Rishikesh

Last updated

Rishikesh
Trayambakeshwar Temple VK.jpg
Ghats on the Ganges near Parmarth Niketan, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh.jpg
Evening praying time at Parmarth Niketan ghat, by the Ganges, Rishikesh.jpg
Aarti at Triveni Ghat Rishikesh.jpg
Ramjhula - bridge over the Ganga.jpg
Left to Right; Top to Bottom : Triambakeshwar Temple, Muni Ki Reti, Parmarth Niketan, Janki Setu, Evening aarti at Triveni Ghat, the Ram Jhula and AIIMS Rishikesh
Nickname: 
Yoganagari
India Uttarakhand location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Rishikesh
Location in Uttarakhand
India location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Rishikesh
Rishikesh (India)
Coordinates: 30°06′30″N78°17′50″E / 30.10833°N 78.29722°E / 30.10833; 78.29722
Country India
State Uttarakhand
District Dehradun
Municipality1952
Named for Hrishikesha
Government
  Type Mayor–council
  Body Rishikesh Municipal Corporation
   Mayor Anita Mamgain (BJP)
   Municipal Commissioner Rahul Kumar Goyal
Area
  Total11.5 km2 (4.4 sq mi)
Elevation
340 m (1,120 ft)
Population
 (2011)
  Total102,138 (urban agglomeration) 70,499 (City as per Census 2,011)
  Rank 7th
  Density8,851/km2 (22,920/sq mi)
  Male
54,446
  Female
47,672
Languages
  Official Hindi
  Native Garhwali
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
249201
Telephone code+91-135
Vehicle registration UK-14
Literacy (2011)86.86%
• Male92.21%
• Female80.78%
• Rank 2nd
Sex ratio (2011)875 / 1000

Rishikesh, also spelt as Hrishikesh, is a city near Dehradun in Dehradun district of the Indian state Uttarakhand. It is situated on the right bank of the Ganges River and is a pilgrimage town for Hindus, with ancient sages and saints meditating there in search of higher knowledge. [1] [2] There are numerous temples and ashrams built along the banks of the river. [3]

Contents

It is known as the "Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas " and "Yoga Capital of the World". [1] [4] [5] [6] The city has hosted the annual International Yoga Festival on the first week of March since 1999. [7] [8] Rishikesh is a vegetarian-only and alcohol-free city. [9]

The Tehri Dam is located 86 km (53 mi) away from Rishikesh. Uttarkashi, a popular yoga destination, is 170 km (110 mi) uphill on the way to Gangotri. Rishikesh is the starting point for traveling to the four Chota Char Dham pilgrimage places: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. It is also a starting point for Himalayan tourist destinations such as Harsil, Chopta, Auli, as well as summer and winter trekking destinations like Dodital, Dayara Bugyal, Kedarkantha and Har Ki Dun.

In September 2015, Indian Minister of Tourism Mahesh Sharma announced that Rishikesh and Haridwar would be the first "twin national heritage cities". [10] As of 2021, Rishikesh has a total population of 322,825 within the tehsil including the city and its 93 surrounding villages. [11]

The city is governed by Rishikesh Municipal Corporation and tehsil.

Etymology

IAST: "Hṛṣīkeśa" (Sanskrit : हृषीकेश) is a name derived from Vishnu, composed of hṛṣīka meaning 'senses' and īśa meaning 'lord' for a combined meaning as 'Lord of the Senses'. [12] [13] The name commemorates an apparition of Vishnu to Raibhya Rishi, [14] as a result of his tapasya (austerities), as Hrishikesha. [15] In the Skanda Purana, this area is known as Kubjāmraka (कुब्जाम्रक), as Vishnu appeared under a mango tree. [13]

History

Rishikesh was part of the legendary "Kedarkhand" mentioned in the Skanda Purana. [16] Legends state that Rama did penance here for killing Ravana, the asura king of Lanka. Lakshmana, Rama's younger brother, crossed the Ganges using two jute ropes at the point where the present Lakshman Jhula (लक्ष्मण झूला) suspension bridge stands today. Lakshman Jhula also collapsed in 2020. And a much stronger, 2nd in the whole of India, a glass bridge, is being built across the river. [17] The 248-foot long iron-rope suspension bridge built in 1889 was washed away by flooding in 1924. In 1927, it was replaced by the current, stronger bridge built by the United Provinces Public Works Department, connecting the Tapovan, Tehri, and Jonk, Pauri Garhwal districts. A noted suspension bridge named Ram Jhula was built in 1986 at the nearby Sivananda Nagar. The Skanda Purana also mentions the site as "Indrakund" where Indra underwent a holy bath to remove a curse.[ citation needed ]

