Rishikesh also spelled Hrishikesh, Rushikesh or Hrushikesh,
is a city and a municipal board in Dehradun district in the
Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is surrounded by two other districts
namely Tehri Garhwal and Pauri Garhwal. It is located in the
foothills of the Himalaya in northern India and attracts thousands
of pilgrims and tourists each year, from within India, as well
as from other countries. Rishikesh is a vegetarian city by law,
as well as an alcohol-free city. Rishikesh has also banned use
of plastics bags by shopkeepers and vendors.
It is also known as the gateway to the Himalayas and is located
around 25 kilometres north of another holy city, Haridwar. Rishikesh
is also a Yoga and spiritual destination with an international
feel.
Etymology
In Sanskrit Rishikesh is a name of Vishnu that means 'Lord
of The Senses'. 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. The name Rishikesh is loosely applied to an association
of five distinct sections encompassing not only the town but
also hamlets and settlements on both sides of the river Ganges.
These include Rishikesh itself, the commercial and communication
hub; the sprawling suburb Muni-ki-Reti or the "sands of the
sages"; Shivananda Nagar the home of Sivananda Ashram and the
Divine Life Society founded by Swami Sivananda, north of Rishikesh;
the temple section of Lakshman Jhula, a little further north;
and the assorted Ashrams around Swarg Ashram on the east bank.
One can reach the famous Neelakanta Maha Deva Temple from here.
The Ganga Arati performed at dusk at the Triveni Ghat is popular
with visitors. 'Neelkanth Mahadev Temple', situated 12 km from
Rishikesh, amidst forest is also a popular local pilgrimage,
along with 'Vasishtha Guha', (Cave of sage Vasishtha), 21 km
up from the town by the Ganges.
History of Rishikesh
Rishikesh has been a part of the legendary 'Kedarkhand' (the
present day Garhwal). Legends state that Lord Rama did penance
here for killing Ravana, the demon king of Lanka; and Lakshmana,
his younger brother, crossed the river Ganges, at a point, where
the present 'Lakshman Jhula' bridge 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.
The sacred river Ganges flows through Rishikesh. It is here
that the river leaves the Shivalik mountains in the Himalayas
and flows out into the plains of northern India. Several temples,
ancient as well as new, can be found along the banks of the
Ganges in Rishikesh.
Yoga Center - Rishikesh
Rishikesh, sometimes nicknamed "the world capital of Yoga",
has numerous yoga centres that also attract tourists. It is
believed that meditation in Rishikesh brings one closer to attainment
of moksha, as does a dip in the holy river that flows through
it. Rishikesh is world famous for Rafting and Adventure. Rafting
season starts from the month of March and ends in July.
Rishikesh is also home to the 120-year old Kailas Ashram Brahmavidyapeetham,
an institution dedicated to preserve and promote the traditional
Vedantic Studies. Prominent personalities such as Swami Vivekananda,
Swami Rama Tirtha and Swami Shivananda have studied in this
institution.
In February 1968, The Beatles visited the now-closed Maharishi
Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh. John Lennon recorded a song
titled, 'The Happy Rishikesh Song'. The Beatles composed nearly
48 songs during their time at the Maharishi's ashram, many of
which appear on the White Album. Several other artists visited
the site to contemplate and meditate.
Geography of Rishikesh
It is situated at an altitude of 356 m above sea level. The
geographical location of Rishikesh is 30.7 North Latitude and
78.42 East Longitude. It has an average elevation of 372 metres
(1,745 feet). The Tehri dam is just 80 km uphill on the way
to Gangotri. Rishikesh is the starting point for traveling to
the sites that form the Char Dham pilgrimage — Badrinath, Kedarnath,
Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
Adventure Sports in Rishikesh
Rishikesh is becoming a popular spot for white water rafting
enthusiasts, both from India and abroad, as it offers medium
to rough rapids in the course of river Ganges, with rapids rated
class 3 and class 4. It is also a center for hiking and backpacking.
Best time to Visit Rishikesh :-
Rishikesh is a picturesque destination affording enchanting
views throughout the year.
The right time to visit would be February, March, August-October.
In July there is a festival called Savan where
thousands of people flock to Rishikesh. Major roads are blocked
and hotels are crowded. It is better to avoid travelling to
Rishikesh during that time.
Places to see in Rishikesh :- Visiting Places in Rishikesh
- Sight Seeing Places - Rishikesh Attractions
Triveni Ghat. This is a bathing ghat. Daily in the
morning and evening there are thousands who take bath here
and enjoy the Maha Aarti being performed. It very soothing
to sit on the banks of the river and enjoy the cool breeze
from the river.
