Famously known as the ‘Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas’ and the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’, Rishikesh is located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India. Situated at an elevation of 372 m above the sea level, it has been a part of the legendary Kedarkhand.
It is recognized as a pilgrimage town and considered to be one of the holiest places of the Hindus and non-vegetarian food and alcohol are strictly prohibited in the city.
In the first week of March 1989, the city hosted the International Yoga Festival. According to legends, Lord Rama did penance here to kill Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. In September of 2015, Mahesh Sharma, the Union tourism minister, announced that Rishikesh and Haridwar will be the first to be named “twin national heritage cities” in India.
The Ganges, the holiest river of the Hindus, passes through the city.
