About Rishikesh
Rishikesh India’s northern state is a city in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. Because of it’s location in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, and, as it is bisected by the wide and sluggish Ganges, it is known as The Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas and Yoga Capital. Rishikesh, the name of Vishnu means “Lord of Senses”. It is about 25 km north of Haridwar and 43 km south-east of Dehradun.
Rishikesh is famous as "Dev Bhoomi" – which means - the abode of Gods. The name of the city is Rishikesh as the city has a large number of Ashrams and temples. Thousands of nature loving tourists come to visit Rishikesh because of its scenic beauty. Rishikesh is surrounded by Shivalik range of the Himalayas. Ganges the serene, mystical river running through Himalayas provides a superb panoramic memory for the visitors. The river Ganges which flows through Rishikesh is considered holy, and the city is renowned as a centre for studying yoga and meditation. As with Haridwar about an hour south, Rishikesh as considered by Hindus is a holy city and is vegetarian by law. Rishikesh is meat and Alcohol free city due to its Spiritual and mystical environment.
Rishikesh, a spiritual centre is situated 24 km upstream from Haridwar, at the confluence of the Chandrabhaga and Ganga. There was a sage named Raibhya Rishi who in Rishikesh did severe penance and as a reward, God in the form of Hrishikesh appeared to him, hence the name Rishikesh. There are numerous ashrams in Rishikesh, some of which are known for yoga and meditation and philosophical studies, worldwide.
It is the gateway to the upper Garhwal region and the starting point for pilgrim routes to the four dhams of Uttarakhand -- Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The Ganga which flows through the town is worshipped here. After this it descends to the plains at Haridwar. The whole place is regarded as holy and sacred as the place has a belief that through meditation salvation is attained. There are various temples along the river Ganges. Some of them are new and some are old. One can see the ashrams of Sadhus and sages along the river side.
Rishikesh, also known as the "Yoga Capital of the World", has numerous yoga centres which no doubt contributes in attracting tourists. It is the faith and belief of the people that moksha can be attained through mediation and by having a dip in the holy river that flows through it. These specialities of Rishikesh has made it a must visit place.
International yoga week is organized every year between 2nd and 7th of February by U.P. Tourism. Those who are adventurous, for them there is white water rafting on the Ganga. Rishikesh has a continental type climate but because of its location in the foot hills, it has a pleasant weather throughout the year. Rishikesh is a place to visit throughout the year.
The serenity and the choppy tides in the Holy River Ganges encourages spiritual seekers, fun and adventure lovers all over the world to visit Rishikesh. Rishikesh is a heaven for those who are adventurous. It’s rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, trekking are wonderful and full of fun and dare.
Apart from the above one can also enjoy the beauty of several holy shrines, flower-strewn meadows, countless mountain treks, rivers, valleys and mist-covered trails of the Himalayan region.
If you are a wildlife lover then Uttarakhand is paradise for wildlife. As far as other places in India are concerned the state has the highest forest cover. 65% of its geographic range is covered by forest.
Geographical structure:
- Area: 11.20 sq.km.
- Altitude: 356 meters
- Best Season: Throughout the year, temperature remains between 0°C to 40°C.
- Getting there: 45min flight
- Clothing: Cotton & tropical in summer; Heavy woollen in winter.
- Languages Spoken: Hindi, English, Garwali, Punjabi,
How to reach Rishikesh
By Air: The nearby airport is Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport, so flight is probably the best way to travel. The city is about 15 km from the airport (around 15-20 minutes drive).
By Rail: The nearest railway station to Rishikesh is in Haridwar which is about 25 km away. There is a good connectivity of Haridwar to major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow and Varanasi. If you are going to Rishikesh, then it’s good to take the train till Haridwar and then either take a bus or hire a taxi to Rishikesh. The bus will take about 45 minutes; and the taxi will take about half an hour.
By Road: One can go up to Rishikesh by road too. It is worth considering, as it is connected to other cities via the National Highway 58, which is in a good condition throughout the year. The drive from Delhi to Rishikesh would take approximately 6 to 7 hours.
By Bus: Rishikesh has a good network of buses. It is well connected by bus with important cities such as Haridwar, Dehradun and New Delhi. Buses are running every day in the morning and late evening from Kashmere Gate also known as ISBT, New Delhi.
Shopping in Rishikesh
Rishikesh is a pilgrimage place, so the trend of big shop bargains are missing. At Rishikesh you will find handicraft items made up of Shells, beads and pearls. If you are interested in customised Sarees, Kurtas, sheets and rugs then that you can purchase from the local shops and the markets. You can also buy these items from the Government approved shops. There are markets where one can have lot of things in shops for shopping.
Lakshman Jhula Market, Rishikesh: Lakshman Jhula is one of the best areas for Shopping. Here you can buy clothes, jewellery, precious stones, books, spiritual things etc. from various shops.
Ram Jhula Market, Rishikesh: Ram Jhula Market is similar to Lakshman Jula. By crossing the bridge there is another market in swargashram at walking distance. In swargashram also you have varieties to shop.
Rishikesh Main Market: Rishikesh main market is near triveni ghat area. This market is mainly famous in local people. It is famous for clothes and daily needs.