The Gazeteer of Dehradun, written by Indian Civil Service officer HG Walton, describes the site as "beautifully situated on the right bank of the Ganges, on a high cliff overlooking the river. The place is developing very rapidly, especially since the construction of the new bridge over the Song River, the realignment of the pilgrim road from Raiwala to Rishikesh." [18]

The Ganges, one of the most sacred rivers to Hindus, flows through Rishikesh in its course from the Shivalik Hills of the Himalayas to the plains of northern India with temples built along the banks [3] Shatrughna Mandir, Bharat Mandir, and Lakshman Mandir are the ancient temples established by Adi Shankaracharya. Shatrughna Temple is near the Ram Jhula suspension bridge, while Lakshman Mandir is situated near the Lakshman Jhula suspension bridge.

The historical records mention that some pilgrims used to stay at Rishikesh, either seeking the site itself or using it as a resting place before moving onwards to the Himalayas. [18] In the transition to a modern tourist town, local markets have evolved from commercializing goods such as local and religious handicrafts to a service-oriented tourist industry with provision stores, cafes, hotels, sites for rafting, and centers for yoga and meditation. [19]

Geography

A view of temples on the banks of river Ganges near Laxman Jhula Temples on the banks of river Ganges.jpg
A view of temples on the banks of river Ganges near Laxman Jhula

Rishikesh is at 30°06′12″N78°17′41″E / 30.103368°N 78.294754°E / 30.103368; 78.294754 . It has an average elevation of 340 metres (1,120 ft). [20] The town is located in the Tehri Garhwal region of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.

After flowing 249 km (155.343 mi) [21] through narrow Himalayan valleys, the Ganges emerges at Rishikesh before debouching onto the Gangetic Plain at the pilgrimage town of Haridwar. [22] Despite the pollution of the Ganges, the water in Rishikesh is relatively unaffected, as the major polluting points are down river in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh. [23]

According to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system, its climate is humid subtropical (Cwa). The average maximum temperature is 40 °C (104 °F). [24] The average minimum temperature is 7 °C. The wettest month is July with the highest rainfall of 444 mm. The driest month is November with rainfall of 10 mm. Months of May, June, July, and August have the highest UV index of 12, and January and December have the lowest UV index of 4.

Climate data for Rishikesh
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)17
(63)
22
(72)
29
(84)
35
(95)
39
(102)
38
(100)
33
(91)
32
(90)
32
(90)
30
(86)
25
(77)
20
(68)
29
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)5
(41)
8
(46)
14
(57)
18
(64)
23
(73)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
23
(73)
15
(59)
9
(48)
6
(43)
16
(61)
Average precipitation mm (inches)51
(2.0)
33
(1.3)
34
(1.3)
9
(0.4)
20
(0.8)
94
(3.7)
482
(19.0)
495
(19.5)
219
(8.6)
76
(3.0)
9
(0.4)
17
(0.7)
1,539
(60.7)
Average rainy days3231271516820160
Mean daily sunshine hours 6789976678877
Source: Weather2Travel [25]

Civic Administration

The Rishikesh Municipal Corporation has administered the city's 40 wards since the 2018 incorporation of the urban local body. [26] Each ward had between 2,300-3,000 residents during the 2018 assessment. [27] Rishikesh belongs to the Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency. [28] The first and the current mayor of the corporation is Anita Mamgain. [29] The current Municipal Commissioner, commonly known as Nagar Aayukt locally, is Narendra Singh. [30]

Demographics

As per provisional data of 2011 census, Rishikesh had a population of 102,138, out of which males were 54,466 (53%) and females were 47,672 (47%). The literacy rate was 86.86% compared to the national average of 74.04%. [31]

Tourism

In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, Rishikesh had the highest revenue per hotel room among Indian tourist leisure destinations with an average of ₹10,042 per night. [32] Only four tourist places in India attract more foreign tourists than Rishikesh. [33] The town is one of the favorites of Israeli tourists, who often come here after completing their mandatory IDF service. [34]

