Lakshman Jhula: Rishikesh Travel Guide (4.5★)

Steel cables over green water

The bridge hangs on thick steel cables strung between two concrete towers. Below it, the Ganges runs fast and jade-green between the hills. The iron span opened in 1929 and replaced an earlier rope crossing. Legend says this is where Lakshmana, Rama’s brother, crossed the river on jute ropes. That story gives the bridge its name.

The bridge is narrow, and its handrails carry prayer flags and padlocks. On the far bank, Tera Manzil (Trayambakeshwar Temple) rises in 13 storeys of shrines. Each floor looks back across the river. Cafés, guesthouses and shops selling rudraksha beads and brass line the lanes on both sides.

Its status, and the newer crossing

In 2019 the authorities shut Lakshman Jhula after a structural review found the bridge was weakened. Access has changed several times since then. Google currently lists the site as open 24 hours, but that refers to the area around it. It does not promise that the deck itself is open.

A newer bridge, Bajrang Setu, has been built alongside, with glass panels in its walkway. Before you plan a crossing, ask your guesthouse which bridge is open this week.

Reaching Tapovan and Jonk

• By air: Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun is about 35 km away by taxi.
• By rail: the nearest station is Yog Nagari Rishikesh. Haridwar, about 25 km south, has far more trains.
• Locally: shared auto-rickshaws (vikrams) run up from Rishikesh town towards Tapovan. Agree on your stop before you get in.
• On foot: the riverside path from Ram Jhula is about 2 km. It passes the Swarg Ashram ghats, which puts the Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia) within easy reach.

Give the bridge, Tera Manzil and the cafés above the river 2–3 hours. Make it a full day if you add Ram Jhula and the evening Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan.

Crossing with the monkeys and the crowds

This is one of Rishikesh’s most-visited spots, and the lanes on both banks fill with pilgrims and day-trippers. Mornings are usually calmer because tour groups from Haridwar and Dehradun come later. Rhesus monkeys patrol the bridge and the rooftops above it. Keep food, sunglasses and plastic bags out of sight. Never hold out snacks.

• Shoes: take them off before entering Tera Manzil and the riverside shrines.
• Clothing: cover your shoulders and knees. Rishikesh is a pilgrimage town as much as a yoga hub.
• Food: the town is vegetarian and alcohol-free by local rule, so menus are meat-free.
• Paying: small shops and chai stalls mostly take UPI QR codes. Carry small notes for vendors who don’t.
• Swimming: be careful at the ghats. The current is strong, especially in the July–September monsoon when the river runs brown and high.

October to March brings clear skies and a green river, which makes it the most comfortable season. Photos are best from the Tera Manzil terraces or the cafés on the east bank, where the whole bridge fits in frame.