The holy city of Rishikesh that rest on the foothills of the Himalayas in the Garhwal the region will always be associated with yoga, spirituality, and Beatles and their sojourn to study transcendental meditation. The world-famous destination of the Hindu pilgrimage, the town sited peacefully amidst the exquisite setting of sacred River Ganges.
Rishikesh is also referred to as the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’. Considered to be the birthplace of this ancient art, Rishikesh has been a magnet for both yogis and spirituality seekers. The legacy attracts aspirants all over the world to undergo authentic learning with 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh.
The quaint town of Rishikesh is dotted with the sight of the bustling bazaar with garland and fruit sellers, clothing stalls, sages, and Aghori, temples, and streets filled with the smell of incense sticks lit in shops and home.
The city is divided into two mainstream areas- one with the crowded downtown area with Triveni Ghat and bus-railway station, and the other one is a riverside the settlement with all major ashrams, temples, hotels, and famous suspension bridges Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula that crosses the river.
Rishikesh is magnificent, and we’re enlisting a few things for travelers to make their trip here memorable.
A getaway in the Himalayas
Set in the foothills of the Himalayas in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand, Rishikesh is encircled by hiking trails both challenging and some weave into short treks to waterfall and temples. These trails provide stunning views of the town. Few renowned adventure companies offered guided treks of 4-16 days with camping. Neergarh, Garud Chatti, and Patna Waterfall Trek are famous and don’t usually require a guide.
Temple Hoping
Rishikesh is one of the popular Hindu pilgrimage destinations in the country. Temple Tourism is one major aspect that gives a major boost to the overall tourism crediting to the mystical cluster of temples in Rishikesh. Visit famous temples of Neelkhanth Mahadev Temple, Raghunath Temple, Bhootnath Temple, Shatrughna Temple, Kunjapuri Temple, Hanuman Mandir, etc. and attend ceremonies like Kirtan Session, Satsang, and more.
Yoga Capital of the World
Rishikesh is considered the birth land of yoga and has been a hub for spirituality seekers. The city gives you a perfect taste of enlightenment through yoga and meditation. The ancient legacy makes the city on the banks of the Ganges a foremost yoga center in the world. Yoga has been an of the Indian culture and tradition for ages and one can also find many revered and knowledgeable teachers in this ancient city. Yoga teacher training in Rishikesh allures people from across the globe to flock here to practice. This made Rishikesh a yogic hub and home to a lot of yoga schools that offer authentic and Yoga Alliance certified training and learning experience.
Taste of Adventure and Thrill
Rishikesh is very popular with adrenaline junkies and Shivpuri is the hotspot for experiencing the real thrill. Shivpuri is located 19km away from the main town of Rishikesh. It was just a quiet place with white sandy pebble beach until some adventure addicts discover the thrill of riding the rapids of River Ganga. This made White Water River Rafting increasingly popular. Apart from rafting, you can go for hiking and camping experience choosing the duration as per your requirement. There are plenty of other adventure activities to experience as well like bungee jumping, kayaking, rock climbing, waterfall hiking, fox flying, zip-lining, etc.
Magnificent View of Ganga Aarti
Participate in Ganga Aarti Ceremony at Parmarth or Triveni Ghat. Ganga Aarti is one popular ritual amongst the Hindus where they pay their reverence to Mother Ganges. The ceremony takes place on the river banks at dusk and involves Mantra Chanting, prayers and offerings to the Ganges. Before Aarti, you can take a holy dip in the Ganges at any time of the day to wash away your sins (as believed in Hindu mythology).
Try Out Indian Delicacies
Rishikesh is extremely focused on yoga, meditation, and spirituality. Unsurprisingly meat and alcohol are banned in this holy city. But when it comes to savoring Indian delicacies, options are abound. There are plenty of cafes as well catering to the needs of westerners as well as Indians. You can try with Bistro Nirvana, Ira’s Kitchen and Tearoom, Pure Soul Cafe and Organic Kitchen, The Sitting Elephant rooftop restaurant, Little Buddha Cafe and Chotiwala are extremely popular for their assortment of local and foreign delicacies. Don’t forget to try delectable street food and traditional Garhwali meal.
Experience Ashram Life
Home to saints and sages, you’ll find ashrams at every nook and corner of this town. From ashrams that host traditional yoga teacher training to the ones focused on serving humanity, it becomes puzzling at times to decide which to visit and which not. For an authentic experience, visit ashrams like Gita Bhawan, Parmarth Niketan, Swarg Niwas, Sivananda and more.
Must-Visit the Beatles Ashram
Beatles Ashram is technically the former ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. But after the visit of the famous Beatles Band in 1968, the ashram is known by the name Beatles Ashram. The property was left discarded after Maharishi moved to Europe in 1970. Indian government took steps to restore it and opened it for the public in 2015. You can walk into the domed meditation caves, meditation halls decorated with colorful graffiti, and also the living quarters where all the members of the band stayed.
Into the Wilderness
The city is known for its mesmeric flora and fauna. Take a 90 minutes drive to Rajaji National Park. The reserve center is home to numerous species of wildlife like elephants, tigers, deer, leopards, anteaters, etc. Jungle Safari would be the best option to explore the place and it also offers on-site accommodation to those who wants to live in the wilderness.
Either for yoga teacher training or river rafting, Rishikesh enchants your soul. So gather your friends for a perfect weekend getaway and head out to this beautiful town of Rishikesh.
