Rishikesh is a city in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand, in the Himalayan foothills beside the Ganges River. The river is considered holy, and the city is renowned as a center for studying yoga and meditation. Temples and ashrams (centers for spiritual studies) line the eastern bank around Swarg Ashram, a traffic-free, alcohol-free and vegetarian enclave upstream from Rishikesh town.

Temples In Rishikesh

Temples are wide-ranging in each and every place of the Rishikesh city. The temples of rishikesh are highly revered. Rishikesh is full of countless small, big, new and very old temples, spread in the mean streets of the city.
Rishikesh is important not only as pilgrimage spot closely linked with the Ramayana, but also as home for numerous important places of Hindu religious thought and spirituality and as a very grat Yoga hub.
Some an ancient temples in Rishikesh that attracts people from both far and near due to its significance. Some of the important temples in Rishikesh are Nilkanth Mahadeo temple, Kunjapuri temple, parmarth niketan temple, bharat mandir, geeta bhawan, tera manzil temple, rishikund tank and raghunath temple, and triveni Ghat temple.

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

This temple is situated at 1325 meters height and 31 kms far from Rishikesh. Neelkant Mahadev is Temple of Lord Shiva. According to legends Lord Shiva came here for meditation when he consumed poison during the sea churning. Lord Shiva's throat became blue colored due to the poison so he is known as a NeelKanth (Blue throated) here. Thousand of tourist visit this temple during Shivratri and Kanwar Mela. Temple is also accessible by trekking route and by road from Swarg Ashram. Temple Timings: 05 AM to 01 PM and 04 PM to 09 PM.

Bharat Mandir

Bharat Mandir Temple situated at the center in Rishikesh and near the main market. This is one of the oldest temples in Rishikesh. The deity of the temple is Lord Vishnu. Raibhya Rishi made penance here and lord Vishnu appeared in front of the sage to give him blessing. Temple has small musium also. Bharat Mandir Temple is inside the Rishikesh Market area and can be reached easily from Chandrabhaga Bridge(Temple Timings: 05 AM to 11 AM and 3 PM to 09 PM).

Tera Manzil Temple

Tera Manzil Temple has 13 floors. Each floor has many small temples with different deities throughout the This temple is located near the Lakshman Jhula. The view from the top of the temple is amazing. Temple is also known as Trayambakeshwar Temple, Trimbakeshwar Temple or Kailashanand Mission Trust.

Kunjapuri Temple

Kunjapuri Temple is truly devoted to goddess durga which is the parvati next roop. Kunjapuri Temple is also consider by shaktipeeth. It is believed that lord Shiva approved all the way through this place on his manner go back to Kailash with the corpse of Sati whose dead body part cut down at the spot where the temple of Kunja Puri stands.

Parmarth Niketan Temple

Parmarth Niketan Temple is also the most well-liked temple among the all. The Niketan has a school sprint on traditional Indian style, which is designed for its great job on Hinduism. Every day in the sunset, the Arti and Hawan is organizes by the Ashram in Ganga on the Parmarth Ghat.

Geeta Bhawan Rishikesh

Geeta Bhawan is the one more olden temple among all the domestic temples in Rishikesh. It is the Temple in which the well-known Indian epic Mahabharata and Ramayana are explains on the walls. Here people assemble to read the Ramayana jointly. The Arti which is performing at Geeta Bhawan's Ghat on River Ganga is an amazing.

Rishikund tank and Raghunath Temple

Rishikesh is full of numerous small and big temples. In the banks of the Chandrabhaga River there is a team of temples. Char Dham, the famous four temples club starts off this place. The Rishikund tank and Raghunath temple near the tank also present quite beautiful scenic views. Lord Ram used the tank for bathing while he was in exile. The Bharat temple named after Bharat, one of the brothers of Lord Ram.

Triveni Ghat Rishikesh

Triveni Ghat is a bathing place at a distance about 1.5 km from Rishikesh. It is measured sacred for being the confluence of three mountain streams. Pilgrims from all over the worls come here to take a dip into the holy waters.

