Rishikesh is a city
and a holy location (tirtha) in Uttar Pradesh's Himalayan foothills.
Rishikesh is around fifteen miles up the Ganges River from
Haridwar, India's holiest city.
Rishikesh, like many other places along the Ganges, is known
mainly as a bathing (snana) destination, but it is also known as a haven for
ascetics, notably at the ashrams in the region near Lakshman Jhula.
Rishikesh is also unique as a spiritual destination for having
no specific charter myth.
According to legend, here is where the deity Rama kills
numerous demons, allowing the sages to perform their offerings without
interference.
According to another legend, here is where Rama does penance
(prayashchitta) for slaying the demon-king Ravana.
In a third myth, Rishikesh is the location where a sage
called Raibhya sees the divinity Vishnu.
Rama's brother Bharata is commemorated at Rishikesh's most
renowned temple.
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