Top 5 places to visit in Rishikesh

Top 5 places to visit in Rishikesh

Yog Nagri Rishikesh

 

Rishikesh is a small town situated in the Dehradun district, close to Haridwar in Uttarakhand. Apart from spirituality, yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda, Rishikesh is a famous tourist attraction spot because of its adventure activities and delicious cuisine. Rishikesh is also known as “The Yoga Capital of the World” because every year in the first week of March, “The International Yoga Festival” is organized here and yoga enthusiasts from all over the world come to enjoy this beautiful day.

Rishikesh is located at the foothills of the Ganga and Chandrabhaga rivers. Rishikesh is a famous spot for the entire Sadhu (Saints) with multiple Ashrams teaching about spirituality, meditation, yoga, and teachings of prior saints. For many years saints and sages have visited Rishikesh to meditate in search of incredible knowledge. This is the main reason that Rishikesh has always been regarded as one of the holiest places for Hindus. Due to the religious significance of the place, non-vegetarian food and alcohol are strictly prohibited in the region, instead, you can enjoy many other types of north Indian, south Indian, and even many other types of vegetarian food.

Talking about the historical significance of Rishikesh, it is believed that Lord Rama did atonement for killing the king of Lanka i.e. Ravana and his brother Lakshmana cross the river Ganges with the help of two jute ropes at the point where the “Lakshman Jhula” stands today. The historical records also mention that some pilgrims used to stay at Rishikesh as their resting place before they move on to higher mountains.

Top 5 places to visit in Rishikesh

As we all know that Rishikesh is famous for a lot of things and people love to visit this place because the place offers them to explore and enjoy different spiritual beliefs and studies, as well as the adventure activities that are performed over there. This is the biggest reason that Rishikesh is a famous tourist spot. Here is a list of the top 5 places to visit in Rishikesh.

1. The Beatles Ashram

 

This Ashram is always considered to be the most important heritage site because it was this Ashram only that the Beatles had talked and appreciated about in the past. It is believed that in 1968 the Beatles traveled to Rishikesh for attending a session organized in the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for meditation and yoga. After the session, they were so amazed to see the spirituality and beliefs of Indian culture that they wrote songs while they were staying in this Ashram. Later those songs caught the attention of the people and the formidability of the Indian culture got enough appreciation throughout the globe. This incident made this place and Ashram a memorable moment to be captured in Indian Cultural History.

 

Basic Information You Need To Know While Visiting The Beatles Ashram:

 

• Famous for: Graffiti artwork, Nature photography, stunning dome-shaped construction, and beautiful picture of the members of the Beatles band painted on the interior wall of Ved Bhavan, and meditation chambers.
• Entry Price: For Indians – Rs. 150

For Foreigners – Rs. 600

• Parking Price: For Indians – Rs. 250

For Foreigners – Rs. 500

• How to reach: The Ashram route is properly connected to city roads, Airports, and Railway Stations as well. So you need not worry about anything. The ashram is around 30 kilometers from the nearest airport i.e. Jolly Grant Airport, and 13 kilometers from the nearest railway station.
• Opening Timings: Open all days at all times till sunset.
• Best time to visit: You can visit the Ashram in the spring months i.e. March and April. And apart from that, you can visit the place anytime in winter to feel and enjoy the beauty of nature and that cold breeze in between. You can avoid coming to this place in the summers as the weather remains too hot to resist and you will not be able to enjoy it at its best.
• Things to do in Beatles Ashram:
• Be ready to capture the beauty around and inside the ashram.
• Carry a mosquito repellant cream or spray and apply it before entering the Ashram.
• Things to avoid in Beatles Ashram:
• Avoid urinating at random open areas and maintain the hygiene of Ashram by using the toilets provided over there.
• You need not carry any food items as there is a cafe inside the Ashram where you will get whatever you wish to eat.

 

2. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

 

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is among the most famous places in Rishikesh. It is believed that Lord Shiva had consumed poison at this place due to which his throat turned blue, and after the incident, this place was named “Neelkanth”. It is situated at a height of 1340 meters along the valley of Vishnukoot, Brahmakoot, and Manikoot. This place is very beautiful and full of greenery. The whole temple is surrounded by dense forests and mountain ranges. Apart from this, the temple is beautifully carved from the inside out without the use of technology. Outside the temple, some stalls and shops provide you with all the things you need during prayer (pooja).

