Rishikesh is one of the most holy cities in India. It is to
be found in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. Rishikesh sightseeing
includes visiting famous the places in and around Rishikesh.
Holy city of Rishikesh in Uttarakhand is home to various
tourist attractions. A place where divinity and nature combine and give the
choicest of experiences, it seeks to be a perfect abode for people seeking
piety, tranquility and wisdom. Rishikesh is the ideal base camp for exploring
the majesty of the mountains and conquering the torrents of the river.
Spiritual pursuits and adventurous quests form an important part of its
traveler influx. Listed below are some places to be included in sightseeing
tours of Rishikesh.
There is no dearth of things to do and places to see in
Rishikesh. One can opt for an action packed holiday or select to do nothing.
Rishikesh is a magnificent place for those who want to learn yoga. Adventure
seekers love it for the rafting and trekking breaks that the destination offers.
Following
are the Tourist Attractions of Rishikesh
Triveni
Ghat
To be found in the heart of town, is the most famous bathing
ghat, where most pilgrims take a holy dip earlier than they visit the various
temples. This is done generally in the early mornings, with the pilgrims
offering prayers and milk at the Ghat and feeding the fish in the water. An
amazing sight here is the evening arati, a ceremony accompanied by lights,
drums and chanting, with the entire ghat lit with lamps glowing from a
distance.
Bharat
Mandir
Near the Ghat, is the temple known as Bharat Mandir said to
be the oldest temple here built by the Adi Shankaracharya. This 9th century
temple has the deity of Lord Vishnu carved out of a single black stone popular
as Saligram, and is placed in the inner chambers of the temple. The original
temple was said to have been destroyed in 1398 AD. If you are lucky, catch the
spring festival also called Basant Panchami celebrated here.
Rishikund
Close to the Triveni Ghat is the very old place of Rishikund
where the Saint Kubz is said to have been blessed by the Goddess Yamuna, who
filled the pond with her water. The temple of Raghunath dedicated to Lord Rama
and his wife Sita is sited here.
Lakshman
Jhula
2 kilometers from Swarg Ashram, is the well-known Lakshman
Jhula a suspension bridge 450 feet long and built in 1939. Named after Lord
Ram's younger brother Lakshman, it has temples dotting its either side,
including the famed Lakshman Temple at Tapovan. One more noteworthy ashram is
the 13 storeyed Kailashananda Ashram, with each storey being dedicated to a
different deity.
Ram Jhula
Ramjhula is situated 3Km north of Rishikesh. It's a very
popular place amongst people coming for religious purposes because it has very
known Ashrams. Most known is Geeta Bhavan & Swarg Ashram and these temples
are very important in Hindu society and you will see much more commotion here
then in Lakshmanjhula.
Neelkanth
Mahadev Temple
To be found at a distance of 12 km from Rishikesh, this
temple stands at a height of 926m on top of a hill across the river Ganga. It
derives its name from Lord Shiva. According to mythological belief; the cosmic
churning of the oceans (Sagar Manthan) for the potion of immortality (amrit) by
the Gods and the Demons; produced a venomous liquid, which was consumed by Lord
Shiva at this place. As a result, his throat became blue in color, which in
Hindi literally means 'Neelkanth' (blue throat). The place is a favorite among
the religious tourists.
Swarga
Ashram
There is a cluster of ashrams on the eastern bank of the
Ganges, and the place is popularly known as 'Swarga Ashram'. Most of these ashrams
provide courses on yoga and spiritual studies, and are well-known among the
tourists. Some ancient temples with beautifully carved statues are also located
in the place. There are a few vegetarian food joints that serve various
Ayurvedic food and refreshments. A few shops are also found, that sell various
trinkets and souvenirs in the form of religious tapes, books, beads, beaded
garlands, shells and clothes.
Gita Bhavan
Near the Lakshaman Jhula, is the newly constructed building
of Gita Bhavan. It runs a free Ayurvedic dispensary and also has a branch of
the Gita Press, Gorakhpur. There are more than a hundred rooms for visitors and
this edifice houses various striking paintings and statues of ancient
mythological characters. The stories of the ancient epics- the Ramayana and the
Mahabharata are beautifully illustrated on its walls. The place is also popular
among the tourists.
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