Enroute Char Dham, Explore Rishikesh - The Yoga and Meditation Capital of the World
In Uttarakhand’s Tehri-Garwal region, Rishikesh is lodged right on the banks of River Ganga, devotedly known as Ganga Maiya. Known to everyone, Rishikesh is a pronounced pilgrimage hub in Northern India’s Devbhumi, where many devotees flock to seek peace and offer prayers to the holy Ganga. The location of Rishikesh on the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayas and the Ganges flowing along the city, the riverside walkways, mountains, forests and clear blue skies together retains the picturesque beauty of the place.
The paradisiacal city of Rishikesh is known to be the abode of sages or hermit’s hermitages, and the core of adventure seekers. Rishikesh literally refers to the ‘locks of hairs of a sage’ and has the sobriquet ‘Gateway to the Garhwal Himalays’. The evening aarti on the banks of River Ganga, the chanting of many hymns by the priests, illumination of the river with multiple oil lamps, transforms the city entirely into a celestial abode. Rishikesh has been one of the holiest places for Hindus and currently, it has also become the commercial hub with several adventurous activities to partake in the suburban part of Muni ki Reti (sand of the sages).
Rishikesh - Historical Facets
Rishikesh is an ancient city and is wrapped by innumerable religious and mythological legends related to Lord Bharat, Lord Vishnu and several imminent sages. The city is believed to have been established by the saint Shri Adi Shankaracharya in the 9th Century AD.
Rishikesh has its mention in the archaic text of Skanda Purana and the popular epic The Ramayana. Lord Rama is said to have visited Rishikesh along with his brothers to perform penance after defeating Ravana. The Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula have also gained their historical backdrop from Ramayana. It is believed that Lord Rama and his brother Lord Lakshman crossed the Ganga River through these bridges. It was a jute bridge then and was rebuilt with an iron bridge n 1889, which got washed away in the 1924 floods. It was again reconstructed and is standing strong till the present day.
As historical accounts put up, Rishikesh is a part of Kedarkhand, the present-day Garhwal.
Rishikesh is also the home to the Kailash Ashram Brahmavidyapeetham, a 133 years old institution, instrumental in preserving and nurturing Vedantic studies.
In February 1968, the members of the Beatles, the popular English Rock Band came to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram to learn and practice meditation. Presently the place is known as Beatles Ashram and is quite a popular attraction in Rishikesh. The songs that they composed in the ashram were included in the White Album.
Yoga Culture of Rishikesh
Rishikesh is also widely known as the ‘yoga capital of the world and there are several ashrams or institutions that are nationally and internationally recognised as the source of imparting yoga, philosophical studies and other Indian customs of wellness. People in huge number flock to Rishikesh to learn and practice yoga, meditation, ayurveda and panchakarma. Every year, the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board arranges IYF (International Yoga Festival) and many yoga enthusiasts come to Rishikesh to participate in the festival. Meditating in Rishikesh is believed to be the path toward attaining Moksha (salvation), similar to taking a dip in the Holy Ganga River.
Tourist Attractions
Lakshman Jhula - It is the most popular landmark in Rishikesh, where Lord Lakshman crossed the River Ganga by walking through the bridge, which was then made of Jute Rope. It was later rebuilt and connected two districts Tehri and Pauri.
Ram Jhula - Just beside the Lakshman is the Ram Jhula, another tourist marvel. This bridge links Shivananda Ashram to Swarg Ashram. Standing on the bridge with River Ganga flowing beneath with supreme energy is a mesmerising visionary treat.
Beatles Ashram - Originally it was the ashram of Guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. But after the footfall of the popular English band, Beatles, it came to be known as the Beatles Ashram. The members of the band came here to learn transcendental meditation. The ashram is located very near to Swarg Ashram and is in a ruined state presently. However, strolling through the ruins will give a chilled feeling down the spine.
Rishi Kund - It’s a sacred place and records the footfall of several devotees who come here to take a dip in the river to pay oblation to God. Riveryamuna is said to have blessed this spot and Lord Ram bathed here during his exile.
Trayambakeshwar Temple - Also known as Tera Manzil Mandir, this 8th Century temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga Temples of Lord Shiva. This 13-storeyed shrine houses several gods and goddesses of the Hindu Religion such as Hanuman, Durga, Kali, etc. and the Shiva Linga is placed on the topmost floor of the temple.
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple - It is a popular pilgrimage near Rishikesh on the top of a mountain, adjacent to the Nar Narayan mountain range. Neelkanth Mahadev (Lord Shiva) is worshipped in this temple.
Swarg Ashram - It is a group of Ashram located on the eastern bank of River Ganga and is one of the popular tourist destinations in Rishikesh.
