Rishikesh also spelled Hrishikesh, Rushikesh or Hrushikesh, is a
city and a municipal board in Dehradun district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.
It is surrounded by two other districts namely Tehri Garhwal and Pauri Garhwal.
It is located in the foothills of the Himalaya in northern India and attracts
thousands of pilgrims and tourists each year, from within India, as well
as from other countries. Rishikesh is a vegetarian city by law, as well
as an alcohol-free city. Rishikesh has also banned use of plastics bags
by shopkeepers and vendors.
Rishikesh
Video
Rishikesh is also known as the gateway to the Himalayas and is located around
25 kilometres north of another holy city, Haridwar. Rishikesh is
also a Yoga and spiritual destination with an international feel.
Etymology
In Sanskrit Rishikesh is a name of Vishnu that means 'Lord of The
Senses'. The place gets its name after Lord Vishnu who appeared
to 'Raibhya Rishi', as a result of his tapasya (austerities), as Lord Hrishikesh.
In Skanda Purana, this area is known as 'Kubjamrak' as Lord Vishnu appeared,
under a mango tree. The name Rishikesh is loosely applied to an association
of five distinct sections encompassing not only the town but also hamlets
and settlements on both sides of the river Ganges. These include Rishikesh
itself, the commercial and communication hub; the sprawling suburb Muni-ki-Reti
or the "sands of the sages"; Shivananda Nagar the home of Sivananda Ashram
and the Divine Life Society founded by Swami Sivananda, north of Rishikesh;
the temple section of Lakshman Jhula, a little further north; and the assorted
Ashrams around Swarg Ashram on the east bank. One can reach the famous Neelakanta
Maha Deva Temple from here. The Ganga Arati performed at dusk at the Triveni
Ghat is popular with visitors. 'Neelkanth Mahadev Temple', situated 12 km
from Rishikesh, amidst forest is also a popular local pilgrimage, along
with 'Vasishtha Guha', (Cave of sage Vasishtha), 21 km up from the town
by the Ganges.
Rishikesh
Laxman Jhula Video
History of Rishikesh
Rishikesh has been a part of the legendary 'Kedarkhand' (the present day
Garhwal). Legends state that Lord Rama did penance here for killing Ravana,
the demon king of Lanka; and Lakshmana, his younger brother, crossed the
river Ganges, at a point, where the present 'Lakshman Jhula' bridge stands
today, using a jute rope bridge. The 'Kedar Khand' of Skanda Purana, also
mentions the existence of Indrakund at this very point. The jute-rope bridge
was replaced by iron-rope suspension bridge in 1889, and after it was washed
away in the 1924 floods, it was replaced by a stronger present bridge.
The sacred river Ganges flows through Rishikesh. It is here that the river
leaves the Shivalik mountains in the Himalayas and flows out into the plains
of northern India. Several temples, ancient as well as new, can be found
along the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh.
Yoga Center - Rishikesh
Rishikesh, sometimes nicknamed "the world capital of Yoga", has numerous
yoga centres that also attract tourists. It is believed that meditation
in Rishikesh brings one closer to attainment of moksha, as does a dip in
the holy river that flows through it. Rishikesh is world famous for Rafting
and Adventure. Rafting season starts from the month of March and ends in
July.
Rishikesh is also home to the 120-year old Kailas Ashram Brahmavidyapeetham,
an institution dedicated to preserve and promote the traditional Vedantic
Studies. Prominent personalities such as Swami Vivekananda, Swami Rama Tirtha
and Swami Shivananda have studied in this institution.
Rishikesh
Video
In February 1968, The Beatles visited the now-closed Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's
ashram in Rishikesh. John Lennon recorded a song titled, 'The Happy Rishikesh
Song'. The Beatles composed nearly 48 songs during their time at the Maharishi's
ashram, many of which appear on the White Album. Several other artists visited
the site to contemplate and meditate.
Geography of Rishikesh
It is situated at an altitude of 356 m above sea level. The geographical
location of Rishikesh is 30.7 North Latitude and 78.42 East Longitude. It
has an average elevation of 372 metres (1,745 feet). The Tehri dam is just
80 km uphill on the way to Gangotri. Rishikesh is the starting point for
traveling to the sites that form the Char Dham pilgrimage — Badrinath, Kedarnath,
Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
Rishikesh
Video
Adventure SportsinRishikesh
Rishikesh is becoming a popular spot for white water rafting enthusiasts,
both from India and abroad, as it offers medium to rough rapids in the course
of river Ganges, with rapids rated class 3 and class 4. It is also a center
for hiking and backpacking.
Best time to Visit Rishikesh :-
Rishikesh is a picturesque destination affording enchanting views throughout
the year.
