The place is known as the Tapo Bhumi; meaning the place for yoga meditation of the Gods. Rishikesh is a peaceful, temple town on the banks of the holy Ganges River, which is clear and flows full of spiritual energy. Rishikesh is a holy place that acts as an entry point leading to the sacred places deep in the Himalayas. Spiritual people will find total peace in Rishikesh and will feel at home. Rishikesh translated means “the city of saints.“
According to mythology, the sage Rishi Raibhya sat on the banks of the Ganga and performed severe penance in the form of extremely autere yoga practices. He was rewarded when lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Rishikesh, thus giving the place its present name. Over the ages, saints have meditated at this peaceful spot with the soaring mountains looking down and the sacred Ganga flowing beside. One of the most prominent religious leaders in modern times, Adi Shankaracharya, traversed this land in the 9th century AD. Shankaracharya’s pilgrimage to Rishikesh was later codified into the great pilgrim circuit, and gave a heightened sense of sacredness to this land of the gods. Ever since, Rishikesh has been the stepping stone and the first destination on a list of holy shrines and sites stretching across the lofty Himalayan Range. There are innumerable Yoga Centers in Rishikesh as well, as such Rishikesh is known as 'The World Capital of Yoga." An annual International Yoga Festival is held by the Utrakhaand Tourism Board between March 1st to March 7th. In 2010, world rebound teachers and hundreds of practitioners from over 40 different countries converged to celebrate the universal spirit of Yoga Rishikesh. In the 1960s, Rishikesh came in to the Western world's limelight as the place where the pop group Beatles met their guru, Maharishi Yogi. The blessed city of Rishikesh attracts millions of tourists,people every year come here to practice YOGA, MEDITATE, REJUVENATE and gain peace of mind. The place is also very famous with foreigners who come to India as part of a spiritual journey. Whether its washing away karma in the Ganga, offering pujas, or watching the arti ceremonies on the ghats of Rishikesh, people find that Rishikesh can touch their hearts and change their souls for the better. In 2010, world rebound teachers and hundreds of practitioners from over 40 different countries converged to celebrate the universal spirit of Yoga Rishikesh .