Yoga "capital"

Although Rishikesh has always been a popular tourist destination due to its status as the birthplace of yoga, the city gained more notoriety when the Beatles visited in 1968. Since ancient times, the location has served as a haven for yogis, saints, and practitioners who come there to learn about this traditional Indian practise, advance their understanding of it, become instructors, or even find enlightenment. [35]

Students from around the world undergoing yoga teacher training by the River Ganges at Rishikesh, 2015 Yoga Teacher Training Rishikesh India .jpg
Students from around the world undergoing yoga teacher training by the River Ganges at Rishikesh, 2015

In February 1968, the Beatles visited Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh, attracted by his Transcendental Meditation. [36] The Beatles composed numerous songs during their time at the ashram, many of which appear on the band's self-titled double album, also known as the "White Album". [37] Western fans arrived seeking similar experiences, resulting in new yoga and meditation centers that fueled Rishikesh's nickname as the "Yoga Capital of the World". [1] Many of these Westerners have undergone training to become certified yoga teachers. [2] [38] [39]

The city's Sivananda Nagar houses the Sivananda Ashram and Divine Life Society, founded by Swami Sivananda. The Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula suspension bridges are accompanied by temples with additional ashrams near Swargashram along the eastern riverbank. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is located in the forest, 28 km (17 mi) from Rishikesh, while Vashishtha Guha, a cave used by the sage Vashishtha, is 21 km (13 mi) north of the area. [40] [41]

Activities

Ganga Aarti At Triveni Ghat Ganga Arti At Triveni Ghat In Rishikesh.jpg
Ganga Aarti At Triveni Ghat

The Ganga Aarti (also known as Maha Aarthi) is performed at dusk at the Triveni Ghat. This popular Hindu religious ritual involves playing music and providing religious offerings to the fire. [42]

In 1939, the British completed construction on a 137 m (450 ft) long iron suspension bridge on the Ganges River at the spot where Lakshman (Rama's brother) crossed the Ganges on a jute rope. [43]

Rafting in Rishikesh Rafting in rishikesh.jpg
Rafting in Rishikesh

Rishikesh offers many rafting options along the Ganges from Grades I-IV. [44] Rishikesh has India's highest bungee jumping at 83 m (272 ft) over a rocky cliff. [45] The longest flying fox (also known as a zipline) in Asia is in Rishikesh with a length of 1 km and speeds of 140 km per hour. [45]

Impact of camps and adventure activities on River Ganga

According to environmental activists, "These camps are not only in violation of Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, but also the Environment (Protection) Act 1986, as well as the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, as it is leading to pollution of Ganga by discharging effluent, throwing of solid waste directly and adversely affecting the ecological integrity of the river system." [46]

Environmental activists allege that these camps, which are established as temporary sites, do not have adequate sewage and sanitation facilities, disturb the habitat of wild animals, and "affect the peace, tranquility, and serenity of the forest area. [...] At the campsites, the camp owners permit employees and the visitors to have food and alcohol. They leave empty bottles, cans, unconsumed food and waste including bones and filth in and around the campsite."

Camping in Rishikesh Adventures camping in rishikesh.jpg
Camping in Rishikesh

In a 2008 study on the beach camps between Kaudiyala and Rishikesh, experts from the Govind Ballabh Pant Himalayan Environment and Development Institute—R. K. Maikhuri, Nihal Farukhi and Tarun Budhal—found that wildlife conservation standards and norms, particularly for waste management, were routinely disregarded.

A bench headed by the National Green Tribunal chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar on 1 April 2015 heard a plea filed by the non-governmental organisation Social Action for Forest and Environment (SAFE). The National Green Tribunal has sought explanations from the Government of India and the Government of Uttarakhand on the "unregulated" operation of rafting camps on the banks of Ganga between Shivpuri and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand. The state government has assured the tribunal that it would not grant permission to any new camp till the next hearing in May. [47] [48] [49] [50] [51] [52]

As the seriousness of issue "The National Green Tribunal," a bench headed by Justice U. D. Salve has rejected permission to rafting camps operating in Rishikesh and slammed the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Government of Uttarakhand for not filing their replies in the case and directed them to file their response. [53] [54]

