Swami Dayananda Ashram

One of the not to be missed places to visit near Rishikesh, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is around 32km from the city limits and is located at a height of 1,330m above the sea level in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. Among all the temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple holds a major prominence among the devotees.Tucked between the pictorial valleys of Manikot, Brahmakot and Vishnukot, the heart-warming surrounding of this sacred temple owes to its popularity among all the Rishikesh tourist places. With Lord Shiva, who is also known as 'Neelkanth' or the 'Blue Throated One' as the main deity, the peak of the temple is adorned with sculptures of both the Gods and the Asuras. It is said that during 'samudramanthan'; or while both the Gods and Asuras were churning out the ocean bed to obtain the holy 'amrita' or the 'nectar of immortality, Lord Shiva drank the poison that evolved from the sea. This turned his throat blue, and thus he was named as Neelkanth, and is worshipped in this temple in the form of a 'shivalinga'. Devotees visit this sacred temple throughout the day and takes a bath in the natural spring in the main complex before offering puja to the main deity.

Situated on the banks of the holy Ganges, Triveni Ghat is among the most magnetic places to visit in Rishikesh. The confluence point of three of the most sacred rivers in Hindu mythology: Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi, this ghat is considered as the most pious among all the other ghats within the vicinity. According to the legends, the water of this ghat has the magical power of purifying one's heart and soul, and make it free from all the sins. Devotes from every corner of the country throngs Triveni Ghat and takes a dip with utmost devotion and faith. Come morning, you can witness them offering milk to the river, performing 'Surya Namaskar' and feeding the fishes around the ghat. By evening, this auspicious ghat turns into a riot of colours as it is time of the 'Maha Aarti' or the aarti to Mother Ganga. Priest and the devotees perform several rituals during this sacred event, and offers lamps clad with flowers and incense stick to the Goddess as mark of their gratitude and devotion. The melodious hymns of the temple bells and the shanks can be heard everywhere, and the entire vicinity turns into a plethora of colour during this time. The peace and devotion that exists during the aarti makes Triveni Ghar one of the must visit Rishikesh tourist places.

Most of your teenage or college days might have passes admiring the songs of the favourite band called 'Beatles', but do you know your favourite band once visited a quaint ashram in Rishikesh to attend a special meditation programme? Yes, it was in the year 1968, the entire group of Beatle flew down to India to meet a saint called Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and practice some advanced meditation programme under his flagship. Following this phenomenal visit, the ashram gained instant popularity and was named as the 'Beatles Ashram'; the visit also made it one of the renowned places to visit in Rishikesh. Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, though the ashram was abandoned in 1997, the complex buildings and the stone-huts can still be found standing strong in their place. It is one of the very few places in Rishikesh that are pretty tough to find.According to the recent plans of the regional government, the ashram will soon reopen as a museum that will showcase its delightful history and contribution to the society. To add more, one should know that the span of time Beatles group stayed in this ashram, is considered as one of the most productive periods for the band!

The narrow stream of blue waters, surrounded by the lush foliage of Himalayan vegetation, Neer Garh Waterfall is a treat for any adventure or nature lover visiting Rishikesh. It is a sheer delight to watch the roaring stream making its way through steep rocks before plunging into a clear water pool. Apt for relaxation, meditation, and even landscape photography, this waterfall has to be one of the most spectacular places to see in Rishikesh. In order to reach the cascade, one has to indulge in a short trek that has a length of approximately 1 km which is a bonus in itself. Once you reach here, you can lower yourself into the pool and let the pure mountain water heal your body and soul, washing away your fatigue.Location: Rishikesh-Badrinath Road, 5 km from Laxman Jhula, RishikeshTimings: 8 am to 6 pmHeight of the Waterfall: 25 feetBest Time to visit: September to MarchEntry Fee: INR 30 per person

