The scenic beauty of Rishikesh is due to its location at the foothills of the lofty Garhwal Himalayas is accentuated by the mighty Ganges cutting right through the city. The picturesque city looks suspended between the stunning riverside promenades, acres of forests, lush mountains, and clear blue skies lending it a surreal appearance.
The city is synonymous with its grand temples, rituals, architectural marvels and yoga ashrams. Every temple here, be it the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Raghunath Temple, or the 13-storey Trimbakeshwar Temple, has its own beautiful legend that attracts people from all over the world. The twin Ram & Lakshman Jhulas are outstanding architectural feats in themselves. These suspension bridges span for over 750 ft. over the Ganges. There are numerous ashrams here that lead people into the spiritual world of ancient forms of yoga, meditation, and vipasana to cleanse their soul and de-stress.
Rishikesh has its share of offbeat and adventure activities too. If you are not enjoying the adrenaline rush of white water rafting available up to grade 6, you can spend time enjoying amazing experiences like cliff jumping, kayaking, body surfing, etc. There are picturesque waterfalls here like Patna fall and Neer Garhi fall, etc. that are perfect to escape into the raw wilderness of nature. If you are the spiritual kind, you can’t miss attending the jaw-dropping spectacle of the Maha Aarti.
The summer months (March-June) here are extremely hot & humid with temperatures reaching up to 36°C. Winter months (October-February) are cold and sunny with temperatures dipping to a low of 6°C, making them the best months to visit. Monsoon months (June-September) see a lot of rains accompanied by humidity.
Lakshman Jhula
Sightseeing in Rishikesh has to start with Lakshman Jhula. The hanging bridge has a lot of significance in the local culture because it is believed, that Lakshman, the younger brother of Lord Ram, crossed the river Ganga right at this point, where the bridge currently stands. The bridge is made entirely of iron and has is 450 feet long and 70 feet high above the water. The view of the Ganga from the bridge is stunning as one gets a view of the most famous temples in Rishikesh. The region is also one of the most important passage options for the pilgrims who are going to Kedarnath and Badrinath. This bridge was built after 1924, when the earlier bridge was washed away due to floods. It takes less than an hour to reach the bridge from the center of the bridge and the bridge can be crossed between 5 am in the morning to 10 pm at night.
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
The Mahadev temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is one of the oldest temples in the region and it still requires one to trek through a forest path of 7 km to reach the temple. It is a three hour walk and the pilgrims choose to undertake it as a mark of their reverence for the god. One can also reach the temple via Lakshman jhula and taxies can also be availed to reach the temple in case one is unable to walk. The waters from the Ganga are used to offer the prayers to the deity here. The ambience around the temple is sure to stir the spiritual emotions of the pilgrims.
Rafting in Rishikesh
The huge number of mountain rapids in Rishikesh provides the perfect circumstances to go for river rafting. A number of tour operators operate here and they can help you book your slots. There are various stretches one can opt for like from Brahmagiri to Rishikesh, or from Kaudiyal to Rishikesh. The perfect time for river rafting in Rishikesh is from mid- February to May, since before that the rapids are frozen and after that the monsoons set in. It is one of the best adventure sports that one can enjoy in the country and the views along the rapids of mountain forests and hills are spellbinding.
Triveni Ghat
Your sightseeing in Rishikesh cannot be complete unless you have witnessed the Maha Aarti in the Triveni Ghat at twilight. Pilgrims from far and wide come here to witness the aarti, which is offered as a prayer to worship the River Ganga. The Triveni Ghat is also mentioned in the Indian epics of Ramayana and the Mahabharata and is believed Lord Krishna himself visited this place and was later cremated here. The pilgrims come here to take dips in the holy waters here, believing that it will wash away all their sins. The Ghat is open from 5 am to 9 pm.
Kaudiyala
Kaudiyala is just about 22 km from the city center of Rishikesh is famous for its rock climbing. Adventure sports enthusiasts come here for rock climbing and also for white river rafting. There are also camping facilities available here and there is something truly magical about sleeping under the stars because of the clear night sky one sees here. A number of adventure sports operators operate here and they will make all the arrangements for your stay at this picaresque and exciting location. It is also a major picnic spot in Rishikesh.
Kuari Pass
If you want to go backpacking and trekking, you will hardly find a trail more exciting and beautiful than the Kuari Pass. This trail has been attracting backpackers from across the globe for quite some time and the views here are unparalleled. The pass is located in the Nanda Devi biosphere which means one trek into the heart of the Garhwal Himalayas and experiences the unique, wild grandeur of the mountains here. The Rishi Gorge is located just beyond and it was considered impenetrable till 1934. The altitude is about 12,200 feet and one can witness ample amounts of snow at this point. Once there, one can camp in the beautiful grounds of Gulling and Tali and enjoy days away from the city crowds.
Piran Kaliyar Sharif
The final resting place of Sufi saint Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir, the shrine or dargah, is located about 22 km from Haridwar and stands as a proud symbol of communal harmony as both Hindus and Muslim devotees come here in huge numbers. The Kaliyar village, where the dargah is located, is frequented by people of all religions as they come here to pay homage to the saint. There are a number of guesthouses here for stay and the shrine can be visited at any time of the year, though carrying extra woolens is always a must. It is believed that all prayers are answered and all wishes come true after praying at this shrine.
Bungee Jumping
There are a number of places in Rishikesh that tour operators will take you to if you want to try bungee jumping and the deep gorges of the region are perfect for that. A cable or a chord is tied to the body as one jumps freely off a ridge or a cliff and then enjoys the feeling as the chord is pulled back and one is left hanging over the cliff. Bunjee Jumping in Rishikesh is one of the most sought after adventure sports in country. There are many tourist places in Rishikesh that will enable you to engage in this sport.