Rishikesh – Venture Into The Gateway Of The Himalayas

Rishikesh, also dubbed the “Gateway to the Himalayas” came into the light of people all over the world during the late 1960’s when the four members of the British pop/rock band ‘The Beatles’ arrived to Rishikesh for a ‘spiritual enlightening’. Since it was during the Beatles era and Beatlemania had touched every corner of the world almost like an epidemic, Rishikesh gained great popularity. It catapult this small place into the top of everybody’s travel bucket list. This is one reason why this place is also called the “World Capital of Yoga” as many hoarded in from all parts of the world just to see the place. Some of the places to visit in Rishikesh are mentioned below.

Haridwar

Haridwar in plain words means gateway to God. Haridwar lies 18 km from Rishikesh and is one of the most visited places for people visiting Rishikesh. With multiple temples and various other religious sites, Haridwar is considered as one of the seven sacred places for the Hindus.

Lakshman Jhula

Built in 1889, Lakshman Jhula is a hanging suspension bridge almost 450 ft long. Up until 1939, this bridge was made of jute until it was replaced by an iron bridge. It is believed that Lakshman used this bridge to cross the Holy Ganges while it was made of jute, which is where it gets its name from. There are famous temples on both sides of the bridge and a walk across it during your visit is definitely recommended.

Kaudiyala

If your have seen Rishikesh being represented by groups of people having outdoor fun such as rafting or other activities in the forest and that played a major driving factor for your trip, head over to Kaudiyala. Proper safety standards are met and you will be given a detailed explanation of what  you should do before you attempt to take part in anything. Rafting seasons starts from September and goes on till May. The window in between is also the perfect season for rock climbing and various other activities.

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is a temple dedicated solely to Lord Shiva. The temple is surrounded by thick vegetation and mountain ranges. The temple sees a huge crowd of devotees from all over India during the annual festive seasons. The temple is located very high of normal ground which makes for a perfect view of the whole surrounding hill ranges.

Rishikesh is one of the most travelled to weekend destination from New Delhi. It takes about 9 hours by aNew Delhi to Rishikesh train, which is the mode of transport mainly used by people going for a spiritual getaway. The youngsters and the adrenaline junkies prefer taking a more fun road trip with their backpacker buddies.