TEXT OF A TRAVEL BROCHURE: RISHIKESH

The Garhwal region of north India is speckled with some of the holiest of Hindu pilgrimage
sites and Rishikesh is one such major attractions. Crowded with sadhus with long matted
hair and pilgrims from all over the globe, Rishikesh is the birthplace of yoga. The celestial
city of Rishikesh is a hermit’s hermitage, a sage’s abode and an adventure lover’s hub.

GEOGRAPHY OF RISHIKESH
Located in lower regions of the Himalaya, the holy town of Rishikesh is located in the
Tehri Garhwal region on the right banks of the holy river Ganga, in the northern part of
the Uttarakhand.

BEST TIME TO VISIT RISHIKESH

Rishikesh can be visited at anytime of the year. Nestled at the foothills of Himalayas along
the River Ganga, the quaint hill town enjoys pleasant weather all around the year. The best
months to visit are March to June and September-October. Monsoons are avoided. Rains in
the hilly terrain are dangerous and not apt for visit.

HOW TO REACH RISHIKESH

 BY AIR -The nearest airport is Dehradun, 35 km from Haridwar.
 BY RAIL -Rishikesh is connected by rail via Haridwar (24 km) to Kolkata,
Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Dehradun and other cities.
 BY ROAD - Rishikesh is connected by road via Haridwar with Agra, Chandigarh,
Dehradun, Kullu, Manali, and Shimla. It is also linked to Mussourie (77 km),
Badrinath (301 km), Kedarnath (228 km), Gangotri (258 km), Srinagar (105 km),

THE YOGA CAPITAL

Rishikesh is internationally termed as the ‘Yoga Capital of world’. The town is famous for
its yoga sessions that are taught here by many yoga experts. The city has several yoga
centre’s that attract domestic as well as foreign tourists. It is believed that meditation at
the bank of the river Ganga in Rishikesh brings one closer to attainment of salvation, or
moksha, as does a dip in the holy river that flows through it.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN RISHIKESH

 Rishikesh abounds in temples. Most of the pilgrims who pass through Rishikesh on
their way to the Himalayan shrines of the Char Dham pause for a holy dip and puja
at Triveni Ghat, in the central part of the town.
The river here looks especially spectacular during aarti (evening worship) when
diyas or oil lamps float on the water.
 Nearby is the Bharat Mandir, Rishikesh's oldest temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
  The Chandreshwar temple stands at the confluence of the Chandrabhaga and the
Ganges. The Hanuman Mandir is flocked by a large number of devotees on Tuesday.
 Around 2 km north of Swarg Ashram, a path skirts the east bank of the river en
route to Lakshman Jhula a 450-feet-long suspension bridge and built in 1939.
 Ganga Museum has one of the richest collections of Mughal and Rajput paintings of
the 18th and 19th centuries which combine Islamic and Hindu architectural
features.
 The Jaisamand Lake is a large artificial lake constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh and is
an excellent picnic spot.

WHAT TO DO
 White Water Rafting
Rishikesh has established itself as one of the places in India for white water rafting. There
are many camps which start just after Rishikesh and go up to Kaudiyala and Shivpuri
providing both the accommodation along the white sand beaches of Ganges and also white
water rafting.
 Trekking
Rishikesh can be made as a base for treks into the Garhwal Himalayas offering religious,
scenic and botanical experience to the trekkers. There are guides available in the city if
needed. Two interesting treks around Rishikesh are to Neelkanth and Kunjapuri temple.
 Rock climbing
Places around Rishikesh like Kaudiyala, Tapovan and Thekla provide ample opportunities
for rock climbing and rappelling.

WHAT TO EAT
Non-vegetarian food and alcohol is strictly prohibited in the city. North and south Indian
food is widely available, and there's no shortage of multi-cuisine backpacker cafes,
especially in Lakshman Jhoola. The papayas grown here are particularly delicious. Just
sitting around in dhabas and cafes is pleasant experience here.

From the music legends like "The Beatles" to new age celebrities-everyone wants to come
down to this city of Yogi's and Temples. Unlike Varanasi, Rishikesh is subtle, careful not to
show off the devotion and reverence it commands. And though the signs are everywhere-
sadhus taking holy dip in the river, foreigners roaming around in purple robes chanting
from scripture, singing 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna', in a chorus the constant chime of
temple bells are overwhelming. Rightfully, "A trip to Rishikesh is not just a vacation, it's a
pilgrimage to the heart."