Rishikesh
About the city
Rishikesh, which means, ‘the abode of the saint', is the gateway to the great river source pilgrimages of the Himalayas. Sages would often stop here before starting their arduous journeys in the spring. The many yoga and meditation ashrams are a natural result of this, and Rishikesh is popular with both Indian and Western seekers after truth. The headquarters of the Divine Life Society is here, as is the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (formerly a guru of the Beatles' guru). Many of the ashrams and 13- storey temple are on the other side of the river from the town and connected to it by the fine laxmanjhoola suspension bridge. Otherwise Rishikesh is simply the base for exploring Uttranchal.Rishikesh is located at a height of about 1360 feet above sea level. It is believed that several yogis and sages lived and practised penance here. Rishikesh represents the site where Vishnu vanquished the demon Madhu.
Tapovan on the other bank of the Ganges houses a temple to Lakshmana. It is believed that Lakshmana carried out penances here. It is also believed that his brother Bharata meditated here, and there is a temple to Bharata here. Also seen here are the Swargashram and the Geeta Bhavan temples.
The Lakshman Jhula, a 450 feet long suspension bridge was built in 1939. A newer bridge the Ram Jhula has been added recently. The Ganga abounds in fish. Offerings of puffed rice are made to these creatures. The freshness of the air, and sound of flowing water, the scenic beauty of the region and the distant sound of bell chimes create an unforgettable experience for those that visit this ancient pilgrimage town.
12 km away from Rishikesh is located the Nilkanth Mahadeo temple at a height of about 5000 feet, commanding spectacular views of the region.
At the foothills of the Himalayas along the banks of the sacred river Ganges, lies the town of Rishikesh. The first town this holy river reaches on its decent from the mountains, Rishikesh is home to many ashrams, and most major Indian ashram, including Vivekenanda, Sivananda, Osho, Bihar school of yoga, have an office there. It is a good place to experience classical Indian yoga. Class instruction may leave a few gaps for students used to the precision of western classes, but with its slow and spiritual atmosphere, it's an enjoyable place to begin discovering what India has to offer. Rishikesh is less intense than other parts of India, probably because people have religion on their minds. Most people are very friendly and quick to say hello or namaste.
As a pilgrimage point, Rishikesh greets many devout Hindus and wandering sadhus (holy men). Many come to bathe in the sanctified waters of the Ganges, as Hindus believe this can remove layers of karma. This peaceful ashram centre is certainly one of the more atmospheric places in India. As the sun rises from behind the mountains, and cuts through the fog, locals wash in the river. Live temple chanting sets the tone. Beginning around 4:00 am, the chants float across the water until well after dark. During night time pujas (ceremonies), offerings of hundreds of camphor flame leaf boats float picturesquely on the river. The commercial centre is more typical of India. But there is little need to visit it as the ashram centre, located on either side of a footbridge over the river, has great bookshops, good restaurants and email places. As a holy city, Rishikesh is fully vegetarian, so you won't even find an egg there. Rishikesh hosts an International Yoga Festival, which is held every year in the first week of February.
Orientation
Located at an altitude of 1360 feet above sea level, in the Tehri-Garhwal region of the state of Uttaranchal, Rishikesh is called the Gateway to the Himalayas. Situated 24 km from the holy city of Haridwar, at the confluence of the Ganga and Chandrabhaga rivers, it is also considered an access point to the Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri. Rishikesh itself can be divided into three main sections. The heart of the city or Muni-ki-Reti is downtown, where you'll find the bus station, railway station and several hotels and restaurants. To the north of this area and east of the Ganges is the Swarg Ashram or the Sivananda Nagar with the assorted ashrams that surround it. Further north is the temple section of Lakshman Jhula.History
Pre-20th Century HistoryAccording to various ancient holy books, Rishikesh was originally known by the name of Kubjamrak. The word Hrishikesh itself was used in the Bhagavad Gita to refer to Sri Krishna. According to legend, Sage Raibhya Rishi did severe penance at the site of the holy city and was rewarded with the appearance of God in the form of Hrishikesh or Lord Krishna. Other sources say that it was Bharata, brother of Lord Rama, who did severe penance here and that the temple of Bharata was constructed at this site, with the town of Rishikesh gradually developing around it. One of the most prominent religious leaders of modern Hinduism, Adi Shankaracharya too is said to have visited the city in the 9th century A.D. Lord Vishnu is also said to have killed the two demons Madhu and Kaitabha here.