Rishikesh is a tehsil located in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal region right on the banks of the holiest of Indian rivers, the Ganges. This ancient city has several mythological and religious legends associated with Lord Vishnu, Lord Bharat, and various prominent sages and is said to have been established in the 9th-century AD by Adi Shankaracharya.
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-story Trimbakeshwar Temple, has its 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 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 vipassana to cleanse their souls 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. The 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.
