Bharat Mandir

Getting there

• By air

  Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Rishikesh Railway Station is the nearest railway station.

Why devotees come here

Bharat Mandir stands in the heart of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, and is also called the Hrishikesh Narayan Temple. Its five-foot idol of Vishnu as Hrishikesh is carved from one piece of black Shaligram stone. The temple stands in the spiritual heart of the town.

Bharat Mandir is also known as the Hrishikesh Narayan Temple. Legend says the sage Raibhya Rishi did penance at this site. Vishnu is said to have promised to stay here as Hrishikesh Narayan, and the place was to be known as Hrishikesh from then on. Locals believe that completing 108 parikramas here on Akshaya Tritiya fulfils one's heart's desire.

The main building is attributed to Adi Shankaracharya in the 12th century, as recorded in the Kedarkhand. The temple was rebuilt after Timur's invasion of 1398 AD to reclaim its place as a cornerstone. Maharaja Yashwant Singh of Nabha state rebuilt the exterior building in 1832. Whispers link the site to a Buddhist monastery under Emperor Ashoka. This is not settled history.

The five-foot idol is carved from one piece of black Shaligram stone. A single rock block weighing 125 tons forms the top of the dome. Nine domes, arranged in a line of three, make up the exterior. The temple stands on an elevated platform to protect it from flooding. The temple walls span between seven and eight feet.

Tips for your visit

• Triveni Ghat on the Ganga is nearby, where devotees take holy dips and attend the evening aarti.
• For nature lovers, Rajaji National Park offers a chance to see wildlife in its natural habitat.

Questions people ask