Rajaji National Park is both a national park as well as a tiger reserve which ranks high amongst the Places to see in Haridwar. The park was created by the amalgamation of 3 sanctuaries- Rajaji, Motichur and Chilla. The park is located in the Shivalik range of Himalayas and spreads over 820kms. The park is famous for its 600 elephants, 250 leopards, and 11 tigers along with other animals, who have been kept in the natural forest environment. It has now become the second tiger reserve of Uttarakhand after Corbet.Location -Ansari Road, Mohand Range, DehradunTiming- 6 am to 9 am & 3 pm to 6 pm. Visitors booking a full day safari can wait at the rest house inside the forest.Best Time to Visit - Park remains open from 15th November to 15th June. Park is closed during the monsoon season. Entry Fee - Rs. 150 per head for 3 hours visit. Gypse rate for 3 hrs safari trip is Rs. 2100 and vehicle entry is Rs.250 per vehicle with Indians and Rs. 500 per vehicle with foreigners. The guide cost is Rs. 600 for general guide and Rs.1000-1500 for experience in wildlife.History of Rajaji National ParkThe Rajaji National Park initially started as three separate national parks in Uttarakhand. The pre-existing natural abundance of the area, along with its thriving community of wildlife, flora and fauna and its idyllic weather served as the perfect premise for the establishment of these national parks. In 1964, a stretch of the Dehradun Forest spanning 90 square kilometres was declared as the Motichur wildlife sanctuary. The Rajaji Wildlife sanctuary had existed since 1948 and the Chilla sanctuary since 1977 in Shivalik and Lansdowne respectively.In 1983, these three parks were combined to form the Rajaji National Park as it stands today, which covers an area of over 820 square kilometres. In April 2015, Rajaji National Park received the status of a tiger reserve, making it the second reserve for tigers in Uttarakhand. It remains one of the most picturesque and well-maintained national parks in the country. The government decided to name the park after one of the most renowned freedom fighters of the country- C. Rajagopalachari, who was known as Rajaji. After playing a pivotal role in fighting for India’s independence, he was also the last Governor-General of post-independence India. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna for his services to the nation.
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.
