Direct Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna in Kankhal and branch center Rishikesh Sevashrama. 

Swami Brahmananda and Swami Turiyananda (both sitting), Swami Shivananda (standing)

He used to invite the brother-disciples of Swamiji occasionally  and serve them with great devotion.. In 1912 Swami Brahmananda stayed with him for more than seven months and held the Durga Puja performed in the image tor the first time at Kankhal and branch center Rishikesh  . Swami Turiyananda, who used to perform Sadhana at different places, was invited during his sickness by Swami Kalyanananda and served with devotion in the Ashrama.

Just imagine two poor monks carrying a corpse all by themselves, walking barefooted on the rugged stony path under the scorching sun. That was not all; Nischayananda would get up early in the morning and  carrying a medicine box and a bundle of other necessary articles on his shoulders, would walk to Rishikesh 28 kilometres up the hill. There he would go from place to place enquirer about the well being of the sadhus, treat the sick and even feed the disabled monks. As for his own food, he would beg it from the Chatras. After completing his round in the afternoon he would walk all the way back to Kankhal and branch center Rishikesh  . Thus everyday he travelled 56 kilo meters undeterred by rain or sun, heat or cold. This only illustrates how dedication to the noble ideal of service generates superhuman power. In those days the community of monks used to regard serving the poor and the sick as beneath monastic dignity and  against the monastic tradition. They would say, ‘Once we have taken Sannyasa by performing viraja homa, we are beyond all actions. However, being unable to devote all their time to the study of scriptures and meditation, they would idle away their time either in useless wrangling or in seeking palatable food. They could not appreciate the social orientation given to monasticism by Swami Vivekananda and so, would denounce his disciples by calling them ‘Bhangi Sadhus’ (scavenger-monks). Fortunately, however, a few monks understood the significance of practical Vedanta as taught by Swamiji. Swami Dhanaraj Giri, a reputed scholar and Mandaleshwar (abbot) of Kailash Math, being one among them.

Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Kankhal (RKMS) is in its present form is a 210-bed multi-specialty charitable hospital in Kankhal, Haridwar in Uttarakhand. It is a branch of Ramakrishna Mission, and was established in 1901 by Swami Kalyanananda, one of the direct monastic disciples of Swami Vivekananda. The hospital serves the treatment needs of poor patients in and around Uttarakhand. Since its inception it has treated more than 10 million patients.[1] From a modest beginning in a rented two room dilapidated building it has grown to be a multi-specialty hospital for treatment of impoverished and needy people, under the supervision of the monks of Ramakrishna Order. The hospital is located in an 18 acres campus, and houses Gynecology and Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Intensive Care Units, Pathological laboratory, Blood bank, Operation Theaters etc. in addition to dairy and agricultural land whose products are used for the consumption of poor in patients.[1]

The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama is under Ramakrishna Mission which also undertakes extensive relief and rehabilitation work in the region, which it did for the recent Uttarakhand flood 2013.[2]

Rishikesh has been a part of the legendary “Kedarkhand”.[14] Legends state that Lord Rama did penance here for killing Ravana, the asura king of Lanka; and Lakshmana, his younger brother, crossed the river Ganges, using two jute ropes at the point where the present ‘Lakshman Jhula‘ (लक्ष्मण झूला) stands today.[15] The ‘Kedarkhand’ of Skanda Purana, also mentions the existence of Indrakund at this very point. The jute-rope bridge was replaced by a 248-foot long iron-rope suspension bridge in 1889. After it was washed away in the 1924 floods, it was replaced in 1927 by the present stronger bridge built by the United Provinces Public Works Department. This bridge connects the two districts of Tapovan, Tehri and Jonk, Pauri Garhwal. Another similar suspension bridge Ram Jhula was built in 1986 at nearby Sivananda Nagar.

In contemporary history, one finds the mention of Rishikesh in The Gazeteer of Dehra Dun, by ICS office HG Walton. It reads, ” A village or town beautifully situated on the right bank of the Ganges, on a high cliff overlooking the river. The place is developing very rapidly, especially since the construction of the new bridge over the Song river, the realignment of the pilgrim road from Raiwala to Rishikesh.[16]“

The Ganges, one of the most sacred rivers to Hindus,[17] flows through Rishikesh. Here the river leaves the Shivalik Hills in the Himalayas and flows into the plains of northern India. Several temples, ancient and new, are along the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh. Shatrughna Mandir, Bharat Mandir (Lord Vishnu’s avatar), Lakshman Mandir are the ancient temples established by Adi Shankaracharya. Shatrughna Temple is near Ram Jhula and Lakshman Mandir is situated near Lakshman Jhula.

The historical records mention that some pilgrims used to stay at Rishikesh as a resting place before moving onwards to the higher mountains for the pilgrimage while a larger number used to visit Rishikesh as the original destination and visited various sites between Rishikesh and Lakshman Jhula before returning.[16] However, Rishikesh has in recent decades shifted from a pilgrim to a tourist town. The International Yoga Festival introduced in 2000 has brought a new influx of tourists. Local markets have evolved from commercialising goods such as “local and religious handicrafts” to a more service-oriented tourist industry with “provision stores, cafes, hotels and yoga and meditation” as well as rafting.[18

See also: List of cities in Uttarakhand by population

As per provisional data of 2011 census Rishikesh had a population of 102,138, out of which males were 54,466 (53%) and females were 47,672 (47%). The literacy rate was 86.86% compared to the national average of 74.04%.[30]

———-Thank to Wikipedia for the contribution of this article.