerging as an extremely important centre for adventure sports including white-water rafting. Canoeing / kayaking, mountain cycling, rock climbing and mountain cycling, rock climbing and mountaineering, body surfing and snow skiing.

Rafting : Kaudiyala, 38 km from Rishikesh, has the Tourists and Rafters Camp. Between Kaudiyala and Shivpuri, 15 km from Rishikesh, many other private operators have campsites on the beaches along the river. The best period for rafting is from October to April.



Rock Climbing and Mountaineering
Some of the highest peaks in the world- Nanda Devi (7817 m), Kamet (7756 m) and Dunagiri (7088 m) – beckon mountaineers to the Garhwal Himalayas. The rugged beauty of the mountainscape is very hard to resist for those interested in the mountains. Rock climbing can be done at Kaudiyala, Tapovan, Tharali, Songad, Tekhla and Buranskhanda.


Skiing
Auli in eastern Garhwal is the ski-resort. The slopes are 5 km long and stretch across an area of 3 km. The season is from December to March. There is accommodation, instructors, equipment and other facilities. A 800 m-long chair lift is operational