Rishikesh Live

Lakshman Jhoola, the famous suspension bridge across Ganga situated 5kms.from Rishikesh, on the way to Badrinath. This bridge was constructed by UP P.W.D during 1927-29. It replaces the old bridge of 284 feet span which was washed away by great floods of October 1924. This was opened to traffic on 11 April 1930. It was built in 1929 to replace a rope bridge.

It is believed that Ram's brother Lakshman crossed the river here on a jute rope. Hindus also believed that Lord Rama and Lakshman took a bath to wash the sin incurred by them for killing Ravana, who was a Brahmin. This legendary iron bridge is a major attraction among the devotees and visitors of the place. The bridge gives a magnificent view of the Ganges, greeting you with the cool breeze from the river. At Lakshman Jhula, you will see the Radha-Krishna Temple and at the entrance of the bridge, Lakshman Temple, the only one in India. On the opposite side of this temple, you can see an 11.3 meter high monolithic Shiva statue. Just 2 km ahead downstream, at Muni-ki-Reti, is another suspension bridge, build later.

This area is quieter than the town centre and is very picturesque. Along the river on the north east are secluded beaches. The view from the bridge itself is panoramic. The mountains covered in green belt, the waters flowing below, a cool breeze, all these together make Lakshman Jhula a great place to visit. You can also feed the fish in the river below from the bridge itself, the fish gather at the place where people drop food for them. To take a better view of the Jhula, one can take a boat ride in the river below, the scene with Lakshman Jhula in the foreground and green mountains in the background make a picturesque view and you can also feed the fish while you are in the boat. Ram Jhula, a similar structure to Lakshman Jhula is a more recent addition to the city. Also known as Shivanand Jhula, it connects Shivanand ashram with Swarg ashram.