Rishikesh Tourism
¤ One of The Holiest Town of
Hindus
Distance : 24kmfrom
Haridwar, 245km form Delhi
Population : 75,000
Altitude : 356m
Temp : Max 32°C, Min 18 °C.
¤ Also A Centre of Mystical
and Spiritual Knowledge
Not as crowded as Haridwar, Rishikesh is a peaceful town and is also
one of the holiest towns of India. There is a mystical air about the
place. A famous centre for yoga (mystical and spiritual training) and
meditation, the town is dotted with numerous ashrams which offer yoga
and meditation courses.
¤ Places of Interest
Bharata Temple
Situated in the centre of the town, the Bharata Temple is a very
ancient temple. It is half a km from Triveni Ghat, a famous ghat of
the town. Although the temple is named after Bharata, brother of Rama
(hero of the Ramayana), the presiding deity of the temple is Narayana
(another name of Vishnu). According to an inscription found in the
temple, Shankaracharya, the great theologian of the 8th century India,
had the temple renovated.
Lakshman Jhula
3km from the centre of the city, Lakshman Jhula is a suspension
bridge across the Ganga. The bridge is so named because Lakshman, Rama’s
younger brother, is supposed to have performed penance at this place.
It was suspended by jute ropes till 1889. In 1939, iron cables had
replaced the jute ropes. Just south of the bridge is the sandy beach
of the Ganga where devotees take a holy dip in its waters.
Lakshman Temple
Near the bridge is the Lakshman Temple within which is Risha Kund.
According to a tradition, Rama and Lakshman bathed at this well to
expiate their sin of killing Ravana (villain of Ramayana), who was a
brahmin. In ancient Hinduism, killing a brahmin (a member of the
priestly class) was considered one of the worst crimes. The ancient
lawbooks assert that while the killing of the other three classes
could be expiated by paying fines, it could not be done so in the case
of the killing of a brahmin. In the vicinity of the Lakshman Jhula
exists a seven-storeyed temple. Scenes depicting the spiritual and
otherworldly life are engraved on the walls of this temple.
Ram Jhula
There is also an another suspension bridge across the Ganga which is
known as Ram or Sivananda Jhula.
Famous Ashrams
Swargashram and Sivananda ashrams are the noted centres for yoga and
meditation. The ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the 13-storeyed
Kailashanand Mission Ashram are also very famous.
Muni-ki-Reti
The area around the Chandrabhaga River, has a cluster of temples.
Triveni Ghat
People assemble in numbers at Triveni Ghat to bathe in the Ganga.
They also offer milk to the river and feed the fish in its waters.
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