In spite of its claim to being the 'Yoga Capital of the World', Rishikesh is a quiet place. It is surrounded by hills on three sides and lies at an altitude of 365 m. There are many ashrams along the banks the holy Ganges that flows through the town. This is a great place to stay and study yoga, meditation and other aspects of Hinduism.

In the 1960s, Rishikesh gained instantaneous recognition as the Beatles met their guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi here. Rishikesh is also the starting point for trips to Himalayan pilgrimage centers like Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri.

The Lakshman Jhula is situated to the northern extension of Haridwar Road. At the beginning of the Lakshman Jhula is the Satya Sai Ashram. The Lakshman Jhula goes past the GMVN tourist office to Shivanand Jhula. Most of the temples existing in the area are situated on this side of the river. The Swarg Ashram area has plenty of temples and sadhus.

Lakshman Jhula
(Jhula means bridge) is 2 km north. This suspended iron bridge was built in 1939 and has been a major attraction among the tourists to Rishikesh. It is said Lakshman crossed the Ganga on jute ropes between the place where this bridge is built. Close to the Lakshman jhula, is the Ram Jhula.

Nearby is the Bharat Mandir, the oldest temple here, and the old Lakshman Temple is on the West Bank. Across the river are the ashrams and temples, including the 13 storey
Kailashanand Mission Ashram. The top of the ashram gives a nice view. It is a pleasant 2 km walk along this bank to the Shivanand Jhula.

Shivanand Ashram was founded by Swami Shivananda and is under the auspices of the Divine Life Society. Lectures, discussion and meditation and yoga classes are held daily with free courses ranging from three days to two months. One can stay at the ashram with a month's notice is required.

The path leading up from Lakshman Jhula Road takes one to the Yoga Niketan Ashram set in lovely gardens high above the Ganges.

Above Yoga Niketan is the Omkarananda Ashram in a separate building called the Omkarananda Ganga, Sadan, back down on Lakshman Jhula Road, near the Shivananda arch.