Uttarakhand · North
RishikeshṚṣikeśa
Ganga town of temples and ashrams; the Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat at dusk
Photo: Rahuldewangan · Public domain
- Principal temple
- Neelkanth Mahadev TempleShiva as Neelkanth, in linga form
- Best time to visit
- September to November and February to April (visitable year-round)
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport (DED), Dehradun, ~15 km
- Nearest railway station
- Rishikesh Railway Station (RKSH); Yog Nagari Rishikesh also serves the city
- Tradition
- Śaiva · Vaiṣṇava
Overview
Rishikesh is a pilgrimage town on the Ganga in the Himalayan foothills of Dehradun district, associated with sages and yogis and often called the 'Yoga Capital of the World'. Its riverbanks are lined with temples and ashrams, and the Ganga Aarti is performed at dusk at Triveni Ghat. It is a vegetarian-only, alcohol-free town and the usual starting point for the Char Dham pilgrimage.
See sources [1–3]- Shiva as Neelkanth, in linga form
- Shiva
- Vishnu
Main temples
Photo: Rahuldewangan · Public domain
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
Shiva as Neelkanth, in linga form
Tradition holds this is where Shiva drank the halahala poison from the churning of the ocean, turning his throat blue; it lies about 32 km from Rishikesh.
Trayambakeshwar Temple
Shiva
A 13-storey temple dedicated to Shiva, a landmark of the town.
Bharat Mandir
Vishnu
An ancient temple attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, believed to house a stone manifestation of Vishnu.
Key festivals
- Feb – Mar
Maha Shivaratri at Neelkanth Mahadev
February–March
- Mar
International Yoga Festival
First week of March (annually since 1999)
- Jul – Aug
Shravana Shivratri (Kanwar pilgrimage to Neelkanth)
Śrāvaṇa (July–August)
Festival dates follow the Hindu calendar and move from year to year — confirm them with the temple before you travel.
Plan your visit
When to visit
Best time to visit
September to November and February to April (visitable year-round)
Festival days draw the largest crowds. Check the festival calendar above and the temple's own timings before you travel.
How to reach
- By air
- Jolly Grant Airport (DED), Dehradun, ~15 km
- By rail
- Rishikesh Railway Station (RKSH); Yog Nagari Rishikesh also serves the city
Related
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Sources
- Rishikesh - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- Rishikesh - Incredible Indiaincredibleindia.gov.in
- Neelkanth Mahadev Temple - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
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