Lakshman Jhula & Ram Jhula

Lakshman Jhula – Ram Jhula is the pulsing heart of spiritual tourism in Rishikesh. Suspension bridges connect the two banks of the Ganges, and this is where you feel the most saturated flow of people, events and energy. Ashrams, markets, street food, sacred cows, the scent of incense and mantras blend into one living organism.

One practical note: the century-old Lakshman Jhula footbridge has been closed since 2019 on safety grounds. Foot traffic now crosses on the new Bajrang Setu (a glass-decked bridge beside it), while Ram Jhula remains the dependable crossing a little downstream.

This neighborhood is home to iconic places such as Parmarth Niketan Ashram, where evening aarti ceremonies take place, Shivananda Ashram and Gita Bhavan. Here tourists, pilgrims and yogis walk side by side, moving between shops, temples and tea stalls by the Ganges. The neighborhood is noisy, sacred and full of life. Spiritual and utterly ordinary.

Location: Stretches along the Ganges between Lakshmanjhula and Ram Jhula bridges, in central Rishikesh.

The spiritual heart