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Rishikesh is a city
and a municipal board in Dehradun district in the Indian state of
Uttarakhand. Rishikesh (from Hrishikesh, another name for Lord
Vishnu) is a holy city for Hindus located in the foothills of the Himalaya
in northern India. It is also known as the gateway to Himalayas and is
located about 25 kilometers away from another holy city, Haridwar, and is
considered an access point for the cities that form the Char Dham -
Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. Rishikesh also translates
to mean - The land of the Rishis.
The sacred river Ganga
(anglicized to Ganges) flows through Rishikesh. In fact, it is here that
the river leaves the Shivalik mountains Himalayas, and flows out into the
plains of northern India. Several temples, ancient as well as new, can be
found along the banks of the river in Hrishikesh. The city attracts
thousands of pilgrims and tourists each year, from within India, as well
as from other countries. Rishikesh, sometimes nicknamed "the
world-capital of Yoga", has several yoga centres that also attract
tourists, including the Iyengar Yoga Center called Patanjala Yoga Center.
It is believed that meditation in Hrishikesh brings one closer to
attainment of salvation, or moksha, as does a dip in the holy river that
flows through it. It is also becoming a hot spot for white water rafting
enthusiasts, both from India and abroad, as it offers medium to rough
rapids in the course of river Ganges.
The name Hrishikesh is
loosely applied to an association of five distinct sections encompassing
not only the town but also hamlets and settlements on both sides of the
river Ganges. These include Hrishikesh itself, the commercial and
communication hub; the sprawling suburban Muni-ki-Reti or the "sands
of the sages"; Shivananda Nagar the home of Sivananda Ashram and the
Divine Life Society founded by Swami Sivananda, north of Hrishikesh; the
temple section of Lakshman Jhula, a little further north; and the assorted
Ashrams around Swarg Ashram on the east bank. One can reach the famous
Neelakanta Maha Deva Temple from here. The Ganga Arati performed at dusk
at the Triveni Ghat and in is a spectacular sight not to be missed by
visitors. In Rishikesh is situated also the 120 years old Kailas Ashram
Brahmavidyapeetham, an institution dedicated to preserve and promote the
traditional Vedantic Studies. Prominent personalities such as Swami
Vivekananda, Swami Ramatirtha and Swami Shivananda have studied in this
institution.
During the mid-1960s, The
Beatles (visited the now closed Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram) and
several other artists, including Mike Love of The Beach Boys , Donovan and
Gyp Mills , visited the site to contemplate and meditate. More recently
also, the place has been of interest to celebrities including Hollywood
star Kate Winslet, who stayed in Peasant's Cottage. It seems modern
Hrishikesh experiences little shortage of people travelling from all over
the globe in pursuit of enlightenment.
The word Hrishikesh has
been seen to refer to Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. He refers to
Himself as the "Lord of the Senses."
We are located near Sai Konar
Temple, Haridwar Road
Sai Konar Temple, Haridwar Road is situated on bank
of river Holy Ganga
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