Rishikesh
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Rishikesh is a small town in Dehradun district, which is situated in
the north Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is surrounded by immense
scenic beauty owing to its proximity to River Ganges and because it is
situated at the foothills of the Himalayas. It is also known for being
a pilgrim centre. It is fine to visit Rishikesh any time of the
year, although the months from October to April are ideal because of
the bright and sunny weather
Often referred to as the 'place of sages', Rishikes is considered to
be a very holy city by the Hindus. Legend has it that Rishi Rabhiya
did sincere penance and as an answer to his penances god appeared as
Rishikesh. Henceforth this place came to be known as Rishikesh. The
prime pilgrimage attractions of Rishikesh include
Bharat Mandir: Situated in the heart of the town, it is the oldest
temple in the town of Rishikesh. This ancient temple was built
in the 12th century by Sri Adiguru Sankaracharya. This temple is
dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The main sanctum has an idol of Lord Vishnu
which has been carved out of a single black stone.
Lakshman Jhula: A famous landmark in Rishikesh, Lakshman Jhula
is a suspension bridge made of iron. The bridge is used to cross over
River Ganges. The view of the river from the bridge is breathtaking.
Legend has it that the Lakshman, brother of Lord Rama once crossed the
river over a jute bridge. This bridge has supposedly been built on the
same historic site. Lakshman Jhula is a major tourist attraction
Nilkanth Mahadeo: It is one of the most important temples in Rishikesh.
It is a beautiful view with tranquil surroundings. Legend has it that
in the ancient times the ocean was being churned to get some amrit
(Potion of immortality), initially venom oozed out and Lord Vishnu
drank all the venom in this very place, which is now called Nilkanth
Mahadeo.
Gita Bhawan: Situated close to the Lakshman Jhula, Gita Bhawan is a
relatively newly constructed building. This building display
mythological artifacts, beautiful paintings and statues.
Triveni Ghat: It is a famous ghat in Rishikesh. Most devotees take a
holy bath in Triveni Ghat before visiting the various temples here.
Ram Jhula, which is another hanging bridge; Swarga Ashram, which has a
number of beautiful temples and Rishikund are other places in
Rishikesh that are worth a visit. Haridwar, which is at a distance of
about 25 kilometers from Rishikesh is a very famous pilgrim center
which is a must visit.
Apart from being an important religious site, Rishikesh is also known
as the world capital of 'yoga and meditation'. This is also one of the
reasons why Rishikesh attracts many foreign tourists. It is home to
numerous renowned yoga ashrams.
Risikesh is increasingly becoming a popular spot for river rafting and
treks, making it a favorite with adventure lovers.
Hrishikesha is a name of Vishnu that means 'lord of the senses'.
Hrishikesh is a holy city for Hindus located in the foothills of the
Himalaya in northern India. The place gets its name after Lord Vishnu
who appeared to 'Raibhya Rishi', as a result of his tapasya
(austerities), as Lord Hrishikesh. In Skanda Purana, this area is
known as 'Kubjamrak' as Lord Vishnu appeared, under a mango tree.
Historically, Hrishikesh, has been a part of the legendary
'Kedarkhand' (the present day Garhwal), the abode of Shiva . Legends
state that Lord Rama did penance here for killing Ravana, the demon
king of Lanka; and Lakshmana, his younger brother, crossed the river
Ganga, at a point, where the present 'Lakshman Jhula' stands today,
using a jute rope bridge. The 'Kedar Khand' of Skanda Purana, also
mentions the existence of Indrakund at this very point. The jute-rope
bridge was replaced by iron-rope suspension bridge in 1889, and after
it was washed away in the 1924 floods, it was replaced by a stronger
present bridge.
How to get there:
By Air
The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun. It
is at a distance of 35 kilometers from Rishikesh. You can visit Dehradun via New Delhi to Dehradun, Mumbai to Dehradun, Bengaluru to Dehradun
By Rail
The nearest Indian Railways
station is at Haridwar. The Haridwar railway station in well connected
to other major cities in India like Delhi, Dehradun, Mumbai, Kolkata, Allahabad , Lucknow, Varanasi
By Bus
Rishikesh is well connected by road to other cities like Haridwar, Chandigarh,
Agra, Delhi to Rishikesh etc
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