Top 10 Places to Visit in Rishikesh

Rishikesh has a very rich heritage. It serves as the "Yoga Capital of the World," "India's spiritual centre," and "The setting for Sagas." Rishikesh, the seventh-largest city in India, is situated in Uttrakhand, close to the foothills of the Himalayas. A popular tourist destination, the town is also an important Hindu pilgrimage site.

The town of Rishikesh, famous for its numerous shrines and yoga ashrams, is located where the River Ganga runs. In addition, Rishikesh is one of the few locations in India that provides tourists with a wide range of adventure activities. A few kilometres south of Rishikesh, in the city of Haridwar, also known as a "holy city" and a vegetarian destination, is the location.

Here are the top ten attractions in Rishikesh:

1. Laxman Jhula

Laxman Jhula, one of Rishikesh's most well-known attractions, is a 450-foot-long suspension bridge that soars 70 feet over the river. Laxman Jhula, which was constructed in 1939 and is situated on the city's outskirts. It is one of the major attractions in Rishikesh to obtain an unhindered sight of the city and the flowing holy Ganga River.

While there are several eateries on both sides of the bridge, the Laxman Temple & Tera Manzil Mandir, which are nearby, are notable locations you should definitely visit. Do pause in the middle of the bridge as you cross it to take a view of the surrounding hills. This is the strangest thing to do ever. Laxman Jhula is considered to be the must-see landmark of the city and the point at which a trip to Rishikesh cannot begin. Rumor is that the Hindu god Lakshmana himself crossed the Laxman Jhula when it was once built of jute ropes.

2. Ram Jhula

In addition to the Laxman Jhula, Rishikesh also has a Ram Jhula that was constructed in 1986 with the aid of the Sivananda Ashram. Although both bridges share a similar appearance in terms of design, Ram Jhula is longer than Laxman Jhula by 229 metres.

Sivananda Nagar and Swargashram are connected by Ram Jhula, which is located in the east. It provides a great beautiful scenery of Rishikesh city and the river, much like Laxman Jhula. Ram Jhula is close to some of Rishikesh's must-see locations, including Parmarth Niketan, Gita Bhawan, Swargashram, and others.

3. Triveni Ghat

Triveni Ghat, the most sacred ghat or bathing location in Rishikesh and throughout India, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. It is called Triveni because it is the meeting point of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, three of India's principal rivers. In addition, Triveni Ghat is thought to be the location of Lord Krishna's cremation. It is claimed that by taking a bath here, all of your sins will be washed away, transforming you into a pure soul. In the morning and evening of each day, maha-aarti is done in Triveni Ghat. The Rishikesh Ganga aarti draws both locals and visitors in large numbers because it is said to have particular meaning for those who attend. To honour the rivers, you can also put milk, fish food, and oil lights in the water.

4. Swarg Ashram

Swarg Ashram is a small stay place located in the heart of Rishikesh that is home to a lot of temples, ashrams, and caves. Swarg Ashram, a place of worship devoted to Swami Vishudhanand, also renowned as Kali Kamli Wala, draws both pilgrims from outside and holy people who are looking for the true purpose of life. If you make reservations in advance, you can stay at Swarg Ashram. You can also participate in many daily religious processions, chanting, and ceremonies like aarti. You will certainly be motivated to live a healthy life by the saints' calm lifestyle and frugal way of life.

5. Raghunath Temple

Raghunath Temple, a prominent tourist attraction in Rishikesh, is a temple that must be seen. Raghunath Temple, a shrine to Lord Rama & his wife Sita, is next to Triveni Ghat, one of Rishikesh's most well-known ghats.

On the grounds of the Raghunath Temple, there is also a kund, or small pond, which is thought to have been utilized by Lord Ram for taking a holy bath. Additionally, it is thought that the Ganga & Yamuna converge at this hot water body of water known as Rishikund. One of the greatest things to do when visiting Rishikesh is to watch the temple's lovely reflection on the lake after praying to the deity.

6. Tera Manzil Mandir

Tera Manzil Mandir, also called Trayambakeshwar Temple, is a 13-storey temple in Rishikesh. Tera Manzil Mandir, one of the most well-known tourist destinations in Rishikesh, draws visitors worldwide with its astounding symmetrical architecture. One of the temples in the city of Rishikesh, Tera Manzil, also known as Trayambakeshwar Temple as well as Kailash Niketan, was constructed by Guru Adi Shankaracharya in the ninth century AD and is situated close to the Laxman Jhula. There are numerous Hindu Goddesses and Gods in each temple storey because it is not a single-God temple like other temples. This makes the temple a special one to visit in your lifetime.

7. Bharat Mandir

Bharat Mandir, one of the most revered sites in Rishikesh, is situated right in the middle of the city. The Pandavas, figures from the Mahabharata epic, are said to have resided there and worshiped Lord Hrishikesh Narayana. Additionally, according to tradition, the temple was transformed into a Buddhist monastery under the rule of Ashoka, who also brought Lord Buddha there. In addition to having historical and mythological significance, the temple is regarded as one of Rishikesh's major tourist destinations. People come to this location to worship Lord Hrishikesh and ask for his blessings to accomplish their wishes. They do this by going around him 108 times. Every year on Basant Panchami, a special rite of reinstallation is performed for the deity originally established in the temple by Adi Shankaracharya in 789 AD.

8. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

The renowned Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is located 1,670 meters in the heart of a sylvan forest, 12 km from the town of Rishikesh. It is one of India's most revered Shiva temples and among the top attractions in Rishikesh. In accordance with Hindu legend, Lord Shiva ingested poison there during the Samudramanthan by the Demons and Gods. The inner tomb of the temple, which features a representation of the Samudramanthan story, is one of its key draws. In addition, the temple has a freshwater spring where many worshippers bath.

9. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram

The "Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram" became well-known worldwide after the renowned musical group stopped by the serene area adjoining Muni ki Reti. The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's followers learned meditation at what was formerly called the International Institute of Meditation. Along with other notable individuals, the renowned English rock band The Beatles visited here to study meditation in 1968.

The Beatle's famous Ashram, also known as Chaurasia Kutia, was previously closed and re-opened in Dec 2015. Along with the Beatles enthusiasts, other tourists are drawn to the wall murals in complement to the calm and beautiful surroundings.

10. Rajaji National Park

The "Rajaji National Park" is a well-known tourist destination in Rishikesh and is situated approximately 15 kilometers away from the city. Rajaji National Park was founded in 1983 and changed its name to Rajaji Tiger Reserve in 2015. It is a combination of three sanctuaries, including Rajaji Sanctuary & National Park, Chilla Sanctuary, and Motichur Sanctuary. Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand's 2nd tiger reserve after Corbett, is a fantastic location for wildlife safaris thanks to its diverse population of elephants, leopards, tigers, and other animals. It draws birdwatchers from all around the world and spans in 820 sqkm.