Lakshman Jhula is an iron suspension bridge across the river Ganges, located 5km north-east from the town Rishikesh in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The bridge connects the two villages; Tapovan in Tehri Garhwal district to Jonk in Pauri Garhwal district crossing the river from west to east. However it is near to the Rishikesh city thus creating ambiguity in its location, the bridge is one of the iconic landmarks of Rishikesh. A similar bridge 2km 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. Lakshman Jhula was completed in 1929.
Two plaques exist at the foot of the West side (located in Tapovan) of the bridge.
The first plaque reads:
Lakshman Jhula 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 April 11, 1930.
Officers / Officials responsible include:
1. Chief Engineer - 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 feet
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.