Why it’s famous for?
-> Rishikesh is a holy town with so many Ashrams and it is famous for the yoga world wide. Rishikesh is now world famous as a Yoga Capital of the world. Every year during the March month one week long International yoga festival is hosted by Rishikesh. Rishikesh is also known as gateway to the Char Dham.
Best time to visit :-
The best time to visit Rishikesh for River Rafting is from late September – October to mid November, and then the best time to visit Rishikesh is from early March – April to first week of May.
Located in the foothills of the Himalayas along the convergence of Ganga and Chandrabhaga River, Rishikesh (also called as Hrishikesh) is known for its adventure activities, ancient temples, popular cafes and as the “Yoga Capital of the World”. With whitewater rafting industry growing and varied camping and cafe spots springing up, Rishikesh has grown immensely as a favourite, catering to people with different needs.
Over the years, the tranquil town has become extremely popular as the top spiritual destination in the world, especially after the Beatles association with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi here in the late ’60s. As it lies on the holy banks of river Ganga, Rishikesh has been a hub of Sadhus (saints) with numerous ashrams teaching spirituality, yoga, meditation and Ayurveda springing up, the most popular of which is the Beatless ashram.
With the influx of tourists, there has been a surge in the number of cafes and restaurants in the town. However, in the last few years, Rishikesh has also been developed as the hub of Adventure Sports in India as there is a multitude of options including White Water Rafting, Bungee Jumping, Flying Fox, and Mountain Biking among others. It also serves as the gateway to many Himalayan treks and is used as a popular camping site making it a beautiful melange of spiritual and adrenaline-pumping experiences. Rishikesh also holds the international yoga festival in the first week of March which sees yoga enthusiasts from all over the globe.
Rafting in Rishikesh
Rafting in Rishikesh particularly is hands down the best; one could endeavour in India. From the gifted natural circumstances to the top professional assistance, the place has just the best to offer. There are some certified operators, whose safety arrangements are well in place, and there are customised packages for camping and rafting at Rishikesh. Your food, water and rafting arrangements are taken care of by operators if you want a stress free outing. If you want to look into matters yourself, you can also make your arrangements while you’re there. The peak season sees Rishikesh pretty crowded, so you can keep a check over that detail when you are planning.
Lakshman Jhula
The Lakshman Jhula is a famous hanging bridge across the river Ganga that connects two villages, Tapovan in the Tehri Garhwal district and Jonk in the Pauri Garhwal district. Located 5 kilometres to the northeast of the town Rishikesh in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, the entire bridge is made up of iron, is 450 feet long and is situated at the height of 70 feet from the river. The Lakshman Jhula is extremely well known amongst tourists because of the rich mythological associations that are connected with the bridge. It is widely believed that Lord Lakshman, the younger brother of Lord Rama, had crossed the river Ganga at this same site, where the bridge now majestically stands for all to see.
The construction of the bridge was completed in the year 1929, and presently, the Lakshman Jhula acts as an adjoining bridge across the river, along with the old route to the sacred shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath. In the present day scenario, the Lakshman Jhula is visited by thousands of tourists each year not just because of its ancient origins and religious sanctity, but also due to the recent developments that have taken place around the bridge. Grand temples and famous markets have sprung up in the vicinity, and the entire area is a now a particularly renowned attraction in entire Rishikesh.
Important places around the Lakshman Jhula include the Terah Manzil temple, the Lakshman temple, and the Ram Jhula. The entire area is imbued with a mystic, serene and holy feeling to it. It is common to find people here profoundly submerged and engrossed in their religious traditions and meditations, as the entire area resonates with the sounds of the enchanting mantras and shlokas from the temple. All in all, a short visit to the temple is one filled with religious worship and tranquillity, both beautifully rolled together and amalgamated into one.
Triveni Ghat
Situated on the banks of the holy river Ganges, Triveni Ghat is the biggest ghat in Rishikesh. ‘Maha Aarti’ happens every evening at Triveni Ghat.
Triveni Ghat plays an essential role in Hindu Mythology and is also mentioned in the epics Ramayan and Mahabharat. The Triveni Ghat is also where the chattri of Lord Krishna was constructed. In fact, the ghat is considered to be the cremation ground for the great Lord Krishna. Along with the holy dips, the devotees also make offerings to the river in the form of milk, while feeding the fishes in the Ghat too.
