Rishikesh is the holy city of the Hindus and is located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is also known as the ‘Gateway to the Himalayas’. Tourists come here mainly for pilgrimage and for yoga and spa treatments. It is in Rishikesh that River Ganges leaves the Shivalik mountains and flows out into the plains of northern India. People throng to the Triveni Ghat at dusk to view the spectacular Ganga Aarti. In the morning, most pilgrims throng to this ghat to take a holy dip. Rishikund is a pond located close to Triveni Ghat and is one of the most ancient places in Rishikesh. The pond reflects the temple of Raghunath dedicated to Lord Rama and his wife Seeta. Bharat Mandir was built in the 12th Century by Adiguru Shankara Charya and is located on the banks of River Ganga. The idol of Lord Vishnu carved out of a single ‘Saligram’ (black stone) is on the inner sanctum. The Shree Yantra installed by Adiguru Shankara Charya is on the inner canopy above the idol. The oldest temple complex on the Ram Jhula area is the Geeta Bhavan. One can see the famous epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata inscribed on the walls. One of the most renowned temple complex and ashram is the Parmarth Niketan. The Ganga Aarti and Hawan organized every evening in the Parmarth Ghat attract a lot of visitors. A multistoried temple dedicated to the hindu gods and goddesses is the Tera Manzil Temple located in the Lakshman Jhula area. One can have an excellent view of the entire area from the top floor of the temple complex. Located within an hours drive from Rishikesh is the Vasishtha Goofa where Saint Vasishtha meditated on the banks of the Ganges. Tourists visit Kunja Puri to view the spectacular sun rise and sunset. One can also see the Himalayan peaks like Gangotri, Swarga Rohini, Banderpauch and Chaukhamba from here.