Rishikesh Uttarakhand best tourist places

With an abundance of magnificent temples and ashrams, Rishikesh ranks high on the tourist map of North India. This place is of great importance to Hindu pilgrims as it is the point from where the journey to the Char Dhams (four holy places) begins. Blessed with varied natural wonders, Rishikesh is an ideal place for pilgrimage and adventure tourism in the state of Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal). Here, you will find a number of fascinating attractions and some of the prominent tourist attractions in Rishikesh are:

Bharat Mandir:

It is a fascinating temple established by Adiguru Shankaracharya around the 8th century AD. It is in the center of the old town on the banks of the Ganges River. According to ancient records, it is one of the oldest temples in Rishikesh and is among the most important places to visit in Rishikesh. In the inner sanctum, you will find an idol of lord Vishnu. Several ancient statues, coins, vessels, and other historically significant artifacts have been found during recent excavations within the facility.

Rishikund

It is located next to Triveni Ghat and is one of the major tourist attractions in Rishikesh. According to legend, this pond was filled by the goddess Yamuna and reflects the Ragunath temple, which is dedicated to Lord Rama and his wife.

Triveni Ghat:

It is a sacred place where pilgrims swarm to take a holy dip. A large number of pilgrims flock to this place every night to attend the Ganga Arti that takes place at this Ghat.

Gita Bhawan:

This is the oldest temple complex in the entire area and you can find the description of the well-known Indian epic Ramayana and Mahabharata on its walls. Only peace and harmony seem to dwell in this place and it is a must visit among Rishikesh tourist attractions.

Lakshman Jhula:

It is one of the most prominent landmarks of Rishikesh. This is a suspension bridge and it was built in the year 1929. According to beliefs, it is said that the river at this place was crossed by Rama’s brother Lakshman using a jute rope. To savor the panoramic views of the surroundings and the fresh breeze, this bridge is an ideal place.

Ashrams

The ashrams scattered throughout the city are undoubtedly the main tourist attractions in Rishikesh. On your tour of Rishikesh, you will come across many of them. Most offer spiritual studies and lessons on meditation and well-being of the mind. Some of the main ones are Paremarth Niketan, Sivanand Ashram, Yoga Niketan, Omkaranand Ashram, Vanprastha Ashram, Shankaracharya Nagar Transcendental Meditation Center, Vithal Ashram and Center for Yoga Studies.