Ganga-side town in the Himalayan foothills known for yoga, ashrams, evening aarti and river rafting.
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Rishikesh mixes pilgrimage, yoga and adventure sport in one small town on the Ganga. It suits pilgrims, yoga students, backpackers and families who want rafting and riverside temples within a short trip from Delhi. The town is vegetarian and alcohol-free.
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Plan from your city
Photos
Lakshman JhulaThe Ganga at RishikeshGhats at RishikeshRam Jhula
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
Best time to go
When
What to expect
October to November
Autumn, about 14 to 30 C. Clear weather, good for rafting, walks and meditation.
December to February
Winter, about 5 to 20 C. Cool and comfortable for sightseeing and yoga; nights are cold.
March to April
Spring, about 12 to 30 C. Good rafting conditions and the International Yoga Festival in March.
May to June
Summer, with temperatures reaching about 38 C or more. Hot by day, but rafting still runs.
July to September
Monsoon, about 25 to 33 C, humid with heavy rain. Rafting is suspended in July and August and usually restarts in September.
Sights and activities
1
Triveni Ghat
The main bathing ghat of the town, where pilgrims take a dip in the Ganga. An evening aarti is held every day, run by the Ganga Seva Samiti.
Distance
In the town centre at Mayakund, about 1.4 km from the bus terminus and about 4 km from the Tapovan side
An iron suspension bridge over the Ganga, built in 1980, linking Sivananda Ashram with Swarg Ashram. Markets line both ends and it gives wide river views.
The largest ashram in the area, founded in 1942, with more than 1,000 rooms. It teaches yoga and meditation and holds a well-known Ganga aarti at sunset on its own ghat.
The former ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, where the Beatles stayed in 1968. It has old meditation huts and halls and is now managed by the forest department inside Rajaji Tiger Reserve.
Distance
About 1 to 2 km from Ram Jhula, on the Swarg Ashram side
Entry
150 rupees for Indians, 600 rupees for foreign nationals
A 450-foot iron suspension bridge from 1930, closed since 2019 as unsafe, with a replacement bridge called Bajrang Setu under construction. Next to it stands the 13-storey Trayambakeshwar (Tera Manzil) temple.
Distance
About 7 km from the town centre; in the Tapovan and Laxman Jhula stay area
A Shiva temple on a forested hilltop, linked to the legend of Shiva drinking poison. It can be reached by road or by a long forest trek from Ram Jhula.
Distance
About 32 km by road from Rishikesh; the trek from Ram Jhula is about 22 km
A tiger reserve with elephants, leopards and more than 300 bird species, visited by jeep safari from Chilla. It is closed during the monsoon and is best from November to March.
Distance
Chilla is about 13 km from Haridwar.
Entry
About 750 rupees per Indian visitor and 1,500 rupees per foreign visitor; jeep safari about 1,500 rupees per vehicle plus 150 rupees per person
Timings
Safaris about 6 am to 11 am and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm; closed in monsoon
Rishikesh is on the highway from Delhi (about 234 to 252 km). Ordinary and luxury buses run from Delhi ISBT Kashmiri Gate and other points to Rishikesh bus stand in about 5 to 5.5 hours.
By train
Rishikesh has its own railway station (RKSH), about 3 km from Triveni Ghat. Haridwar, about 25 km away, has far more express trains, including the New Delhi to Dehradun Shatabdi.
By air
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, is the nearest airport. Sources put it between about 21 and 35 km away; the taxi ride takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Where to base yourself
Stay in Tapovan or the Laxman Jhula area for hostels and cafes, or on Swarg Ashram Road near Ram Jhula for budget and mid-range hotels close to the ashrams.
Getting around
Auto-rickshaws and shared autos run between the bus stand, Triveni Ghat, Ram Jhula and Tapovan.
Taxis and local buses link the railway station with Muni-ki-Reti and Swarg Ashram.
Bikes and cabs can be rented for trips to Neelkanth and Rajaji.
The Ram Jhula, Swarg Ashram and Laxman Jhula areas are best covered on foot.
A taxi from Jolly Grant Airport to Rishikesh costs about 1,485 to 1,595 rupees one way.
Often combined with
Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.
Food is vegetarian across the town and alcohol is not sold. Cafes cluster around Laxman Jhula, Tapovan and Swarg Ashram; names that come up often include Little Buddha Cafe, Ramana's Organic Cafe, Oasis Cafe and Devraj Coffee Corner (the German Bakery).
Try these
North Indian vegetarian thali (rice, roti, dal and vegetables)
South Indian dishes (served in many restaurants)
Ayurvedic and organic cafe meals
Continental and bakery food in traveller cafes
Everything is vegetarian. Meat is prohibited in the town.
Daily costs
Budget level
Stay per room
Food per person
Local transport
Budget
₹800
₹400
₹150 per person
Mid-range
₹3,000
₹900
₹1,200 per vehicle
Luxury
₹9,000
₹2,000
₹2,500 per vehicle
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
Permits and documents
No permit was found to be needed for the town. Rajaji National Park and the Beatles Ashram charge entry fees at the gate; carry a photo ID.
Safety
By day
No specific online safety advisory was found. The main risks mentioned are on the river: rafting is not allowed for pregnant women, people with heart conditions or fractures, and operators apply age limits (about 12 to 60) and weight limits.
At night
The town has no bars or alcohol sales, and the old Lakshman Jhula bridge is closed, so plan river crossings by Ram Jhula.
Solo women
The town receives many solo yoga students and backpackers, with hostels in Tapovan and Laxman Jhula.
Roads
The highway from Delhi takes about 5 to 6.5 hours. Rafting on the Ganga is suspended in July and August because the river is unsafe in the monsoon.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies)
Practical
Mobile network
All the main networks (Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL) work in town.
ATMs and cash
ATMs are easy to find in town.
Fuel
There are several petrol pumps in and around town.
Medical
Hospitals are easy to find across the city. In an emergency dial 112, or 108 for an ambulance in most states.
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