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Trayambakeshwar Temple, Rishikesh
Shiva as Trayambakeshwar • Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
॥ ॐ नमः शिवाय ॥
Beside the Ganga near Lakshman Jhula, the tall Trayambakeshwar temple rises floor upon floor above Rishikesh, so often called the Terah Manzil, the thirteen-storey temple. Shrines to many deities fill its levels, but the temple is centred on Shiva as Trayambakeshwar. Pilgrims climb the floors for darshan and for widening views of the river below.
The thirteen-storey temple
The temple’s many storeys give it its popular name, the Terah Manzil. Each level carries its own small shrines, and the climb itself becomes part of the visit as the river and the town open up beneath.
The vertical plan is unusual among Himalayan temples and suits the crowded riverbank near Lakshman Jhula, where space along the Ganga is tight. The structure has become one of the recognisable shapes of the Rishikesh skyline.
Shiva as Trayambakeshwar
For all the deities enshrined across its floors, the temple takes its name and its focus from Shiva as Trayambakeshwar, the three-eyed lord. Worship of Shiva anchors the building, with the other shrines gathered around that centre.
The name carries the sense of Shiva’s far sight and his power over time. Devotees climbing the floors pause at the many images but keep the Shaiva dedication of the whole in mind.
On the Ganga at Lakshman Jhula
The temple stands close to Lakshman Jhula, the suspension footbridge that is one of Rishikesh’s landmarks. The Ganga runs swift and clear here as it leaves the hills, and the riverbank is lined with shrines, shops and ashrams.
From the upper floors the bridge, the river and the surrounding ridges come into view together. The setting joins pilgrimage with the wider draw of Rishikesh as a town of yoga and the Ganga.
Not the Nashik Jyotirlinga
This Rishikesh temple is distinct from the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga near Nashik in Maharashtra, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The names are close, but the two are different shrines in different states.
Pilgrims planning a Jyotirlinga circuit should note the difference so they are not confused. The Rishikesh Trayambakeshwar is a riverside temple visited as part of a Rishikesh stay, not as one of the twelve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the temple called Terah Manzil?
The temple is called Terah Manzil, the thirteen-storey temple, because of its many vertical floors. Each level holds small shrines, and pilgrims climb through them for darshan and river views.
Which deity is the temple centred on?
The temple is centred on Shiva as Trayambakeshwar, the three-eyed lord. Although many deities are enshrined across its floors, the Shaiva dedication anchors the whole building.
Where is Trayambakeshwar temple in Rishikesh?
It stands beside the Ganga near Lakshman Jhula in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. The riverbank around it is lined with shrines, shops and ashrams.
Is this the same as the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga?
No. The Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is near Nashik in Maharashtra and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The Rishikesh Trayambakeshwar is a separate riverside temple in Uttarakhand with a similar name.
What do pilgrims do at the temple?
Pilgrims climb the temple’s floors, taking darshan at the shrines on each level and pausing for views of the Ganga and Lakshman Jhula below. The climb itself is part of the experience.
What is nearby?
Lakshman Jhula, the famous suspension footbridge, is right beside the temple, and the Ganga riverfront with its ashrams and markets surrounds it. The temple fits naturally into a wider Rishikesh visit.
॥ हर हर महादेव ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Primary Deity | Shiva as Trayambakeshwar |
| Popular name | Terah Manzil (thirteen-storey) |
| River | Ganga |
| Landmark | Lakshman Jhula |
| Town | Rishikesh |
| State | Uttarakhand |
| Note | Distinct from Nashik Jyotirlinga |