It is believed that people used to come over here to clear the faults (doshas) in their stars of life. The route to the temple is thrilling and enjoyable, that is why most people choose to trek their way to the temple. There is a spring of water where most of the people take bath before entering the main temple or prayer place.

 

Basic Information You Need To Know While Visiting The Neelkanth Mahadev Temple:

 

• Famous for: Prayers & Pooja, beautiful carvings and architecture, location, and adventurous route.
• Entry Price: No entry fee.
• How to reach: The temple is just 32 kilometers away from Rishikesh, so you can easily get a taxi from Rishikesh to this temple. Apart from that, you can come through roadways and railways too. The nearest railway station to the temple is Rishikesh Railway Station which is 30 kilometers away, you can get a taxi to reach the destination easily. And the nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport which is 49 km away.
• Opening Timings: Open all days from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Best time to visit: Although the temple remains open throughout the year. You can come any time to enjoy the beauty of the temple. But if we talk about the best time to visit the temple, then it is the time of Shivratri. It is this time of the year that the temple is beautifully decorated and huge celebrations take place with amazing performances, music, and much more.
• Things to do in The Neelkanth Mahadev Temple:
• Take part in the Morning Prayer empty stomach, it is believed that the power of your wishes just gets doubled.
• Get a better understanding of the temple through the sources before visiting the temple, it will help you to explore more about the things.
• Things to avoid in The Neelkanth Mahadev Temple:
• Avoid spreading litter and waste inside the temple premises.
• Avoid harming the carvings and design of the temple. Do not scribble on the walls of the temple.

 

3. Laxman Jhula

 

Laxman Jhula is another important heritage site of Rishikesh. It is a 450 feet long suspension bridge connecting two villages of Rishikesh. This bridge connects the Tapovan Village and Jonk Village lie at Tehri and Pauri Garhwal respectively. It lies across the holy river Ganga. Laxman Jhula has been one of the important centers of tourist attraction. It is not just because of its beauty, but about its historical Hindu mythology.

It is believed that this bridge was constructed as a memory of Lord Laxmana because in ancient times he crossed this river with the help of two jute ropes. That is why it is built in the same place. Earlier, to maintain the significance of the materials the bridge was constructed using jute material only. But after the flood came, the reconstruction of the bridge was done with changed materials to construct the bridge.

 

Basic Information You Need To Know While Visiting The Laxman Jhula:

 

• Famous for: Pilgrimage, rivers, bridges, historical significance, peacefulness.
• Entry Price: Free
• How to reach: You can reach this bridge easily through any mode of transport. The nearest railway station is the Rishikesh Railway Station which is just 4 kilometers away and the nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun which is 22 km away, and you can get a taxi easily to reach the destination.
• Opening Timings: Open at all times.
• Best time to visit: For enjoying the best experience of this beautiful place, it is preferred to come in between December to February as the weather remains good and mostly all the tourists come here in between this period.
• Things to do in Laxman Jhula:
  • Meditate in the marvelous Geeta Bhawan.
  • Early morning yoga sessions.
  • You can go pashmina shopping.
  • Go for a Vedic treatment at Prakrit Vedic spa.
• Things to avoid in Laxman Jhula:
  • Be careful about the monkeys in Lakshman jhula. Do not try to irritate or harm them.
  • Be careful while you are on the bridge. Enjoy but do not indulge yourself in unnecessary activities.

 

4. Swarg Ashram

 

Swarg Ashram is one of the oldest yoga ashrams in India. This ashram was established by Swami Atma Prakash and was built in the memory of Swami Vishnuanand. This ashram is famous for yoga enthusiasts and people who love to meditate. It covers the whole area between the Ram and Laxman jhula.

Talking about the construction of the Ashram, then it consists of two main buildings: Akash Ganga and Dani Kothi. Akash Ganga is often considered the guest house for all the visitors and has a spacious yoga hall and canteen. On the other hand, Dani Kothi is an administrative building comprises of a dining hall that is often used as a meditation or lecture hall by the people. Apart from these things the Ashram comprises: temples, cafes, shopping complexes, parks, libraries, hotels, and Sanskrit schools.

