Rishikesh

Rishikesh is a holy city for Hindus located in the foothills of the Himalaya in northern India. The place gets its name after Lord Vishnu who appeared to ‘RaibhyaRishi’ , as a result of his tapasya (austerities), as Lord Hrishikesh . In SkandaPurana, this area is known as ‘Kubjamrak’ as Lord Vishnu appeared, under a mango tree is a city and a municipal board in Dehradun district in the Indianstate of Uttarakhand. It is holy city for Hindus and a famous centre of pilgrimage.It is also known as the gateway to the Himalayas and is located around 25 kilometresaway from another holy city, Haridwar. Hrishikesh is the starting point for traveling to the sites that form the Char Dham pilgrimage — Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, andYamunotri.The sacred river Ganga flows through Hrishikesh. In fact, it is here that the river leaves the Shivalikmountains in the Himalayas and flows out into the plains of northern India. Several temples, ancient as well as new, can be found along the banks of the Ganges in Hrishikesh. The city attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists each year, from within India, as well as from other countries. Rishikesh, sometimes nicknamed “the world capital of Yoga”, has numerous yoga centres that also attract tourists. It is believed that meditation in Hrishikesh brings one closer to attainment ofmoksha, as does a dip in the holy river that flows through it. It is also becoming a popular spot forwhitewater rafting enthusiasts, both from India and abroad, as it offers medium to rough rapids in the course of river Ganges.