Lakshman Jhula

View from the West

Lakshman Jhula (Hindi: लक्ष्मण झूला) is an iron suspension bridge situated in Muni Ki Reti in Tehri Garhwal district of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It was erected over the Ganges river and is a landmark of Rishikesh. A similar bridge further downstream from Lakshman Jhula is Ram Jhula.

It is said that Lakshmana crossed Ganges on jute ropes between the place where this bridge is built.[1] Lakshman Jhula was completed in 1929.[2]

Two plaques exist at the foot of the West side of the bridge.

The first plaque reads:
Lakshman Jhuala Bridge
First Jeepable Suspension Bridge of U.P.
Span - 450 feet
Carriage Way - 6 feet
This bridge was constructed by U.P. P.W.D. during 1927-1929. It replaces the old bridge of 284 feet span which was washed away by great floods of October-1924. This was opened to traffic on 11, April, 1930.
Officers / Officials responsible include:
1. Chief Engineer - Sri P.H. Tillard.
2. Superintending Engineer - E.H. Cornelius
3. Executive Engineer C.F. Hunter
4. Assistant Engineers - Jagdish Prasad, Avadh Narain
5. Overseer - Bala Ram

The second plaque reads:
Lakshman Jhuala Suspension Bridge
Span 450 feet
Height of roadway above mean Summer water level 59 ft.
Opened to traffic by H.E. Sir Malcolm Haley C.C.I.E. K.C.S.I. Governor of the United Provinces on April 11, 1930. This bridge was constructed by the Public Works Department during the years 1927-1929. It replaces the old bridge of 284 feet span, which was the gift of Rai Bahadur Surajmal Jhunjhunwala father of Rai Bahadur Shewpershad Tulshan, and was situated about 200 feet down stream. This was washed away by the great flood of October, 1924 which undermined the left abutment. The extra cost of rebuilding this new bridge as nearly as possible on the site of the old bridge has been contributed by Rai Bahadur Shewpershad Tulshan to perpetuate the honored memory of his father and no toll or tax will ever be imposed or realized for crossing this bridge.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Kohli, M.S. (2002). Mountains of India: Tourism, Adventure and Pilgrimage. New Delhi: Indus Publishing Company. p. 316. ISBN 81-7387-135-3.
  2. ↑ "Lakshman Jhula". India9.com. Retrieved 2009-07-20.

Coordinates: 30°7′34.9″N 78°19′47.6″E / 30.126361°N 78.329889°E / 30.126361; 78.329889


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