24 kms upstream on the banks of the Ganga where it is met by the Chandrabhaga is the holy town of Rishikesh. Literally, Rishi’s (holy man) locks, this small town is the point where the holy Ganges crashes down in full glory onto huge boulders and creates long stretches of white sandy beaches. the Ganga cuts its passage through the last foothills and enters a complex of three localities. First is the area where the famous Laxman Jhoola bridge spans the river and lends its name to the locality, then comes Muni-ki-Reti (sands of the sages) where the wise ones spent time in devotion, meditation and yoga, and then comes the expending township on the bank of the river.
The whole complex is called Rishikesh. Pilgrims flock to this gorge-centred town, 40 km from Dehra Dun. Ashrams, or religious retreat centres, offer lessons in meditation, and treatment for a variety of stress-induced ailments using the ancient medical techniques. Rishikesh is also the gateway and the start – off point for journeys to important religious places like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri. Rishikesh is also acquiring greater significance as a centre for white water rafting. Other riverine sports, a base for treks and hikes in the beautiful Garhwal Himalayas and trips to the Sikh Gurdwara at Hemkund Sahib and the Valley of Flowers. One also starts from Rishikesh for skiing at Auli and expeditions to the Nanda Devi massif.
Rishikesh is the lap of Hindu philosophy and learning, with several ashrams devoted to the understanding and propagation of the faith. Signs of religious rituals can be seen all over Rishikesh – in the numerous temples lining the banks of the Ganga, the mythological tales that you hear about various spots and even the shops that sell books and religious objects.
Rishikesh acquired prominence in the west when the Beatles generation was influenced by the foray of their idols into this Hindu spiritual heartland. Because Rishikesh is where the Beatles met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and began their quest for spiritual salvation. Even today, several foreign travellers besides the steady stream of Indian students visit the ashrams to study Hindu philosophy, yoga and Ayurvedic medicine. Every year in the beginning of February an international Yoga week is organised at Rishikesh by the Department of Tourism. Rishikesh is not only popular for its religious significance, but also as a base for devotees on their journey to the Char Dham Yatra (Tour of Four Pilgrim sites). Rishikesh is equally popular with adventure tourists heading for the tougher trekking trails to be found in the higher Himalayas.
According to mythology, the sage Raibhya Rishi sat on the banks of the Ganga and performed severe penance. He was rewarded when the lord appeared in the form of Rishikesh, thus giving the place its present name. Over the ages, saints have meditated at this peaceful spot with the soaring mountains looking down and the sacred Ganga flowing beside. One of the most prominent religious leaders in modern times, Adi Shankaracharya, traversed this land in the 9th century AD. The Shankaracharya’s pilgrimage into the hills was later codified into the great pilgrim circuit, and gave a heightened sense of sacredness to this land of the gods. Ever since, Rishikesh has been the stepping stone and the first destination on a list of holy shrines and sites stretching across the lofty Himalayas.
