The
Shivalik Range, also known as the Outer Himalayas, is the southernmost and
geologically youngest foothill mountain chain of the Himalayan system
.. .. a
trip to Badrinath / Kedarnath or to Haridwar is not complete without visiting
mystic Rishikesh.
Epics note
that Lord Rama and Lakshmana stayed here so Rama could perform
penance to cleanse himself of the sin of slaying the demon-king Ravana. Lakshmana crossed
the raging Ganges using a simple jute-rope bridge, a feat commemorated by the
historic Lakshman Jhula. High above the
town sits the holy Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, the spot where Lord Shiva drank
the cosmic poison (Halahala) generated during the churning of the primordial
ocean (Samudra Manthan). His throat turned blue to save creation, earning him
the name Neelkanth.
Rishikesh is a holy city, sits on the banks of the sacred
Ganges River at the foothills of the Shivalik Himalayas, and has served as a
revered sanctuary for ancient sages, gods, and spiritual seekers for millennia
A must see here is iconic “Ram
Jhula” - an iconic 750-foot-long (230-meter) iron
suspension bridge stretching across the holy Ganges River. Built in 1986 by the Public Works Department
(PWD), it stands as one of the most prominent spiritual and cultural landmarks
of the city. It connects the vibrant Sivananda Nagar area of Muni Ki Reti on
the western bank to the historic Swargashram area on the eastern bank. Right now it is under maintenance and access
is not possible !! It was originally a hanging footbridge made of
tightly woven jute ropes without any structural pillars. It was later
reinforced into its current iron structure. Named
after Lord Rama from the epic Ramayana, it mirrors its famous counterpart,
Lakshman Jhula, located about 2 kilometres upstream. It is actually the larger
of the two twin bridges.
Around 6.51 pm on
19.9.2026 – our auto stopped very
briefly on the other side of Ram Jhula giving a fleeting view of the Ganga
harathi and with trees and foliage – view was bit constrained. The brightly
illuminated riverside complex across is part of the Swarg Ashram–Parmarth. Parmarth
Niketan's ghat is on the east bank near Ram Jhula and is the best-known major
aarti location in this stretch.
Most interestingly, the red-lit
multi-storeyed structure high on the hill is Bhootnath Temple that stands uphill in the Swarg Ashram area, behind
the riverside ashram zone.
The scene therefore reads roughly as
follows: Ram Jhula at far left →
Ganga in the foreground → Swarg
Ashram/Parmarth-side ghats and temples across the river → forested hillside rising behind → Bhootnath Temple glowing red above the
settlement. The buildings immediately behind the ghat are the dense
ashram/temple/guest-house development of the Swarg Ashram side rather than a
single identifiable monument.
Parmarth Niketan is a true
spiritual haven, lying on the holy banks of Mother Ganga in the lap of the lush
Himalayas. It is the largest ashram in Rishikesh, providing its thousands of
pilgrims who come from all corners of the Earth with a clean, pure and sacred
atmosphere as well as abundant, beautiful gardens.
The photograph contains several distinct
layers: Ram Jhula on the far left; the Ganga occupying the foreground; the
illuminated riverside ghat and temple buildings in the centre; the Muni Ki
Reti/Swarg Ashram settlement climbing behind; and the forested Shivalik
foothills enclosing everything. The long golden and blue reflections from the
aarti are particularly effective in the picture — the bridge entering from the
left and the leaves framing the top make it much more than a straightforward
aarti photograph.
The illustrative map gives
complete idea of the location, the hills, rivers and important places.
Interesting !
Regards
– S Sampathkumar
