Rishikesh

IAST: "Hṛṣīkeśa" (Sanskrit: हृषीकेश) is a name derived from Vishnu composed of hṛṣīka meaning 'senses' and īśa meaning 'lord', thus 'Lord of the Senses'.[11][12] The name commemorates an apparition of Vishnu to Raibhya Rishi,[13] as a result of his tapasya (austerities), as Lord Hrishikesha.[14] In Skanda Purana, this area is known as Kubjāmraka (कुब्जाम्रक) as Lord Vishnu appeared under a mango tree.[12]

Rishikesh has been a part of the legendary "Kedarkhand".[15] Legends state that Lord Rama did penance here for killing Ravana, the asura king of Lanka; and Lakshmana, his younger brother, crossed the river Ganges, using two jute ropes at the point where the present 'Lakshman Jhula' (लक्ष्मण झूला) stands today.[16] The 'Kedarkhand' of Skanda Purana, also mentions the existence of Indrakund at this very point. The jute-rope bridge was replaced by a 248-foot long iron-rope suspension bridge in 1889. After it was washed away in the 1924 floods, it was replaced in 1927 by the present stronger bridge built by the United Provinces Public Works Department. This bridge connects the two districts of Tapovan, Tehri and Jonk, Pauri Garhwal. Another similar suspension bridge Ram Jhula was built in 1986 at nearby Sivananda Nagar.

In contemporary history, one finds the mention of Rishikesh in The Gazeteer of Dehra Dun, by ICS office HG Walton. It reads, " A village or town beautifully situated on the right bank of the Ganges, on a high cliff overlooking the river. The place is developing very rapidly, especially since the construction of the new bridge over the Song river, the realignment of the pilgrim road from Raiwala to Rishikesh.[17]"

The Ganges, one of the most sacred rivers to Hindus,[18] flows through Rishikesh. Here the river leaves the Shivalik Hills in the Himalayas and flows into the plains of northern India. Several temples, ancient and new, are along the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh. Shatrughna Mandir, Bharat Mandir (Lord Vishnu's avatar), Lakshman Mandir are the ancient temples established by Adi Shankaracharya. Shatrughna Temple is near Ram Jhula and Lakshman Mandir is situated near Lakshman Jhula.

The historical records mention that some pilgrims used to stay at Rishikesh as a resting place before moving onwards to the higher mountains for the pilgrimage while a larger number used to visit Rishikesh as the original destination and visited various sites between Rishikesh and Lakshman Jhula before returning.[17] However, Rishikesh has in recent decades shifted from a pilgrim to a tourist town. Local markets have evolved from commercializing goods such as "local and religious handicrafts" to a more service-oriented tourist industry with "provision stores, cafes, hotels and yoga and meditation" as well as rafting.[19]

A view of temples on the banks of river Ganges near Laxman Jhula

Rishikesh is at 30.103368°N 78.294754°E / 30.103368; 78.294754. It has an average elevation of 340 metres (1,120 ft).[20] The town is located in the Tehri Garhwal region of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.

After flowing 249 km (155.343 mi)[21] through its narrow Himalayan valley, the Ganges emerges from the mountains at Rishikesh, then debouches onto the Gangetic Plain at the pilgrimage town of Haridwar.[22] Despite the pollution of the Ganges, the water in Rishikesh is relatively unaffected as the major polluting points are down river in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh.[23]

According to Köppen-Geiger climate classification system, its climate is humid subtropical (Cwa). Average maximum temperature is 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).[24] The average minimum temperature is 7 degrees Celsius. The wettest month is July with highest rainfall of 444 mm. The driest month is November with rainfall of 10 mm. Months of May, June, July and August has the highest UV index of 12 and January and December have the lowest UV index of 4.

Rishikesh Municipal Corporation administers the city. The urban local body was incorporated into a Municipal Corporation in 2018.[26] The city is divided into 40 wards. When the delimitation of the wards was done at the time of the formation of the Municipal Corporation, the minimum population of each ward was 2,300 and maximum 3,000.[27] Rishikesh belongs to the Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency.[28] The first and the current mayor of the corporation is Anita Mamgain.[29] The current Municipal Commissioner, commonly known as Nagar Aayukt locally, is Narendra Singh.[30]

As per provisional data of 2011 census Rishikesh had a population of 102,138, out of which males were 54,466 (53%) and females were 47,672 (47%). The literacy rate was 86.86% compared to the national average of 74.04%.[31]

In 2021-2022 fiscal year, Rishikesh commanded highest revenue per hotel room of INR 10,042 per night, higher than other known Indian tourist leisure destinations.[32]

Yoga Capital of the World

Rishikesh is considered the Yoga Capital of the world.[33] It is also considered to be the birthplace of Yoga,[34] this widely popular practice is said to benefit both mind and body.

