Rishikesh- A Holy Town.

Rishikesh

Rishikesh,  also known as Hrishikesh is a city, municipal corporation and a tehsil in Dehradun region of the Indian state, Uttarakhand. Located in the hills of the Himalayas in northern India, it is known as the 'Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas' and 'Yoga Capital of the World'. It lies almost 25 km (16 mi) north of the city Haridwar and 43 km (27 mi) southeast of the state capital Dehradun. According to Record of India, 2011 Rishikesh had a population of 102,138 manufacture it the seventh most populated city in the state of Uttarakhand. It is known as the journey town and viewed as one of the holiest places to Hindus. Hindu advisers and saints have visited Rishikesh since ancient times to meditate in search of higher information.

In September 2015, the Union travel minister Mahesh Sharma announced that Rishikesh and Haridwar will be the first in India to be specified the title of "twin national heritage cities". Due to the religious import of the place, non-vegetarian food and alcohol are strictly prohibited in Rishikesh. The city hosts the annual International Yoga Festival.

Rishikesh has been a part of the legendary 'Kedarkhand' Legends state that Lord Rama did penance here for killing Ravana, the asura king of Lanka; and Lakshmana, his fresher brother, crossed the river Ganges, at a point, where the current 'Lakshman Jhula' bridge stands today, using a jute rope connection. The 'Kedarkhand' of Skanda Purana, also discussions the reality of Indrakund at this very point. The jute-rope bridge was substituted by iron-rope suspension connection in 1889. After it was washed away in the 1924 floods, it was replaced by the present stronger connection. Alternative similar suspension bridge Ram Jhula was built in 1986 at nearby Sivananda Nagar.

The Holy river Ganges flows through Rishikesh. Here the river leaves the Shivalik Hills in the Himalayas and movements into the plains of northern India. Several temples, antique and new, are lengthwise the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh. Shatrughna Mandir, Bharat Mandir, Lakshman Mandir are the ancient temples documented by Adi Shankaracharya. Shatrughna Temple is nearby Ram Jhula and Lakshman Mandir is nearby Lakshman Jhula.

The Tehri Dam is just 80 km (50 mi) difficult on the way to Gangotri. Rishikesh is the early point for travelling to the four Chota Char Dham journey places — Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.

Despite the pollution of the Ganges, the water in Rishikesh is relatively natural by the pollution as the major polluting points are down the course of the stream in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh.