Rishikesh

Yoga, meditation and spiritualism make for a winner

RISHIKESH IS LOCATED around 25 km north of the holy city Haridwar, and comes under Dehradun district. the literal meaning of Rishikesh is’ Lord of the senses'(or Lord Vishnu). Legend has it that Lord Rama did penance at the banks of the river Ganga in Rishikesh for killing the demon king Ravana of Lanka and this established the city on the religious map of India. A popular destination for pilgrims as well as adventure tourists, Rishikesh is located close to the point where the Ganga enters the plains. Visiting the numerous temples in the city and taking a dip in the holy waters of the Ganga are essential parts of the pilgrimage. Laxman Jhula, a suspension bridge used by pedestrians to cross the river,is the most famous as a haven for spiritual seekers and as the yoga capital of the world. it hosts the international yoga Festival, organized jointly by the Uttarakhand tourism and Parmarth Niketan Ashram.Held in the fist week of March,it gives yoga enthusiasts a window  of opportunity to learn and practice multiple styles of yoga like Kundalini Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Power Yoga, Hatha Yoga and so on

Many ashrams in Rishikesh offer stay,and great learning experiences on religion, spirituality, yoga,meditation and Ayurveda practices.Arguably,it was the Beatles’ stay in Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram here that introduced yoga and Rishikesh to the western consciousness in the 60s. the band composed over 50 songs during its stay at Rishikesh.In recent years, Rishikesh has gained wide popularity in the field of adventure sports.it has emerged as the had of white water rafting in India.the Ganga here provides medium to rough rapids. Hiking backpacking and bungee jumping are also very sought after.Another high here is the excellent vegetarian food, the bakery fare and the not-to-be-missed masala chai and cold lassi the consumption of alcohol and non -vegetarian food is strictly banned in the city.