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1) Haridwar-The pilgrim city of Haridwar is located on
the Ganges about 25 kilometres south of Rishikesh. It is known as the
gateway to the shrines of the high Himalayas, and has itself a number
of well-known temples and Ashrams. The noted bathing ghat, Hari-ki-Pairi,
is also the main location for a Ganges bath every twelve years during
the Kumbha Mela festival.
2) Lakshman Jhula-(also transliterated "Laxman Jhula")
is a township located 2 kilometres north of the Sivananda Ashram at a
site on the Ganges where Lord Rama's brother Lakshman was said to have
meditated and done austerities in ancient times. There is a footbridge
across the river and a number of temples and Ashrams in the general area.
3) Neelkanth Temple-On a mountain on the eastern side
of the Ganges, opposite the Sivananda Ashram is a very ancient and famous
temple devoted to the worship of Lord Siva. The legend has it that Siva
consumed venom that was churned from the ocean during the Samudra Manthan
and his throat became blue ("neel" is blue and "kanth"
is throat.) Around the time of the festival of Sivatri one can see thousands
of people walking up to the temple (at 926 metres in altitude) to do worship.
The walk up takes about 4 hours, or one can take a taxi, jeep or bus from
Laksman Jhula to the temple by road.
4) Garuda Chatti/Phul Chatti-These are places on the
road to Neelkanth, located on the Ganges 4 and 10 kilometres north respectively
from Laksman Jhula. From Garuda Chatti a path leads up into the hills,
beside which are a number of enchanting waterfalls and other natural sights.
Phul Chatti is an Ashram located at a spot where a smaller river enters
the Ganges. Both places are on the old pilgrimage path that was used for
hundreds of years to walk up to the holy shrines of the Himalayas.
5) Vasishtha Guha-This is a very famous cave located
on the Ganges about 45 minutes by taxi from Rishikesh. The cave is reputed
to be the place where many great saints and sages have done meditation
and austerities. The view of the river at this point is exquisite.
6) Kunja Puri-This is a temple dedicated to the worship
of the Divine Mother. The temple is located at the top of a mountain west
of the Sivananda Ashram that rises to 1,645 metres. One can have darshan
of the temple and also a beautiful, almost breath-taking, panorama of
the high Himalayan snow peaks in the distance. Assuming one is quite fit,
a walk up to the temple is possible (about 4 hours up, 3 hours down),
or otherwise there are taxis and buses that go to Hindola Khal, which
is a 45-minute walk below Kunja Puri.
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