Bharat Mandir - It is one of the oldest temples in Rishikesh in the Triveni Ghat and is the abode of Lord Vishnu. The idol of Lord Vishnu is sculpted of a single black stone, called Saligram.
Triveni Ghat - The top attraction at the Triveni Ghat is the evening Ganga aarti and the worshipers take a dip in the river before entering the temples of Rishikesh.
Parmarth Niketan - It is the largest ashram in Rishikesh and is the haven for imparting yoga and other spiritual lessons. The ashram was established by Swami Sukhdevanand Ji Maharaj in 1942.
Some of the additional places that can be covered are Sivananda Ashram, Omkarananda Ashra, Virbhadra Temple, Raghunath Temple and Vashishtha Cave.
Muni ki Reti, which means ‘Sand of the Sages’, is considered to be the gateway of the Char Dham Yatra to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Muni ki Reti is located on the banks of River Ganga, very close to Rishikesh. According to folklore, sages meditated on the banks. There are several ashrams and ayurveda, yoga and meditation centres in Muni ki Reti.
Char Dham Distance from Rishikesh
The journey to the four sacred shrines ideally commences from Haridwar and proceeds via Rishikesh, Dehradun, Barkot and so on.
The distance from Rishikesh to the Char Dham and the route map is as follows:
1. Rishikesh to Yamunotri - 245 km - Rishikesh → Narendranagar → Chamba → Chinyalisaur → Barkot → Janki Chatti → Yamunotri.
2. Rishikesh to Gangotri - 265 km - Rishikesh → Narendranagar → Chamba → Uttarkashi → Gangotri
3. Rishikesh to Kedarnath - 223 km - Rishikesh → Devprayag → Srinagar → Rudraprayag → Augustmuni → Guptkashi → Gaurikund → Kedarnath
4. Rishikesh to Badrinath - 292 km - Rishikesh → Srinagar → Rudraprayag → Karnaprayag → Joshimath → Badrinath
Adrenaline pumping activities
1. River rafting - River rafting in Rishikesh is indeed an action-packed adventurous activity. The rafting range is from Kaudiyala to Lakshman Jhula, approximately a stretch of 36 km.
2. Trekking - Kunjapuri trek and Waterfall trek are the popular trekking trails of Rishikesh.
3. Paragliding and Parasailing - Both activities give immense excitement to adventure lovers. However, they should be avoided during the monsoon season.
4. Rock Climbing - One of the challenging activities, but once done, it will provide a nest-level addiction. Climbing through the craggy mountains on the Himalayan foothills is something worth trying.
5. Mountain Biking - Paddling through the rough terrains of Rishikesh with mountain bikes is a one-of-a-kind experience and a great way to test the rider’s stamina, focus, endurance, balance and hands-on-bike skills.
6. Bungee jumping - Jumping off a cliff with a belt and wire tied around a body is a next-level experience. Falling down with head upside down, and stopping and hanging just above the water level is indeed a heart-throbbing moment.
7. Giant Swing - This is something completely different from sitting on a swing in a park. The giant swing activity involves jumping from a bungee platform with a seat and rope tied to the body and swinging in a to-and-fro motion like a pendulum at an elevated height.
8. Kayaking - The inclination for adventure is much satisfied by Kayaking in Rishikesh rowing through the strong currents of the Ganges. Rishikesh offers whitewater kayaking and is done on slim plastic-made canoe-like boats.
9. Zip lining - Zip lining is operated in Shivpuri, a hamlet near Rishikesh. Just like the runner rolls up and down a zip of a dress, the adventure seekers are tied with a hook with a wire and roll across the Ganga River from one to another.
10. Camping - Not exactly an adventurous try, yet a thrilling experience that can be enjoyed by all age groups in Rishikesh. Kaudiyala, Byasi, Shivpuri and Brahmpuri are the most popular camping sites in Rishikesh and the modern camps are furnished with all the basic amenities.
Weather at Rishikesh
Winter (October to February) - Rishikesh experiences chilly winters and will be a pleasant time to visit. The temperature ranges between 6℃-30℃.
Summer (March to May) - The summers are moderate at Rishikesh. An ideal destination for summer vacation. The temperature ranges between 14℃-40℃.
Monsoon (June to September) - Although the weather remains pleasant, due to heavy rainfall there are high chances of landslides in Rishikesh. Therefore, it is not very perfect time to visit Rishikesh. The temperature ranges between 24℃-35℃.
How to reach Rishikesh
By air - The Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the closest one to Rishikesh. Landing there, reach Rishikesh by road covering a distance of 21 km.
By rail - Rishikesh has its own railway station. Rishikesh railway station is well-networked with most of the significant destinations in India.
By road - Rishikesh is stationed on NH58 and has strong connections with Uttarakhand's major cities, as well as North Indian states via buses. One can also book a cab or drive a car to reach Rishikesh through the motorable roadway.
