12 Best Tourist Places in Rishikesh

There are many beautiful places in the world where people like to go with their family and friends and spend quality time with them. In India, there are also many beautiful places available where tourists like to come the whole year, and one such place is in the beautiful state of Uttarakhand. Rishikesh is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Uttarakhand. It is among the best places to visit on holiday. Apart from this, Rishikesh is also called the Yoga Capital of the world and the Garhwal Himalayas gateways. Today in this article, we will discuss the best places to visit in Rishikesh.

Best Places to Visit in Rishikesh

1. Ram Jhula

Ram Jhula is a famous place in Rishikesh. It is a kind of suspension bridge built over the Ganges River, which is 750 m long. This bridge was built in 1986, and since then, this place has been very popular in Rishikesh. Ram Jhula connects Sivananda Nagar, in Tehri Garhwal District, with Swargashram, in Pauri Garhwal District. Apart from this, this bridge also connects many Ashram temples from one district to another.

Its design is exactly like Lakshman Jhula, but its length is more than Laxman Jhula. If you are in Rishikesh, don't miss this awesome tourist place. You can also come to this bridge on foot or by bike. It is situated three km to the northeast of Rishikesh town.

2. Laxman Jhula

Like Ram Jhula, Lakshman Jhula is also one of the top tourist destinations places in Rishikesh. This is also a suspension bridge like Ram Jhula and built over the Ganges River, and this bridge is built 60 feet above the river. This bridge was built in 1929, and this Jhula was built many years before Ram Jhula, and since then, this place has been very popular in Rishikesh. It is believed that this Jhula was made in the same place where Shri Lakshmana crossed the river Ganges on a jute rope.

Lakshman Jhula connects Tapovan, which is in Tehri Garhwal District, with Tapovan, in Pauri Garhwal District; apart from this, this bridge also connects many Ashram temples from one district to another. If you are in Rishikesh, don't miss this awesome tourist place. It is situated five km to the northeast of Rishikesh town and from here, Ram Jhula has situated 2 KM downstream. You can also come to this bridge on foot or by bike.

3. Triveni Ghat

There are many ghats in Rishikesh, out of which the most famous ghat is Triveni Ghat. It is the biggest Ghat of Rishikesh, situated on the banks of the river Ganges. It is believed that taking a dip in the Ganges River here destroys all sins; due to this, people from all over the world come here to take a dip.

It is believed that when Lord Krishna was injured by the arrow of a hunter named Jara, he came to this ghat. The Ganga Aarti of the evening is very famous here, and people come from far and wide to see it. This place is at 3 km from the Rishikesh railway station. If you are in Rishikesh, you must visit this place, and you should be part of the evening Ganga aarti. You can also visit Gita Mandir and Laxminarayan Mandir near Triveni Ghat. Apart from all this, you can also do a boat ride here, and children enjoy all these things a lot.

4. Neelkantha Mahadev Temple

This temple is one of the very famous temples in India, dedicated to Lord Nilkanth, one of the forms of Lord Shankar. This temple is located in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal area, around 32 Km from Rishikesh. This temple is very beautiful to see, and the architecture of this temple is very much influenced by Dravidian style Architecture.

Forests surround this Shiva temple, and this temple is situated near the Nar-Narayan Mountain ranges. It is believed that this temple is situated at the same place where Shiva drank the poison from the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan). Also, due to drinking this poison, the throat of Lord Shiva turned blue, and because of this, his name became Neelkanth. Maha Shivratri is celebrated here with great pomp and show. Every day thousands of devotees come here to worship Lord Shiva. If you are in Rishikesh, then definitely come to this place with your family and friends.

5. The Beatles Ashram

The Beatles Ashram, located at a mound in the Swarashram area at a distance of 1 Km from Ram Jhula, is one of the most popular places in Rishikesh. This ashram is also known as Chaurasi Kutia. From 1960 to 1970, this place was a training center for the students of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In 1968, this place gained popularity due to the Beatles, an English rock band, who lived here for several days, wrote many songs and meditated. This place was opened for all in the year 2015, and since then, it has been one of the best places to visit in Rishikesh.

6. Tera Manzil Temple

Although there are many unique temples to be seen in Rishikesh, Tera Manzil Mandir is one of the unique temples in Rishikesh and is also the most popular one. This temple is also known as Trimbakeshwar Temple or Kailash Niketan Temple. This temple is 13 storeyed and is situated on the banks of the river Ganga. The architecture of this temple is very nice to see, and apart from this, the temple huge is sizeand grandeur.

