Rishikesh Promenade

Since I posted some pictures of Hardwar, I thought I would crosspost some other photos from a Facebook album of the new promenade being built in Rishikesh, which makes it possible to stroll nonstop all the way from Lakshman Jhula to the Barrage, roughly 10 kilometers downstream, without any vehicle traffic whatsoever.

At the same time, at Triveni Ghat, which is right downtown, the Ganga bed is being diverted to come closer to the ghat itself. In recent years, the water only reaches the steps during the rainy season. Now it will be possible to descend the steps into the holy river all year round.

It looks to me that some good ideas are available here for the Vrindavan parikrama marg, if anyone can get the message across.


This picture shows how the digging of the new channel is progressing. The central portion, where the backhoe is digging, is to be entirely removed, according to the engineers that I met there.


Here is the famous Bhagavad Gita statue at Triveni Ghat.


Spotted along the promenade are these lookout cupolas in an art deco style with wrought iron, very nice.


Further downstream, you get an idea of how the pathway is being used or abused. There is a Gangeshwar temple about one kilometer downstream from Triveni Ghat. Here they were putting on a Shiva Purana Saptaha. Since the walkway is not yet heavily used, it is not much of an inconvenience.


Here you can see further downstream, towards the end of the promenade. The Rajaji National Park is on the other side, offering a rare and beautiful vision of greenery.


A good idea: Providing pumps along the way so that tourists can get a drink.