The 90-year-old suspension bridge was shut in 2019 after a PWD panel found it "not in a position to sustain any more load." Its ₹56-crore glass-floored replacement, Bajrang Setu, missed its July 2023 deadline and was still under construction (65% done, retargeted June 2025) more than three years after being commissioned; as of May 2026 Lakshman Jhula itself remained closed with no reopening date.
On record
The official record states: "Uttarakhand's Additional Chief Secretary said without closure "some big mishap could take place"; PWD found the bridge's components in "very bad condition" and beyond repair."
Filed as "Still closed / under repair as of 2026" and dated to Built 1927-29; closed 2019; replacement approved Oct 2021 (due July 2023), this entry sits under the "₹56 crore (Bajrang Setu replacement bridge)" line of the public accounts.
What to expect
- A structure best photographed from a respectful distance.
- Warning boards whose advice was, at some point, overtaken by events.
- A view of the water that residents did not ask to have this closely.
- Contractor signage, still standing, credit unclear.
Sourcing
2 public sources — news reports, RTI replies and civic archives — corroborate this entry. The citation trail is listed below for anyone who would like to follow up with the department concerned.
“Every inspection ends with a fresh coat of paint on the barricade.”— Blunderlust Editorial Desk
Sources
- https://www.tripoto.com/uttarakhand/trips/rishikeshs-iconic-lakshman-jhula-closed-down-after-90-years-deemed-unsafe-and-beyond-repair-5d29dc897d969
- https://rishikeshnomads.com/place/lakshman-jhula-currently-closed/
Visitor reviews
“Made it the first stop on a day of Rishikesh public works. Take the photo and go; there is no second act.”
“Turned up on a public holiday, which explained the silence. It is the civic equivalent of a sentence trailing off.”
“Went to see the bridge the whole neighbourhood keeps mentioning. Two administrations claim the foundation and neither claims the delay.”