Rishikesh: A City of Adventure and Serenity

Imagine you are standing for Bungee jumping on a bridge at the height of 83m and you are about to fall but you are hesitating due to fear, you are rafting smoothly and suddenly a thrust of water throws you into the river. With the beautiful sunset, the serene sky calms your mind with divine experience. The rich ancient culture which still prevailing in the city and attracting the tourists across the globe. If you want to thrill yourself with these adventures, calm your mind with relaxing places and want to explore the ancient Indian culture, Rishikesh trip is the perfect travel destination for you.

In Sanskrit, Rishikesh means ‘lord of the senses’, a name of Lord Vishnu. It is located in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand state at an average elevation of 372 meters (1,745 feet ) from the sea level. It is surrounded by the Shivalik range and the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan. Rishikesh is situated nearby other famous destinations like; 35 km far from Haridwar, 90 km from Mussoorie, 240 km from New Delhi and 25 km far from Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun.

Rishikesh holds various fascinating views of the Jungle-clad hills. This city also has the confluence of river Ganga and Chandrabhaga. And the most attractive thing in Rishikesh world-famous the great river ‘Ganges’. In ancient times and still, many Yogis, saints are attracted to practice meditation and Yoga in this peaceful place. Rishikesh is also famous as the gateway to the Char Dham pilgrimage.

Best Time to Visit Rishikesh

Rishikesh holds an evergreen destination and spectacular views throughout the year. Well, one can travel Rishikesh with great tour & travel packages at any time of a year. However, the right time to visit Rishikesh is February, March, August-October. In summer, with a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius in May-June, it can be bothering. In July, a festival called Savan takes place where thousands of people visit Rishikesh. Many hotels and roads are crowded due to this festival. So it is suggested to avoid traveling Rishikesh during this season.

Places to visit in Rishikesh

Triveni Ghat:

The most famous Ghat in Rishikesh which is also the convergence of three popular rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati. Thousands of people come to this place to have a bath as for holy experience. That is why it is also considered as the best bathing ghat in Rishikesh. In the evening, the Ganga Aarti Ceremony is conducted (6 PM in summer and 5 PM in winter). It is located nearby the main market. This amazing place is the perfect site to see some spectacular view of the river flow and experience the cool breeze.

Lakshman Jhula: The famous Jhula (Bridge) above the great river Ganges which is just 4 km away from Rishikesh, is a popular tourist destination for shopping, rafting, photography and other many activities.

This, the big iron suspension bridge, gives the unbelievable scenery of surrounding hills and the enchanting flow of the Ganges river. And you would be also amazed by the up-down swing of the Lakshman Jhula. Being a pedestrian bridge people even use this bridge for bikes.

Ram Jhula:

Ram Jhula is also popular and similar to Lakshman Jhula. There are many spots situated here like; Sivananda Ashram, Yoga Niketan Ashram, Swarg Ashram, and Gita Bhawan where you can visit for sure. Boats are also available on both sides of the river so you can enjoy a short boat ride to see the beautiful scenery. You can do shopping here as well.

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple:

This temple is famous for its religious aspects. It is believed that Lord Shiva had consumed the poison which was extracted during the sea churning, after that his throat became blue and later he is known as Neelkanth Mahadev.

According to Hindus, Lord Shiva came here for meditation that is why this temple is believed holy for Hindus. During July-August, people come here for Kanwar Mela from across the country at this temple.

Bharat Mandir: It is located on the banks of the Ganges. This ancient temple was built around the 12^th century by Adiguru Shankara Charya. This Bharat Mandir is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is one of the oldest temples in Rishikesh. The small museum which is also situated inside the temple could introduce you with the unique glance of ancient cultural heritage. Moreover, there are many attractions also available here that you would love to know.

Rajaji National Park:

The famous National Park which is just 14 km away from Rishikesh, is the best place to explore the wildlife. Rajaji National Park has a rich biodiversity. This National Park is located at the foothills of the Shivalik mountains and spread over three districts of the Uttarakhand state. You would be fascinated to see the rare species of flora and fauna like; Asian elephants, Bengal tigers, bears, leopards and many other unique varieties of vegetation.

