Rishikesh, a most tranquil place in northern Uttaranchal, surrounded by hills and bisected by the wide Ganges, is often claimed as the `Yoga Capital of the World'. Back in the 1960s Rishikesh gained instant fame as the site where The Beatles came to stay with their guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It is an excellent place to meditate and study yoga. Rishikesh is also a good starting point for treks to Himalayan pilgrimage centres such as Badrinath, Kedarnath , Gangotri, Yamnotri. It is rightly called the gateway to the  Himalayan Shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

Situated 24 km upstream from Haridwar, at the confluence of the Chandrabhaga and Ganga, Rishikesh has long been a spiritual centre. It is said that the sage Raibhya Rishi did severe penance here andas a reward, God appeared to him in the form of Hrishikesh, hence the name. Rishikesh has numerous ashrams, some of which are internationally recognized as centers of philosophical studies, yoga and meditation. For the adventurous, there are opportunities for white water rafting on the Ganga.

The climate here is continental type but its location in the foot hills gives it a pleasant weather throughout the year. One can visit Rishikesh any time of the year. The whole place is considered to be sacred as it is believed that meditation at this place leads to attainment of salvation. There are many temples-some ancient, some new along the river Ganges. The River side is dotted by the ashrams of Sadhus and sages.

The road to the north from Rishikesh leads to Narendra Nagar(named after Maharaja Narendra Shah) and beyond to Tehri. These roads branch off and reach the upper parts of Garhwal. At Rishikesh, Ganga leaves the mountains and joins the plains for her long journey. Rishikesh is not only an attraction for pilgrims but it also attracts foreigners who want to know about Hinduism, who want to spend some time close to the Lord.

Area : 11.20 sq.km.
Altitude : 356 meters.
Temperature (deg C): Summer- Max.44.4, Min.29; 
                                 Winter- Max.32.2,      Min.18.3.
Clothing : Summer- Cotton & tropical; Winter- Heavy woollen.
Languages Spoken : Garwali, Hindi, Punjabi, English.
Best Season : Throughout the Year.

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

• Air : The nearest airport is Dehradun (Jolly Grant), 16 kms from Rishikesh. Indian Airlines operates from Delhi to Dehradun (Jolly Grant).  
• Rail: Rishikesh is connected by rail via Haridwar (24 kms), to Howrah, Bombay, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Dehradun and other cities. 
• Road: By road Rishikesh to Haridwar 24 kms,  Dehradun 47 kms, Mussoorie 77 kms, Badrinath 301 kms (Son Prayag), Kedarnath 228 kms, Gangotri 258 kms, Yamunotri 288 kms (Hanuman Chatti), Srinagar 105 kms, Joshimath 252 kms. 
• Bus Services: Rishikesh is connected by bus with Agra, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Jaipur, Pushkar, Dehradun, Haridwar, etc. 

NEAR BY CITIE(S):

Delhi- 238 Kms	Uttrakashi- 154 kms
Dehradoon- 42 kms	Kedarnath- 228 kms
Haridwar- 25 kms	Mussoorie- 77 kms