Shri Bharat Mandir

Tradition holds that Adi Shankaracharya, the great Indian sage and reformer who lived in the 8th century and played a key role in Hindu development, consecrated or revived this ancient temple. The temple is dedicated to Vishnu as Hrishikesh Narayana; “Bharat-ji” is the temple's own name for him, not Rama's brother Bharata. The place is steeped in history and spiritual power.

From the outside it may seem simple, but inside it's a true archaeological find. It houses an ancient black murti of Hrishikesh Narayana, carved from a single saligram stone, the sacred stone of Vishnu.

On the columns are carvings, and in the inner courtyard stand an old bell and a tree said to be several hundred years old.

If you're interested in history and want to feel the pulse of "real" Rishikesh, visit here.

An ancient sacred temple