Rishikesh...Bliss On The Holy Banks Of Ganga.....

                         Rishikesh - Gateway to the Himalayas....

Rishikesh represents the Gateway to the Himalayas in the Tehri-Garhwal region of Uttar Pradesh. It abounds in natural splendour. The spectacle of the Ganga rushing through the Himalayan foothills is an awesome sight. Several temples dot the banks of the Ganga at Rishikesh.

Rishikesh is located at a height of about 1360 feet above sea level. It is believed that several yogis and sages lived and practised penance here. Rishikesh represents the site where Lord Vishnu vanquished the demon Madhu. हृषीकेश is a name of Lord Vishnu that means 'lord of the senses'. Rishikesh is a holy city for Hindus located in the foothills of the Himalaya in northern India. The place got its name after Lord Vishnu who appeared to 'Raibhya Rishi', as a result of his tapasya (austerities), as Lord Hrishikesh . In Skanda Purana, this area is known as 'Kubjamrak' as Lord Vishnu appeared, under a mango tree

Rishikesh derived from the word Hrishikesh, is another name of Lord Vishnu, who is said to have destroyed the demon Madhu here. Legend also has it that Lord Rama, on the advice of the sage Vasishtha, sought penance here after having killed Ravana. Thus in Sanskrit, Rishikesh means 'he who has conquered his senses'.

Aarti On The Banks Of Ganga

Historically, Hrishikesh, has been a part of the legendary 'Kedarkhand' (the present day Garhwal), the abode of Shiva. Legends state that Lord Rama did penance here for killing Ravana, the demon king of Lanka; and Lakshmana, his younger brother, crossed the river Ganga, at a point, where the present 'Lakshman Jhula' bridge stands today, using a jute rope bridge. The 'Kedar Khand' of Skanda Purana, also mentions the existence of Indrakund at this very point.

Statue Of Lord Shiva

The sacred river Ganga flows through Rishikesh. In fact, it is here that the river leaves the Shivalik mountains 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 Rishikesh. The city attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists each year, from within India, as well as from other countries.


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Laxman Jhoola

Tryambakeshwar Temple

Rishikesh, sometimes nicknamed "the world capital of Yoga", has numerous yoga centres that also attract tourists. It is believed that meditation in Rishikesh brings one closer to attainment of moksha, as does a dip in the holy river that flows through it. It is also becoming a popular spot for white water rafting enthusiasts, both from India and abroad, as it offers medium to rough rapids in the course of river Ganges.

Ganga sen from Laxman Jhoola

The Other Side Of Laxman Jhoola

Rishikesh became famous when Beatles visited now defunct Mahesh Yogi Ashram.They composed some of their songs on the bank of the river.

Lachman Jhoola....The main attraction of Rishikesh. It is a suspended bridge, built in 1939. Surajmal Nagarmal, the famous merchants of Calcutta paid the cost of the bridge.Just across the bridge, on the other side two temples will certainly attract attentions by their sheer heights! One is 13 storied temple and the other one is 12 storied temple… Visit them if you have ample time. Deities are placed all over the temples from ground 0 to upwards…

The Lachman Jhoola and 13+12 storied temples on the other bank

The name Rishikesh is loosely applied to an association of five distinct sections encompassing not only the town but also hamlets and settlements on both sides of the river Ganges.North of Rishikesh; the temple section of Lakshman Jhula, a little further north; and the assorted Ashrams around Swarg Ashram on the east bank. One can reach the famous Neelakanta Maha Deva Temple from here. The Ganga Arati performed at dusk at the Triveni Ghat is popular with visitors.

On The Way To Neelkanth Mahadev Temple..

The temple is very old and Shrabanimela, every year in mid July , occurs here.

Shri Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

About a Km from entrance of Ram Jhoola( Also known as Shivananda Jhoola) is Geeta Bhavan . The epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata are sculpted on its wall. It is run by famous Geeta Press of Gorakhpur and was established in 1950. Ram Jhoola is longer and wider than its younger brother. It is too a hanging bridge.You can feed the fishes in the river from here.

The Ram Jhoola Or The Shivanand Jhoola

On Triveni Ghat In the evening The Sandhya Aaarti just like Haridwar is performed here too. But it is not as gorgeous as Haridwar.But the scenic beauty of this place gave it another dimension.

Sandhya Aarti On Triveni Ghat

Rishikunda and Raghunathji Mandir are adjacent to it.About ½ km away is Bharat Mandir built by Adiguru Shankarcharya. The main deity is Lord Vishnu, carved out one piece Shaligram.It was destroyed by Taimur in 1398 and it was rebuilt afterwards.One thing caught my mind, in Rishikesh all the four brothers are worshipped in different temples. Raghunathji and Bharat mandir in Triveni Ghat area, Laxman mandir near Lachman Jhoola and Shatrughna mandir near Muni ki reti area.