Healthcare

AIIMS Rishikesh is one of the six healthcare institutes being established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) with the aim of correcting regional imbalances in quality tertiary level healthcare in the country and attaining self-sufficiency in graduate and postgraduate medical education and training. [55] [56]

The first AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) Centre was opened in Rishikesh on 4 June 2015 by Shripad Yasso Naik, the Minister for Yoga and Traditional Medicine, to sponsor new research in these alternative medicine systems. [57]

Transport

Rail

The Rishikesh and the Yog Nagari Rishikesh railway stations offer service to this city, partially through Indian Railways. A new railway line, connecting Rishikesh with Karnaprayag, is under construction. [58]

Road

Rishikesh is connected with the state capital, Dehradun, which is 45 km from the city. [59] Private and shared taxi services travel between Rishikesh and most major north Indian cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, and Shimla.

Air

Chit chat at bank of River Ganga at Rishikesh Chitchat at bank of River Ganga at Rishikesh photographed by Sumita Roy.jpg
Chit chat at bank of River Ganga at Rishikesh

The nearest Airports are Dehradun Airport (15 km) and New Delhi International Airport (240 km).

Effect on spiritual environment

The tourism sector has brought tourists illegally importing cannabis and alcohol. Incidents like partial nakedness and drug paraphernalia littered along beaches is producing criticism that Rishikesh is losing its spirituality. [60] [61] [62] [63]

The riverside has spiritual and religious significance because it represents the emergence of the Ganges after the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers at Devprayag in the Garhwal Himalayas. Saints and yogis have been meditating on the banks of Ganges since antiquity. [64] [65] [66] [67]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haridwar</span> City in Uttarakhand, India

Haridwar is a city and municipal corporation in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India. With a population of 228,832 in 2011, it is the second-largest city in the state and the largest in the district.

New Tehri is a city and a municipal board in Tehri Garhwal District in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the administrative headquarters of Tehri Garhwal District. This urban municipality area has 11 wards, from Vidhi Vihar to Vishwakarma Puram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dehradun</span> Winter capital of Uttarakhand, India

Dehradun, also known as Dehra Doon, is the capital and the most populous city of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous district and is governed by the Dehradun Municipal Corporation, with the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly holding its winter sessions in the city as its winter capital. Part of the Garhwal region, and housing the headquarters of its Divisional Commissioner, Dehradun is one of the "Counter Magnets" of the National Capital Region (NCR) being developed as an alternative center of growth to help ease the migration and population explosion in the Delhi metropolitan area and to establish a smart city in the Himalayas. It is the third largest city in the Himalayas after Kathmandu and Srinagar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uttarakhand</span> State in northern India

Uttarakhand, formerly known as Uttaranchal, is a state in northern India. The state is divided into two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon, with a total of 13 districts. The winter capital and largest city of the state is Dehradun, which is also a railhead. On 5 March 2020, Bhararisain, a town in the Gairsain Tehsil of the Chamoli district, was declared as the summer capital of Uttarakhand. The High Court of the state is located in Nainital, but is to be moved to Haldwani in future.

The Chota Char Dham is an important Hindu pilgrimage circuit in Uttarakhand, in the Indian Himalayas. Located in the Garhwal region of the state of Uttarakhand, the circuit consists of four sites—Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Badrinath is also one of the four destinations of the longer Char Dham from which the Chota Char Dham likely draws its name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devprayag</span> Town in Uttarakhand, India

Devprayag is a town and a nagar panchayat, near New Tehri city in Tehri Garhwal District in the state of Uttarakhand, India, and is the final one of the Panch Prayag of Alaknanda River where Alaknanda meets the Bhagirathi river and both rivers thereafter flow on as the Ganges river or Ganga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uttarkashi</span> Town in Uttarakhand, India

Uttarkashi, meaning Kashi of the north, is a town located in Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand, India. Uttarkashi town is headquarters of the district. Uttarkashi is also known as Somya Kashi. Uttarkashi is a Hindu religious place for spiritual and adventurous tourism. Uttarkashi town is also called as Shivnagri. The town has number of temples and ashrams. Uttarkashi is known for its religious people, weather, education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muni Ki Reti</span> Town in Uttarakhand, India

