Bucket List Of Things To Do When You Are In Rishikesh

By Author: Pragati Chauhan
Total Articles: 4
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Adventure activities in Rishikesh -:

Rishikesh which is also known as ''The Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas'' is situated on the foothills of the Himalayas. Rishikesh is a city and a municipal board in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. It is located in northern part of India which is outlined by three main districts namely Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal and Haridwar. A large number of tourists from all over the globe come to visit this place for spirituality, adventure, recreation, yoga and meditation. It is one of the most pious cities of India which is visited by millions of Hindu devotees, who come here to enrapture in holiness and to experience spiritual bliss. Rishikesh is a home to a number of saints, hermits and sages who can be seen meditating along the banks of holy river Ganges.

One of the lesser known fact about Rishikesh is apart from being a holy place and known as Yoga Capital of India; it also offers a wide variety of adventure activities. The roaring streams of river Ganges offers a rapturous delight to the adventure enthusiasts who do white river rafting on the turbulent rapids of river Ganges. ...
... There are many things one can experience in Rishikesh like visiting sacred shrines, yoga & meditation, excursion, camping, trekking, white river rafting, canoeing, rock climbing, rappelling, cliff jumping, bungee jumping, flying fox, riding on giant swing and going on jungle safari at Rajaji National Park. Travelers can also taste delectable local cuisines belonging to different cultures at Rishikesh. One can also experience night life at the exotic clubs and lounges of Rishikesh. Enjoy shopping spree at the local markets which showcase skillfully made handicraft items and artifacts belonging to various cultures of Uttarakhand.

Fun, frolic, adventure, spirituality and madness at Rishikesh

1) Visit Sacred Shrines, ashrams and holy places in Rishikesh - Rishikesh is one of the holiest places of India which is located in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. The pious city of Rishikesh is famous for its sacred shrines, ashrams and religious places that are visited by a number of devotees from across the world. Immerse in the divine aura of the auspicious Ganga Arti held at Triveni Ghat in the evening. You will be allured by the view of glittering divas bedecked with flowers, floating carelessly on the tranquil river Ganges. Feel the essence of spirituality along the banks of river Ganges which is illuminated by thousands of divas at night.

A tale of Shiva : Visit Neelkanth Mahadev Temple which is situated on the summit of the mountains across river Ganga. 'Neel' refers to blue and 'kanth' refers to throat in English, its a name given to lord Shiva. According to Hindu mythological tale this is the place where lord Shiva drank the venom out of the 'Sagar Manthan' (churning of the ocean) in order to save humanity. Shiva swallowed the venom compassionately which he restrained to reach his stomach thus, making his throat blue.

Travelers can visit Tehra Manzil Temple which can be easily visible from Haridwar-Badrinath highway. Admire a breaking view of dusk and dawn from Kunjapuri Temple which is located at a favorable distance of 15 km from Rishikesh. Other must visit temples and ashrams include Bharat Mata Mandir, Lakshman Temple, Parmarth Niketan and Swargashram.

2) Excursion, meditation and rejuvenation at Rishikesh - If you are a wanderer you would love to go on an excursion to Rishikesh and explore various places. One of the widely visited places includes Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula which are two mammoth bridges serving as a prominent landmarks to Rishikesh. Music lovers must visit The Beatles Ashram located at Swarg Ashram area which was the home of late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It was the place where Beatles used to learn meditation from their guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

You can feel contented while meditating at Vashishta Gufa which is located on the banks of river Ganges. The cave is located at about 16 km away from Rishikesh there is a small Shivlinga inside the cave. Those who want to have a yoga retreat and rejuvenate their senses can visit famous yoga centres such as Himalayan Yoga Gurukul, Rishikesh Yoga Peeth, Tatva Yoga Shala Rishikesh, Ved Niketan Ashram, Institution for Higher Meditative Consciousness and Braham Yoga Rishikesh. One can also experience the wellness of Ayurveda and natural therapy at the Ayurveda centres of Rishikesh.

3) Camping on the silvery sand beaches of Shivpuri - Rishikesh offers the best camping experience on the silvery sand beach of Shivpuri. Shivpuri is a tiny hamlet located about 16 km from Rishikesh. The aura of the mountains surrounding the camps is breath taking.There are many beach camps at Shivpuri which offers accommodation at comfortable riverside camps. Food and beverages are served at the camps itself. The guests can enjoy playing a game of volleyball on the beach or soak up in river Ganges. Bask on the silver grains of sand, enjoy sightseeing, bird watching and photography at the beach camps. Have a bonfire evening under the cluster of stars, accompanied by soft music and crispy barbecue.

Recommendation : The best time to visit Shivpuri is between February to March and October to December.