Rishi Kunda and Raghunathji Temple -Triveni Ghat

The Bharat Mandir

The Shiva who wore shoes! It has been mentioned in the small museum adjacent to the temple .

The Ferry Ghat From Ram Jhoola

From tourist point of views Rishikesh can be divided into 3 parts.
1. Laxman Jhoola and adjoining mandirs.
2. Ram Jhoola and adjoining ashrams and Yoga study centers

3. Triveni Ghat and adjoining mandirs.

Sun, The Boat and The River

Giant Statue Of Lord Shiva

Famous Chotiwala Restaurant

Giant Statue Of Lord Shiva

|| ॐ नमः शिवाय ||

Landscape Of Rishikesh

Haridwar....The Gateway To The Four Pilgrimages.....

Haridwar....The Abode Of Lord Shiva....

Haridwar,a holy place of the Saints and Sagas,where the Holy Ganges is revered,is located n the foothills of the Himalayas, represents the point where the Ganga reaches the plains. Haridwar is an ancient pilgrimage site, held in reverence for centuries. The Chinese pilgrim Hyuen Tsang who visited India in the first millennium CE, describes Haridwar as Mayura, on the eastern banks of the Ganges. Several temples and ashrams dot this town and a visit to Haridwar is like stepping into a totally different world.

A sage in Haridwar..

Legend has it that Bhagiratha, brought the Ganges into the earth, and into this point where his ancestors were burnt to ashes by the curse of the sage Kapila. Kapilastaan, a spot in Haridwar is pointed to as Kapila's hermitage. Haridwar was once known as Gangadwara. Haridwar (and Rishikesh) represents the gateway to the Himalayan pilgrimage shrines of Gangotri,Yamunotri,Badrina

th ,Kedarnath. The pilgrimage to the Himalayan shrines begins only when the sun reaches the zodiac sign of Aries. Haridwar is also the site of celebration of the Kumbha Mela, once in twelve years, when Jupiter transits to the zodiac sign of Aquarius.

A Flower Market On Ram Ghat..In the evening

The five sacred bathing spots in Haridwar are Gangadwara, Kankhal, Nila Parvata, Bilwa Theertha and Kusavarta. The main ghat at Haridwar is known as Hari-ki-Pairi (known for a footprint of Vishnu on a stone in a wall). Nearby is the Gangadwara temple, the most important of the several temples that dot this town. The Ganga Aarti which is celebrated at 7 pm each night, is a spectacular sight, when the aarti ceremony is performed at all temples in Haridwar at the same instant

The Evening Aarti Of Ganga @ Haridwar...

Crowd of devotees for the Aarti.

Hundreds throng to the ghats at Hari-ki-Pairi to participate in this festival. Offerings of lamps and flowers are made to the river immediately following this ceremony and it is a moving sight to watch hundreds of miniature lamps float along the river.

The Lights are being flown in Ganga

Near Haridwar are the towns of Mayapuri and Kankhal. Kankhal houses the Daksheswara temple, said to be the site of Daksha's yagna, which was destroyed by Shiva.

One of many temples in Haridwar.

Dakhsa Mahadev Mandir – 4 Km from Haridwar in Kankhal ..You all know about the death of Sati and how Bhole Baba demolished Dakhsa Yagna…A Shivji Mandir is at that place and most revered place in Haridwar.

Parad Shiv mandir

Parad Shiv Ling @ daksheshwara Temple

Harihar Ashram – 3 km from Haridwar, Acharya Gaddhi of Shri Panchdasnam Juna


akhara, now Swami Avdheshanand Giri ji heads it. The main attraction of this is 150 kg Shivling. The other attraction to me is the huge Rudrakhsa Tree right at the entrance and it is being worshiped.

Harihar Ashram

Rudraksha tree @ Harihar Ashram

Beauty In The Valley

Play Ground Of Gods And Godesses

Trespassing their celestial abode was avoided although shepherds did take the liberty to graze their cattle here.

Legends associate this valley with the area from where Hanumanji of Ramayana collected. 'Sanjeevani' herbs to revive

Lakshmana, the younger brother of Rama. Hanuman had to visit far-flung areas in his search for the life-saving herbs, some named after him."

The Valley was introduced to the world as the Valley of Flowers by Frank S, Smith - mountaineer, explorer, botanist who camped here for several weeks in the monsoon of 1937 and did valuable exploratory work. He authored a book called "The Valley of Flowers" which unveiled the beauty and floral splendours of the valley and thus threw open the doors of this verdant jewel to nature-enthusiasts all over the world.