Things to do in Rishikesh

Rishikesh is an amazing city in terms of its location, geographical nature, and unmatched beauty. Every month numerous people come here to explore its rich ancient culture and to have an adventurous experience. And there are many great things to do in Rishikesh that will leave you amaze and blissful.

Ganga aarti:

With auspicious atmosphere, you can sit at the banks of the Ganges river and rejoice the music, the appeasing breeze and enjoy the evening Aarti Ceremony at Parmarth Niketan or Triveni Ghat. This place could truly give you unforgettable feelings.

Yoga and Meditation in Rishikesh: 

The city which is enriched with ancient traditions and heritage of Yoga and Meditation, gives a great opportunity to relieve your mind, body, and soul.

There are plenty of Yoga and Meditational places in Rishikesh where you can learn its technique, sessions by great experts and saints. Beautiful nature, fantabulous surroundings, mountain range and India’s most holy river the Ganges what else anyone would expect to feel a placid bond with nature having such awesome experience. That is why many tourists across the world visit here to enjoy this city.

Adventure Tourism in Rishikesh:

Rishikesh is one of the famous adventure hubs in India. Be it Rafting, Camping, Trekking, Rocking, Rappelling or Bungee Jumping, you would have several options to thrill your mind and body by these adventure activities. You can spend a great quality and fun time with your family, friends, and partners. The local vendors also tell that during the weekend most people come here for the weekend adventure tour in Rishikesh. So if you want to refresh yourself with such adventure activities, this place is waiting for you.

Shopping in Rishikesh:

A trip without shopping is never completed. As this city is famous among foreign tourists, you would find a lot of shopping options. You can bring many interesting things from here like; Spiritual books, Jewellery, clothes, gems, precious and semi-precious stones, idols and other great items too. There are many shopping spots available nearby Lakshman Jhula, Ram Jhula, Swarg Ashram, and the main market.

Music Classes: Interested in Indian musical instruments? You can take the experience of the ancient tradition and techniques of Indian classical music. Many people often take singing lessons in Rishikesh. In most of the Yoga and Meditation centers, there are some music schools available. And you can learn and enjoy playing the Indian classical music instruments Sitar, Dholak, Tabla, Harmonium, etc.

How to reach Rishikesh

You can come to Rishikesh by three ways.

1. How to reach Rishikesh by road: The road connectivity to Rishikesh is quite accessible and commutable. As it is situated 245 km from New Delhi, 50 km from Dehradun, and just 30 km away from Haridwar, you will hardly face any traveling issues.

2. How to reach Rishikesh by Air:

There are sufficient daily flights from New Delhi to Dehradun available. If you reside around Delhi, the nearest airport to Rishikesh is Dehradun Jollygrant airport which is just 25 km away from Rishikesh. Many airlines provide daily flights to Dehradun. So you can easily come by air.

3. How to reach Rishikesh by Train:

The Rishikesh Railway Station provides a decent connectivity to travel here. However, Haridwar Railway Station is suggested as the best option to travel Rishikesh by train as this railway station connects with Delhi, Rajasthan, Amritsar, Varanasi, etc. It hardly takes more than 30 minutes to reach Rishikesh after de-boarding here by Taxi, buses, or the local available autos.

Accommodation facility in Rishikesh:

Being a famous tourist destination, Rishikesh has many kinds of Hotels and accommodation facilities. You may find several hotels nearby Lakshman Jhula, Swarg Ashram. And you can also stay in a resort in the hills areas. You can Camp here as well if you want to have some unique experience. But you have to book your Holiday packages for Rishikesh in very advance during the peak season of May-June, Oct-Dec.

Food options in Rishikesh: India has a rich cultural heritage which also reflects through its unique verities of food. Similarly in Rishikesh, you would be amazed to taste the interesting food varieties such as Parathas, Paneer, Daal, Kofta, Dosa, Vegetables, Chat, Samosa, Kachori, Jalebi, and Noodles. However, this city lacks its own food flavour, therefore, other Indian food varieties are generally found here. But you can find many Restaurants in Rishikesh that offer delicious food. You can even move to other options for the resort, hotels, Dhabas, cafe, etc which could serve great tasty foods.

You would be wondered to witness the spectacular beauty of Rishikesh and the rich ancient culture. Moreover, Rishikesh is a perfect tourist destination for all categories of age groups and people. You would surely enjoy the joyful time here and bring unforgettable memories.