Cheap Rishikesh Tour Packages, Best Travel Agent in Rishikesh, Local Travel Agent in Rishikesh, Travel Hed Ranking near the top in the long list of holy places, Rishikesh is a town and municipal board in the Dehradun district of the small state of Uttarakhand, India. Also known as the 'Yoga capital of the world', Rishikesh is filled with religious institutes and places of religious importance which is visited by a large number of people seeking peace, tranquillity of just a new spiritual experience. History Rishikesh is closely knit with the epic of Ramayan, the legend of lord Rama who killed the demon king Ravana, after he abducted Rama's wife, Sita. It is believed that lord Rama did penance here in Rishikesh before going for war against Ravana. The famous Lakshman Jhula is also connected with the same epic. It is believed that Rama's brother, Lakshman who was also in exile with his brother, made a jute bridge to cross the river Ganga. That bridge has been replaced by an iron suspension bridge by the name of Lakshman Jhula. Rishikesh Today: Rishikesh has many famous institutes as well as ashrams and is the stronghold of the authentic spiritual experience that Hinduism is so famous for. The 120-year old Kailas Ashram Brahmavidyapeetham, for instance, is a prime institution that has been working endlessly for preserving and promoting the traditional Vedantic studies. Many eminent personalities like Swami Vivekananda, Swami Shivananda and Swami Ram Teerth have been its student. There was also the famous Ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, where the Beatles visited and stayed for some time. The Ashram is closed now. Places to see: The places to see in Rishikesh include: Bharat Mandir: Although the primary deity of the temple is lord Vishnu, the temple is dedicated to Bharat, lord Rama's youngest brother. Gita Bhawan: A very religious and important place for the Hindu Brahmins, Gita Bhawan is the place where regular reading of the Ramayana takes place. Lakshman Jhula: The iron suspension bridge, which has replaced the once jute one is linked with the story of Ramayana. Lakshman, the brother of lord Rama, made a jute bridge to cross the holy river Ganga when they visited this place during their 14 year long exile. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple: The highly revered temple, dedicated to the blue throated lord Shiva, Neelkanth Mahadev is situated in the deep forests about 20 kilometres away from Rishikesh. During the Hindu month of Bhadrapad (between July and August), a religious fair is held by the name of Neelkanth Mahadev Temple which is attended by a large number of devotees who travel from long distance as a visit to the temple during this time is considered auspicious. Swargashram: One of the most famous places of Rishikesh, Swargashram is a small township consisting of numerous temples and ashrams at a distance of around 5 kilometres from Rishikesh. Built in the memory of Swami Vishudhananda, better known as 'Kaali Kamli Waala' or the saint with a black blanket, Swargashram has become the epicentre of spirituality in Rishikesh. It is visited by many people seeking peace, who come from the country as well as outside of it.