In 1939, Miss Margarate Legge, a botanist deputed by the botanical gardens of Edinburgh arrived at the valley for further studies. While she was traversing some rocky slopes to collect flowers, she slipped off and was lost for ever in the garden of the gods. Her sister later visited the valley and erected a memorial on the spot where she was buried by the locals. The

thoughtful memorial is still there and the lines inscribed on the marble slab read:

"I will lift mine eyes
unto the Hills
from whence cometh my strength"

Many streams flowing from glacial deposits in and around the Valley irrigate it and merge finally into the Pushpawati river.While exploring the Valley, the smaller streams can be easily crossed by wading across but the larger ones need to be crossed on log bridges. In case those have not been put up in time, thick glacial bridges across the streams also serve the purpose.

There are no side tracks for viewing colonies of flowers away from the main track so you can either try to wade Through

knee-deep flowers and foliage, crushing some on the way or stay on the single track running through the length of the valley without seeing the best.

You may however stand on a raised vantage point to get a better view of flowers all around. Within the main Valley; there are many smaller valleys carved out by streams of melting glaciers. On the banks of these Valleys, you can encounter the most exciting pattern of flowers. One such Valley exists along the Donagair Garh, the last of many streams. On its banks flower some of the most magnificent plants. Every moist place holds its quota of glorious flowers which grace the still air with their subtle fragrance

.

The Valley of Flowers is flanked on either side by majestic peaks, many capped with snow. The Pushpawati river, emerging from

the glacial deposits around Rataban and Nilgiri ranges, cuts through the Valley and divides it into two sectors.The major

portion of the Valley is on its right bank and is a paradise fortrekkers

The Valley of Flowers is an alpine valley, and has been formed by the retreating glaciers whose periodic advances and

retreat pulverised hard rocks, resulting in a smooth U-shaped valley which was later colonised by numerous plants adopting

themselves to the harsh climatic conditions prevailing there.The Valley remains snow covered from November to May but when the ice envelope thaws on June it is a signal for profusion of colours hidden in petals of alpine during July and August. Some important flowering plants having tremendous medicinal values are: Anemone, Geranium, Marsh, Marigold, Primula, Potentilla, Geum, Aster. Lilium, Himalayanblue poppy, Aconite, Delphinium, Ranunculus, Corydalis, Inula, Saussurea abvallata, Campanula. Pedicularis, Trysimum, Morina, Impetiens, Bistorta. Ligularia. Anaphalis Saxifraga, Lobelia, Thermophis, Trolises. Aquilogia, Codonopsis. Dactylorhiza, Cypripedium. Straw berries and Rhododendron etc.

Apart from the flowering plants, wild animals like Himalayan birds, phigents, butterflies, Tendula, Musk deer, Bharal Mountain

goats), Himalayan bear, tail less rat etc. are enchancing the beauty too. The Valley of Flowers is an irresitible treat for

naturalists, ecologists. environmentalists, zoologists, ornithologists, trekkers. tourists and pilgrims.

The trek continues along Pushpawati. A couple of kilometres ahead, the river is crossed overto its right bank on another

bridge and this trail goes upto the Valley of Flowers. Snow bridges can be seen spanning the river but their strength should

be properly judged if they are to be used to cross the river

The Valley becomes accessible from late April when the snow starts melting and flowing down the buttrssnes and gullies. The

spring avalanches pouring down the slopes provide appropriate moisture for flowers. The moist turf begins to pulsate with

life and from the dead herbage of the previous summer, innumerable shoots of countless plants rise expectantly as though in anticipation of the warm life-giving breath of the approaching monsoon.

Primulas cover up shelves and terraces in colour of the most heavenly French blue. Their soft petals covered with dew, like

galaxies of pearls, emanate sweetest of scents. In the lush meadows drifts of snow-white Anemones drench the ground.

Anaphalles and Potentillas start establishing their colonies, With the arrival of rains in June, Balsam, Geranium,

Pedicularis and many other species, mostly in pink and red set the dominating colour pattern of the Valley without subduing

other seasonal shades of yellow, purple and white

Although the main land of the Valley is about 4 kms. from Ghanghria, flowers and foliage in exotic varieties can be spotted

throughout the route. Immediately after crossing the Laxman Ganga, colonies of blue Hackelia uncinata, commonly known as

'forget me not' can be seen in the midst of shrubs and foliage along the roadride. Primulas, Morinas, wild roses and many

other species are quite abundant.

The pinkish glow of the Valley can be attributed to the large colonies of Androsace. Marsh orchid. Geranium. Pediculsris and

the carpetting Thymus. all in near pink. Splashes of golden lily and creamy bell-shaped Codonopsis are also seen.The pink

Pedicularis gives way to its yellow cousin-the mainstay of the August bloom. Yellow flowers bedeck the Valley as July

proceeds - Pedicularis, Grandiflora. Ligularia, Saxifraga and Potentillas. The Potentillas are the first to appear and last

to disappear in the Valley.