The right time to visit would be February, March, August-October. In July
there is a festival called Savan where thousands of people
flock to Rishikesh. Major roads are blocked and hotels are crowded. It
is better to avoid travelling to Rishikesh during that time.
Places to see in Rishikesh :- Visiting Places in Rishikesh - Sight
Seeing Places - Rishikesh Attractions
Triveni Ghat. This is a bathing ghat. Daily in the morning and
evening there are thousands who take bath here and enjoy the Maha Aarti
being performed. It very soothing to sit on the banks of the river and
enjoy the cool breeze from the river.
Bharat Mandir
Lakshman Jhula Is an iron suspension bridge situated in Rishikesh
in Indian state of Uttarakhand . It is made over river Ganges to cross
the river and is a landmark of Rishikesh. It is said that Lakshman crossed
Ganges on jute ropes between the place where this bridge is built. Lakshman
Jhula was built in 1939. There are spectacular views from the bridge.
Gita Bhavan. Place of Guru Shri Ram Sukh Daasji, (the great thinker
of his time) Popular among the Hindu Brahmin Community. Twice a year people
gather at this ashram to read the Ramayana together.
Swarg Ashram, Shri 108 Baba Sali Kamli Wale Swami Atam Prakash
Ji. Swargashram ( Heavenly Adobe) as the name connotes is a beautiful
place situated in picturesque surroundings at the foot of Himalayas on
the left bank of the Ganges between Rishikesh and Laxmanjhula. It is the
spiritual “ground zero” of Rishikesh, filled with a concentration of ashrams
and temples. The areas is known for its healthy and satwik living environment.
It is this spot where from ages of yore the famous Yogis and Rishis have
been doing the Tapasya. Numerous mention of this spot occurs in the holy
scripture Puranas.
Parmarth Niketan. One of the few Ashrams left in India where Kids
get the Vedas Education. Must Visit in Evening for the Pooja/Aarti. 5PM
in Winter and 6PM in summer.
Neelkanth Mahadev Mela
Trayambakeshwar Temple, Lakshman Jhula. is 13 stories high, with
different deities throughout.
Things
To Do in Rishikesh :-
Take a holy dip in the Ganges, with reputed healing powers.
Check into an Ashram to study yoga, meditation and Hindu philosophy.
Watch a beautiful evening Ganga Arti at Parmarth Niketan.
White Water Rafting Rishikesh is very popular for its rafting on the River
Ganga (Ganges). Season: September-November and March-April-May are ideal
for rafting. The rafting will go on for several kilometres, and the path
is interspersed with rapids, ranging from Level 1 to Level 5, in order
of difficulty. At the end of the trip, you have the option of jumping
some 20 feet from a ledge into the water. There are several local travel
agencies, offering these rafting trips. The package usually includes an
overnight camp on the banks of the river, with a brilliant and dangerous
trek among the hills in the morning. If one has time, courses in rafting
are also offered.
Camping is a recreational activity that does not have any age limit. Any
individual who likes to explore new places and enjoy the beauty and serenity
of nature can embark on a camping voyage. Camping in Rishikesh on the
Ganga beach offer an environment to wake up with the birds cher chew and
can swim in the fresh water of the river Ganges. Camping in Rishikesh
is a very popular activity.
Rappelling Climbing down with a rope is called rappelling. The group is
taken to a spot where there is a cliff drop, experts with proper equipment
who setup the gear first and then, one by one, everyone comes down. It's
all about trusting your gear and following the instructions and then it's
a lot of fun.
Rock climbing This is something everyone is familiar with, this is also
included in some of the camps but not everyone can do it as it requires
a lot of strength and skill. The group is taken to a cliff side and with
proper safety gear everyone is given a chance to climb the cliff side.
Cliff Jumping You are supposed to jump into freezing water from a cliff!
Yes, it sounds crazy but this is one thing which everyone can brag about
back home, of course you are wearing a life jacket and a helmet but still
to jump from so high into the Ganga which is murky and the bottom can't
be seen, it's not like jumping into a swimming pool where one can see
the bottom the water is static.
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking is differentiated
from canoeing by the fact that a kayak has a closed cockpit and a canoe
has an open cockpit. They also use a two bladed paddle. Another major
difference is in the way the paddler sits in the boat. Kayakers sit in
a seat on the bottom of the boat with their legs extended out in front
of them. Canoeists will either sit on an elevated bench seat or kneel
directly on the bottom of the boat. Whitewater kayaking is the sport of
paddling a kayak on a moving body of water, typically a whitewater river.
Whitewater kayaking can range from simple, carefree gently moving water,
to demanding, dangerous whitewater.
