Rishikesh: Built around 1930 by the Britishers , this 90-year-old Lakshman Jhula on Ganga in Rishikesh town is the second Jhula after Ram Jhula that takes you to Swarg mandir, Geeta Bhawan, ‘Ungrez’ foreign visitors hideout, marijuana supplies, and the original Chotiwaala restaurant, and to the far end of the one side of the road/ actions ‘uspaar’ that has Parmarth Ashram as the main attraction.
A favorite of ‘selfie’ youths, motorcycle riders, cows and foot visitors, It was closed on July 12 for safety reasons, unfit for the use, with a reduced loading capacity and the dilapidated condition, an official said
A new suspension bridge, 150 meters long will be built on the river Ganga before the “Kumbh Mela” of 2021 as an alternative to this historic one.
A site for the bridge on the upper stream side of Lakshman Jhula has been identified by the public works department of Uttarakhand government and a budget of more than Rs. 3 crore has been sanctioned for initial work related to the project
“We have set ourselves the target of completing the construction of the bridge before the 2021 Kumbh Mela,” the official said, adding that the iconic bridge will be preserved as a British-era legacy.
Locals and traders protested its closure before the start of the “Kanwar Mela in July”.
Visitors are warned here to drive early in the morning or late in night as L crossing near Laxman Jhula thru the main road that goes to Deoprayag, and Dhams is blocked by heavy traffic, tourists from Delhi on Fri, Sat and Sunday. Locals do not venture that part of the town at all.
