A small town palisade by the holy Ganges in Uttarakhand will fill your soul with peace as yoga and meditation is in the very breath of the place. Though the town is quite small in area but the holiness of the yoga capital and unending adventure attracts tourist from round the world.
What to see in Rishikesh
Lakshman Jhula
The long hanging iron bridge across river Ganga is among the most renowned tourist spot due to its mythological association with the epic Ramayan. Ram Jhula is also situated nearby.
Camping and white water rafting
Every morning seems beautiful when you at the lapse of nature. The experience of river side camping is refreshing and rejuvenating and that too when it is loaded with adventure activities. Various adventure activities which one can take ranges from rafting, trekking, bungee jumping to kayaking. Let your adrenaline rise to a new level but with safety and proper instructions from your guide. If you are an adventure seeker a visit to ‘jumping heights’ is must. For long stretch white water rafting one should go for ‘Shivpuri’.
Swarg Ashram and Beatles Ashram, Swami Dayananda Ashram:
These are just to name a few as the place offers a number of Ashrams which spiritual and healthy environment to relax and nourish the deepest within you. These ashrams will help you in experiencing the power of yoga and meditation to calm and overactive mind.
Evening Aarti at Ghats
Experience the divine feeling with evening Ganga aarti. The whole river seems to be flooded with diyas and oil lamps, sounds of ringing bells and holy chants, the spirituality aura all around will enlighten you from within and fill your soul with peace, serenity and satisfaction. So not to miss Aarti at Triveni ghat and Parmarth niketan; also Triveni ghat is the point of congruence of river Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati and it is believed that a bath in this sacred place purify once soul and free him from sins.
Geeta Bhawan
Geeta Bhawan on bank of river Ganga is a huge complex is known to provide free shelter to thousands of pilgrims and is among the most visited tourist spot.
Rishi kund
Natural hot spring, the water of which is considered sacred. The hot spring has mythological association and reflection of Raghunath temple dedicated to Lord Ram and Mata Sita and can be seen in it.
Neelkanth Mahadev temple
Few kilometers from Rishikesh lays the sacred shrine of lord Shiva – the Neelkanth Mahadev temple. As per the mythology this is the sacred place where Lord Shiva consumed the poison emanate from the sea when Devtas and Asura where churning the sea to obtain the pot of Amrita.
Neer Garh waterfal
Get your camera ready to captivate the beautiful scenery during your trek leading to picturesque waterfall.
Kunjapuri temple
Few kilometers from Rishikesh and after an easy trek is located the Kunjapuri temple which is one of the revered shaktipeeth and offers spell – binding view of sunrise with different reflection of mountains as sun began to rise.
Other places to be incorporated in your itinerary are Bharat mandir which houses lord Vishnu idol carved from single piece of Saligram, yoga centers to ensure the techniques for a healthy life, Vashista gufa where ancient sage Vashista meditated, Lakshman temple, Virbhadra temple.
It is the tranquility, acceptance, holiness, power to meditation and yoga that the place is internationally recognized at ‘Yoga capital’ and tourist especially foreigners stays here for months and many wants to stay here forever.