Lakshman Jhula (लक्ष्मण झूला) at Rishikesh

On the banks of the Ganga at Rishikesh, is the famous Lakshman Jhula (लक्ष्मण झूला). It is a suspension bridge built at the place where Lord Lakshmana, the younger of Sri Ram, crossed the Ganga after performing penance to cleanse the sins for killing Indrajeet (Meghanada), the son of Ravana and husband of Sulochana (daughter of Shesha Naga). I am not sure about the reason for the penance as killing a Brahman, as the myth goes, does not justify the reason for the penance. May be it was out of respect for Ravana's father, Vishrava, or out of respect towards Sulochana and the pious Mandodari (Ravana's wife and Indrajeet's mother). Digressing from the historical/mythological significance of this place, another importance is that near the Lakshman Jhula is a temple of Sri Lakshmana in which he is standing alone. This, as far as I know, is the only place where Sri Lakshmana is without Lord Rama and Devi Sita. The Lakshman Jhula, as shown below, is surrounded by a large number of temples, which as far as I know have no historical significance.

Lakshman Jhula at Rishikesh

The Lakshman Jhula offers a breathtaking view of the the foot of the Himalayas and though the force of mother Ganga is nothing comparable to what it is near Dev Prayag, her power and the serenity this place offers reminds one that she should be revered and respected. The next two pictures are of the panoramic view captured while standing on the Lakshman Jhula. The first one shows a panoramic view while viewing in the direction of Dev Prayag, or Gangotri, i.e., the source of the Ganges. On the left one can see some of the debris and plastic waste, highlighting the total disrespect of this beautiful river. On the right, is a saffron colored multi-storey symbol of blind faith. Each storey is supposed to cleanse one sin, and when one enters the highest storey, the trustees of the temple mention that one has attained Shiva's abode.

Panoramic view from the Lakshman Jhula while viewing in the direction of Dev Prayag

The next picture also has beauty combined with the disrespect shown by us towards this river. The banks are full of plastic waste and bottles and cans used to fill the Ganga water. Though, if one can try to ignore (I recommend one should not) this mess, one is drenched in the serene beauty this place has to offer.

Panoramic view from the Lakshman Jhula while viewing in the direction of Haridwar

I tried to capture how the beauty of this place can mesmerize one in the following picture. Looking at the hills one can ignore the constant gongs being generated by people who have entered the multi-storey trap; one is lost in the calmness the clouds and trees have to offer. The hills and each breath of the damp mud brought with it flashes of the the various stories of Ruskin Bond and a made me feel each word of the famous quote by Rudyard Kipling,"And the last puff of the day wind brought from the unseen villages, the scent of the damp wood-smoke, hot cakes, dripping undergrowth, and rotting pine cones. That is true smell of the Himalayas, and once it creeps into the blood of a man, that man at the last, forgetting all else, will return to the hills to die".

The breath taking view offered while entering the Lakshman Jhula.

One end of the Lakshman Jhula has a temple of Adi Badrinath, a place where pilgrims can offer their prayers when the Badrinath temple is closed for the winter.

Adi Badrinath temple near Lakshman Jhula.

Further, the Adi-Badrinath temple offers assistance to all those who wish to travel the 4 dhams: Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, by foot from Rishikesh.