Rishikesh is a holy city located in the religious state of Uttarakhand in India. Geographically, it is a city located between Haridwar and Dehradun. Situated on the right bank of the river Ganges, this city is full of temples and ashrams. It is a holy pilgrimage city for Hindus, where ancient sages used to meditate in search of spiritual knowledge. Due to special achievements in various fields, Rishikesh is also called by some other addresses, such as –
- Adventure Capital of India
- Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas
- Yoga Capital of the World / Yog Nagari
- Hrishikesh, i.e.- Lord of Senses. ‘Hrishik’ means senses
- Kubjamraka – This name is found in Skanda Purana
Rishikesh is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India. The weather here is suitable for visiting throughout the year. Once you visit Rishikesh, you will not be able to forget this wonderful city for the rest of your life.
Table of Content
- Yoga and Meditation
- River Rafting in Rishikesh
- Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat
- Tourist Attractions in Rishikesh
- How to reach Rishikesh
- Where to stay in Rishikesh
Yoga and Meditation
Rishikesh, the place of sages, is the birthplace of yoga.
Since ancient times, this place has been a paradise for yogis, saints, and practitioners. This city has several ashrams, some of which are internationally recognized as centres of philosophical studies and Yoga. People suffering from various diseases also come to the ashrams here to get solutions through yoga, where proper yoga is taught to the patients after studying the cause and effect of the diseases.
Although the place has always been a popular tourist destination as the birthplace of yoga, the city gained further fame when the English Rock Band The Beatles visited India in 1968. In February 1968, influenced by the spiritual practices of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the Beatles visited his ashram. The Beatles composed several songs during their stay in the ashram. Those songs became very popular in the West. Thus moreover western people started coming here to have similar experiences. It is the most loved place for all Beatles fans across the world.
Many yoga and meditation centres were built here, making Rishikesh the yoga capital of the world. Since 1999, the Annual International Yoga Festival has occurred here every year during the first week of March. In this festival, many tourists from India and abroad come to learn yoga and meditation.
River Rafting in Rishikesh
River rafting in Rishikesh, located in the foothills of the Himalayas, offers an unprecedented adventure amidst this natural beauty. You will embark on a journey filled with breathtaking views and unforgettable moments as you go along the flow of the holy river Ganga. River rafting on the Ganga in Rishikesh is a safe trip that is best done under the supervision and precautions of experienced and well-trained professionals. The most preferred and best river rafting route in Rishikesh is from Brahmpuri to Rishikesh. This route is suitable for different age groups and is not very challenging.
There are some interesting facts about river rafting that you should always remember while river rafting in Rishikesh and must read before going for rafting –
- The best time to visit Rishikesh is late September to mid-November.
- Generally the river rafting timings are between 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
- The length of the rafting trip is approximately 9 km.
- This river rafting journey takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete.
- River Rafting charges in Rishikesh – Around Rs 600 per person.
- Recommended Age Group – Between 12 to 60 years.
- Body Mass Range – 45 kg to 100 kg is allowed.
- Rafting period per year – Rafting closes on 30 June every year and opens in September (try to avoid trips before 15 September).
- The average depth of the Ganga at Rishikesh is 52 feet (17 m) and the maximum depth is 100 feet (33 m).
Avoid during River Rafting
Death is the worst consequence of river rafting. During this adventure sport, the raft hitting rocks, bumping, hitting, rubbing and hitting rocks can be fatal. These problems occur when the raft hits rocks, then due to which it loses balance and throws people here and there.
- It is better to avoid it during pregnancy.
- Both alcohol and non-vegetarian food are completely banned in Rishikesh.
- Avoid visiting during monsoon season (July to mid-September) as the waves in the river can be strong and violent during this time.
Things to remember during River Rafting
- Try to remain calm in every situation.
- Avoid rafting on Sunday.
- Follow their guidance and learn their sign language.
- Carry sunscreen lotion.
