Rishikesh round the year pilgrimage destination

Rishikesh, the ‘place of sages’ is an eminent spiritual town on the banks of River Ganga and is surrounded by the Shivalik range of the Himalayas on three sides. It is the starting point for the Char Dham pilgrimage of the Hindus, wherein pilgrims go to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath to seek spiritual salvation.

Proclaimed in the ’60s by The Beatles as the ‘Yoga capital of the world’, Rishikesh surged into eminence when the cult group met their guru,  Maharishi  Mahesh  Yogi  here. Not  only  an  ideal  india travel destination
for pilgrims, Rishikesh is the place to head for those who want to delve deeper into meditation – Yoga and aspects of Hinduism. Aside from its wonderful scenery and the numerous pilgrimage sites it offers, Rishikesh is famous as a popular adventure sport destination for river rafting, trekking, rock climbing and hiking holidays.

 According to Hindu mythology, the sage Raibhya Rishi did severe penance and, as a reward, God appeared to him in the form of Hrishikesh. Rishikesh also represents the site where Lord Vishnu vanquished the demon Madhu. The place is known as the Tapo Bhumi or the place for meditation of the Gods. Tapovan, on the other bank of the Ganges, houses a temple dediated to Lakshmana. It is believed that Lakshmana, the younger brother of Lord Rama, carried out penance here. The Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is believed to be the site where Lord Shiva had drunk the venom that came out during the churning of the ocean.
 
Places to visit
The Lakshmanan Jhula (a suspended iron bridge) was built in 1939 and has been a major tourist attraction. Legend has it that Lakshman crossed the River Ganga on jute ropes built on the very place where this new iron bridge stands. A site offering wonderful views, during the monsoon season, the water level of the river increases considerably along with the speed of the current. Close to the Lakshman Jhula is another suspended bridge called the Ram Jhula.

Bharat Mandir, the oldest temple of Rishikesh, was built by Adi Shankaracharya. The inner sanctum of the temple has an idol of Lord Vishnu carved out of a single saligram (marble). Statues, coins, pots and other items of historical importance have also been excavated from the premises  of   the  temple. Known   for  its   substantial  work  on  Hinduism, Parmarth Niketan organizes marvelous Ganga Aarti and Hawan on the Parmarth Ghat every evening. When here, watch out for one of the 13 most important Goddesses of Shivalik range, Kunja Puri, which also offers a scenic view of the sunrise and sunset on the Greater Himalayan Peaks.

The Triveni Ghat is the main ghat in the town, which witnesses pilgrims taking a holy dip during the day and the Ganga Aarti during the evening. Close to the Triveni Ghat is Rishikund, a pond reflecting the temple of Raghunath, dedicated to Lord Rama and Sita.

The Neelkanth Mahadev Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is the place where he drank the venom which had oozed out when the ocean was being churned for amrit (potion for immortality).

The Shivanand Ashram, situated close to the Lakshman Jhula conducts lectures, discussion and meditation and yoga classes daily. In case you plan to stay for a longer time, contact the Secretary at least a month in advance.

Festivals
The International Yoga Week is held here for a week every February, which sees masters in the art of Yoga performances from all around the world in Rishikesh to teach a variety of Yogic disciplines. Discourses by spiritual masters and scholars are also provided and cultural programs are held.

Tags: Ashram, Bharat Mandir, book, Ganga, Himalayan, Holidays, hotels, India, india holidays, Lakshmanan Jhula, make, monsoon, pilgrims, Rishikesh, Shiva, Shivanand Ashram, spiritual, Tapovan, Travel, trip, Triveni Ghat