Bajrang Setu, Rishikesh — What's There and How to Visit
Bajrang Setu is a 132-metre cable suspension bridge across the Ganga at the site of the old Laxman Jhula, connecting Tapovan on the Tehri Garhwal bank with Jonk on the Pauri side. It has toughened glass walkways along both edges and towers modelled on the sanctum of the Kedarnath temple — the first glass-floor suspension bridge of its kind in India.
Most of what's written about it online was published before it opened and hasn't been corrected since. We're a few minutes away, so here's what we can confirm — and we're upfront below about the details that change often enough that we'd rather you called us for today's answer than trust a fixed number on a page.
Bajrang Setu at a Glance
| Location | Laxman Jhula area, Tapovan, Rishikesh |
|---|---|
| Connects | Tapovan (Tehri Garhwal) ↔ Jonk (Pauri Garhwal) |
| Length | 132 metres |
| Walkways | Glass panels along both sides |
| Cost to build | Around ₹69 crore |
| Open to pedestrians / two-wheelers, entry fee, timings | Ask us on WhatsApp for today's position — these details change and we'd rather give you a straight current answer by phone than a stale one here. |
What Happened to Laxman Jhula
The original Laxman Jhula was an iron suspension bridge built in 1929, and for ninety years it was the image most people carried of Rishikesh. In July 2019 engineers found the structure could no longer take the load, and it was closed to pedestrians and vehicles. It has stayed closed since.
That left a genuine gap. The bridge wasn't only a photograph — it was the crossing, and the shops and guesthouses on both banks depended on the foot traffic over it. For several years the only ways across were Ram Jhula, several kilometres downstream, or Janki Setu.
Bajrang Setu was built at the same site to replace it. The name honours Hanuman — Bajrang Bali — while the site itself carries the older story of Lakshman crossing the Ganga here on a jute rope.
Getting There
From Tapovan — a few minutes' walk. Most guesthouses and hostels in Tapovan and the Laxman Jhula lanes are within ten minutes on foot.
From Rishikesh bus stand — roughly 5 km, around 20–30 minutes by auto through Muni Ki Reti.
From Rishikesh railway station — roughly 8 km.
From Haridwar — roughly 25 km to Rishikesh, then on to Tapovan.
From Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun — roughly 35 km.
Parking near the bridge is genuinely tight in the Laxman Jhula lanes — ask us when you collect your bike and we'll point you to where it's actually sensible to leave it.
Best Time to Visit
Time of day — early morning, between about 7 and 9 AM. Better light, far fewer people, and the river is at its best before the haze comes up. Evenings are busy but the bridge is lit after dark.
Time of year — October to March is the most comfortable. April to June is hot and busy. Avoid the monsoon peak, July through mid-September, when the river runs high and the weather is unreliable.
Avoid — weekends, public holidays, and the Kanwar Yatra period in Shravan, when Rishikesh is at its fullest.
A Note on Vertigo
The glass sections are genuinely transparent above the river. People who are fine on ordinary suspension bridges report finding them uncomfortable. There's a solid central deck if you'd rather not walk on the panels.
What Else Is Around
- Tapovan market and the cafes — immediately on the Tapovan side.
- Ram Jhula and Swarg Ashram — the ashram district downstream, with the Parmarth Niketan Ganga Aarti in the evening.
- Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia) — around 8 km.
- Neer Garh Waterfall — around 6 km uphill from Tapovan.
- Vashishtha Gufa and Shivpuri — 16–22 km upstream along the river road. Route guide →
- Kunjapuri Temple — around 25 km, for sunrise. Route guide →
- Neelkanth Mahadev — around 32 km. Route guide →
Everything past the first two is a ride rather than a walk. Rides from Tapovan →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bajrang Setu open?
Can two-wheelers cross Bajrang Setu?
What is the entry fee for Bajrang Setu?
What are Bajrang Setu's timings?
Is Laxman Jhula open?
Is Bajrang Setu safe?
How long is Bajrang Setu?
Exploring Beyond the Bridge
We rent bikes and scooties a few minutes from here, in Ghugtyani Malli. Neelkanth Mahadev, Kunjapuri, Vashishtha Gufa and the river road to Shivpuri are all short rides from the bridge and awkward without your own transport. Scooties from ₹500 a day, Royal Enfields from ₹1,200.