Rishikesh is a city in Uttarakhand also named as the Yoga capital of world and is located in the foothills of Himalayas. It’s a spiritual town that owned popularity by the Beatles band during their stay in the town in year 1986. The city is surrounded by beautiful Himalayan districts of Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal and Haridwar be sided by river Ganges. Saints from all over the globe travel to the place to meditate to attain Nirvana. Since it’s a spiritual city meat and alcohol is banned here. For travelers Rishikesh is a stop over as all the tourist places above Rishikesh starts from here. In short, Rishikesh is a package of adventures, spirituality, meditation, energy and holiness.
Always plan your visit to Rishikesh for at least 3 days to 7 days as weekends will seem very less and your travel hunger wouldn’t stop in just 2 days. Indulge yourself in the beauty of nature, daily yoga, meditation, spend an evening at Triveni Ghat and meet new people or tourists.
Bagpackers or solo travelers gets stuck here due to tendency of the place in attaining peace of mind and heal humans. Remote workers please be warned before getting to Rishikesh won’t let you leave…..
Here, I am providing a full guide for you to enjoy the best of Rishikesh be it yoga, ashrams and spirituality, or hostels and adventure activities.
Getting to Rishikesh
Since Rishikesh is a neighboring city of capital city Delhi, it’s really easy to reach the city with almost all the means be it train, car or bus. Located at a distance of around 235 km, it’s just an overnight journey (5 hours) from Delhi and other nearby cities. Within the city you can easily hire a taxi or the best option a tuktuk that would cost around 800 INR for 2 days and roam around different parts of the city.
Via Train:
To reach Rishikesh via train, one have to go through a break journey as the spiritual city don’t have direct train schedule. The nearest hotspot to reach Rishikesh is Haridwar, the forward journey of 25 km can be taken via taxi, bus or tuktuk. Haridwar from Delhi can be reached in just 5 hours and the tickets cost from 140-720 INR depending on the class of coach and Haridwar to Rishikesh would cost somewhere between 170-600 INR depending on the selection of bus while a tuktuk/taxi would take 600 INR.
Via Bus:
Since Rishikesh is a neighboring city to New Delhi, the best option is bus that would cut short the travel time and extra charges of tuktuk/taxi/bus from Haridwar. There are numerous buses plying daily at an interval of an hour from Kashmiri Gate ISBT. The timing of the buses are early morning and night that would costs around 700-1000 INR depending on the bus preference.
Via Air:
Jolly Grant Airport is the closest airport located in Dehradun at a distance of 35 kilometers from Rishikesh. Many popular carriers like Air India, Indigo, Vistara and SpiceJet runs from New Delhi and Lucknow airport daily. After reaching Dehradun you can either take a bus or taxi costing 120-400 INR and 600-800 INR respectively depending on one’s preference.
Stay in Rishikesh
The yoga capital is divided in two parts with the river separating it into Northern part and Eastern along with Western part reason being Northern part of the river is near to Laxman Jhula or Triveni Ghat that turns out to be a tourist side of Rishikesh with numbers of hotels, hostels, ashrams and homestays. The other side of the river is famous for Yoga and is full with the foreign tourists accommodated whole year. It’s suggested to stay near Laxman Jhula as it is the center of city and is easier to roam around the city from here. One can even find numerous restaurants, cafes and yoga centers here, be aware of monkeys though even on the Laxman Bridge as they won’t mind snatching things.
Hotels
Rishikesh offers numerous hotels with amazing view of mountains and Ganga River alongside. Few of the hotels people can try are Kunwar Residency, 360 degree, Hotel Great Ganga, Vedas Tapovan, Hotel Natraj, Elbee Ganga View, Yog Niketan, Hotel Ganesha Inn and The Ayali Rishikesh ranging from 1500-8000 INR depending on room and all of them is around 5-7 km from city center. If there is no budget issue then a stay in Aloha on the Ganges is a must visit with price ranging from 10,000-25,000 INR depending on the room preference.
Hostels
Hostel is a good option for young tourists travelling in a group or solo. There are a lot of hostels and guest houses in Rishikesh from Shiv Shakti Hostel to Live Free Hostel, The Hosteller and Zostel Rishikesh.
You can even get guesthouses like Vashishth, Maa Ganga, Maa Vaibhav Laxmi and The Blue the best among all with charges ranging from 400-800 INR. But then reaching there and then choosing satisfying your need is a good option.
Ashrams
Since Rishikesh comes under the holy and spiritual category, it has a lot of Ashrams mostly occupied by foreign tourists in almost every month but still Indians can get a little space in any of them. These Ashrams offer certain packages that comes 6-7 night stays including daily activities, meals and other meditational activities like meditation, yoga, eating habits, spiritual silence and health walks organized by the ashrams. Few of the most popular Ashrams one can try in Rishikesh are Phoolchatti, Sivananda, Swarg Ashram, High Bank, Parmarth Niketan, Yoga Niketan, Osho Gangadham and Rishikesh Yogpeeth.
Things to do | Places to visit in Rishikesh
Rishikesh have a lot to offer, people visiting here don’t have to think what to do next or where to go. There are places where you spend hours just sitting and doing nothing yet you won’t get bored. Here are some of the best things to do in Rishikesh!
Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula: Most resplendent place in Rishikesh is Laxman Jhula and walking over it to cross river Ganga is exhilarating. The view from the Laxman Bridge down below is stunning and incredible at the same time. The Ram jhula is at a distance of 2 and half kilometer from Laxman Jhula. Both the bridges are pedestrian that gives religious, serene and powerful feeling, overfilled with pilgrims, sadhus and tourists, even cows and monkeys.
Yoga: Yoga in Rishikesh offers numerous places to choose from with every hotels and Ashrams offering 4-5 Yoga classes each day. Rishikesh is the hub of Yoga Carnival happening whole year in India with most popular Yoga type as Hatha Yoga along with Kundalini and Vinyasa that would generally cost 200-300 INR for 90 minutes, the establishments are almost full with international tourist seeking spirituality, peace and enlightenment. The Yoga teachers and instructors in all these Yoga centers are humble and teaches everything with full dedication. Few of the good place for trying Yoga on your next trip are TAT Café, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram or the Beatles Ashram, Yoga Niketan, Sivananda Ashram, Phool Chatti and Anand Prakash Ashram.
Classes & Courses: Rishikesh is the place where people can learn about Yoga, Meditation, Chakra’s, Tantra, Singing, Music and Ayurveda. You can find people (mostly youngsters and foreigners) here more passionate and trained in their profession, the more details of these classes can be found on the posters all over the town.
Sound Healing: Sound healing is a type of meditation wherein sound comes from a bowl we can heal our whole body with soothing sound and vibrations. You need to just lie down and feel the incredible sound + vibrations that settles your mind completely and heals the body. Few better places for sound healing sessions are Devi Music Ashram, Nada Yoga Ashram, Haritha Yogshala, Kundalini Yoga Ashram and Rishikesh Sound Healing.
Neergarh Waterfall: Neergarh waterfall is best one at least for me in Rishikesh. It’s at a walking distance from main city at a steep road with amazing views of the Ganges on the down side. You will find less crowd here other than lots of monkeys (Rishikesh is home to monkeys and cows😜). It’s a short hike with steep climb from starting near small tea stalls till the top near Aqua Café with camping facility available. A nominal cost of 50 INR needs to be payed to visit this waterfall and one can climb higher.
The Beatles Ashram: The Chaurasi Kutia was later named as the Beatles Ashram when the famous Beatles Band of Liverpool came to stay here in 1986. The Ashram is popular among the international tourist and Beatles fans, people often come to this Ashram because of its location, architecture (basically caves), graffiti, painting, photo gallery or to learn the history of how and what The Beatles given and achieved here in Rishikesh. The Ashram is inside the Rajaji National Park with mind-blowing location and serene beauty with entry fee of 150 INR for Indians and 600 INR for foreigners.
Camping: Camping in Rishikesh and at nearby places is famous because of its location and nature basically because it’s a first city when you leave Delhi or other cities on plain. There are many posters and hoardings stick all around the city with the details of camping sites along with adventure activities they are offering, please avoid booking camps online first go, check and book then and there. Few of the good camping sites are paddler Zone, Camp Wildex and Alligator Compry all ranging somewhere between 2000-5000 INR.
Bungee Jumping: Adventure lovers, please experience this most exhilarating sport as Rishikesh is famous for Bungee Jumping. For Bungee jumping you can trust friendly and motivating staff of Jumping Heights (India’s first highest bungee jumping platform), they also offer other activities like Flying Fox and Giant Swing near Mohan Chatti. They setup the spot with 83 meters high platform above ground and ties the ankle with cords with exceptional safety measures with 3 level harness check. To reach the top there is 20 minutes’ walk uphill arranged by Jumping Heights (closed on Tuesdays) officials from Tapovan till Mohan Chatti.
White Water Rafting: Rishikesh is famous for White Water Rafting during the months of March till September attracting young adventure seekers for Rafting, Kayaking and other Water Activities. The rafting packages are for 10km, 16km, 26km and 32km with different starting points mostly from Brahampuri, Shivpuri, Marine Drive and Kaudiyala being the longest. There are many agencies whose posters can be seen all over the streets or you can check from your hotelier. One of them is Hideaway Adventures.
Jungle Safari in Rajaji National: People fond of wildlife, wild animals like Tigers. Panthers, Elephants, Deers, Sambhar, Wild boar, Goral Himalayan Black Bear and sloth bear can get booked onto a Jungle Safari! There are many service providers who provide jeeps, cars and open roof cars for a tour inside Rajaji National Park.
Ganga Evening Aarti Ceremony: Being one of the spiritual city, after Varanasi Rishikesh witnesses Ganga Aarti every evening on the banks of holy river Ganga. Watching priests perform the Aarti facing the Ganga River with lamps lit, chanting and prayers to the goddess is a spectacular sight. The Aarti happens at Parmarth Niketan Ashram near Ram Jhula Bridge, at Lakshman Jhula and Triveni Ghat. Be there on time to be close and get the entire view.
