The Himalayas with gushing rivers, majestic snow clad mountains, enchanting lakes and a rich plethora of flora and fauna, is rightly described as the “Abode of Gods”. Rishikesh is a celebrated spiritual centre at the foothills of Garhwal Himalayas situated amidst a calm environment, impressive water front and dense forest and hills. Virtually a town of saints, sages and scholars, it is a large religious centre located on the right side of the Ganges. There are a large number of Ashrams (Hermitages) where religious discourses are held everyday. The place is also renowned centre for Yoga teachings.

Location : Rishikesh is located in the state of Uttaranchal (area : 294,411sq. Kms.) in India about 250 Kms from Delhi. It is surrounded by Dehradun on the west and Haridwar on the South.
Geographical:
Rishikesh is situated at the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayas having an altitude of 335 meters above sea level at 29.62N and 78.39E latitude and longitude. This town is situated at the foot of the Garhwal Himalayas at the confluence of the River Ganges and the Chandrabhaga stream.

Flora and Fauna : The place is surrounded by thick forest where the Rajaji National Park is situated, thus offering a variety of flora and fauna for the enthusiasts. In addition to Elephants , Tigers, Panthers, Sloth Bear, Nilgai, Chital, Wildboar, a number of birds and a huge variety of fauna can be found here.

History : The Garhwal Himalayas are known as the abode of God. According to the folklore, Lord Shiva drank a bowl of poison here to save the world from destruction and that’s why his throat has remained blue ever since. According to another legend, Lord Ram and his brother Lord Lakshman crossed the River Ganges here while going for a war with Ravana. The two bridges here, the Lakshman Jhoola and the Ram Jhoola on the River Ganges are a testimony to this legend. Since time immemorial sages and rishis have performed hard penance here and a number of Ashrams have come up along the banks of the river.

Shop Talk : Uttaranchal is known for the excellence of its many crafts such as ivory inlay, brass and glass ware, carpets and leather wear. The hill areas around the Garhwal Himalayas produce high quality wool garments including shawls, carpets and woollen cloth, as well as metal craft of a very high standard. The market at Rishikesh is closed on Sundays.

Cultural : This area has a great religious importance for the Hindus. The Triveni Ghat at Rishikesh is a very popular place at Rishikesh where the aarti or prayer is performed every evening. There are various ashrams around Rishikesh where Yoga and Meditation classes are performed every day. The Ram Jhoola and the Lakshman Jhoola (Bridges) are also of great religious importance amongst the Hindus. In Rishikesh, it is worthwhile to visit the numerous ancient temples which are there.