Rishikesh is a tehsil located in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal region right on the banks of the holiest of Indian rivers, the Ganges. This ancient city has several mythological and religious legends associated with Lord Vishnu, Lord Bharat, and various prominent sages and is said to have been established in the 9th-century AD by Adi Shankaracharya.
The scenic beauty of Rishikesh is due to its location at the foothills of the lofty Garhwal Himalayas is accentuated by the mighty Ganges cutting right through the city. The picturesque city looks suspended between the stunning riverside promenades, acres of forests, lush mountains, and clear blue skies lending it a surreal appearance.
The city is synonymous with its grand temples, rituals, architectural marvels and yoga ashrams. Every temple here, be it the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Raghunath Temple, or the 13-storey Trimbakeshwar Temple, has its own beautiful legend that attracts people from all over the world. The twin Ram & Lakshman Jhulas are outstanding architectural feats in themselves. These suspension bridges span for over 750 ft. over the Ganges. There are numerous ashrams here that lead people into the spiritual world of ancient forms of yoga, meditation, and vipasana to cleanse their soul and de-stress.
Rishikesh has its share of offbeat and adventure activities too. If you are not enjoying the adrenaline rush of white water rafting available up to grade 6, you can spend time enjoying amazing experiences like cliff jumping, kayaking, body surfing, etc. There are picturesque waterfalls here like Patna fall and Neer Garhi fall, etc. that are perfect to escape into the raw wilderness of nature. If you are the spiritual kind, you can’t miss attending the jaw-dropping spectacle of the Maha Aarti.
The summer months (March-June) here are extremely hot & humid with temperatures reaching up to 36°C. Winter months (October-February) are cold and sunny with temperatures dipping to a low of 6°C, making them the best months to visit. Monsoon months (June-September) see a lot of rains accompanied by humidity.
Rishikesh is not only about religious beliefs, ghats or temples; within this ancient city, you can also witness some of the architectural marvels and structures as well! One such structure, the Lakshman Jhula, which is also one of the not to be missed places to visit in Rishikesh, is a suspension bridge that connects Tehri and Pauri districts of Uttarakhand.
The existence of this bridge dates back to the age of Ramayana. According to the legends, Lakshman; brother of Lord Rama, crossed the holy Ganga River at this spot over a jute bridge. Centuries after this pious incident, a 284ft hanging bridge was built in the same spot by Rai Bahadur Surajmal Jhunjhunwala.
However, the bridge got washed away during the epidemic flood of 1924, and later, a pillar-less suspension bridge was erected at the same spot. The architecture brilliance of Lakshman Jhula and its proximity to several sacred places make it one of the most visited tourist places in Rishikesh.
1. Ganga arti at Triveni Ghat: Seeing the Ganga arti at Triveni Ghat is a must do here. Every evening, between 6 to 7, river Ganga is worshipped in an auspicious way. Big lighted diyas are prepared and the pandits stand in line to do the arti. It’s a beautiful treat for the eyes.
2. River Rafting: For the adventure lovers, going river rafting is really exciting. The 36 kms stretch from
Kaudiyala to Laxman Jhula is specially kept for River Rafting. The charges for river rafting keeps varying but it will be within Rs. 400 to Rs. 1300.
3. Parasailing and paragliding: Other adventurous sports are parasailing and paragliding. These should be avoided during the monsoon as it remains cloudy. You will be tied to an open parachute which is dragged by a boat below. You can fly.
4. Trekking: If you love to trek, Rishikesh is definitely your place. You can go trekking to the mountains with so much natural beauty. The best trekking routes are Kunjapuri trek and waterfall trek.
5. Rock climbing: It is pretty difficult in the beginning but once you have known the techniques, you will be addicted to it.
6. Mountain biking: The hilly areas around Rishikesh are perfect for mountain biking. If you love cycling, go for it. There are many companies which can lend you a bike and you are good to go.
7. Flying fox: In flying fox sport, you, along with two others will be harnessed to a rope about 7 meters above the ground. You will be sliding forward at a speed of about 150 km/hour. This has both age and weight limits. You must be above 12 years of age and your weight must be between 20 to 130 kgs.
8. Body surfing: You can try this while doing river rafting in Rishikesh. Let yourself free on the water and enjoy.
9. Cliff jumping: This is one of the famous sports that can be done here as Rishikesh lies in the foothills of Himalayas which has a number of cliffs of various heights along with Ganga on the side. You can jump off the cliff and drive in to the holy water of Ganga.
10. Kayaking: You can go kayaking after being trained by the experts. You will be given a boat and you are all set to go.
11. Hot air ballooning: This is the best activity you can try in Rishikesh with your family as this has no age limitations. It is easy too. Hire one balloon and roam in the sky.
12. Camping: Those who are looking for a refuge from busy chaotic life, Camping in the laps of Ganges can save you. There are pre-established camps in Rishikesh which will make you feel relaxed and close to nature.
13. Ayurvedic massage centres: You can get the best ayurvedic massages at Ayurvedic Bhavan and Himadri Ayurveda which will give you a “me-time” and inner peace.
14. Yoga and meditation: Rishikesh is the home of yoga and meditation. To improve mental health, you must give it a try.
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