Rishikesh also spelled as Hrishikesh is the city of north Indian state Uttarakhand, which is lying on the foothill of the majestic Himalayan mountains. Rishikesh lies on the banks of the holy river Ganges or Ganga, is famous for its spiritual influence, and is also regarded as one of the holy pilgrimage places to Hindus. The place is named after the Hindu God ‘Vishnu’ who appeared to ‘Raibhya Rishi’ as a result of his austerities. Rishikesh gives a long-lasting impression to every tourist who visits here.
Besides, having a spiritual influence the place is also considered as the dreaming hotspot to all adventure and thrill lovers and a perfect destination for adventure sports. The place is also known as the Gateway to Garhwal mountains and also to many famous Himalayan treks for which it is regarded as the adventure capital. The city is also called the ‘Yoga capital of the world’ as many Hindu sages and saints visited here to meditate. This unique city is a perfect destination to perform adventurous, religious, and spiritual activities. Let us talk about some famous activities which make this place more exciting and gives a mesmerizing experience to all visitors visiting here.
Best things to do in Rishikesh
The must-do things in Rishikesh are as follows:-
1. River Rafting
Being the adventure capital the place also offers some famous adventure sports. River Rafting is one of them. This daring sport gives an exclusive adventure with some breathtaking scenery to the ones who undertake it. Rafting in Rishikesh fits all kinds of tourists including adults and kids as there are many authorized and certified rafting operators, experts, and instructors available to make the full journey safe. There are numerous spots for rafting in Rishikesh depending upon the length and difficulty level where adventure enthusiasts can choose anyone according to their level of experience. Rafting can be done here any time barring the monsoon months.
2. Cliff jumping
Cliff jumping is another famous adventure sport of Rishikesh apart from rafting. The cliff jumping in Rishikesh is the must-visit one for those who visit rafting. This sport requires one to jump from a 30-40 feet high cliff to the current cold water. This particular sport is mainly tried by the experienced ones based on their physical strength and mental ability. This sport gives an ultimate adrenaline rush to the ones who opt for it.
3. Famous Himalayan Treks
Being located on the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh is the idle destination for hikers. Trail in Rishikesh cuts through the lush alpine meadows, crevassed snowfields, snow-capped valleys, gushing rivers, windy mountain passes, and many more. Trek in Rishikesh fits all kinds of hikers where some are easy and some are challenging. Some famous trails of Rishikesh are Nag Tibba trek, Chopta Chandrashila trek, Valleys of flowers trek, Kuari Pass trek, and Har ki Dun trek.
4. Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat
Apart from being an adventure capital, Rishikesh has also been a place to perform many religious activities and the perfect destination for the devotees. Triveni Ghat at Rishikesh is the biggest and most famous ghat situated on the banks of the holy Ganges. The place is famed for the Ganga Aarti, which is admired by every devotee when they visit this place. The Ganga Aarti takes place twice in the morning and evening and is a special ceremony to pay tribute to the holy Ganges. The other places where Ganga Aarti takes place in Rishikesh are Parmarth Niketan Ashram and Ramjhula Parking Ghat area.
5. Lakshman Jhula
Lakshman Jhula, a suspension bridge in Rishikesh, connects the villages of Tapovan in Tehri Garhwal district on the west and Jonk in Pauri Garhwal district on the east. The bridge is made up of iron and is one of the iconic landmarks across the river Ganges. This 450 feet long bridge is nestled at a height of 70 meters above the river and it is believed as per Hindu mythology, Ramayan that Lord Ram and his brother Lakshman crossed the river at this same place, where the bridge has been built. There are also some places for tourists to spend their time like Tera Manzil Temple and Lakshman Temple.
6. Ram Jhula
Ram Jhula is also another iconic spot in Rishikesh, it is built entirely out of iron and located over the holy Ganges river. It serves as a link between Sivananda Nagar in the west to Swargashram in the east. It is placed a few downstream from the other one that is Lakshman Jhula and is slightly bigger than Lakshman Jhula. It is named after Lord Ram, of the epic Ramayan. Previously, there was only one bridge Lakshman Jhula, which was dedicated to his brother Lakshman and then this bridge was constructed considering the brotherhood between Ram and Lakshman.
7. Yoga Practice
Rishikesh is considered the Yoga capital of the world as there are numerous ashrams and many styles of yoga and meditation. There are many practitioners who teach different forms of yoga and exercises. Visitors from all over the world flock here to practice yoga and nurture their minds and soul. Famous yoga centers of Rishikesh are Paramarth Niketan, Sivananda Ashram, Yoga Niketan, Omkarananda Ganga Sadan, and many more.