Bharat Mandir
Lakshman Jhula Is an iron suspension bridge situated
in Rishikesh in Indian state of Uttarakhand . It is made over
river Ganges to cross the river and is a landmark of Rishikesh.
It is said that Lakshman crossed Ganges on jute ropes between
the place where this bridge is built. Lakshman Jhula was built
in 1939. There are spectacular views from the bridge.
Gita Bhavan. Place of Guru Shri Ram Sukh Daasji, (the
great thinker of his time) Popular among the Hindu Brahmin
Community. Twice a year people gather at this ashram to read
the Ramayana together.
Swarg Ashram, Shri 108 Baba Sali Kamli Wale Swami
Atam Prakash Ji. Swargashram ( Heavenly Adobe) as the name
connotes is a beautiful place situated in picturesque surroundings
at the foot of Himalayas on the left bank of the Ganges between
Rishikesh and Laxmanjhula. It is the spiritual “ground zero”
of Rishikesh, filled with a concentration of ashrams and temples.
The areas is known for its healthy and satwik living environment.
It is this spot where from ages of yore the famous Yogis and
Rishis have been doing the Tapasya. Numerous mention of this
spot occurs in the holy scripture Puranas.
Parmarth Niketan. One of the few Ashrams left in India
where Kids get the Vedas Education. Must Visit in Evening
for the Pooja/Aarti. 5PM in Winter and 6PM in summer.
Neelkanth Mahadev Mela
Trayambakeshwar Temple, Lakshman Jhula. is 13 stories
high, with different deities throughout.
Things
To Do in Rishikesh :-
Take a holy dip in the Ganges, with reputed healing powers.
Check into an Ashram to study yoga, meditation and Hindu philosophy.
Watch a beautiful evening Ganga Arti at Parmarth Niketan.
White Water Rafting Rishikesh is very popular for its rafting
on the River Ganga (Ganges). Season: September-November and
March-April-May are ideal for rafting. The rafting will go
on for several kilometres, and the path is interspersed with
rapids, ranging from Level 1 to Level 5, in order of difficulty.
At the end of the trip, you have the option of jumping some
20 feet from a ledge into the water. There are several local
travel agencies, offering these rafting trips. The package
usually includes an overnight camp on the banks of the river,
with a brilliant and dangerous trek among the hills in the
morning. If one has time, courses in rafting are also offered.
Camping is a recreational activity that does not have any
age limit. Any individual who likes to explore new places
and enjoy the beauty and serenity of nature can embark on
a camping voyage. Camping in Rishikesh on the Ganga beach
offer an environment to wake up with the birds cher chew and
can swim in the fresh water of the river Ganges. Camping in
Rishikesh is a very popular activity.
Rappelling Climbing down with a rope is called rappelling.
The group is taken to a spot where there is a cliff drop,
experts with proper equipment who setup the gear first and
then, one by one, everyone comes down. It's all about trusting
your gear and following the instructions and then it's a lot
of fun.
Rock climbing This is something everyone is familiar with,
this is also included in some of the camps but not everyone
can do it as it requires a lot of strength and skill. The
group is taken to a cliff side and with proper safety gear
everyone is given a chance to climb the cliff side.
Cliff Jumping You are supposed to jump into freezing water
from a cliff! Yes, it sounds crazy but this is one thing which
everyone can brag about back home, of course you are wearing
a life jacket and a helmet but still to jump from so high
into the Ganga which is murky and the bottom can't be seen,
it's not like jumping into a swimming pool where one can see
the bottom the water is static.
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking
is differentiated from canoeing by the fact that a kayak has
a closed cockpit and a canoe has an open cockpit. They also
use a two bladed paddle. Another major difference is in the
way the paddler sits in the boat. Kayakers sit in a seat on
the bottom of the boat with their legs extended out in front
of them. Canoeists will either sit on an elevated bench seat
or kneel directly on the bottom of the boat. Whitewater kayaking
is the sport of paddling a kayak on a moving body of water,
typically a whitewater river. Whitewater kayaking can range
from simple, carefree gently moving water, to demanding, dangerous
whitewater.
Trekking There are a lot of soft treks in this region, this
is an optional thing as some people love to walk in nature
and do a bit of bird watching and some prefer to be at the
camp and relax and they are already tired with the activities
they have done.
Bungee Jump, (15km ahead of Rishikesh on Rishikesh-Neelkanth
road), You can try bungee jump at Jumpin Heights. It is a
unique experience in India, a jump from 83 mtrs just above
a natural river.
