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India » Rishikesh
 City Guide
 
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 The little town of Rishikesh gives you entry into the magnificent Himalayas of Garhwal.It lies at the confluence of the rivers Chandrabhaga and Ganges. The four famous pilgrims centres of Garhwal-Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri all share Rishikesh as their common gateway. Also known as the yoga capital of the world, this is the destination for the young and the restless seeking renewal. Recently, Rishikesh has also emerged as an exciting launch pad for adventure sports like trekking and white water river-rafting. |
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AIR
Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, near Dehra Dun, is about 17 km from Rishikesh.IA has five flights a week from Delhi
RAIL
There is a regular shuttle service from Haridwar to Rishikesh, which is rather slow. Railway station: Located on Railway Road in the west end of the town.
Trains connect Haridwar to several important cities in the region as well as other parts of the country. The Dehra Dun Shatabdi Express is the best way to get to Haridwar from Delhi. The Dehra Dun Mumbai Express and Dehra Dun Varanasi Express also service Haridwar. Calcutta and Allahabad are connected to Haridwar by the Doon Express and Dehra Dun-Allahabad Link Express.
ROAD
Connected well by road, Rishikesh has buses plying to Haridwar, Agra, Chandigarh, Dehra Dun, Delhi and Nainital besides other places. Bus terminus: Uttranchal Roadways Bus Stand at the junction of Agarwal Road and Bengali Road. Yatra Bus Stand on the Dehra Dun Road.
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Area: 2.59 sq km
Population: 59,671
Languages Spoken: Hindi, Garhwali, English
STD Code: 01364
CLIMATE: Winter lasts from November till mid-February. By June it starts getting warm. The rains begin in mid-July bringing relief from the heat. |
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Triveni Ghat
In the mornings, thousands come here to bathe and make offerings to the Lord. Be there at sunset to take in the serene and peaceful aarti ceremony performed daily on the riverbank. With the cool breeze blowing in from the river, it makes for an unforgettable experience.
Bharat Mandir
The oldest structure in Rishikesh, it has several beautiful images associated with Lord Shiva. A popular belief is that the temple has been named after the loyal brother of Lord Rama, Bharat.
Lakshman Jhula
Built when Rama s younger brother Lakshman decided to cross the river on a jute rope. Today, the rope bridge has been replaced by a concrete one by the same name. Ram Jhula is the other suspended iron bridge, recently constructed between Shivanand Ashram and Swarg Ashram.
Nilkantha Mahadev
According to mythology, when the cosmic ocean was being churned for amrit, what came out first was poison. This was the place where Shiva drank the venom, which turned his throat into a murky blue color, giving him the appellation Nilkantha, the one with the blue throat . Every Shivratri, around March, fairs and festivals are held here at Nilkantha Mahadev, 12 km from Rishikesh.
Gita Bhavan
Gita Bhavan is an ashram that runs an ayurvedic dispensary and has a branch of the famous Gita press, Gorakhpur. The place is also worth visiting for its collection of paintings and statues.
Sivananda Ashram
Established by Swami Sivananda, the ashram is an elaborate centre for meditation and yoga. Promoting society welfare, it runs a hospital and produces herbal medicines. Also known as the Divine Life Society, it has branches abroad as well.
Omkarananda Ashram
Omkarananda Ashram, located above the Yoga Niketan meditation centre, runs a school, maintains several temples and conducts classes in various Indian languages and classical art.
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| Rishikesh has scores of shops offering ayurvedic and herbal medicines. Shops in the Swarg Ashram area offer the same, along with devotional products like brassware, incense, prasad and Rudraksh beads. Rishikesh may not have big shops but it has a variety of handicrafts to offer - made of beads, shells, pearls and wood. Visit UP Handlooms (en route to Haridwar), Khadi Bhandar or the Garhwal wool and craft shop for rugs and sheets. |
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