Rishikesh - Rishikesh Tourist Places
Rishikesh popularly means "the abode of the saints". Situated in the state of Uttaranchal, this beautiful place is at the foothills of the lofty Himalayas. It is just 24 km away from Haridwar and is an ideal base camp for tours to more remote touring destinations like Kedarnath, Badrinath, glacier of Gangotri and Yamunotri. This four destinations are together called Chardham. These places are high up in the Himalayas and Rishikesh serves as an ideal launching pad for such an expedition. The scenic beauty of Rishikesh is a thing to behold. It is surrounded by lofty mountains while River Ganga flows through it.
If you need rest and complete peace of mind, this is the ideal place for you. The ambience is very calm and peaceful. Both the banks of Ganga are dotted with the ashrams of Sadhus (Priests). People who like to meditate will fall in love with this place instantly. You will also see people from all over India as well as the world coming here to take some basic training in Yoga. There are ashrams here that provide wonderful facilities to visitors so that they can learn and practice yoga.
The climate of Rishikesh is continental as it is located far away from the coast. The summers are pleasant as it is at the foothills of the Himalayas and the winter is generally chilling cold. Nevertheless it is a very fine place to go on a vacation. The best way to travel to Rishikesh is by road. The place does not have an airstrip but it is easily accessible as it is only half an hours journey from Haridwar. The place is 238 km from Delhi, 42 km from Dehradun and only 25 km from Haridwar.
Rishikesh is also famous for its souvenirs. There is hardly any big departmental store in Rishikesh but the place is famous for its indigenous handicraft industry. Here you will find items made of shells and beads. Rishikesh is also famous for garments like sarees, kurtas, rugs, etc. Quality woolen garments too are available here. Rishikesh has some quality hotels where you can put up.
Prime Attractions of Rishikesh - Rishikesh Tourist Places
Attractions of Rishikesh are manifold. Tourists who come here have different interests that can vary wildly from trekking, pilgrimage, white water rafting and even treatment. At Rishikesh, you can enjoy the wild fury of nature as well as its serene and scenic beauty. The place is very much associated with the Hindu mythology and thousands come here for pilgrimage. Rishikesh is also famous for the sadhus (saints) and people come here to learn Yoga from them. Today it is universally accepted that Yoga is a great alternative therapy. Thousands of people come here to practice this healing art.
Some Primary Tourist Attractions of Rishikesh are Mentioned Below
Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula : Built in the year 1939, Lakshman Jhula has turned out to be the chief attraction of Rishikesh. The bridge is made of iron but it is completely suspended. If you walk in the middle of the bridge you will find the bridge swaying mildly. You can not simply ignore the beauty of the surroundings. There is also another similar suspended bridge called Ram Jhula. These two beautiful suspended bridges are two hot destination in Rishikesh.
Swarga Ashram : The place has quite a few temples. Each of these temples are extremely beautiful and is worth a visit. There are also a few eating restaurants where you will find some good Indian delicacy. Here people are vegetarian and you will not have the opportunity to taste non-vegetarian food. There are also few shops that sell wonderful handicrafts. The beautiful statues that can be found in the area speaks volumes of the skill of the people.
Triveni Ghat : On the bank of river Ganga, hundreds of people come here every day to take a dip in the holy river. The gentle murmur of the river is very fascinating. In the evening you will find thousands to people sitting on the bank to watch the religious function called "Arati" conducted during evening every day. The place is peace personified. You will not even notice when it has become dark. Time will seem to fly past you.
Vasishtha Goofa : Just one hour drive from Rishikesh uphill is the Vasishtha Goofa where famous saint Vasishtha meditated on the banks of the Ganges. The cave is very peaceful and is indeed a perfect place for meditation. Rishikesh is also famous for its hiking trails and white water rafting. This is one tour that you will remember for a long time.