Located in the Tehri-Garhwal region of Uttar Pradesh, Rishikesh
represents the Gateway to the Himalayas. It is small town, renowned as
an important pilgrimage center of the country. The town abounds in
natural splendour and the sight of the Ganga rushing through the
Himalayan foothills is awesome. There are several temples on the banks
of the Ganga at Rishikesh. It is believed that Rishikesh represents the
site where Vishnu vanquished the demon
Madhu. In
Tapovan,
on the other side of the Ganges, is a temple to Lakshmana. The
Lakshman
Jhula at Rishikesh is a 450 feet long suspension bridge was built in
1939. There is a newer bridge which has been added recently - the
Ram
Jhula. Another commanding spectacular view of the region is the
Nilkanth
Mahadeo temple at a height of about 5000 feet, 12 km away from
Rishikesh. Rishikesh is not only popular for its religious significance
but also considered to be a base for devotees on their journey to the
Char Dham Yatra (tour of four pilgrim sites). The freshness of
the air, sound of flowing water, the scenic beauty, the distant sound of
bells create an unforgettable experience for those that visit this
ancient town.
