The wind is a wish, the river a blessing, the white sands silvers of myths. At Rishikesh, The Ganga enchants as she flows by, quietly but purposefully. The verdant foothills of the Himalaya welcome her as she goes forth on her journey towards the sea, urging her to pause , and why , she almost does. The river, whose very name is a prayer, makes Rishikesh far more tranquil than its popularity would otherwise have let it be. As you walk on the unadulating road, to the left of the Ram Jhula, stopping every now and then to descend to the waterfront, one never tired of the Ganga’s changing constancy. The powdery sands shifted gently beneath the clear waters, turning turbid when disturbed but settling back with surprising swiftness. The Ganga does that for her devotees. The trouble of everyday existence seem to be carried away by her waters. Lime the unruffled sand beneath her waters in Rishikesh, she calms, purifies and uplifts our minds, indeed, our souls.
There is a three-fold importance attached to this holy town, First, since the Satyug, rishikesh has been the abode of the sages. Second, Rishikesh is considered the gateway to the chardham and panch kedar yatras. Third, Rishikesh has become the Yoga capital of the world.
The town stands on both banks of the Ganga. There is a free access to the unpolluted waters and the water temperature is just perfect, cool in summer and bearably cold in winter, The undercurrents of spirituality are as steady here as the flow of the mighty Ganga.
Sage Raibhya did Penance here and attained Lord Vishnu, believed to be the conqueror of senses, The root of the name Rishikesh is in the Sanskrit word Hrishik, meaning senses, and Ish, meaning master. Hence, by conquering his senses, Rishi Raibhya gave the place its name Hrishikesh, now pronounce Rishikesh.
The best way to go around Rishikesh is on the foot as the town is hilly and consists of narrow lanes. to cross the river take a motor ferry from the narrow iron suspension bridge known as Ram Jhula, which is near Swargashram, or walk across either Ram Jhula or Lakshman Jhula, which is 2 Km upstream. Rishikesh is not a pilgrimage destination devoted to any particular place of worship or diety. Rather, it is a site of various spiritual practices. If you are on a serious soul searching mission, then a lifetime will not suffice to experience all that Rishikesh has to offer.
Things to Do
- Ganga aarti.
- Triveni Ghat.
- Bharat Mandir.
- Jhula.
- Ashrams.
- White Water Rafting.
- Yoga.
How to Reach
By Air
Jolly Grant airport at Dehradun is the nearest airport to Rishikesh which is approximately 35 kilometres away. Popular carriers like Air India, Spice Jet and Jet Airways often have daily flights from New Delhi. Apart from Delhi, there is a flight from Lucknow to Dehradun as well. Once you reach at the airport, you can opt for regular taxi or bus service which is easily available from Dehradun to Rishikesh. The second nearest international airport for Rishikesh is in New Delhi which is well-connected with different cities across the globe.
By Bus
Being a popular tourist destination, Rishikesh has a good network of buses connecting it with important places such as Haridwar, Dehradun and New Delhi. Buses depart in the morning and late evening from the Kashmere Gate ISBT, New Delhi for Rishikesh every day. You can choose from a regular, deluxe or a luxurious coach.
By Train
The nearest railhead to Rishikesh is in Haridwar which is approximately 25 kilometres away. Haridwar, in turn, is linked to major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow and Varanasi. Some of the popular trains are Shatabadi Express, Jan Shatabdi, AC Special Express and Mussoorie Express. For those making the journey to Rishikesh, it is advisable to take the train till Haridwar and then either take a bus or hire a taxi to Rishikesh. While the bus would take about 45 minutes, the taxi will take you to Rishikesh in about half an hour.
Road/Self Drive
Driving up to Rishikesh is worth considering, as it is connected to other cities via the National Highway 58, which is in a good condition for most of the year. The short stretch of hilly terrain may be a little rutted, but tourists prefer to take a taxi or drive up to Rishikesh. The drive from Delhi to Rishikesh would take approximately 6 to 7 hours.