Muni Ki Reti is a town and a municipal council in Tehri Garhwal district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It lies close to the pilgrimage town of Rishikesh and is known for its ashrams, including the Divine Life Society of Sivananda Saraswati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudraprayag</span> City in Uttarakhand, India

Rudraprayag is a city and a municipality in Rudraprayag district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Rudraprayag is one of the Panch Prayag of Alaknanda River, the point of confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini. Kedarnath, a Hindu holy city is located 86 km from Rudraprayag. The man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag hunted and written about by Jim Corbett dwelled here.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Satopanth Glacier</span> Glacier in Uttarakhand, India

The Satopanth glacier is situated in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The river Alaknanda, one of the primary headstreams of the Ganges, has its origin in the Satopanth glacier. The glacier is one of the most popular glaciers in Uttarakhand among tourists. Mountaineers consider it somewhat challenging to scale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Highway 58 (India, old numbering)</span> Old numbering of road in India

This article is about the old number of Delhi-Meerut-Roorkee-Haridwar-Badrinath National Highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakshman Jhula</span> Footbridge across the Ganges in Uttarakhand, India

Lakshman Jhula is a suspension bridge across the river Ganges. This is a very famous and older bridge on river ganga and has been closed from 2020. Lakshman Jhula was built in the time of the East India Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parmarth Niketan</span> Hindu temple in Uttarakhand, India

Parmarth Niketan is an ashram located in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samarth Yogi Arwind</span> Indian Sanskrit scholar

Samarth Yogi Arwind is a Mystic, spiritual leader, researcher of Vedas and Ayurveda, practitioner of Ashtanga Yoga and Kundalini Yoga, and a devotee of Hindustani classical music A proponent of Maitra Yoga, Arwind is an expert of Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Vedanta. He is engaged in his sadhana at the Yogi Arwind Ashram at the foothills of Himalayas in Rishikesh. Yogi Arwind walked barefoot for many years in India & other countries. Arwind's philosophy of non-violence as a means of social change is derived from Ashtang Yoga principles. Presently, Yogi Arwind's focus is to plant 10 million Ayurvedic trees & educate people about them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ram Jhula</span> Bridge in Rishikesh

Ram Jhula is an iron suspension bridge across the river Ganges, located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north-east from the town Rishikesh in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The bridge connects the Sivananda Nagar area of Muni Ki Reti in Tehri Garhwal district to Swargashram in Pauri Garhwal district, crossing the river from west to east. Built in the year 1986, the bridge is one of the iconic landmarks of Rishikesh.

Uttarakhand is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the "Devbhumi" due to its religious significance and numerous Hindu temples and pilgrimage sites found throughout the state. As a result, religious tourism forms a major portion of the tourism in the state. Uttarakhand is known for the natural environment of the Himalayas. 2019 Tourist Arrivals Domestic – 40,000,000 per/year and Foreigner – 150,000 per year. Tourism business in Uttarakhand generated 23,000 crores during 2013–14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Char Dham Highway</span> Proposed two-lane highway in Uttarakhand, India

Char Dham National Highway, is an under construction two-lane 889 km long National Highway with a minimum width of 10 metres in the Indian state of Uttarakhand under Char Dham Pariyojana. The under construction highway will complement the under-construction Char Dham Railway by connecting the four holy places in Uttarakhand states namely Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The project includes 889 km national highways which will connect the whole of Uttarakhand state. It will connect Delhi–Dehradun Expressway on its southern end to India-China Border Roads on its northern ends.

Beatles Ashram, also known as Chaurasi Kutia, is an ashram close to the north Indian city of Rishikesh in the state of Uttarakhand. It is located on the eastern bank of the Ganges river, opposite the Muni Ki Reti area of Rishikesh, in the foothills of the Himalayas. During the 1960s and 1970s, as the International Academy of Meditation, it was the training centre for students of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who devised the Transcendental Meditation technique. The ashram gained international attention between February and April 1968 when the English rock band the Beatles studied meditation there, along with celebrities such as Donovan, Mia Farrow and Mike Love. It was the setting for the band's most productive period as songwriters, where they composed most of the songs for their self-titled double album, also known as the "White Album".