Cliff Jumping
Cliff Jumping is another one of the exciting activities in Rishikesh. The activity is mostly done when you are down in the river, swimming or rafting or just taking a dip. It is basically just jumping down in the river from a considerably a height i.e. from a high cliff. Considered one of the most thrilling water sports, this is one of the top things to do in Rishikesh.
Flying Fox
Flying Fox is another one of the exciting adventure sports and top thrilling things to do in Rishikesh. In this sport, you are harnessed to a rope and literally sent ‘flying’ on a cable. The speed is accelerated or slowed down through machinery. You can get an enthralling view of the mighty Himalayas and soar over the majestic Ganges with a beautiful view in front of you and even below you.
Camping
The opulence of the majestic Himalayas, the clear waters of the Ganges and the mesmerising beauty of the adjoining forests make Rishikesh the ideal spot for adventure sports like camping and rafting. The hill-town brings to you the world class camping experience with umpteen camping and rafting services available in the area.
Bungee Jumping in Rishikesh
Rishikesh is popularly called as the “Adventure Capital of India” for the plethora of adventure activities that it has to offer. One of the top exciting adventure sports in the region is Bungee Jumping. For the activity, the volunteer jumps off from a very tall structure (usually a building), flying freely in the air in the air before he is restrained and pulled up. The participant is tied up with a long elastic cord that is attached to the building or any other fixed structure.
Sometimes, if you want to get even more adventurous, this activity can also be carried out from hot air balloons or helicopters. Basically anything that has the ability to hover over the ground in mid air. The USP of the activity is the thrill of free falling and recoil. The cord first unwinds and let the person fall freely and then it recoils, bringing the person back upwards again. After that, it oscillates and stops, and the person is lowered gently into water.
Geeta Bhawan
Also popularly known as the Guru Shri Ram Sukh Daasji, the Geeta Bhawan is a vast and spacious complex that is located on the banks of the river Ganga in Swargashram in Rishikesh, at the foothills of the mighty Himalayas. The Ashram is renowned as an important institution that preserves Hindu literature since it houses the Gita, which symbolizes the Hindu Vedas and epics. The Geeta Bhawan is visited by a large number of people each year, who flock to here to take a dip in the holy waters of the Ganges, listen to the discourses and meditate.
Other than airy and large discourse halls, the ashram also has over one thousand rooms that are available free of cost for the devotees to stay at. The pious devotees are also served with simple vegetarian food and Indian sweets at nominal prices during their stay at the Geeta Bhawan. Be it a mere two-hour visit to the ashram, or a stay there for a few days, the experience imbues the devotee with tranquillity, peace and devotion.
The visitors gladly indulge in the devotion of the River Ganges every evening, and the bathing ghats in front of the Geeta Bhawan offer them with an opportunity to take a holy dip in its waters. The ancient Banyan tree that is located within the complex is also worthy of notice since this spot has been the site of penance for numerous saints. All in all, the Geeta Bhawan comes across as a place that is overflowing with religious fervour and calmness, and is a must visit while in Rishikesh.
Neelkantha Mahadeva Temple
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is dedicated to Shiva as Neelkanth is his another name. This temple is located around 7km from Swarg Ashram and the route is a 3 hour long walk along a forest path.
Another way to reach here is via Lakshman Jhula. A taxi might also take you there for a reasonable price. Pilgrims offer water from Ganga to this temple.
Kaudiyala
At 380 m high, Kaudiyala is a popular rock climbing destination surrounded by dense forests. It also offers white river rafting tracks, and the sports is organized by the camping facilities around the place.
Bharat Mandir
Founded by Adiguru Shankaracharya in 12th century, the shrine houses Lord Vishnu carved out of a single piece of Saligram. The inner canopy of the temple contains Shree Yanthra.
The architecture and interiors of the temple has been detailed in the ancient record of Kearkhand. The present structure was reconstructed on the ruins of the original temple destroyed by Tamur. Excavations have yeilded many old statues, ancient pots and coins from this site.