Mukeshji's Jungle Vibes, Shisham Jhari,Rishikesh (Near Dayanand
Ashram), Have a once in a life time experience of making the
Australian Didgeridoos, African Djmbes and other musical instruments
in the guidance of iconic Mukeshji while he enthralls you
with his hilarious stories and takes you along with him in
his Himalayan Journeys. A person visiting here finds himself/herself
in a selected crowd of music aficionados and extreme adventures
from around the world.
Climate
- Weather of Rishikesh :-
Rishikesh - has a pleasant climate for many months of the
year. As its location is in the hilly terrains, the climate
never becomes extreme type. Thus Rishikesh is one such tourist
spot that can be visited any time of the year.
The weather of Rishikesh can be studied with a glimpse towards
its climatic conditions. The maximum temperature recorded
so far is 27.7 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature
of Rishikesh is 14.6 degree Celsius. In the months of summer
the temperature in Rishikesh varies from 35 degrees to 45
degrees Celsius. The temperature ranges from 10 degrees to
30 degrees Celsius in the months of winter. The weather of
Rishikesh often becomes unpredictable. There are frequent
precipitation that takes place. The annual mean rainfall in
Rishikesh is about 2136.7 mm.
The holy city of Rishikesh lies at the bank of river Ganga.
The region is surrounded by the Himalayas and falls under
the climatic conditions of the western part of the Himalayas.
The day remains pleasant and sunny with comparatively cold
evenings. The winters are very cold and the summer season
is mild and moderate followed by a good rainfall in monsoon.
Summer
Season in Rishikesh :- During the months from March to
June. The maximum temperature that you can expect during the
summer is around Summer 20 °C to 35 °C.
Monsoon
Season in Rishikesh :- Monsoon season is from July to
September and during this time most activities are suspended
due to the heavy blast of rains. Rainfall is highest in the
month of August. During the month of October and November
the conditions are pleasant and temperate.
Winter
Season in Rishikesh :- Winter season can be cold in the
town and the temperatures can be expected to around 8°C. The
barometer rises up to a maximum of 20°C during the winter
months. Wollen clothing is essential during this period.
How
to Reach Rishikesh :-
By Car
Delhi airport to Rishikesh by car is a good option for a hassle
free traveling specially for foreign tourists who are traveling
to India for the first time. It's a 6 to 7 hours journey.
Prices vary from US$ 85 for an air conditioned compact car
to US$ 125 for an air conditioned SUV (but rates are much
higher if one avails these services from prepaid taxi booths
located at the airport).
Nearest
Airport
By plane Rishikesh is in close proximity of Dehradun's Jolly
Grant Airport (about 15 km) - a small, quiet and recently renovated
airport handling just two flights from Delhi. The runway is
being extended and will possibly then handle flights from other
metros as of now there are flights only from Delhi (The capital
of India)
By
Train - Rishikesh railway station
By train A quiet branch line connects Rishikesh to Haridwar,
but there are only about three slow trains daily. It's best
to take the train to Haridwar and continue by bus (45 min),
by taxi (30 mins or by shared auto-rickshaw (40 min). Travelling
by train comes recommended because they often run empty and
the fares are low & run right-time especially in peak seasons
or "Melas" (Fares) when bus routes are diverted in Haridwar
& share rickshaws try to make a killing. You can take "Vikrams"
towards Lakshman Jhula from Rishikesh station.
You will have to cross Ram Jhula to reach Swarg Ashram(On the
other side of river Ganges). From Delhi there are many trains
to Haridwar, some of the best are :-
Shatabadi Express, Jan Shatabdi, AC Special Express, Mussoorie
Express. to buy a ticket.
Trains from Rishikesh
Rishikesh - Delhi 07:00
Rishikesh - Haridwar 08:10
Rishikesh - Bandikui 14:10
Rishikesh - Haridwar 14:20
Rishikesh - Haridwar 18:35
By Bus
From Delhi the city is about 230 km away and is well connected
with buses. A bus journey may take about 5-7 hours - depending
on the traffic.
Nainital Tourism provides Pickup & Drop facility
from Delhi - Kathgodam to Rishikesh or anywhere in Uttarakhand.
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Available All Types of Vehicles
at Rishikesh & Delhi
DELUXE BUSES, INNOVA, INDIGO, INDICA, SUMO, QUALIS,
TEMPO-TRAVELER, TAXIS
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River Rafting Transport Rates- Hotel Booking
or Rishikesh Tour Packages
related enquiry please
Contact Here
Please Call us at
09536-1182-78
or
09027-1555-78
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