Short answers, pulled from the story.
Rishikesh earned the nickname Yoga Capital of the World through its long history as a gathering place for yogis and saints, amplified when the Beatles visited Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram there in February 1968. The city has hosted the International Yoga Festival every year in the first week of March since 1999, drawing practitioners from around the world.
Rishikesh is derived from a name of Vishnu, composed of hrishika meaning 'senses' and isha meaning 'lord', giving the combined meaning 'Lord of the Senses'. The name commemorates an apparition of Vishnu to the sage Raibhya Rishi as a result of his tapasya, or austerities.
In February 1968, the Beatles traveled to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh to study transcendental meditation. During their stay, the band composed numerous songs, many of which appeared on their self-titled double album, commonly known as the White Album.
Yes, Rishikesh is a vegetarian-only and alcohol-free city. The sale of meat, fish, and eggs has been banned since 1956, and the Supreme Court upheld the ban on eggs specifically in 2004.
Lakshman Jhula is a suspension bridge over the Ganges at the spot where, according to legend, Lakshmana crossed the river using two jute ropes. The original 248-foot iron-rope bridge was built in 1889, washed away in 1924, replaced in 1927 by the United Provinces Public Works Department, and collapsed again in 2020. A glass bridge is now under construction at the site.
Rishikesh offers whitewater rafting on the Ganges from Grades I-IV, India's highest bungee jumping at 83 metres over a rocky cliff, and the longest zipline in Asia at 1 kilometre with speeds reaching 140 kilometres per hour.