The city of Rishikesh is a charming hill town located at the foothills of the majestic Himalayas in the northern area of India, also known as the ‘Land of Gods’ and the ‘Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas.’ There is a group of ancient temples, both large and small. In Rishikesh, you can visit all these temples one after the other.
While the overall tourism of Uttarakhand is on the rise, temple tourism is one of the main aspects of the state, which has given a significant boost to general tourism. While most devotees regularly visit religious places, these seven mystical temples in Rishikesh are a must-visit by every traveler at least once in their lifetime.
Rishikesh is one such destination that offers a magnet for spiritual tourists and provides people with the chance to rejuvenate amidst nature. However, one must visit these ancient temples in Rishikesh, which are the core of the essence of Uttarakhand.
1. Tera Manzil Temple
Tera Manzil Temple is one of the ancient Hindu temples in Rishikesh, and it is also known as Kailash Niketan Temple. This Hindu temple was founded by Adi Shankaracharya in the 9th century AD. Thirteen Manzil Unlike other Rishikesh temples dedicated to a single deity, this temple has many gods, and you have to worship all of them simultaneously. Wonderful opportunity.
The outstanding architecture, pleasant location, and the purity that enlivens the atmosphere make it one of the most sacred temples. Also known as Trimbakeshwar Temple, one can enjoy panoramic views of the surroundings from the top of the temple. Rishikesh is just a short walk from Lakshman Jhula and other places in the city.
2. Bharat Mandir Rishikesh
This ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is one of the oldest temples in the region. An idol of Lord Vishnu is installed inside the main sanctum of the temple, which is made of a single piece of Shaligram stone. These Shaligram stones are found in the Gandaki river of Nepal, which is considered sacred by Hindus.
Jagatguru Shankaracharya himself had installed the nine-barrelled Sri Yantra in this temple. In 1398, this temple was attacked and destroyed by the Muslims. Later it was rebuilt from the remaining pieces of the temple. It is said that many ancient idols, coins, and utensils were found during the temple’s excavation. The Basant Panchami Festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in this temple.
3. Parmarth Niketan Temple
Parmarth Niketan Ashram is one of the major tourist places in Rishikesh. Swami Sukdevanand, built-in 1942, provides Vedic and traditional education to the poor and orphan children and the study Vedas. Later, Swami Chinmayanand Saraswati was chosen as the president of this ashram. The evening aarti of Ganga Ji in this ashram is famous worldwide, to see which crowds of devotees coming from the country and abroad can be seen every year.
4. Raghunath Temple
Raghunath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Rama. This temple is located at Devprayag, Tehri district of the Indian state of Uttarakhand, at the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Bhagirathi. It is located 74.2 km away from Rishikesh on the Badrinath Highway.
Raghunath Temple is one of the 108 Divyadevas dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Lord Rama and Mata Sita are worshiped in the Raghunath temple. It is considered that Adi Shankaracharya founded the temple during the 8th century with the subsequent expansion of the Garhwal kingdom.
It is believed that Lord Rama killed Ravana. Ravana was a brahmana. Hence Lord Rama did penance at this place to repent for killing a brahmin.
5. Triveni Ghat
Triveni Ghat is a major tourist destination in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand state, at the confluence of the three major rivers, Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. A fantastic view of Ganga Aarti can be seen here in the morning and evening time. In which a large crowd of devotees gathers.
Travelers visiting Rishikesh visit the temples by bathing in the holy waters of this Triveni Ghat. It is acknowledged that taking a bath in Har ki Pauri of Haridwar is as beneficial as in Triveni Ghat. Triveni Ghat is considered an important place in the mythology of Hinduism. According to Ramayana and Mahabharata, it is said that Lord Krishna visited this holy place.
6. Veerbhadra Mandir
The Virbhadra Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is located in the Virbhadra Nagar of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. It is a fierce form of Shiva. It is a 1,300-year-old temple where Veerabhadra, Lord Shiva’s form, is worshiped. Ratri Jagrans and special pujas are organized at the event of Shivratri and Sawan. Fairs are collected along with the Mahashivratri festival. According to legends, Veerabhadra is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva, who he created in anger.
7. Hanuman Mandir
Hanuman Temple is considered one of the more famous temples in Rishikesh. Tuesday is an important day in the Hanuman temple here and is usually a busy day, as many rituals take place today. The Ganga Aarti is the main attraction here.
