Laxman Jhula
The must-visit attraction of the town without which a Rishikesh Trip cannot be started off, Laxman Jhula is a pedestrian bridge related to Hindu mythology. The suspension bridge over the Ganga River is 137 metres long and connects two Garhwal villages, Tapovan and Jonk.
It is to be believed that Laxman Jhula was previously made of jute ropes and it was crossed by the Hindu deity Lakhsmana himself. The bridge was finally transformed into a 137 metres long suspension bridge in 1929. Situated on the outskirts of the city, Laxman Jhula is one of the best places in Rishikesh to get an unobstructed view of the city along with the flowing Ganga.
Ram Jhula
After Laxman Jhula, there is also a Ram Jhula in Rishikesh, which was built in 1986 by the Public Works Department with the help of Sivananda Ashram. Design wise, both the bridges look the same, but according to size, Ram Jhula is bigger than Laxman Jhula with a length of 229 metres.
Ram Jhula connects the Sivananda Nagar area with Swargashram in the east. Similar to Laxman Jhula, it also offers an amazing panoramic view of Rishikesh City along with the river. Some of the must-visit places in Rishikesh such as Parmarth Niketan, Geeta Bhawan, Swargashram etc. are located near Ram Jhula.
Triveni Ghat
The most sacrosanct ghat or bathing spot in Rishikesh, as well as in India, Triveni Ghat is one of the top tourist places in Rishikesh. It is named Triveni as it is the confluence of three major rivers of India, which are Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. Moreover, Triveni Ghat is also considered the cremation place of Lord Krishna. It is to be believed that when you take a dip here, you'll become a pure soul as all your sins will wash away.
Every day, maha-aarti is performed in Triveni Ghat in the morning and night. Rishikesh Ganga aarti attracts both the locals and tourists in a huge number as it is believed to hold a special significance to people who attend it. You can also offer milk, food for fish and oil lamps in the water to honour the rivers.
Tera Manzil Mandir
Also known as Trayambakeshwar Temple, Tera Manzil Mandir is a 13-storey temple located in Rishikesh. One of the famous Rishikesh tourist places, Tera Manzil Mandir attracts people from all over the world for its astonishing symmetrical architecture.
Located near the Laxman Jhula, Tera Manzil or Trayambakeshwar Temple or Kailash Niketan is one of the temples in Rishikesh, which was built by Adi Shankaracharya in the 9th century AD. Unlike other temples, it is not dedicated to one God, so you will find numerous Hindu Gods and Goddesses on each floor of the temple.
Shri Bharat Mandir
One of the oldest temples and the most sacred places in Rishikesh, Bharat Mandir is located in the heart of the city. It is to be believed one of the places where Pandavas (characters from the epic Mahabharata) stayed and worshipped Lord Hrishikesh Narayana. Also, as per history, the temple was converted into a Buddhist Monastery during the reign of Ashoka where Lord Buddha visited it himself.
Apart from its historical and mythological influences, the temple is considered one of the top tourism places of Rishikesh. People come here to do rounds of Lord Hrishikesh 108 times and seek blessings from him to get their wishes fulfilled.
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
The Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is 12 kilometres from the town of Rishikesh and is situated at 1,670 metres in the middle of a sylvan forest. It is among the holiest Shiva shrines in India and one of the best places to see in Rishikesh. According to Hindu mythology, the sacred location of the temple is where Lord Shiva consumed poison during Samudramanthan by the Gods and Demons.
One of the main attractions of the temple is its inside tomb where the Samudramanthan tale is depicted. The temple also features a freshwater spring that draws a lot of worshippers to take a bath.
Swarg Ashram
Located in the centre of Rishikesh, Swarg Ashram is considered a small township with numerous temples, cottages (ashrams) and caves inside. A religious site dedicated to Swami Vishudhanand, who is also known as Kali Kamli Wala, Swarg Ashram attracts foreigners as well as saints who are searching for the actual meaning of life.
You can stay in Swarg Ashram upon advance booking. You can also attend numerous ceremonies like aarti, chanting and other religious processions which happen here every day. The peaceful life of the saints and their minimalistic approach to living will undoubtedly inspire you to lead a healthy life.
Parmarth Niketan
Across the Ramjhoola Bridge stands the mammoth Parmarth Niketan Ashram. The ashram has hundreds of rooms. It conducts many religious programmes. Foreigners can stay only with special permission. Parmarth Niketan is a true spiritual haven, lying on the holy banks of Mother Ganga in the lap of the lush Himalayas.
It is the largest ashram in Rishikesh, providing its thousands of pilgrims who come from all corners of the Earth with a clean, pure and sacred atmosphere as well as abundant, beautiful gardens. With several hundred rooms, the facilities are a perfect blend of modern amenities and traditional, spiritual simplicity. Parmarth Niketan is located in Swargashram, on the main road, just on the banks of the sacred Ganges River.
The Beatles Ashram
After the world-famous musical band visited the tranquil location opposite Muni ki Reti, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram gained international recognition. It was previously known as the International Academy of Meditation where the students of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi learned meditation. In 1968, the English rock band Beatles came here to learn meditation along with other eminent personalities.
Once abandoned, the Beatles Ashram or Chaurasia Kutia was reopened in December 2015. Apart from the peaceful and serene environment, the paintings on the wall attract several tourists in addition to the Beatles fans.
Vashishta Gufa
Vashishta Gufa is a famous attraction for meditation, located at the bank of River Ganga, this gufa is situated at a distance of 16 km from Rishikesh. It takes about an hours drive on the Rishikesh Badrinath Highway to reach Vashishta Gufa. For the adventure seeker, this place provides with camping facility.
Vashishta Gufa, situated on the banks of the Ganga River, is a popular place for meditation lovers. This is the cave where great Sage Vashishta said to have meditated. He was also among the seven great sages (Saptarishis) and the guru of Lord Ram. According to Hindu mythology, after the death of his children, Sage Vashishta, he decided to commit suicide in River Ganga, but was refused by Goddess Ganga.