Rishikesh – The Essence Of Spirituality

A Land Beyond the Ordinary

Close to Haridwar, a place that looks like the last point of earth for normal human being beyond which entry is allowed only for those who possess special power and lifestyle like saints or yogis to venture into, a place which may feel like no space is relevant or existing other than banks of River Ganga, a place where the ancient bridges made during Treta yuga still being its very own identity, a place that resounds like the essence of Indian spirituality — it is Rishikesh, located in the State of Uttarakhand within Dehradun District, around 240 kms from Delhi.

Where the Ganga Meets the Plains

Rishikesh is another religiously significant and well-known tourist destination, situated on the banks of the River Ganga, surrounded by the Himalayas on one side. The River Ganga is special to India, and the place of its entry into the human population is considered more auspicious. This is the spot where the river falls from the mountains onto the plains of India, after flowing for approximately 253 kilometers from its origin at Gaumukh.

Myth, Faith, and the Legendary Bridges

No shortage of divinity in a place like Rishikesh, especially when stories make it even more interesting. As per myth, Rishikesh is where Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana came to do penance for killing the demon Ravana in Lanka. They crossed the river Ganga using a jute rope bridge, where a hanging suspension bridge now stands — known as Lakshman Jhula. A similar bridge named Ram Jhula also exists nearby.

Adventure Alongside Divinity

Adventure sports like rafting, backpacking, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and rappelling are added attractions for tourists. Many youngsters visit only for these, making the place always buzzing with activity. Rafting is especially famous here as the flow and waves of the Ganga are suitable for it. Rishikesh is also known as the World Capital of Yoga, maybe due to the presence of Yoga Guru Ramdev in the city. It is a declared vegetarian city with alcohol banned.

A Refreshing Drive from Haridwar

The 25 km drive from Haridwar in the early morning through open fields on both sides was really refreshing. As we reached Rishikesh, being a Sunday and despite being early, the roads and parking areas already looked busy, especially with youngsters whose main purpose was rafting. We decided to complete the customary visit to major attractions first before going rafting.

The Rare Shatrughna Temple

Most of the temples and main locations in this tiny holy place were on the other side of the river Ganga, except one, which is very rare — in fact, only two such temples exist in India. It was the Lord Shatrughna Temple, dedicated to the younger brother of Lord Rama.

This one is situated close to Ram Jhula, a short distance from the river. The only other temple with the same deity as the main idol is in Kerala’s Thrissur District. We made a quick visit here first before crossing to the other side of the river.

Crossing the Ganga – Bridge or Boat

There were two options to cross the river Ganga — either by walking across the famous hanging bridge or taking a boat ride in the cool early morning breeze, where the sun was yet to spread its power.

We decided on the boat ride to experience the journey through the holy river. Boating through the high water level was quite interesting, while thinking about how important this river is for India’s divine map. The early morning ride was really pleasant too.

Temples and the Story of Nilkanth Mahadev

Across the river, the narrow pathways leading to the temples were already busy since many people had come walking across the bridge. There were several temples close to each other, and the famous one was the Nilkanth Mahadev Temple, belonging to Lord Shiva. The name itself carries another story for those who know how Lord Shiva got that name.

Rudraksha, Crystals, and Local Charm

We made our customary visits to a few nearby temples, and on the return, many small shops and stalls lined the way for those interested in locally made antiques and artifacts. We stepped into one shop that claimed to be government-certified, selling Rudraksha and gemstones. Since ancient times, Rudraksha has been considered a holy bead symbolizing the eyes of Lord Shiva. They are classified according to the number of faces, ranging from one to twenty-one. The single-faced one is rare and not allowed for sale. This shop had a wide variety, and the five-faced Rudraksha was the most common and preferred by people.

In front of one temple we had visited earlier, there stood a big Rudraksha tree with a few beads visible — that itself felt divine. The shop also had chains made of crystal beads formed from rock ice, rare and sparkling. They even showed us a crystal that emitted light rays in complete darkness, kept in a special room without any external light.

The Grand Geeta Bhawan

We had tea and snacks from a roadside local tea shop before moving to the rest of the places along the riverbank. Another notable place here is Geeta Bhawan — a huge complex with a Lakshmi Narayana temple, a sacred banyan tree, a museum displaying the Puranas and Vedas, and a free accommodation facility with around 1000 rooms for visiting devotees. The walls are adorned with scenes from the Bhagavad Gita and the life of Lord Krishna — quite an experience for visitors.

Since other places in Rishikesh were slightly far, we decided to go for rafting first and return later to watch the evening Aarti.

The Magical Evening Ganga Aarti

Evening Aarti is conducted at Triveni Ghat, in front of Geeta Bhawan which we visited in the morning. Despite reaching early, we couldn’t find a perfect spot as many people had already gathered — locals, volunteers, and sadhus — all waiting patiently.

The ritual lasted around 45 minutes, with priests chanting Vedic mantras and hundreds of people sitting around, clapping and reciting in chorus. Even if it was a bit uncomfortable to sit, the atmosphere made us forget it. The loud prayers, glowing lamps, and priests standing at the river’s edge made the whole scene so powerful and divine.

This daily ritual is known as Ganga Aarti, a form of worshipping the river as Goddess Ganga. Similar Aartis are performed in Varanasi and Haridwar, where the sacred river flows beside the temples. As the prayer ended, people gently lowered oil lamps placed in leaf bowls decorated with flowers into the river, letting them float along with the current.

A River of Light

Having seen many types of lamp prayers in Kerala, I still found this one truly unique. Watching hundreds of lamps floating in the river amid the chanting was a divine sight. It felt as if the calm river had transformed into a heavenly scene blessed by people from every corner of India.

A Slow Walk Across the Jhula

After the Aarti, everyone hurried to leave. A boat ride across the river could take us back to the road near the ghat, helping us avoid a long walk. But the thought of crossing the famous suspension bridge was too tempting.

Though a little far, we decided to walk back. It was crowded, everyone moving slowly, enjoying the view — the river Ganga below with floating lamps, ferries moving across, and the mighty Himalayas and temples standing proud on either side.

Who would want to miss a photograph in such a setting? Even though the lighting wasn’t perfect, the reflections of streetlights and the view from a structure hanging over the sacred river made it unforgettable.

A Promise to Return

Winding up a trip often brings a dull feeling, and it was the same here, too. Many attractions like the Beatles Ashram, waterfalls, and other spots remained unexplored, making it feel slightly incomplete. But the feeling of having visited one of the most sacred places in India overpowered that disappointment. I promised myself to return — this time with more days to truly experience everything Rishikesh has to offer.

Image credit for featured image: Evening Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat, Rishikesh — a divine moment by the River Ganga where devotion meets serenity.
(Photo by Biswarup Ganguli, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0).