Sunrise at Kunjapuri Temple: Kunjapuri Temple comes with a package of 28km good trek, incredible sunrise, spectacular view of River Ganga, height of 1645 meters and a trek within villages. It’s just that you need to wake up early at 4 am and walk for 28km uphill.
Shopping: People more into herbal and Ayurveda kind a stuff would love the shopping in Rishikesh. Friendly shop owners will give full details of each and every product like essential oils, natural beauty products, Ayurveda medicines so much more!
Go to the Beach: Beaches in Rishikesh are best places to be in, you just need to find a quiet and clean spot with cold water flowing over your legs. These spots can be easily located, just try to move upwards.
Haridwar: Just 20 km from Rishikesh, Haridwar is a religious place with pilgrims visiting here to take a dip in holy River Ganga to wash off their sins. The place is famous for its evening Ganga Aarti happening every day with crowds chanting and praying. Kids here can be seen collecting coins thrown by pilgrims with the help of magnets tied with a rope.
Garud Chatti: Garud Chatti is a waterfall near Neelkanth road located at a distance of 9 km from Rishikesh Railway Station and 4 km from Lakshman Jhula. Particularly famous among foreign tourists this small but beautiful and pleasant place to spend couple of hours. During the monsoons water flows in seven different levels enriching the beauty and greenery. To reach the waterfall one have to trek for around 3 km starting from Lakshman Jhula towards Neelkantha Mahadev Temple going through Garuda temple on the way.
Phool Chatti: Phool Chatti is located on the same road as Garud Chatti with an extension of 3 km from there. From Laxman Jhula it is 6 km away.
Swarg Ashram: Swami Vishudhanand, the saint popularly known as Kali Kamli Wala is the one who is remembered at this place. Popular among foreign tourists because of the ethnic touch, the ashram is located at Gangapar, Ram Jhula comprising of lots of other ashrams and temples inside the campus with religious activities like chanting, meditation and aarti happening all day long.
Best Places to Eat in Rishikesh
For me, eating is just like letting your body relax and get nutrition at a place full of positivity and peace. In Rishikesh, you can find every other cafes and restaurants with amazing views amidst mountains, Ganga River flowing aside and cold breeze all around offering good, healthy food with plenty of Vegetarian and Vegan options at a very low prices. Few of my personal favorite cafes and restaurants are:
- Little Buddha Café: Packed with foreign tourists they provide western and vegan food, especially breakfast like salads, nachos, sandwiches etc. with a view of the River Ganga and built with tree house theme.
- Ganga View Café: The café comes with great view and location providing multicuisine and gluten free food.
- Tat Cafe: They have a great view from balcony also provides Yoga classes.
- Shambala: The place is famous for its live music with local artists on their unique instruments, enjoy the dinner with regular Live Music.
- The Beatles Cafe: Beatles fan should not forget to try the cuisines and coffee provided here.
- The Bakeries: In Rishikesh, I could find the best cakes and pastries here. Once you try a bite here, you will get addicted to the place and enjoy pastries here daily, don’t forget to try HOT CHOCOLATE DIPPED IN BROWNEY!
- Choti Wala: The restaurant is famous all over Rishikesh, recommended by almost all the locals you will find the authentic Rishikesh Thali here. A bit crowdie but the food is deliciously awesome here.
My Experience
I believe Rishikesh is the hub of all travel destinations in Uttarakhand, anyone going to Dehradun, Mussoorie, Nainital, etc. would go through this route. I have visited Rishikesh with one of my all time travel partner numerous of times. Rishikesh is like a spiritual city under western culture with all the foreign tourists, musicians, adventures and treks happening here all year round. I usually visit Rishikesh as a break point from Delhi to another city in Uttarakhand like I mentioned above. On my first visit particularly for roaming around Rishikesh I enjoyed the sunrise, the cafes, the river, waterfalls, the yoga classes, seeing and listening to like-minded travelers live out their dream there too.
Few of the most important points as per my experience is elaborated here:
- Alcohol and Non-veg is prohibited in the city reason being its spirituality.
- Choti Wala, The Bakeries and Shambala Café are the must visit eateries.
- Shoppers are suggested to shop from Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula with good negotiating skills.
- Rafting is open from late September to mid-November and early March to 1st week of May, plan your trip accordingly.
- Go and try adventure activities like camping, flying fox, bungee jumping, mountain biking, hiking, trekking, rock climbing and rappelling here.
- Choose your adventure packages wisely after checking 4-5 centers that includes all these activities along with commuting charges.
- Book your Bungee Jumping slot in advance to avoid the houseful kind of situation.
- Bungee Jump would cost 3550 INR per head with 750 INR extra for video, try to get a combo to make it cost effective (non-refundable in case you change your mind).
- There are certain guidelines for Bungee Jump: age should be between 12 to 45 years and weight 35 to 120 kg.
- People with any kind of health issue, kindly avoid this sport.
We enjoyed our time in Rishikesh fully and carried lots of memories with us back to Delhi. I hope this guide will help the travelers out there planning their trip to Rishikesh, the city that I personally love and enjoy their time off as I did. I will write more on the nearby places of Rishikesh soon.
Until then, Happy Travelling!