The Laksar–Dehradun line is a railway route on the Northern Railway zone of Indian Railways. This route plays an important role in rail transportation of Garhwal division of Uttarakhand state.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ghose, Aruna, ed. (2011). "Rishikesh". DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: India. DK. p. 184. ISBN   978-0-75667-026-9. ISSN   1542-1554. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2019 via Google Books.
  2. 1 2 Singh, Ranjeni A (3 April 2014). "Rishikesh: Haven for yoga and wellness enthusiasts". The Economic Times . Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  3. 1 2 Alter, Stephen (2001). Sacred Waters: A Pilgrimage Up the Ganges River to the Source of Hindu Culture. Harcourt. ISBN   978-0-15-100585-7. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  4. Bijalwan, Himanshu (7 December 2022). "Yoga School - Yoga Capital". www.blisstripdestination.com/. Bliss Trip destination. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  5. Jha, Meenketan (27 August 2018). "5 Adventure Sports You Must Try in India". Outlook Traveller. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  6. "Rishikesh's identity as yoga capital to be maintained". The Tribune . 1 March 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  7. Gusain, Raju (8 March 2018). "Rishikesh: Controversy-hit Parmarth Yoga fest ends". The Statesman . Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  8. "Yoga enthusiasts from across the globe flock to Rishikesh to be a part of this festival". The Times of India . 16 March 2019. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  9. Ramadurai, Charukesi (4 January 2018). "My Kind of Place: Rishikesh, India". The National . Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  10. Sharma, Seema (19 August 2015). "Centre to declare Haridwar, Rishikesh national heritage cities". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  11. "Rishikesh Population (2021/2022), Tehsil Village List in Dehradun, Uttarakhand". Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  12. "हृषीकेश / hṛṣīkeśa". Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  13. 1 2 "Hrishikesh: Its Historical Significance". Rishikesh City. 2007. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  14. Glossary of terms in Hinduism#R
  15. "Places of Tourist Interest in Rishikesh". Dehradun District . Archived from the original on 11 July 2006. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  16. "District Dehradun - A General Introduction". Dehradun District Institute of Education and Training. Archived from the original on 19 May 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  17. "Lakshman Jhula Suspension Bridge Rishikesh - Visit Laxman Jhula Pul Rishikesh". www.euttaranchal.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  18. 1 2 Walton, H.G. (2016) [1910]. The Gazetteer of Dehra Dun. (Reprint). Natraj Publishers. p. 261. ISBN   9788185019505.
  19. "Investigating risk and resilience in Rishikesh". Norwegian University of Science and Technology. 2015. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  20. "Uttarakhand topographic map, elevation, relief". topographic-map.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  21. Ganga, a scientific study. Krishna Murti, C. R., Gaṅgā Pariyojanā Nideśālaya., India. Environment Research Committee. New Delhi: Northern Book Centre. 1991. ISBN   81-7211-021-9. OCLC   30703175.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  22. "Ganges River | History, Location, Map, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  23. Patel, Pranav (11 December 2014). "Invigorating Rishikesh". The New Indian Express . Archived from the original on 16 August 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  24. "Climate and average monthly weather in Rishīkesh (Uttarakhand), India". World Weather & Climate Information. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  25. "Rishikesh Climate and Weather Averages, India". Weather2Travel. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  26. "Nagar Nigam of Kotdwar and Rishikesh" (PDF). Urban Development Directorate, Government of Uttarakhand. 6 April 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  27. "Rishikesh Nagar Nigam Mein Honge 40 Wards". Amar Ujala. 17 December 2017. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  28. "Harish Rawat gets Hardwar ticket". 31 March 2010. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  29. "BJP wins Rishikesh, Rudrapur mayor seats, likely to clinch Doon | Dehradun News - Times of India". The Times of India. 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  30. "नाले के ऊपर अतिक्रमण, नौ दुकानदारों का काटा चालान". Amar Ujala. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  31. "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Census of India . 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  32. Saurabh Sinha (18 August 2022). "Rishikesh pips Udaipur in priciest hotel rooms: Data | Dehradun News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  33. "Places in India that are a huge hit with international tourists". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  34. "Lifting away the weight of 3 years: Why we Israelis go to India after the army". The Times of Israel . Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  35. "Say Om in Paradise: The Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Places to Practice Yoga". Newsweek. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  36. Johanson, Mark (16 January 2019). "A river ride to Rishikesh: India's new adventure capital". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  37. Richard A Bustraan (13 February 2014). The Jesus People Movement: A Story of Spiritual Revolution Among the Hippies. Wipf and Stock. p. 28. ISBN   978-1-62032-464-6.
