Religious Places in Rishikesh

Lakshman Jhula is a renowned hanging bridge across the holy river Ganga. It connects two villages in Rishikesh: Tapovan village in Tehri Garhwal and Jonk village in Pauri Garhwal, made of iron and spanning 450 feet over 70 feet above the river.<br> The bridge has been a popular tourist attraction since it was constructed due to its association with Hindu Mythology – in Ramayan, it's believed Lord Ram and his brother Lakshman crossed the Ganga at the same spot.<br><br> It opened for public use in 1929, and since then many other developments have been made to increase tourist footfall. While visiting Rishikesh, you can not only take in Lakshman Jhula but also enjoy nearby attractions such as Tera Manzil Temple, Ram Jhula, and Lakshman Temple.

If you're planning a pilgrimage to the city or are just stopping by for a vacation, you must stop at Ram Jhula, one of Rishikesh's most famous landmarks. It is a suspension bridge that is approximately 450 feet long and made entirely of iron. The Public Works Department built it in 1986.<br><br>The bridge spans the holy Ganga river and links Swargashram in the eastern Pauri Garhwal district with Sivananda Nagar in Muni Ki Reti, in the Tehri Garhwal district, in the west.<br><br>This bridge is located in the state of Uttarakhand, around 3 kilometres from Rishikesh's centre. It is conveniently close to Rishikesh, and if you enjoy taking long walks through breathtaking countryside, you may even walk the entire length of the bridge.<br><br>The bridge can be crossed by bicycles or on foot. The side of the bridge is lined by a number of revered ashrams, Hindu temples, and other religious buildings. These ashrams, with their serenity, friendliness, and religiosity, embody the true spirit of Rishikesh.<br><br>The Lakshman Jhula, which is 2 kilometres upriver on the banks of the Ganga and longer than Ram Jhula, is another well-known bridge in the region.

Geeta Bhavan, another must-see attraction in Rishikesh, is situated on the banks of the Ganga River and is surrounded with the mesmerising beauty of the Himalayas. It is a vast complex that acts as an organization where a devotee may learn a lot about Hinduism and take part in numerous religious and cultural activities.<br><br>The organization provides free meals, lodging, and instruction to the pilgrims. Everyone who resides in the Bhavan engages in daily sadhana, meditation, and other required practises. Visitors to Geeta Bhavan can take  part in all the events and pay a little fee to use other amenities, eat just vegetarian meals, and engage in all the activities.<br><br>Additionally, it provides free boat trips and has a dispensary with free ayurveda treatments and medications prepared with sacred Ganges water and according to religious texts. It provides a nice and relaxing atmosphere for participating in Ganga bathing and other religious activities thanks to the abundance of meditation spaces and bathing ghats.

One of the top attractions in Tehri Gharwal is Kunjapuri Temple, which offers visitors a panoramic view of the Garhwal Himalayan peaks, including Swarga Rohini, Gangotri, Banderpunch, and Chaukhamba to the north and Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Doon Valley to the south. These peaks are all associated with mythical beings and goddesses. The sanctuary Kunjapuri is situated on the highest point of the hill Kunjapuri, which is 1,676 metres high. It is 7 kilometres from Narendra Nagar, 15 kilometres from Rishikesh, and 93 kilometres from Devaprayag, favouring onlookers. Many thousands of people visit this important sacred site every year, notably during the 'Navratras' (April and October). The Dussehra festival features large celebrations.<br><br>The celestial triangle of the shrines is related to a well-known tale about Sati, a young Daksha Prajapati girl who committed herself by self-immolation at the same location. Lord Shiva then grabbed Sati's body and started walking into the Himalayas. As a result, Kunjapuri, Surkanda Devi, and Chandrabadani—the places where pieces of her dead corpse fell—are regarded as Siddha Peeths.

The Neelkanth Mahadev temple, a well-known Shiva temple, is only one of the features that make Rishikesh famous. The most ancient of all tales and key events in Hindu mythology are told through the lethargy and magic of the charming city.<br><br>The temple is a revered pilgrimage site and located 32 kilometres away from Rishikesh. In the centre of the Manikoot, Brahmakoot, and Vishnukoot valleys, at a height of 1330 metres, is where Shiva's residence is located. On the confluence of the rivers Pankaja and Madhumati, the temple is surrounded by thick woods and strong mountain ranges of Nar-Narayan.<br><br>Huge crowds of devotees visit this location during the months of Shrawan and Shivratri to show their support for the powerful Shiva. To correct doshas (faults) in the stars, one can make prayers or hire respected Hindu priests to perform a big Pooja. You will be astounded by the temple's magnificent architecture because every last detail was carefully executed without the aid of modern technology. There are various booths around the temple that sell souvenirs and Pooja supplies.<br><br>Many visitors prefer to hike their way up the temple because the path leading there is also exciting. There is a natural spring inside the temple where worshippers frequently bathe. Offerings can be made with coconut, milk, honey, and flowers.

One of the most well-known ashrams in Rishikesh is Parmarth Niketan Ashram, which is situated on the banks of the Ganges amid the lush Himalayan foothills. The ashram specialises in yoga, meditation, and other natural healing modalities in addition to conventional ayurveda medical treatment. In 1942, Pujya Swami Shukdevanandji Maharaj established the ashram. The ashram offers devotees and patients alike a tranquil and pleasant haven thanks to its more than 1000 rooms, verdant grounds, and clean and pure atmosphere.<br><br>People of various ethnicities, castes, genders, and faiths are welcome at the ashram. A 14-foot monument of Lord Shiva that has been erected along the river bank is kept in the ashram. The sacred tree Kalpavriksha also heightens a person's feeling of spirituality in the ashram campus<br><br>A few of the ashram's many programmes include kirtan, daily satsang, spiritual discourses, and seminars, as well as various therapeutic yogas, workshops in meditation and global prayers. With its many programmes, the ashram attempts to restore people's senses and help them connect with their inner selves. You will sense a connection to both nature and the ashram's tranquil surroundings while you are there.<br><br>Numerous holy men, sages, and yogis from throughout the world have stayed at this location. Every evening, Ganga Aarti is performed in the Parmarth Niketan Ashram's exclusive ghat. If you are staying at the ashram for a day or two, this is a wonderful site to see.

The Triveni Ghat is defined as the meeting point of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati. Triveni Ghat, which is the most sacred bathing location and is regarded as the holiest place in Rishikesh, is tucked away in the Himalayas. All year long, Triveni Ghat is overrun with people. People who bathe in ghats are said to have their sins washed away, leaving them with a pure soul. Visitors come from all over the world to take a bath in the holy waters in an effort to find heavenly redemption. Holy chanting, floral scents, earthen lamplight, and a sense of tranquilly will surround you as soon as you set eyes on the Ghat.<br><br>Here, Maha-Arti is practised twice a day, in the morning and the evening. The arti is relevant today and is claimed to have unique meaning for those who attend. Despite the large crowds, Maha-Arti is attended both times throughout the year with tremendous passion and dedication. Devotees often cast little oil lights into the holy water on boats fashioned of large leaves. Other rituals, such as the 'Pindha Daan', which is conducted here, are also thought to be crucial for ancestor redemption.