- Hold the paddle properly as directed.
Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat
Significance of Triveni Ghat
Triveni Ghat is located on the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. It is the largest and most famous ghat in Rishikesh. It is named Triveni Ghat due to the confluence of three rivers, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.
Being the most revered ghat of Rishikesh, Triveni Ghat is used for religious rituals and funeral rites. This ghat is full of devotees coming to wash away their sins in the holy river Ganga. Along with the holy bath, devotees also offer milk as prasad in the river, as well as feed flour to the fishes in the ghat.
Triveni Ghat has great significance in Hindu mythology and has also been mentioned in ancient and main texts like Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is believed that Lord Krishna came to this ghat after being injured by the arrow of a hunter named Jara. This ghat is considered to be the cremation site of Lord Krishna.
Ritual of Ganga Aarti
Triveni Ghat is famous for the evening Maha Aarti “Ganga Aarti”. 
It is performed every day between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm. It is the most popular and most visited event in Rishikesh. The ritual involves chanting of Vedic mantras, drumming, and religious offerings to the fire. Electric drums and rhythmic bell beats are used for this. The scene is further enhanced by the floating of burning diyas on the river Ganga by the devotees during the aarti. The entire river is filled with small burning flames of these diyas. The scene created by the yellow flames waving in the water under the twinkling sky on a dark night looks very captivating.
The sweet prayers offered to the Lord are mesmerising. The divine energy of the Lord is felt in this emotional and devotional atmosphere. It will make you feel connected to that infinite power. Hundreds of people participate in this event physically and thousands of people participate virtually.
Apart from Triveni Ghat, Ganga Aarti is also organised every evening at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram.
Tourist Attractions in Rishikesh
Some other tourist attractions in the Yoga Capital of India are as follows.
- Tera Manzil Temple
- Bharat Mata Mandir
- NeelKanth Mahadev Temple
- Ram Jhula
- Lakshman Jhula
- Hanuman Temple
- Muni ki Reti
- Beatles Ashram
- Parmarth Niketan Ashram
- Lakshman Jhula
- Ram Jhula
- Muni Ki Reti
- Dhanraj Giri
- Ramana’s Garden Cafe
- Veerpur Bridge
- Veerpur Ashram and Gurukul
- Tapovan
- The German Bakery
- Swargashram
How to reach Rishikesh
The distance between Dehradun and Rishikesh is 43 kilometres by road and 34 kilometres by air. There are the following means to reach here –
- Rail – Yog Nagari Rishikesh Railway Station (Station Code: YNRK) is a railway station that provides rail service to Rishikesh. But it is not connected to major Indian cities except Haridwar. So, the nearest major railway station is Haridwar, which is connected to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi through an extensive network of trains.
- Road – This holy city is connected to the state capital Dehradun, 43 km from the city. There are many private and shared taxi service providers that offer their services to and from Rishikesh. Adequate transport facilities are available from here to Dehradun, Shimla, Chandigarh and Delhi etc. as a large number of people come and go from these cities also.
- Airways – The nearest airports are Dehradun Airport (15 km) and New Delhi International Airport (240 km).
Where to stay in Rishikesh
Rishikesh is a relatively affordable city and the cost of living here is much lower than other big cities in India. However, it also depends on your expectations and lifestyle choices. If you don’t know where to stay in this city, I recommend staying in Tapovan. This place is the center of the yoga city, close to the main ashrams, Ganga Ghat and the surrounding hills.
For those who are planning to visit Rishikesh for the first time, let us tell you that it is considered a holy land and an important pilgrimage site of the country and hence alcohol and non-vegetarian food are completely prohibited here.
Here I have tried briefly explaining all the important topics related to the city. Comment below for more information or feedback. If you liked the article, please share it with your friends and family for a meaningful trip to Rishikesh.
It is the most preferred Tourist place in Uttarakhand. It is a crown of Uttarakhand Tourism.
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