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About Rishikesh |
The holy town of Rishikesh has the
eminence
of being the International
 capital
of Yoga and meditation.
Located
in the
foothills of the
Himalayas on the banks of
the River Ganges, Rishikesh is dotted with a
number of ancient temples, ashrams and world
renowned yoga and meditation centres. Not
only devotees, but travellers from
all parts
of the world flock to the sacred town for a
deeper understanding of meditation.
At the
ashrams in Rishikesh, visitors can attend
lectures and courses offered by celebrated
yoga and meditation experts. Apart from
Hindu shrines, the town of Rishikesh also
invites adventure lovers from all around.
It
is also the ideal gateway for a pilgrim's chardham yatra, that includes travelling to
Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath.
Ganga Aarti
Evening
in Rishikesh are for sitting by the Ganges
and while away your time. Later in the
evening, you headed towards Parmarth Niketan
Ashram to witness the daily evening ritual
of Ganga Aarti.
The aarti is a pleasant ritual of
worshipping the Ganga. Around 50-100 people
visit the aarti on any day. You have
witnessed Ganga Aarati in other places like
Haridwar and Varanasi too, but they are a
crowded noisy ritual with loud screaming
speakers, people troubling you to make
donations or hawkers trying to sell
something highly overpriced. The Aarti at
Rishikesh is a contrast to it, held in a
small place with a few people and is a
relatively quite affair. You can sit quietly
in a corner and witness the ritual or join
the crowds singing Bhajans with them.
 The
Aarati happens at a very picturesque place
on the banks of Ganga, in front of a Shiva
statue built on the river. You see some
activity beginning at the riverbank around
5pm. People start cleaning up the area, lay
carpets in preparation for the aarati.
A few
people are seen selling deep or diya - a
flower bowl with a wick lamp to be floated
down the river during the Aarti after
prayers. It starts at 5.30pm, with children
studying Veda, the Bhajan singers and the
performers walking into the ghat in front of
Parmarth Niketan. It begins with Bhajans and
prayers for 'Gangaji' and Shiva.
It
is interesting to watch the children as the
ritual progresses. They look bright and
alive in their saffron robes. Some of them
appear oblivious of the whole thing and
drift into their own world. A few start a
conversation within themselves. Some
continue singing the Bhajans with an
uninterested face and a few are motionless,
just sitting there or staring blankly. There
are some who are completely immersed in the
Bhajans and join everyone with full
enthusiasm, singing and clapping loudly with
the rhythm.
As the sun sets and it gets slightly darker,
the Shiva statue is lighted up and it looks
beautiful. The Aarti continues with lamps in
various shapes and sizes lighted up, and
passed on from people to people.
The whole place lights up to a spirited mood
with lamps swinging in the hands of people.
It lasts for an hour and winds up around
6.30 in the evening with the notes of
"jai jai radharamana hari bol..."
Places to Visit >>
River Rafting :
If you are travelling to Rishikesh
between the months of September and November
or between March and May, river rafting is a
great option to quench your thirst for
adventure.
River
Ganga offers excellent stretches and white
water rapids in Rishikesh.
Kaudiyala-Rishikesh is a popular rafting
route. Whether you are beginner in the sport
of river rafting or are an adrenaline
junkie, river rafting in Rishikesh suits all
abilities.
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Lakshmanan Jhula :
one of the most visited,
the Lakshmana Jhula is a
suspended bridge, extending from
one bank of the Ganges to the
other.
The bridge is mythologically
significant because it is where
Lakshman crossed the Ganga
through on jute-rope-made
bridge. Visitors can enjoy some
impressive views of the
Himalayan ranges from upon the
bridge. Today, the Lakshmana
Jhula connects two popular
ashrams - Shivanand Ashram and
Swarg Ashram.
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Ashrams
in Rishikesh :
Ashrams are a major crowd-puller
in Rishikesh. These ashrams
offer regular courses and
classes on spiritual disciplines
like yoga and meditation as well
as Ayurveda.
Accommodation facilities are
also available for tourists and
pilgrims arriving at the
ashrams. Popular ashrams in
Rishikesh include Gita Ashram
(set up in the 1950s), Swarg
Ashram (one of the oldest in the
town) and Shivananda Ashram
(which houses the Divine Life
Society, founded by Swami
Shivanand i 1936).
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Bharat
Mandir :
Established back in the
12th century, the Bharat Temple
happens to be the oldest in
Rishikesh. The temple stands in
dedication to Bharat, the
younger brother of Rama (hero of
the Hindu epic Ramayana).
Though the original temple
structure was destroyed in an
invasion by Temur in 1398, the
temple still preserves a number
of Hindu relics. The inner
sanctum of the Bharat Mandir
enshrines the idol of Lord
Vishnu. The temple stands close
to the Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh.
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Triveni
Ghat :
The most popular bathing ghat in
Rishikesh, the Triveni Ghat is the
point where River Ganges takes a
complete right angle turn. Hindus
also believe that it is here that
the three holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna
and Saraswati converge. Every
morning, scores of pilgrims and
devotees can be seen here taking a
holy dip in the divine waters of the
Ganga. In the evening, the sight at
the ghat is simply heart stirring.
Vedic chants, to the accompaniment
of drums and bells, can be heard all
around and a spiritual aura
surrounds the whole place. Tiny oil
lamps on bedecked leaf boats
floating on the Ganges add much
charm to the whole atmosphere.
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Sai Darbar
:
Situated 8 Kms along the Clock
Tower on Rajpur Road, is the Sai
Darbar Temple. This place holds a
high cultural and spiritual value
and is visited by tourists from
across the country and foreigners as
well. |
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Ram Jhula :
The place (or the bridge) is
equally popular with devotees and
tourists. It remains suspended 3 km
north of Rishikesh town. It attracts
most visitors due to the fact that
it lies just close to the popular
ashrams - Geeta Bhawan and Swarg
Ashram. Visitors cannot afford to
miss the enchanting evening prayer
(which lasts for 30 minutes) at the
Geeta Bhawan's ghat. Food lovers can
head straight to the 50-year-old and
the very famous Chotiwala
Restaurant, located in Ram Jhula.
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