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kms upstream on the banks of the Ganga where it is met
by the Chandrabhaga is the holy town of Rishikesh. Literally,
Rishi’s (holy man) locks, this small town is the
point where the holy Ganges crashes down in full glory
onto huge boulders and creates long stretches of white
sandy beaches. The banks are lined with ashrams, where
saints and holy men rested before beginning their arduous
pilgrimage up into the snow-covered land of the gods.
Rishikesh is essentially a combination of five different
districts- Rishikesh the commercial centre, Muni-ki-reti
in the quiet suburbs, Shivananda Nagar to the north,
Lakshmanjhula with its holy shrines and Swarg Ashram
where most of the ashrams are located.
Rishikesh is the lap of Hindu philosophy and learning,
with several ashrams devoted to the understanding and
propagation of the faith. Signs of religious rituals
can be seen all over Rishikesh – in the numerous
temples lining the banks of the Ganga, the mythological
tales that you hear about various spots and even the
shops that sell books and religious objects.
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