Jhulla Pulls In Rishikesh

Lakshman Jhula

Big iron suspension bridge on the river Ganges which is 4.5 kms far from Rishikesh. It is believed that Lakshman (Brother of lord Ram) crossed the river here by jute rope. Current bridge is built in 1929 in when the old bridge (1989 built) was damaged in flood. Laskman Jhula is popular in tourist for shopping and other activites such as rafting. Both side of the bridge has so many different shops with interesting things to buy. Lakshman temple and Tera Manzil Temple is also situated here. From the bridge you can have spectacular view of river and the city. Lakshman Jhula is pedestrian bridge but it is also used for bikes.

Ram Jhula

Suspension bridge similar to the Lakshman Jhula between Sivananda Ashram and Swarg Ashram is known as Ram Jhula or Sivananda Jhula. Boat is also available here on sharing basis to cross the river. So many shops are available on the both side of bridge for shopping. Sivananda Ashram, Yog Niketan Ashram and Omkarnanda Ashram is located at one end of the brindge and the other end has Swarg Ashram, Gita Bhawan and Parmarth Niketan Ashram. Ram Jhula is pedestrian bridge but it is also used for bikes.

Ashrams In Rishikeshh

Parmarth Niketan

Parmarth Niketan Ashram is located in the Swarg Ashram area. The Ashram has so many rooms for devotees as well as tourist. Ashram has many religious statues inside. Parmarth Niketan is also host for the Internationa Yoga Festival every year. Ashram is popular among the tourist for Yoga. Every day Ganga Aarti ceremony is organized at the Ghat of the Ashram in Evening.(5 PM in winter and 6 PM in Summer. The aarti is widely visited by the tourists.

Sivananda Ashram

Sivananda Ashram is also known as Divine Life Society. It is located near Ram Jhula. Sivanada Ashram was established by Swami Sivananda. Swami Sivanada lived here for more than 30 years. There are several activities performed by the Ashram such as Yoga Meditation and hospital. Sivananda Ashram has rooms for the guest. Ashram has Meditation hall, Yoga Hall & Music Hall. Sivananda Ashram is one of the most popular ashrams in Rishikesh.

Gita Bhawan

Gita Bhavan (Geeta Bhawan) is Ashram located in Swarg Ashram area. The ashram has large complex with discourse hall and more than 300 rooms which they are offering to tourist at very low cost. There is temple of also inside the ashram. Lessons from Bhagvad Gita is written on the walls of Ashram. Inside the temple you can see life of Lord Krishna in pictures. Cloth store, Book store, Ayurvedic medicine shop and restaurant are part of this.

Swarg Ashram

Swarg Ashram is area between Lakshman Jhula and Rishikesh. This place is well known for various famous ashrams, beautiful surroundings, healthy and divine living. So many shops are also here for shopping. Place is accessible via Ram Jhula bridge by walk or by road via Beraj. Parmarth Niketan, Gita Bhawan, Bhootnath Temple and many other intresting places are part of the Swarga Ashram area.

Beatles Ashram

Beatles Ashram is located in the Swarg Ashram this ashram is closed in 1997 and consumed by forest department. Still there are some building such as meditation cells and lecture halls are there as a witness of the glory of ashram. In February 1968 Beatle stayed here to learn yoga and meditation. After the Beatle's visit Rishikesh came in limelight throughout the world for yoga.

Other Attractions

Triveni Ghat

Triveni Ghat is biggest bathing ghat in Rishikesh. Situated near the main market this ghat has mesmerizing view of mountain and river. The reason for the name is it is believed that this is conference of 03 rivers Ganges, Yamuna and legendary Saraswati. Due to the conference this ghat is great place to take a bath. Ghat is structure of steps where people can acess river for holy bath. Everyday Ganges ceremony (Ganga Aarti) is organized at ghat in evening. (5 PM in winter and 6 PM in Summer) This is beautiful place to sit right on the bank of the river and view the mountain and river with the company of cool river breeze. Triveni Ghat is situated just 100 meter far from the main market. Small Shani Mandir is also located near Triveni Ghat.

Jungle Vibes

Here you can learn to make some music instruments from Indian old men Mukesh Dhiman. Australian Didgeridoo and African Djembe are specialty of Mukesh.
Bhootnath Temple, Iscon Temple, Astha Path, Raghunath Temple, Rishikund, Swarga Niwas Temple, Marine Drive, Rishikesh Main Market, Chandreshwar Mahadev Temple and Goa Beach.