Trekking There are a lot of soft treks in this region, this is an optional
thing as some people love to walk in nature and do a bit of bird watching
and some prefer to be at the camp and relax and they are already tired
with the activities they have done.
Bungee Jump, (15km ahead of Rishikesh on Rishikesh-Neelkanth road), You
can try bungee jump at Jumpin Heights. It is a unique experience in India,
a jump from 83 mtrs just above a natural river.
Rishikesh
Bungee Jumping Video
Mukeshji's Jungle Vibes, Shisham Jhari,Rishikesh (Near Dayanand Ashram),
Have a once in a life time experience of making the Australian Didgeridoos,
African Djmbes and other musical instruments in the guidance of iconic
Mukeshji while he enthralls you with his hilarious stories and takes you
along with him in his Himalayan Journeys. A person visiting here finds
himself/herself in a selected crowd of music aficionados and extreme adventures
from around the world.
Climate
- Weather of Rishikesh :-
Rishikesh - has a pleasant climate for many months of the year. As its
location is in the hilly terrains, the climate never becomes extreme type.
Thus Rishikesh is one such tourist spot that can be visited any time of
the year.
The weather of Rishikesh can be studied with a glimpse towards its climatic
conditions. The maximum temperature recorded so far is 27.7 degree Celsius
and the minimum temperature of Rishikesh is 14.6 degree Celsius. In the
months of summer the temperature in Rishikesh varies from 35 degrees to
45 degrees Celsius. The temperature ranges from 10 degrees to 30 degrees
Celsius in the months of winter. The weather of Rishikesh often becomes
unpredictable. There are frequent precipitation that takes place. The
annual mean rainfall in Rishikesh is about 2136.7 mm.
The holy city of Rishikesh lies at the bank of river Ganga. The region
is surrounded by the Himalayas and falls under the climatic conditions
of the western part of the Himalayas. The day remains pleasant and sunny
with comparatively cold evenings. The winters are very cold and the summer
season is mild and moderate followed by a good rainfall in monsoon.
Summer
Season in Rishikesh :- During the months from March to June. The maximum
temperature that you can expect during the summer is around Summer 20
°C to 35 °C.
Monsoon
Season in Rishikesh :- Monsoon season is from July to September and
during this time most activities are suspended due to the heavy blast
of rains. Rainfall is highest in the month of August. During the month
of October and November the conditions are pleasant and temperate.
Winter
Season in Rishikesh :- Winter season can be cold in the town and the
temperatures can be expected to around 8°C. The barometer rises up to
a maximum of 20°C during the winter months. Wollen clothing is essential
during this period.
How
to Reach Rishikesh :-
By Car
Delhi airport to Rishikesh by car is a good option for a hassle free traveling
specially for foreign tourists who are traveling to India for the first
time. It's a 6 to 7 hours journey. Prices vary from US$ 85 for an air
conditioned compact car to US$ 125 for an air conditioned SUV (but rates
are much higher if one avails these services from prepaid taxi booths
located at the airport).
Route
Map to Rishikesh
Nearest
Airport
By plane Rishikesh is in close proximity of Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport
(about 15 km) - a small, quiet and recently renovated airport handling just
two flights from Delhi. The runway is being extended and will possibly then
handle flights from other metros as of now there are flights only from Delhi
(The capital of India)
By
Train - Rishikesh railway station
By train A quiet branch line connects Rishikesh to Haridwar, but there are
only about three slow trains daily. It's best to take the train to Haridwar
and continue by bus (45 min), by taxi (30 mins or by shared auto-rickshaw
(40 min). Travelling by train comes recommended because they often run empty
and the fares are low & run right-time especially in peak seasons or "Melas"
(Fares) when bus routes are diverted in Haridwar & share rickshaws try to
make a killing. You can take "Vikrams" towards Lakshman Jhula from Rishikesh
station.
You will have to cross Ram Jhula to reach Swarg Ashram(On the other side
of river Ganges). From Delhi there are many trains to Haridwar, some of
the best are :-
Shatabadi Express, Jan Shatabdi, AC Special Express, Mussoorie Express.
to buy a ticket.
Rishikesh also spelled Hrishikesh, Rushikesh or Hrushikesh, is a
city and a municipal board in Dehradun district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.
It is surrounded by two other districts namely Tehri Garhwal and Pauri Garhwal.
It is located in the foothills of the Himalaya in northern India and attracts
thousands of pilgrims and tourists each year, from within India, as well
as from other countries. Rishikesh is a vegetarian city by law, as well
as an alcohol-free city. Rishikesh has also banned use of plastics bags
by shopkeepers and vendors.
Etymology
Bhimtal
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