Situated about 70 feet above the River Ganga, the Lakshman Jhula is a well-known iron bridge in Rishikesh. The 450 feet long bridge connects the districts Tehri and Pauri to each other. A number of temples near the Lakshman Jhula have made it a famous tourist location in Rishikesh.
According to the mythology, Lord Lakshman (Lord Rama’s younger brother), crossed the river Ganga from the location where the present Laxman Jhula is constructed. He then used a suspension bridge which was made of jute. As the jute bridge got eroded over time, it was replaced by a new iron bridge in 1939. The bridge got its name from that incident.
The area around the Lakshman Jhula is filled with serenity, peace and tranquility as you can always hear the sacred chants here being recited in the nearby temples. Lakshman Temple is the famous temple at this place which has a Risha Kund. It is the kund where Lord Lakshman and Lord Rama took a bath to wash their sins, after they killed the demon king Ravana. The market around this sacred place is known for wooden goods, idols of Gods and Godesses, gems, holy books, Rudraksha and local jewellery.
