Another thing that makes Rishikesh famous is its bridges that connected two points of the city. There are three bridges in Rishikesh, namely Laxman Jhula, Ram Jhula and Janki Setu. Don’t forget to keep your cameras with you while exploring the bridges of Rishikesh.
- Laxman Jhula – One of the famous tourist spots in Rishikesh, Laxman Jhula holds the mythological significance that the brother of Lord Rama, Laxmana built a jute rope bridge to cross the river Ganges on the same spot. The bridge was then replaced by an iron suspension bridge of 450 m in length, at an altitude of 70 feet above the river. From 1929, the public gets access to use the bridge.
The bridge connects two villages in two different districts of Uttarakhand, that is, Village Taopovan in Tehri Garhwal to Village Jonk in Pauri Garhwal. Lakshmana Jhula (or Laxman Jhula) is certainly a boon for local people.
The bridge is among the unique attractions for tourists and travellers. Every day, it marks the presence of many people. Both sides of the bridge have a wonderful market, temples and many attractions.
However, from the 12th of July, 2019; the Lakshana Jhula bridge is no longer in use due to safety concerns. The bridge will soon reopen for the public.
- Ram Jhula – With an array of charms on the both sides, Ramjhula is a spot you want to capture. The hanging bridge is the main attractions for tourists, travelers and pilgrims. The iron-suspension bridge was built in 1986 at the height of 450ft above the pious river Ganges. It connects two spots of two different districts, that is, Sivananda Nagar in Tehri Garhwal district to Swargashram in Pauri Garhwal district. It makes it easy for people to visit the two different places without any hurdle.
Ramjhula is approximately 3 km away from the main city of Rishikesh. You can even take your bikes or cycles on the bridge. Just stand still on the bridge and get amused with the splendid view and mesmerising attractions nearby. The markets, temples and ashrams on both sides of the bridge are also famous among local people, tourists and travelers.
- Janki Setu – The year 2020 ended with the inauguration of another bridge in Rishikesh, namely Janki Setu. The bridge that connects Tehri district and Pauri district, was opened for the public on November 20, 2020. The demand for Janki Setu came in limelight after the closing of the Laxman Jhula Bridge due to safety purpose. The bridge is 274 mts long, allowing the movement of bikes and cycles too. It is a success to ease the traffic from Ram Jhula Bridge.
Janki Setu is luring the public for a click due to its pristine location and splendid structure. Janki Setu is a 3-lane bridge, giving the option for vehicles and pedestrian which make it easy to manage the traffic on the bridge. Both sides of the bridge have ghats allowing people to spend some tranquil time away from the crowd and hustle and bustle of the city.
