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**Muni Ki Reti**
	Muni Ki Reti
	Muni Ki Reti Location of Muni Ki Reti; in Uttarakhand and India
Coordinates	30°04′N 78°10′E / 30.07°N 78.16°E
Country	India
State	Uttarakhand
District(s)	Tehri Garhwal
Population; • Density	7,879 (2001); • 4,329 /km2 (11,212 /sq mi)
Sex ratio	581 ♂/♀
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area; • Elevation	1.82 km2 (1 sq mi); • 356 m (1,168 ft)
• Pincode	• 249201
• Telephone	• +0135
	Footnotes [1]
Website	210.212.78.56/50cities/munikireti/english/home.asp

Muni Ki Reti (Devanagari:मुनि की रेती) is a town and a nagar panchayat in Tehri Garhwal district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It lies close to pilgrimage town of Rishikesh, and is most known for a host of ashrams in the area, including the Shri Shivananda Ashram of Swami Sivananda, the founder of Divine Life Society.

[edit] Etymology

Traditionally, the sandy (reti) banks of Ganga River here have been used by munis (sages) and sadhus for tapasya, giving the place it is name Muni ki Reti, literally "sands of the sages" ^[1]

[edit] History

Traditionally considered the gateway for the Char Dham pilgrimage — Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. 'Kailash Ashram' was established here in 1880, later in 1932, Shivananda Ashram was established here by Swami Sivananda, making it a popular destination for Yoga and Meditation practitioners from all over India, and seekers of Vedantic knowledge. The town became a nagar panchayat on nagar panchayat 30 November 1949 ^[2]. Over the year several others ashrams have come up in the area namely Swargashram, Gita Bhawan, Parmarth Niketan of Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Vanprastha Ashram, all situated on the opposite bank of the Ganga ^[3]

In February 1968 The Beatles visited, the now closed Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram ^[4], John Lennon, even recorded a song here, titled, 'The Happy Hrishikesh Song' ^[5]^[6] The Beatles composed nearly 48 songs during their time at the Maharishi's ashram, many of which appear on the White Album. Several other artists, including Mike Love of The Beach Boys, Donovan and Gyp Mills, visited the site to contemplate and meditate.

For years boats were the only way to go across the Ganga where numerous ashrams lie, but in the 1986, the building of the 222 ft. 'Ram Jhula', similar to the Laxman Jhula at Rishikesh, allowed easy access to the area, and also its rapid growth.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001^[update] India census^[7], Muni Ki Reti had a population of 7879. Males constitute 63% of the population and females 37%. Muni Ki Reti has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 63%. In Muni Ki Reti, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit] Administration

The member of the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) from Muni Ki Reti is Om Gopal, and Chairman, nagar palika is Manoj Dwivedi.

[edit] Gallery

Ram Jhula, the bridge over the Ganga.	Ghats on the Ganges and Ram Jhula bridge at Muni ki Reti	Ganga ghats across River Ganga, at Muni ki Reti	The Shiva statue overlooking the ghats, near Parmarth Niketan
Meditation chambers at the old Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram, now in ruins, Muni Ki Reti.	Gita Press outlet, Gita Bhavan, Muni Ki Reti	Sivananda Kutir on the Sivananda ghat, with Sivanada Ashram above.