Yoga Training Centers in Rishikesh

This town is one of the best spots to learn all types of meditation and Yoga. Rishikesh is the hub for most authentic yoga retreats, ashrams, and yoga teacher training.[35]

Famous Yoga Ashrams

Students from around the world undergoing yoga teacher training by the River Ganges at Rishikesh, 2015

In February 1968, the Beatles visited the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh, attracted by his Transcendental Meditation.[36] The Beatles composed numerous songs during their time at the ashram, many of which appear on the band's self-titled double album, also known as the "White Album".[37] Many westerners followed, increasing participation in yoga, to the extent that Rishikesh has been nicknamed "Yoga Capital of the World"; it has numerous yoga centres that attract tourists.[3] Serious yoga students come to learn and become qualified yoga teachers.[6][38][39]

The city includes the district of Sivananda Nagar, the home of Sivananda Ashram and the Divine Life Society founded by Swami Sivananda, north of the town center; the temple sections of Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula, a little further north; and assorted ashrams around Swargashram on the eastern bank. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, amidst forest 28 km (17 mi) from Rishikesh, is a popular local pilgrimage, along with Vashishtha Guha (Cave of Sage Vashishtha), 21 km (13 mi) up from the town by the Ganges.[40][41]

Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat

Ganga Aarti At Triveni Ghat

The Ganga Aarti performed at dusk around 5:00pm at the Triveni Ghat is very popular with visitors[42] also known as Maha Aarti.[42] The Hindu religious ritual known as aartis are performed on river banks every night at sunset, and involve music and fire as offerings to the Ganges.

Rafting

Rafting in Rishikesh

Rishikesh is the Rafting hub of India, with many rafting options available on River Ganges. Based on one's skill-level and experience one can find a Grade I to Grade IV rafting options here.[43]

Riverside Camps

According to environmental activists, "These camps are not only in violation of Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, but also the Environment (Protection) Act 1986, as well as the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, as it is leading to pollution of Ganga by discharging effluent, throwing of solid waste directly and adversely affecting the ecological integrity of the river system."

Environmental activists alleged that these camps, which are established as temporary sites, do not have adequate sewage and sanitation facilities, disturb the habitat of wild animals and "affect the peace, tranquility, and serenity of the forest area."

"At the campsites, the camp owners permit employees and the visitors to have food and alcohol. They leave empty bottles, cans, unconsumed food and waste including bones and filth in and around the campsite. still there are few Other Campsites that have strict Policies against Alcohol Consumption and littering"

Camping in Rishikesh

In a 2008 study on the beach camps between Kaudiyala and Rishikesh, experts from the Govind Ballabh Pant Himalayan Environment and Development Institute—R. K. Maikhuri, Nihal Farukhi and Tarun Budhal—found that wildlife conservation standards and norms, particularly for waste management, were routinely disregarded.

A bench headed by the National Green Tribunal chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar on 1 April 2015 heard a plea filed by the non-governmental organisation Social Action for Forest and Environment (SAFE). The National Green Tribunal has sought explanations from the Government of India and the Government of Uttarakhand on the "unregulated" operation of rafting camps on the banks of Ganga between Shivpuri and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand. The state government has assured the tribunal that it would not grant permission to any new camp till the next hearing in May.[45][46][47][48][49][50]

As the seriousness of issue "The National Green Tribunal," a bench headed by Justice U. D. Salve has rejected permission to rafting camps operating in Rishikesh and slammed the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and the Government of Uttarakhand for not filing their replies in the case and directed them to file their response.[51][52]

International Yoga Festival (IYF) in March

International Yoga Festival, at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh

The International Yoga Festival introduced since 1999 has been held every year at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, this has brought a new influx of tourists during March. One-week festival covers well over 70 hours of Yoga classes under world-class Yoga teachers.[53]

AIIMS Rishikesh is one of the six apex healthcare institutes being established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) with the aim of correcting regional imbalances in quality tertiary level healthcare in the country and attaining self-sufficiency in graduate and postgraduate medical education and training.[54][55]

First AYUSH Centre (The Department of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy of India) was opened in Rishikesh on 4 June 2015 by Shripad Yasso Naik, Minister for Yoga and Traditional Medicine. He believes Ayurveda (Indian traditional medical science), Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, and other alternative medicine systems will be researched in Rishikesh.[56]

Chit chat at bank of River Ganga at Rishikesh

Shiva statue near Parmarth Niketan which was washed away by the 2013 flood on River Ganga

It has been reported that large numbers of tourists visiting Rishikesh from India and the world have been consuming Cannabis (drug) and alcohol and appearing partially naked at beaches, leading to complaints that the spiritual environment of the area has been affected.[59][60][61][62]

According to many Hindu yogis and sadhus, the riverside stretch is of spiritual and religious importance, as it is where the Ganges takes its form after the confluence of the rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda at Devprayag in the Garhwal Himalayas. Saints and yogis have been meditating on the banks of Ganges since antiquity. However, these banks have been polluted with liquor bottles, as well as obscene activities and behavior at the beaches.[61][63][64][65][66]

• 
  Tera Manzil Temple
• 
  A temple in Rishikesh
• 
  Ghats by the River Ganges
• 
  Ram Jhula Bridge across the Ganges at Muni Ki Reti, built in the 1980s
• 
  A Hanuman temple in Rishikesh
• 
  Rishikesh Views
• 
  laxman jhula bridge
• 
  View of Rishikesh

• Parmarth Niketan
• Lakshman Jhula
• Ram Jhula
• Muni Ki Reti
• Dhanraj Giri