Tansen. The famous Rishikesh Temple located at Ridi of Tansen municipality-14 has been developed as a religious tourism destination. Devotees from different districts come here with the belief that their wishes are fulfilled.

Rishikesh is located at the confluence of Palpa, Gulmi and Syangja districts. The then King Mani Mukunda Sen of Palpa had built the Rishikesh Temple at the confluence of Kaligandaki and Ridi rivers in 1575 BS.

The five-hundred-year-old Rishikesh temple has a tradition of taking out a chariot procession on the next day of Haribodhani Ekadashi. This year too, the Rath Yatra of Lord Rishikesh has been taken out. There was a large presence of pilgrims, saints and devotees from different parts of the country.

Around five thousand devotees have performed puja at the temple on the day of the chariot procession. Priest Bibek Bhattarai said that there has been a significant presence of devotees in the temple even in the past. According to him, a large number of devotees thronged the chariot from the premises of Rishikesh Temple at Ruru Kshetradham to Ridi Bazaar, Rishikesh area and Argali bazaar area and paid homage to the deity.

Ruru Kshetradham is considered as one of the ‘Char Dhams’ of Nepal. The religious importance here is associated with Rishikesh, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. According to the Rishikesh Temple Management Committee’s Chairman, Parshuram Bhattarai, there is a popular belief that one can bathe in the Ridi of Ruru area and worship the lord Rishikesh for washing away the sins and one attains salvation.

Pilgrims visit here throughout the year. Thousands of devotees gather especially on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti and Rishikesh Rath Yatra. In recent years, the local government, religious guthi organizations and various organizations have taken initiatives to develop Ruru area as a religious tourism destination.

Local Kamal Khanal said that Rurukshetra has become a major attraction for domestic tourists with the reconstruction of temples, improvement in pilgrimage roads and expansion of basic infrastructure like drinking water and sanitation. According to the locals, this Rath Yatra is not only a symbol of religious devotion but also a symbol of cultural unity. Tansen Municipality has also been giving a local holiday for the chariot procession of Lord Rishikesh.