Shivpuri, the quaint little town of Rishikesh owes its varied topography to the imposing Himalayas skirting it from all sides. Apart from its one-off location, the sprawling landscapes peppered with wild flowers, turbulent rapids, swift flowing perennial rivers and a natural tranquillity of the atmosphere make Shivpuri a traveller’s paradise down the ages. Located at a distance of about 16 Km from Rishikesh, the Shivpuri (the land of Lord Shiva) is a small hamlet settled on the bank of the River Ganges on one side and its tributary on the other. This ancient town has a deep spiritual connection with the religious Hindus for being the origin of the holy River Ganges at its vicinity. A number of pilgrimage sites and ashrams are dotted across the entire region of Rishikesh that attract thousands of followers during the peak season. Apart from the religious aspect of the place, Shivpuri is among the top adventure destinations in the world due to its proximity with the Himalayas and some of the gurgling rivers flowing through the heart of the town. The most ventured activities in this region are mountain biking, cliff jumping, river rafting, wildlife safari, beach camping and others. In a nutshell Shivpuri is your ultimate destination where you can get close with nature and feel a perfect synchronization with your inner self.History of Shivpuri   Being one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrim sites of India, a number of myths and allegories are attached to this place. The entire region is considered as Tapo Bhumi- a place for the meditation of the gods.  On the bank of River Ganga lies a vast woodland area which is called Tapovana where Lakshmana, the younger brother of Lord Rama carried out his reparations in a small cottage.  There is also another story which says, Lord Rama was sentenced to penance at this spot for killing Ravana, the multi-headed demon king of Lanka. The bridge Lakshmanjhula (“jhula” means bridge in Hindi) is named after Lakshmana who is believed to have crossed the bridge made of jute and hang in suspension over The Ganges.  According to the Skanda Purana- the greatest of all the Hindu puranas or scriptures, the place is regarded as the Kubja Mark as it is the place where Raibhya Rishi performed his penance through arduous contemplation by controlling his senses.  Lord Vishnu was impressed by the sincerity of his disciple and blessed him with the message that the place will be named thereafter as Hrishikesh (“hrishik” means senses, “esh” means master). Some of the believers presume the place attained its name after Hrishikesh, the other name of Lord Vishnu as he visited the place for meeting his disciple. 

Parmarth Niketan Ashram, located in the lap of the verdant Himalayas, along the banks of the Ganges, is one of the most popular ashrams in Rishikesh. The ashram specialises in traditional ayurvedic practice treatment, yoga, meditation and various other natural healing techniques. The ashram was founded in 1942 by Pujya Swami Shukdevanandji Maharaj. With over 1000 rooms, lush gardens, clean and pure ambience, the ashram provides a calm and serene refuge to devotees and patients alike. The ashram keeps its doors open for people of all religions, gender, caste, class and nationalities. The ashram is the home to a 14-feet statue of Lord Shiva that has been placed along the river bank. The divine or holy tree, Kalpavriksha, also boosts the sense of spirituality on the ashram campus.  Various activities of the ashram include different healing yogas, universal prayers and meditation classes, kirtan, daily satsang, spiritual talks and seminars among other events. The ashram with its various activities aims to help people connect with their inner self and rejuvenate their senses. During your stay at the ashram, you can feel being associated with the peaceful surrounding of the ashram as well as nature.Location: Rishikesh, Pauri district, Uttarakhand, IndiaTimings: The ashram remains open every day from 7am to 8pm. Price: Entry is free to the ashram. Rs 800 for basic rooms. Rs 1200 or Rs 1500 for rooms with air conditioning and a view of mountains and rivers

This “Abode of Lord Shiva”, so pristine, serene and filled with adventure, is a mecca for river rafting in India. Located 20kms from Rishikesh on the banks of River Ganga, the tranquil town of Shivpuri beams with life, laughter, adventure and nature’s bountiful thrills.River rafting is not only thrilling but also extremely picturesque with the white rapids below, lush dense forest on either side and a view of the spectacular mountains in the distance making Shivpuri one of the favourite tourist places to visit in Rishikesh.While river rafting down the Ganges right up to Ramjhula Rishikesh for around 16 km of toss and turn and skipped heartbeats, you can witness the famous river rapids like Return to Sender, Roller Coaster, Tea Off, Golf Course, Clubhouse, Cash flow, Initiation, Double Trouble, and Hilton.While you’re here and need more adventure you can also try your hand or rather heart at other adrenaline packed activities like Body Surfing, Cliff Jumping and Rock Climbing.You can indulge yourself in other activities like Jungle Walks, Beach Camping, Mountaineering and Jungle Trekking. A day trek to the beautiful Neer Waterfall followed by campfire and roast veggies by the beach is the perfect end to a day.Among other experiences, Shivpuri is the place for all those on the lookout for peace and rejuvenation. During your stay in Shivpuri, you will have the opportunity of learning the techniques of yoga and meditation. You can enjoy early morning yoga and relaxation sessions at Yoga Camps or even at the sacred Shiva Temples.

When you are in Rishikesh, there can be no adventure more fascinating than hiking in the foothills of the Himalayas and camping on the bank of River Ganga. A perfect combination of thrilling and rejuvenating experiences, camping and hiking in Rishikesh is a matchless treat for anyone seeking a holistic healing over the weekend. River Ganga is the major attraction in Rishikesh, and camping on the white sand by its blue water stream is surely going to have a soothing effect on your senses.To add some action and movement to the affair, Rishikesh gives you an opportunity to partake in river rafting and hiking. So if you are planning a quick getaway with your friends, nothing can beat the company of River Ganga and Shivaliks. Highlights: Riverside camping, river rafting, hiking, and picturesque surroundings.Price: INR 899 per person