Sunday, January 16, 2011

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Rishikesh is the gateway to the cities that form the Char Dham - Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.

History of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
As per the mythology of Rishikesh, sage Raibhya Rishi sat on the banks of the Ganga and performed severe penance. Finally, he was rewarded for his penance and God appeared in front of him in the form of Lord Rishikesh. Since then the place came to be known as Rishikesh. Rishikesh is a place filled with serenity and tranquility and as a result it was a peaceful spot for sages and rishis to meditate. It is said that in 9th century AD, Adi Shankaracharya, visited this land.

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand From the medieval times, the place is known as the celestial abode. It is believed that in Rishikesh, Bharat, brother of Lord Rama gave himself severe self-punishment. A temple known as Bharat temple was later constructed at this site and the town of Rishikesh sprang up around the temple. It has since been the habitat of saints and sages from where they halt before undertaking the laborious pilgrimage that lay ahead on the distant Himalayan peaks.

Geography of Rishikesh , Uttarakhand
Rishikesh is situated at Uttarakhand on the Tehri-Garhwal region. The city lies on the banks of river Ganga and is surrounded by the Himalayas. Rishikesh is situated at an altitude of 356 m above sea level. The geographical location of Rishikesh is 30.7 North Latitude and 78.42 East. Rishikesh is also known as the gateway to the Himalayas as it is located in the foothills of the Himalaya in northern India. It is only 25 kilometers away from Haridwar.

Climate of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
The weather of Rishikesh is pleasant all throughout the year. The day remains pleasant and sunny with comparatively cold evenings. The winters are very cold and the summer season is mild and moderate. During the monsoon the place experiences good rainfall. The annual mean rainfall in Rishikesh is about 2136.7 mm. River Ganga flows through Rishikesh and it is from here that the river leaves the Shivalik Mountains and flows out into the plains of northern India.

Cuisine of Rishikesh , Uttarakhand
The people of Rishikesh are strict vegetarians. Non-vegetarian food has been banned in the city from many years. North and south Indian cuisine is widely available, and there`s no shortage of multi-cuisine backpacker cafes. There are scrumptious Ayurvedic and health food restaurants that serve quality food.

Demography of Rishikesh , Uttarakhand:
As per the 2001 census, Rishikesh had a population of 59,671. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. Rishikesh has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Here80% of the males and 68% of the females are literate.

Places of visit in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
The places of interest in Rishikesh are:

Laxman Jhula


Laxman Jhula is a major attraction which has enriched the quality of Rishikesh. This bridge is the main attraction amongst the tourists. Till 1889, there was a hanging jute rope bridge, it is said that Laxman crossed Ganga on this jute ropes. This bridge was re-constructed with iron ropes by the length of 240 metres in the year 1939 on the River Ganges. This bridge is located nearly at a distance of 3km from North of Rishikesh. It offers splendid scenic views of the surrounding.
Triveni Ghat
Triveni Ghat is the spot where the three streams of River Ganga, Saraswati and Yamuna are said to flow together. This is a bathing ghat where thousands of devotees take bath and enjoy the Maha Aarti. This is a sacred place where Pind shraddha is performed, there are temples situated adjacent to these Rivers.

Trayambakeshwar Temple
Trayambakeshwar temple is thirteen-storey high with different deities residing in it.

Swarga Ashram
This ashram is situated on the left bank of river Ganga opposite the Shivananda Ashrama. This is a tranquil and serene place and is positioned 1.5 km away beyond the thirteen-storey temple. This place is accessible easily as there is frequent taxi service available during day time.
Gita Bhavan
The temple and the group of buildings have the mythological epics Gita and the Ramayana installed on the walls. This place is situated in between the forests at the foot of the hills on the left bank of Ganges near the Swarga Ashram. This Bhawan is preserved by a body of affiliated trustees.

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
This temple is perched at an altitude of 1,550m, in Neelkanth which is 14km far from Rishikesh. This temple is devoted to Neelkanth Mahadev. This place offers beautiful panoramic views and healthy climate which provides a lot of comfort and soothe.

Rishikund and Raghunath temple
According to popular legend, it is believed that Lord Ram took bath in the tank, which is now a main bathing spot and place of attraction for pilgrims.

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