The place is also known as “Hrishikesh” and the story behind the name is: God appeared in the form of “Hrishikesh” when Rishi or Muni Raibhya (a character from the epic Mahabharata) undertook a rigorous penance. In Sanskrit, the meaning of the word ‘Hrishikesh’ is ‘Lord of the senses’ and it truly implies what it says. The revered tourist attraction of India, a place of utmost religious importance, the ambiance, culture, activities, markets and many more aspects of Rishikesh surely incite all five senses of a tourist.
Located in the Tehri Garhwal Region of Uttarakhand and bordered by the Shivalik Range (the lower Himalayan range) Rishikesh is called “the gateway of Garhwal Himalayas.” It is also the starting point of Hindu Chota Char Dham Yatra, a famous pilgrimage to the four abodes of different Gods: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri.
For time immemorial, Rishikesh is famed for its temple and adventure tourism. Flourished by the River Ganges, Rishikesh is home to several old and new temples, which are situated on both sides of the river. If you visit Rishikesh at any point of the year, you will always see the place is full of crowds, because the temples and the ashrams in Rishikesh are considered the spiritual hubs attracting devotees from all over the world. Another attraction, adventure tourism in Rishikesh comes with several kinds of thrilling activities like rafting, cliff jumping, trekking, camping and many more.
Another important aspect of tourism in Rishikesh is that the place is renowned as the yoga hub of the world. Since 1989, the city has been hosting the International Yoga Festival in the first week of March, which is organised by the Parmarth Niketan. Needless to say, every year thousands of tourists from different countries gather here to celebrate the festival.