Attraction · Rishikesh
The Rishikesh Footbridges
Two iron suspension bridges strung across the Ganga a couple of kilometres apart, and the reason the town has the shape it does — everything on both banks arranged around where you can cross.
Time needed1 – 2 hours
The bridgesRam Jhula · Lakshman Jhula
ApartAbout 2 km
CrossingOn foot
Best timeEarly morning
NoteAccess can change — check locally
About
Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula
Rishikesh sits where the Ganga comes out of the mountains onto the plain, and the town is built along both banks of it with the two iron suspension footbridges as the hinges. Lakshman Jhula, the older and more famous of the pair, is named for Lakshmana, who by tradition crossed the river here on a rope; Ram Jhula lies about two kilometres downstream and serves the ashram quarter at Swarg Ashram. Between them they carry everything — pilgrims, sadhus, motorcycles where permitted, cows, and a continuous stream of people. Walking one of them is the single most direct way to understand how the town works, and the view up and down the river from the middle is the one everybody photographs. It is worth knowing before you go that the bridges have been subject to structural work and access arrangements have changed more than once, so what is open on the day is a question for locally rather than for a guidebook.
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What to See
What to see
Two crossings and the banks they join. An hour is enough and two is better.
From the bridges
- The Ganga upstream toward the hills it has just left, which is the view the town is arranged around.
- The ghats and ashram buildings stepping down to the water on both banks.
- The traffic on the bridge itself — pilgrims, sadhus, porters and animals — which is most of the experience.
Around Lakshman Jhula
- The thirteen-storey Trayambakeshwar temple on the east bank, which is the tall tiered building in every photograph of the bridge.
- The lanes on both approaches, full of small shops, cafés and ayurveda and yoga establishments.
- The Tera Manzil and Lakshman temples nearby.
Around Ram Jhula
- Swarg Ashram on the east bank, which is the quieter ashram quarter and largely vegetarian and alcohol-free.
- Parmarth Niketan, whose riverside aarti is held at dusk daily.
- The Gita Bhawan and the ghats along the east bank, which are used continuously through the day.
Getting There
Getting there
Both bridges are walked to and walked across. Vehicles do not cross either of them.
Reaching them
- Auto-rickshaws and taxis run from central Rishikesh to the approaches of both bridges and stop short of the river.
- The two are about two kilometres apart along the west bank, which is a walk of half an hour.
- Ferries cross the river at points between them and are a pleasant alternative to walking back.
Crossing
- On foot in every case. The bridges are narrow, busy and move noticeably underfoot, which is normal.
- Access arrangements have changed over the years with structural work on the older bridge. Confirm on the day rather than assuming.
- Where a bridge is closed, ferries and the road bridge downstream carry the traffic instead.
Combining it
- With Triveni Ghat, which is in central Rishikesh rather than at the bridges.
- With the Beatles ashram, which is a short distance beyond Swarg Ashram on the east bank.
- With the evening aarti at Parmarth Niketan, which is at the Ram Jhula end.
Best Time
When to visit
Early morning. The bridges are working infrastructure and they are calmest before the day starts.
Time of day
- First light, when the river is quiet and the bridges are used by the people who live here rather than by visitors.
- Late afternoon and dusk for the light on the water and the aarti that follows.
- The middle of the day is the busiest and the hottest, particularly in summer.
Time of year
- October to March is the comfortable window, with clear weather and a manageable river.
- The monsoon raises the Ganga dramatically and rafting stops; the town is quieter and the river is the sight.
- April to June is very hot on the plain and the town empties in the middle of the day.
How long
- An hour to walk one bridge and the lanes on either side.
- Two hours to do both and walk between them along the bank.
- Half a day if the aarti and the ashram quarter are part of the plan.
Visitor Intelligence
Visitor intelligence
A pilgrimage town with a strict character, and the bridges are the middle of it.
The town’s rules
- Rishikesh is vegetarian and alcohol is prohibited across the town. This is enforced and it is not a suggestion.
- Dress modestly, particularly around the ashrams and ghats — shoulders and knees covered for everyone.
- Leather goods are not taken into many temples; a bag with a leather strap is worth thinking about.
On the bridge
- They are narrow, crowded and they flex underfoot. That is normal and not a fault.
- Keep to one side and keep moving; stopping in the middle for photographs blocks a working thoroughfare.
- Monkeys are present on and around both bridges and will take food and loose items.
The river
- The Ganga here is fast, cold and much stronger than it looks. Bathing is done at ghats with chains and steps for a reason.
- Do not swim away from a ghat. The current out of the mountains is not survivable in places.
- Rafting runs roughly September to June and is arranged separately through licensed operators.
Access
- The approaches to both bridges involve steps and steep lanes, and the bridges themselves have ramps at the ends.
- It is manageable for most walkers and difficult for anyone unsteady, particularly in a crowd.
- Ferries are an alternative for crossing but the ghats they use also involve steps.
Nearby
Nearby
Everything in Rishikesh is within a short ride of the bridges.
Triveni Ghat
In central Rishikesh — the main bathing ghat and the evening aarti.
The Beatles Ashram
Beyond Swarg Ashram on the east bank — Chaurasi Kutia, abandoned and then reopened.
Rishikesh
The town on both banks of the Ganga where it leaves the mountains.
Parmarth Niketan
At the Ram Jhula end, and where the best-known riverside aarti is held. No page of its own.
Good to Know
Frequently asked
In principle yes, and walking one of them is the most direct way to understand how Rishikesh works. In practice the bridges have been subject to structural work and access arrangements have changed more than once over recent years, so what is open on any given day is a question to ask locally rather than to settle from a guidebook. Where a bridge is closed, ferries and the road bridge downstream carry the traffic instead.
About two kilometres of river and a considerable difference in character. Lakshman Jhula is the older and more famous, named for Lakshmana who by tradition crossed the river here on a rope, and the lanes around it are dense with shops, cafés and yoga and ayurveda establishments. Ram Jhula, downstream, serves Swarg Ashram — the ashram quarter, which is quieter, and where Parmarth Niketan holds its riverside aarti at dusk.
They are narrow, crowded and they flex noticeably underfoot, which is entirely normal for an iron suspension footbridge and is not a fault. Anyone genuinely uncomfortable with movement or with crowds will not enjoy the crossing, and the ferries between the banks are a perfectly good alternative that many locals use. Keep to one side, keep moving, and do not stop in the middle — it is a working thoroughfare rather than a viewing platform.
Bathing is done at the ghats, which have steps and chains for a reason: the Ganga at Rishikesh has just come out of the mountains and is fast, very cold and much stronger than it looks. Do not swim away from a ghat — the current is not survivable in places, and people drown here every year. Rafting is a different matter and runs roughly September to June through licensed operators, arranged separately.
Rishikesh is entirely vegetarian and alcohol is prohibited across the town. This is enforced and it is a religious rather than a municipal matter, so it is not something to test. Dress modestly around the ashrams, the ghats and the bridges — shoulders and knees covered, for everyone. Leather is not taken into many temples, so a bag with a leather strap is worth thinking about before you set out.
An hour to walk one bridge and the lanes on either side of it, which is enough for most visitors. Two hours to do both and walk the two kilometres between them along the west bank. Half a day if the ashram quarter at Swarg Ashram and the evening aarti at Parmarth Niketan are part of the plan, which for most itineraries they are — the aarti is at dusk and is the thing to be there for.
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