 

Basic Information You Need To Know While Visiting The Swarg Ashram:

 

• Famous for: Yoga, spirituality, meditation, and basic facilities.
• Entry Price: No entry fee for exploring the place. But charges apply in case you go to shopping complexes, meditation classes, and hotels.
• How to reach: You can easily reach there from Laxman Jhula as it is a far place from the Ashram. The nearest Railway station is Rishikesh which is just 3 kilometers away and the nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport which is 22 kilometers away from the ashram.
• Opening Timings: Open all days day time.
• Best time to visit: There is no special time for visiting the place as it opens every day. But it would be fun visiting the place in winter to enjoy the scenes of Ashram without any worries of hot weather.
• Things to do in Swarg Ashram:
  • Meditate with a group of people and enjoy the beauty of being there.
  • Enjoy the cuisine and the basic amenities of the Ashram and explore the greatest ashram in India.
  • Enjoy several religious activities like bhajan, kirtan, aarti, etc.
• Things to avoid in Swarg Ashram:
  • Avoid breaking the rules of Ashram.
  • Try to maintain the peace and sanity of the ashram.

 

5. Kaudiyala

 

Kaudiyala is considered one of the most visited places in Rishikesh because it is a center for adventure/water sports, which may also be called white water rafting. People who love adventure trips or like the places that create a sense of excitement in performing an activity usually visit this place. Kaudiyala offers rafting from Kaudiyala to Rishikesh which also includes ample opportunities to view wildlife in its natural habitat. There are many things to explore nearby this place including food and nature.

 

Basic Information You Need To Know While Visiting Kaudiyala:

 

• Famous for: Camping, rafting, zip-lining, hiking.
• Entry Price: Entry is free. But the activities you will perform will be charged accordingly.
• How to reach: It is situated around 41 kilometers from the main bus terminal of Rishikesh. You can easily reach the destination by booking a cab.
• Opening Timings: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
• Best time to visit: The best time to enjoy Kaudiyala’s adventure is from March to June and September to November.

 

• Terms to keep in mind while visiting Kaudiyala Rishikesh River Rafting:
  • Entry fee for river rafting: Rs. 2500/- per person.
  • Distance: Kaudiyala’s river rafting covers a distance of 36 kilometers from Kaudiyala to Rishikesh.
  • What it includes: It includes traveling from the start to the endpoint with all the safety measures required during the rafting journey. They also provide you with a meal.

How to reach Rishikesh from Delhi?

 

Although it is not a typical task to reach Rishikesh from Delhi, but one must know about everything they are going to do while their journey to ensure that their trip remains cheerful and joyous throughout. For reaching Rishikesh from Delhi you can mainly opt three modes of transports and these are mentioned below:

 

• Taxi – You can book a pre-paid taxi or a cab if you love travelling via roads and you are comfortable with car journeys. Although these cabs costs little higher than other modes of transport but they ensure that your ride must be full of enjoyment. You get a proper private space to travel to such a beautiful destination along with your loved ones. These cabs costs around 5000 – 6000 I general and takes around 5-6 hours to reach Rishikesh from Delhi.
• Train – The next budget friendly option to reach Rishikesh from Delhi is to travel by train. If you love travelling via train then you can easily book your tickets and reach to your destination without any headache. The fare of the tickets totally depends upon your preferred coach and train and takes around 4 – 4.5 hours to reach Rishikesh from Delhi.
• Plane – Travelling by air is one of the fastest method to reach any destination. If you love to travel through air planes then you can reach to your Destination easily via this. Just book you tickets and enjoy the route. The general ticket costs around 1160 rupees and apart from this it totally depends upon your preferred plane. The average time it takes to reach Rishikesh from Delhi is 2 hrs 13 mins.

 

Conclusion:

Overall Rishikesh is one of the best places to visit and explore everything from spirituality, culture, yoga, ancient historic beliefs, and meditation to surfing adventure activities, joyous places, beautiful scenes, amazing cuisine, hotels, etc. It is a must-visit place once in a lifetime to know the beauty of Indian historic beliefs and the joy of adventure activities along with it. Not only this but people throughout the globe visit Rishikesh to enjoy the beliefs of Indian culture. Apart from this everyone gets a positive motivation to try Yoga & Meditation, as everybody out there performs those activities on daily basis and lets others also know about the benefits they get from that. It is one of the best places to explore in India.