Parmarth Niketan, situated on the banks of river Ganges in the foothills of the Himalayas, is the largest ashram and main attraction in Rishikesh. This ashram was established in 1942 AD by Swami Sukhdevand. Later Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati ji was made its president. The main objective of this ashram is to provide Vedic and traditional education to the poor and orphan children.
Evening Ganga Aarti of Parmarth Niketan is the most famous event. The grand view of Aarti during sunset allures not only the Indians but also tourists from all over the world. In the evening, devotees throng at the Parmarth Niketan to attend the Ganga aarti. At the time of Aarti, devotees offer prayers by dedicating flowers and lighting Diyas to Mother Ganga. It is a beautiful experience to see the light of thousands of lamps amidst the cold winds.
One can also witness a massive statue of Lord Shiva situated in the Middle of the Gange river. In the disaster of 2013, the idol of Lord Shiva was washed away, after which another massive idol of Lord Shiva was installed at this place with modern methods and power. That is easily viewable from the ashram. Being situated in the middle of the river Ganges, devotees would not reach the idol of Lord Shiva. Therefore, a small bridge has been built for devotees to reachLord Shiva’s idol. A high level of positive energy is obtained after seeing the massive statue of Lord Shiva, which is beyond imagination.
Situated amid a verdant environment covering a large area, The Ashram has magnificent views from both the outside and inside. Inside the Parmarth Niketan Ashram, you will have the opportunity to see sculptures based on mythology on the left and beautiful sculptures based on mountains, giant statues of deities, and their reflections based on mythology on the right. You will also find around 50 percent of foreign monks dressed in white clothes in this ashram.
Visiting Places Near Permarth Niketan
How to Reach
By Train: Rishikesh railway station is located around 16 kilometers from the ashram. From there one can take an auto or taxi.
By Bus: Rishikesh bus station is at a distance of about 15 km from Parmarth Niketan. You can take a taxi from the bus station; it will take around 40 minutes to reach the Ashram.
By Air: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is just 35 kilometers from Rishikesh. Once you reach the airport, you can book a taxi for your destination.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Parmarth Niketan is from February to May and October to November. During this period, the weather is so pleasant that people can explore the surroundings comfortably.
Important Things
- The Timing of Maha Gange Arti is at 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm.
- Parmarth Niketan remains open throughout the week.
- No Entry charge, entry is free.