Trayambakeshwar Temple

Trayambakeshwar Temple stands on the bank of the Ganga in Rishikesh and is dedicated to Shiva; the name refers to the three-eyed god. It is also called Tera Manzil Temple because it rises thirteen storeys, tera being Hindi for thirteen, and it is said to be about 1,000 years old. One legend credits Adi Shankaracharya with founding it, and another holds that its Shivalinga is swayambhu, or self-manifested.

The temple is built entirely of stone and carved with figures of deities. It combines Nagara features such as inscribed pillars and walls with South Indian mandapas and a gopuram. Each floor holds shrines to different deities with priests in attendance, and the Shivalinga is on the top floor, which overlooks the river.