Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

Neelkanth Mahadev, set on a forested ridge above Rishikesh at the confluence of the Ganga's foothill valleys, marks the legendary spot where Shiva is said to have swallowed the poison churned from the cosmic ocean, turning his throat blue, the Neelkanth of the Samudra Manthan myth. The present temple buildings are of modest recent construction rather than ancient fabric, but the site's mythological association and its forested, spring-fed setting have made it an important adjunct pilgrimage and trekking destination for visitors already drawn to Rishikesh's ashrams and Ganga ghats. Reached historically on foot through dense sal and pine forest, it now also has road access, and its relative architectural simplicity offers a contrast to the grander Char Dham shrines further up the Himalayan valleys.