History of Ram Jhula:
Ram Jhula was a hanging jute rope bridge (without pillar). The bridge was constructed by the public works department. The Government built Ram Jhula with help from the Sivananda Ashram Divine Life Society). The Ram Jhula was built in 1980. Ram is also known as Shivananda Jhula. Sivananda Ashram is one of the most famous ashram in Rishikesh. Sivananda ashram is also famous as yoga ashram. Ram Jhula connects Muni ki Reti to swarg ashram. Swarg Asrham area has Gita Bhawan, Parmarth Niketan Lakshmi Narayan Temple. Ram Jhula has Gita Bhawan, Sawarg Ashram Parmarth Niketan at one side & Madhuban Ashram, Yog Niketan & the Shivananda Ashram (Divine Life Society) on other side. Ram Jhula also has a busy market on both sides. You can get gems, precious and semi-precious stones, knickknacks, clothes, puja items, CDs and tapes. There are also shops for the religious goods, ayurvedic medicines, caps, Nehru jackets, kurtas, salwar kameez, sarees and jewellery, bangles on the narrow streets. You can also pick up simple, painted Ganesh idols, gems, incense, rudraksh beads, paintings, Nataraja statues and statues of almost every deity in the Hindu pantheon. Ram Jhula is also good for food. It has some famous and good restaurants like Chotiwala and Madras café. There is also sweet shop of Gita Bhawan on the other side. Shop has aaloo puri & lot of sweets other sweets in the shop.
