Rishikesh
- Also called:
- Hrishikesh
What is Rishikesh known for?
How did Rishikesh get its name?
What historical events are associated with Rishikesh?
What environmental issues does Rishikesh face?
What activities attract tourists to Rishikesh?
Rishikesh, city in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand state, in northern India. Located on the right bank of the Ganga (Ganges) River, it is a holy city and pilgrimage site for Hindus. It attracts practitioners of yoga and many visitors seeking spiritual solace. Pop. (2011) 70,499.
Geography and key locations
Rishikesh is located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state, at an elevation of about 1,220 feet (372 meters). It is surrounded by the sub-Himalayan Siwalik range, where the Ganges emerges from the mountains.
Rishikesh serves as a gateway to the Himalayas and is the starting point for the Char Dham (“four religious destinations”) circuit in Uttarakhand, in which pilgrims visit the sacred sites of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath.
The Triveni Ghat is Rishikesh’s primary bathing ghat (steps leading to a body of water), where pilgrims can submerge themselves in the Ganges. The site is also where the Ganges is worshiped twice daily in the ceremony Ganga Aarti (“Worship the Ganges using light”). Lakshman Jhula (“swing”) is a bridge across the Ganges believed to have been built of jute rope by Lakshmana, brother of the deity Lord Rama. The present-day structure, an iron suspension bridge built in 1929, was closed in 2022 after being declared unsafe. Another bridge, the Ram Jhula, is a popular spot, as are several temples and ashrams (places of spiritual retreat) along the riverbank.
How Rishikesh got its name
Rishikesh got its name from the Sanskrit words hrishik (“senses” or “organ of the senses”) and ish (“master” or “lord”). Hrishikesh or Rishikesh thus means “lord of the senses.” The ancient sage Raibhya is believed to have meditated under a mango tree on the banks of the Ganges and, after severe penance, was granted a visitation by the deity Vishnu. Raibhya, who asked that he be allowed to live in the place of meditation forever, was proclaimed a “master of all senses” by Vishnu in recognition of his penance. The name has also been interpreted as a combination of the Sanskrit words rishi (“sage”) and kesh (“hair”), a reference to the long, matted locks of the sage during his meditation.
History
The ancient Hindu scripture Skanda Purana refers to a region called Kedarkhand, which roughly corresponds to the present-day Garhwal area of Uttarakhand. Rishikesh was part of the Garhwal kingdom during the Mughal period and later came under Gorkha and, finally, British occupation.
In 1936 the Hindu teacher and yoga guru Swami Sivananda established an ashram as well as the organization Divine Life Society near Rishikesh. The city was introduced to the world in the 1960s, when the Beatles came to Rishikesh to study Transcendental Meditation at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
Tourism and environmental impact
The association with the Beatles and the establishment of the Sivananda ashram led to a surge in tourism in Rishikesh. It is now home to many yoga schools and hosts an annual yoga festival. It is also a destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Activities such as river rafting, camping, bungee jumping, and trekking are popular. The influx of visitors, however, has led to environmental issues such as waste disposal. The Ganges has been found to be highly polluted at Rishikesh, and littering is a concern. Unregulated tourism also is believed to have contributed to an increase in flash floods. In 2013 a famous murti of the deity Shiva in Rishikesh was destroyed in a flood that devastated large parts of Uttarakhand. As of 2025 camping along the river has been greatly restricted by India’s National Green Tribunal.