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Rishikesh is surrounded by scenic beauty of the hills on three sides with Holy Ganga flowing through it. Located in the laps of lower Himalayas, this place is considered to be the access point of three other pilgrim places of Badrinath - Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Rishikesh is famous for its yoga sessions that are taught here by many yoga experts (yoga fair held annually in February). Beatle's Paul Saltzman drew inspiration from this place and visited the place in 1968 to learn Meditation and Yoga. One can go for trekking, river rafting and excursions to the Valley of Flowers. One can also visit Devprayag the junction of the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi rivers. Dehradun, Haridwar, Mussoorie and Chila sanctuary are within reachable distance from here.
Hrishikesh (from Hrishikesh, another name for Lord Vishnu), in the state of Uttaranchal, 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 it 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.
The sacred river Ganga (anglicized to Ganges) flows through Hrishikesh. 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. The city has several Yoga centres that also attract tourists. 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 Jhulla, 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 Arathi performed at dusk at the Triveni Ghat is a spectacular sight not to be missed by visitors.
During the mid-sixties, The Beatles (visited Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram) and several other artists, including Mike Love of The Beach Boys and Donovan, 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"
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Being a pilgrimage place, the glamour of big shop bargains are absent but Rishikesh offers you handicraft items made of shells, beads and pearls. Sarees, kurtas, sheets and rugs can be purchased from here. You can buy these items from the government approved U.P handloom shop, Khadi Bhandar, Garhwal wool and craft shop etc.
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