RISHIKESH 1
The journey within
By Mansi Jhingran

The wind is a wish, the river a blessing, the white sands slivers of myths. At Rishikesh, the Ganga enchants as she flows by, quietly but purposefully. The verdant foothills of the Himalaya welcome her as she goes forth on her journey towards the sea, urging her to pause, and why, she almost does. The river, whose very name is a prayer, makes Rishikesh far more tranquil than its popularity would otherwise have let it be. As we walked on the undulating road hugging the quieter opposite bank, to the left of the Ram Jhoola, stopping every now and then to descend to the waterfront, we never tired of the Ganga's changing constancy. The powdery, silvery sands shifted gently beneath the clear waters, turning turbid when disturbed but settling back with surprising swiftness. The Ganga does that for her devotees. The troubles of everyday existence seem to be carried away by her waters. Like the unruffled sand beneath her waters in Rishikesh, she calms, purifies and uplifts our minds, indeed, our souls.

A three-fold importance is attached to this town. First, since Satyug, Rishikesh has been the abode of sages. Second, Rishikesh is considered the gateway to the Char Dham and Panch Kedar yatras. Third, during the past few decades, Rishikesh has become the yoga capital of the world. The town stands on both banks of the Ganga. There is free access to the unpolluted waters and the water temperature is just perfect, cool in summer and bearably cold in winter. The undercurrents of spirituality are as steady here as the flow of the mighty Ganga.

Legends and mythology
Sage Raibhya did penance here and attained Lord Vishnu, who is believed to be the conqueror of senses. The root of the name Rishikesh is in the Sanskrit word hrishik, meaning senses, and ish, meaning master or lord. Hence, by conquering his senses, Rishi Raibhya gave the place its name Hrishikesh, now pronounced Rishikesh.