Known as the Gateway to the Himalayas, Rishikesh is situated at the foothills of the great mountains in the state of Uttarakhand. Also nicknamed the €World Capital of Yoga', the city is well known to the Western world, and this it owes to the visit of the renowned Beatles, who had come here to visit the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Though the ashram itself ceased to exist long ago, tourists from all over the world still find their way to this city with ancient roots. This is the reason that, in spite of being a small place there are many lavish Rishikesh hotels that cater to Western tourists here.

Legend has it that Lord Rama himself came here to seek penance after he defeated and killed Ravana. His brother Lakshmana crossed the Ganges to meet him using a jute rope bridge, at the same place where you find the Lakshmana Jhula Bridge today. The name Rishikesh, comes from the legend that Lord Vishnu had appeared before one of the sages by the name of Raibhya Rishi as a result of his unwavering devotion to the Lord.

The Triveni Ghat, Bharat Mandir, Lakshman Jhula, Gita Bhavan, the Parmarth Niketan, Swar Ashram, and the Trayambakeshwara Temple are great draws here. The Triveni Ghat is where devotees bathe in the holy river Ganga, and this is also where the Maha Aarti is performed. The Trayambakeshwara Temple is a thirteen stories high structure and has different deities all through these floors.

Rishikesh is also very popular with thrill seekers who come here to challenge the rapids as well as the mountains and rocky terrain of the region. White water rafting is the most popular activity here and attracts hundreds of campers who take on the rapids that range from Level 1 to Level 5 and are classified according to the difficulty they present. Kayaking in the waters here is another attraction.

For those who are interested in Rappelling, Rock Climbing, and Cliff Jumping, Rishikesh has that on offer too. Bungee jumping is another extraordinary adventure activity that one can try here. Trekking through the challenging terrains, and then Camping in newly discovered locations is another favorite.

Ask the hotels in Rishikesh to arrange for an adventure itinerary of a lifetime!

All hotels in Rishikesh know the best travel agencies that offer adventure packages. They will gladly give you the knowhow on them so you can have all the fun you like!

The cheapest hotels here are Hotel Green View, Blessed Cottages, the Green Hotel Rishikesh, Baseraa the Hotel, and the Divine Ganga Cottage. A little more expensive but luxurious rooms can be found at Hotel Ganga Kinare, The Narayana Palace, the Chevron Pure Inn, and Hotel The Amaris.

The most luxurious accommodations are offered by hotels like Hotel Ananda in the Himalayas, the Aranyam River Retreat, and Latitude 30o-N Ganga.

So whether it is the beginning of a holy pilgrimage, or an adventurous journey, the Rishikesh hotels are the best places to relax and plan!