This temple is located near Lakshman Jhula, i.e. around 7 km from Rishikesh Railway Station. It is believed that this temple was built in the 9th century AD (Anno Domini), and Adi Shankaracharya was the establisher of this temple. Many Hindu Gods and Goddesses are worshiped in this temple. A wonderful view is seen from the 12th floor of this temple, especially in the evening and morning. If you are in Rishikesh, then you must visit this place with family and friends.

7. Parmarth Niketan Ashram

You will get to see many ashrams in Rishikesh, but Parmarth Niketan Ashram is one of the most popular and oldest ashrams in Rishikesh. This ashram is situated on the banks of the Ganges, at a distance of 4 km from the Rishikesh railway station. Swami Shukdevanandji Maharaj established this ashram in 1942, and he was the Spiritual Head and President of this Ashram till 1986. International Yoga Festival is organized here every year in February.

This ashram is most popular due to yoga, Satsang, Ayurveda, Universal Prayers, Meditation, Kirtans, Ganga Arti, Spiritual/ Cultural programs, and lectures held here every day. Moreover, it is the headquarters of a non-profit organization, Swami Shukdevanand Trust, which works toward spirituality, religion, and culture. If you also want to visit this type of place, then you must go there and spend quality time.

8. Neer Garh / Neer Gaddu Waterfall

Travellers often like to go to a place full of nature. So one such place is located in Rishikesh, which is in the middle of nature. NeerGarh Waterfall is one of the most beautiful places in Rishikesh. Rishikesh Railway Station is 9 kilometers away, while Laxman Jhula is 5 kilometers away. This is the perfect place to spend time with your family and friends, and you can also take a bath in this waterfall. If you are a lover of the waterfall, then you must visit this place.

9. Rishikund

Rishikund is another sacred place to visit in Rishikesh. It is called the pond of sages; it is a natural hot water spring pond. This place is near Triveni Ghat and Raghunath temple. It is believed that when the Ganges did not flow near it, sages used to bathe in this pond. It is believed that bathing in this pond washes away all the sins. This pond was built by a great saint named Kubz. According to the local people here, when Shri Ram was in exile, he also took a bath at this place, and due to all this, Rishikund is considered a very sacred place. So, if you are near this place, then you must visit this place with your family and friends.

10. Shivpuri

If you are in Rishikesh and looking for a place that is away from the hustle and bustle of the city, then this place is perfect for you. Shivpuri is about 15 kilometers from Rishikesh and is a panoramic town. This town is situated on the banks of the river Ganga, which enhances the beauty of this town. If you are fond of river rafting, then this is the best place for it, apart from this you can also do Camping, and be part of many other sports and activities performed in this place. In Shivpuri, you can also enjoy the beautiful hills by sitting on the banks of the Ganges and live a relaxed moment. So must visit this place once if you are in Rishikesh.

11. Piran Kaliyar Sharif

Situated at a distance of about 40 km from Rishikesh, this dargah is one of the most famous dargahs in India, situated in Kaliyar village. This dargah was built by Ibrahim Lodi, one of the Afghan rulers. This dargah is dedicated to Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir Kalyari, also known as Sarkar Sabir Pak, a great Sufi saint of the 13th century. People come from far and wide to worship in this dargah, and every day thousands of devotees come to worship this place. It is believed that anything that is sought here gets fulfilled. Apart from this, there are many places to visit and explore around this dargah.

12. Vashista Gufaor Vashista Cave

This cave is very famous in Rishikesh. It is where Sage Vashishta used to meditate and live. Vashishta was the son (Manas Putra or human son) of Lord Brahma, who is one of the trinity according to the Hindu religion. Moreover, sage Vashista is also considered one of the Saptarishi (among the seven great sages). Inside this cave, shiv Linga is worshiped. This is located approx 25 kilometers from Rishikesh.

It is said that when all the sons of sage Vasista had died, then sage Vasista wanted to commit suicide by jumping inside the Ganges river, but Goddess Ganga stopped him from doing so. Then, Sage Vashishta stopped at this place and started doing meditation, and here he meditated for a very long time. Today Purishottamanand Society maintains this cave.

Conclusion

Although there are many places to visit in Rishikesh, we have selected some of the best places to visit in this article. However, you can also visit some other places in Rishikesh like Kaudiyala, Jadh Ganga Trek, Kuari Pass, Swarg Ashram, Jumpin Heights, Bharat Mandir, and Geeta Bhawan, Muni ki Reti, Omkarananda Ashram, Kunjapuri Devi Temple, Raghunath Temple, Garud Chatti Waterfalls, and many more. Haridwar, near Rishikesh is another famous tourist spot to visit.