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A Trip4India > Destinations India > Rishikesh Tourism

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Rishikesh Tourism

State : Uttaranchal
Area : 11.20 sq km
Temperature : 29 C – 44.4 C (Summer)18.3 C – 32.2 C (Winter)
Altitude : 356 mts
Rainfall : 152.4 cm
Language : Garhwali, Hindi, English
Best Season : September – November

Situated in the Indian state of Uttaranchal, Rishikesh is a very important Hindu pilgrimage site. There are a number of Ashrams and temples giving the entire place a spiritual feeling. The ceaseless flow of the river, regarded as Goddess Ganga adds to the beauty and the purity of the place. Along the river, the area is filled with thick green forests in the all-mountainous region. The entire area falls on the Garhwal region of Northern India. Hordes of sadhus (sages) come to this place every year in search of salvation.

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 situated the Bharat Mandir, Rishikesh's oldest temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Rishikesh is famous for its yoga sessions that are taught here by many
yoga experts. The International Yoga Week usually celebrated from February 2-7 every year. This festival is the ideal place and time to learn some real yoga postures to keep oneself fit and fine. Besides the sadhus and saints, a large number of tourists throng this place every year. And if the wonderful scenery and the numerous pilgrimage sites were not enough, Rishikesh also makes some of the most popular adventure sport destinations of India. River rafting, trekking, rock climbing, hiking etc are some of the activities you can easily opt for here.

History
Legend has it that the sage Raibhya Rishi did severe penance and, as a reward, God appeared to him in the form of Hrishikesh. Rishikesh also represents the site where Lord Vishnu defeated the demon Madhu. The place is known as the Tapo Bhumi or the place for meditation of the Gods. Tapovan, on the other bank of the Ganges, houses a temple to Lakshmana. It is believed that Lakshmana, the younger brother of Lord Rama, carried out several penances here. The Neelkanth Mahadev temple is believed to be the site where Lord Shiva had drunk the venom that came out during the churning of the ocean. In the 1960s ,the place was further popularised when the pop group Beatles met their guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.