4) Adventurous Trekking at Rishikesh - The beauteous town of Rishikesh is enveloped by mountain ridges which makes it a perfect location to go for an adventurous trekking down the Himalayan terrains. The natural surroundings of Rishikesh offers some of the best trekking routes. One can go on exciting trekking along Kauri Pass, Roopkund Trek, Devi National Park Trek, Kalindi Khal Trek and Kankul Khal Trek. All of the aforementioned treks are high altitude treks which takes about 9 to 10 days to complete.

Recommendation : One should be physically as well as mentally fit to carry forward the journey as sometimes the weather becomes harsh. The best time to trek on these passes is in summer season as the weather is favorable for trekking. The travelers must carry safety gears with them like torch, mosquito repellent, a bag pack, a pair of sports shoes, trek pants, cap, t-shirts, biscuits, water bottle and a sleeping bag. The profound beauty of the multi-colored butterfly in the bushes and melody of the chirpy birds will enhance your trekking experience.

5) White River Rafting at Kaudiyala Village - The buoyant waves of river Ganges offers a rapturous delight to the adventure enthusiasts. One can have a jaw dropping river rafting experience at Kaudiyala Village in Rishikesh. The tiny hamlet is surrounded by lush green forests of pine and oak trees. It is situated at a distance of 1 hour 19 minutes from Rishikesh. Kaudiyala is a 70 m stretch in the holy river Ganga which is 380 m above sea level. Rafting on the roaring rapids of river Ganges is a heart throbbing experience. The surreal white waves of the river body offers rafting on Grade III and Grade IV rapids for amateur and professional rafters.

Recommendation : The best time to enjoy rafting at Kudiyala is between March to June and September to November. Apart from river rafting the travelers can also enjoy canoeing, kayaking, body surfing and cliff jumping. One should use proper safety measures while performing such activities such as helmets, body suit and follow the instructions of the guide.

6) Rock Climbing and Rappelling at Rishikesh - The steep slopes of Rishikesh offers rock climbing and rappelling. Rappelling refers to descending down a hill while using safety equipment's which should be done under the supervision of a trainer. The Shivalik Himalayas features some of the most thrilling cliffs, a picturesque scenery in itself. You can feel adrenaline rushing down your veins as you conquer the cliffs. Before the adventure activity begins one must take an introductory session with the expert climbers and instructors. Taking advice from the experts may help you a lot while climbing therefore, opinions must be embraced with courtesy.

Recommendation : The climbers must be geared up with essential equipment's such as harness, shoes, belay device and carabiner, helmet, chalk bag and chalk. While rappelling the body is totally dependent on the harness so use a harness that fits well and wear comfortable shoes. The safety equipment's for rappelling includes athletic tapes, climbing gear, harness, helmets, ropes and shoes. It is very important to test the rappel anchor before you set it. One end of the rope should be fixed to the rappel. Another important thing to remember here is that the rope does not pass over sharp edges while the other end of the rope reaches the ground. The rappel device should be attached to both the rope and the harness. Take advice from the instructors on how to use the equipment and enjoy safe rappelling down the cliff.

7) Bungee Jumping at Rishikesh - The adventure lovers can feel euphoria at India's highest bungee jump named Jumpin Heights at Rishikesh. The bungee jumping station is located at Mohanchatti, 19 km from Lakshman Jhula on the Pauri (Neelkanth Mandir) side. Mr. David Allardice, who first introduced bungee jumping in New Zealand has designed the platform here in Rishikesh. It is one of the extreme adventure sports which gives you a nerve breaking experience. Bungee jumping is done from the height of 83 meters (273 feet)which is equivalent to jumping from a building approximately 22 stores high. Apart from bungee jumping one can enjoy gliding on Flying Fox and Giant Swing which is done on the same platform

8) Jungle Safari at Rajaji National Park - One of the most exciting and adventurous place to visit in Rishikesh is Rajaji National Park. It is located 224 km away from Delhi , 24 km from Haridwar via Chila At Rajaji you can feel the thrills and chills of the wild along with merry making and bonfire. To camp in the wilderness of Rajaji National Park is enthralling. The heart starts beating faster as you go an adventurous jungle safari into the wild. One can hear the roars, trumpet and call of the wild animals from the jungle on entering the national park.

The national park sprawls over 820.20 sq. km along the sides of river Ganges in three districts of Uttarakhand. More than 500 elephants, 12 tigers, 250 panthers and animals such as spotted deer, sambhar, wild boar and barking deer. There are two kinds of Goral deers the Himalayan black and sloth. There are over 400 hundred species of wildlife and colorful birds that makes it a bird watching destination. The national park has several gates therefore, it is can be easily accessible from Dehradun, Kotdwar, Haridwar and Rishikesh. The travelers can await their stay at the jungle hotels of Rajaji National Park and have a crazy bonfire night in the wilderness of Rajaji.