Rishikesh is located in the northern part of Uttar Pradesh. It is 238 km northeast of Delhi and 24 km north of Haridwar and spreads on the right banks of the Ganges, at its confluence with the Chandrabhaga stream. It is surrounded by hills on three sides and is perched at an altitude of 356 meters above sea level. The name Rishikesh 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. These include Rishikesh itself, the commercial and communication hub; the sprawling suburban Muni-ki-Reti or the "sands of the sages"; Shivananda Nagar, north of Rishikesh; the temple section of Lakshmanjhula, a little further

north; and the assorted ashrams around Swarg Ashram on the east bank. In Rishikesh, the winters last from November to March, when temperatures fall below 0°C. The monsoons are generally experienced in the months of July and August.

Tourist Destinations

Situated by the side of the Lakshman Jhula, this is the Gita Bhavan. The Gita Bhavan is a beautifully constructed building housing some attractive statues of characters Hindu mythology.

Then there is the bathing spot known of Triveni. It is believed that three mountain streams flow together on this spot making the ghat (bank) more sacred. Pilgrims from various places come here to take a dip in the holy water, which is supposed to wash off all their sins.

Neelkanth Mahadev is a place of interest especially for the religious minded tourists. It is said to be the place where Lord Shiva drank the venom that had come out during the cosmic churning of the ocean by the gods and demons.