Situated in the heart of the city Shri Bharat Mandir is the most ancient and the most famous temple. The history of the temple is the history of Hrishikesh indeed. The glory of this ancient temple is described in Kedar Khand (Vide Chapters 115 to 120)

In the seventeenth Manavavtar, Lord Vishnu pleased by the hard penance of Raibhya rishi Himself said “I will reside here for ever as Hrishikesh Narayan and this place will be known as Hrishikesh.” Those who worshiped me as Varah in Satyug, as Parashuram in Treta Yug, Vaman in Dwapar and Bharat in Kaliyug are certainly entitled for liberation.