  38. Goldberg, Philip (2010). American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation – How Indian Spirituality Changed the West. New York: Harmony Books. pp. 7, 152. ISBN   978-0-385-52134-5. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  39. Maddox, Callie Batts (2014). "Studying at the source: Ashtanga yoga tourism and the search for authenticity in Mysore, India". Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change. 13 (4): 330–343. doi:10.1080/14766825.2014.972410. ISSN   1476-6825. S2CID   143449133.
  40. Duttagupta, Samonway (4 March 2019). "Maha Shivratri special: visit these temples to get acquainted with the lesser-known legends of Lord Shiva". Times Travel . Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  41. Pillai, Sudha (17 June 2018). "Finding bliss at Vashishta Guha". The Asian Age . Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  42. "Rishikesh: The Full Experience Beyond Yoga". 7 April 2018. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  43. Watts, Meera (7 April 2018). "Rishikesh: The Full Experience Beyond Yoga". Siddhi Yoga. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  44. Bhandari, Manoj (1 July 2017). "Rafting in Rishikesh 2022 - Rishikesh Rafting Guide, Rapids, Rafting Faqs Travel Tips". www.euttaranchal.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  45. 1 2 "Bungee Jumping in Rishikesh, India: Prices, Places, Cord, Locations – Jumpin Heights". jumpinheights.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  46. "NGT denies permission to rafting camps in Rishikesh". The Economic Times. 31 July 2015. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  47. "Rafting in Rishikesh: Green Tribunal asks Centre to respond". Business Standard . Press Trust of India. 1 April 2015. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  48. "Rafting in Rishikesh: Explanation of the center". Navbharat Times (in Hindi). 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  49. "ऋषिकेश में राफ्टिंग : राष्ट्रीय हरित प्राधिकरण ने केंद्र से माँगा जवाब मांगा" [Rafting in Rishikesh: Green Tribunal seeks answers from Center]. Samaylive.com (in Hindi). 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  50. Goswami, Urmi (3 April 2015). "NGT pulls up Centre, Uttarakhand over unregulated rafting camps on Ganga banks". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  51. "Green tribunal notice over rafting camps in Uttarakhand". Business Standard. Indo-Asian News Service. 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  52. Sharma, Seema (3 April 2015). "Despite U'khand assurance to NGT, licences being issued for camping, rafting". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  53. "National Green Tribunal denies permission to Rishikesh rafting camps". The Times of India. 31 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  54. "Is This The End of River Rafting in Rishikesh? NGT's Latest Verdict Surely Makes It Seem So". India Times. 2 August 2015. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  55. "Welcome to AIIMS Rishikesh". All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  56. "AIIMS Rishikesh to get 100-bed hospital within three months". News18 . Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  57. "एम्स ऋषिकेश में देश का पहला आयुष सेंटर खुला" [India First Ayush Center Open in Rishikesh]. Jagran.com (in Hindi). 4 June 2015. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  58. Jaiswal, Sheo S. (18 October 2016). "Work on Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line to begin in December". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 May 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  59. Singh, Kautilya (9 January 2015). "Speed up rail extension in state: Cong MP". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  60. "PICS: ये है ऋषिकेश के गोवा बीच का नज़ारा, विदेशियों की बेशर्मी से आहत हो रही आस्था" [PICS: This is the view of Rishikesh's Goa beach, the belief that the foreigners are shocked by the shamelessness of the foreigners]. Samaylive. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  61. "Where Rishikesh Meets Goa". The New Indian Express. 22 March 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  62. Jaiswal, Sheo S. (27 May 2015). "Rafting in Ganga promotes obscene activities, VHP says, wants it banned". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  63. "Adventure tours @ Rishikesh end up in rave parties". Andhra Headlines.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  64. Dutta, Nirmalya (27 May 2015). "WTF – now the VHP wants to ban river rafting in Rishikesh!". India.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  65. "VHP demands ban on Rishikesh rafting". News18 . 26 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  66. "River Rafting Promotes Obscenity: VHP Seeks ban in Rishikesh". The Quint . 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  67. "VHP demands ban on river rafting in Ganga". The Tribune. 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2015.