Yoga, ashrams and the Ganges at the foot of the Himalaya.
Rishikesh lies in the state of Uttarakhand, where the Ganges leaves the Himalayan foothills for the plains. For centuries it has drawn pilgrims, sadhus and seekers, and today it is one of the best-known places in the world to study yoga and meditation, with ashrams and schools on both banks of the river.
Its international fame grew in 1968, when the Beatles stayed at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Today the town combines temples and evening aartis with cafés, hiking and white-water rafting.
Rishikesh suits travellers who want a change of pace after the big cities: a yoga class at sunrise, a walk along the river, the evening aarti on the ghats and a day of rafting or hiking in the hills. It is also the gateway to the Himalayan pilgrim routes of Uttarakhand, and close to Haridwar, one of Hinduism's seven holy cities.
A pedestrian suspension bridge linking the two banks near the main ashrams. Motorbikes are officially banned but still appear, so keep to the side.
The famous iron suspension bridge of Lakshman Jhula has been closed to the public for safety since 2019. A new bridge with glass walkways, Bajrang Setu, has been built alongside it for pedestrians.
The largest bathing ghat, with an evening aarti at sunset. Another well-attended aarti takes place at Parmarth Niketan ashram.
Drop-in classes, retreats and longer teacher-training courses are offered by many ashrams and schools. The International Yoga Festival is held each March.
The ruins of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram, now inside Rajaji Tiger Reserve, with murals and meditation cells. There is an entry fee.
Rafting trips run on the Ganges upstream of the town, roughly from autumn to early summer. Rafting stops during the monsoon.
Arrive from Delhi or Haridwar, walk across Ram Jhula and along the river, and watch the evening aarti.
A morning yoga class, the Beatles Ashram and the Bajrang Setu area, then a half-day rafting trip in season.
Visit Haridwar for the evening aarti at Har Ki Pauri before returning to Delhi.
Two to three days is enough to see Rishikesh and Haridwar and take a class or two. Yoga courses and retreats need a week or more.
From late September to April. February to April and October to November are the most pleasant. The monsoon, from July to September, brings heavy rain and landslides in the hills, and rafting is suspended.
Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport is about 20–25 km from Rishikesh, with flights from Delhi and other cities. Fast trains run from Delhi to Haridwar, about 25 km away. By road, Delhi to Rishikesh is about 240 km and usually takes five to seven hours, depending on traffic.
Rishikesh is usually visited from Delhi, often together with Haridwar. It can be added to a Golden Triangle trip, or combined with the hill stations of Himachal Pradesh, such as Shimla, on a longer route.
Opening hours, fees and seasonal conditions change. We confirm current details when we plan your trip.
No. The old Lakshman Jhula bridge has been closed to the public since 2019 for safety reasons. A new pedestrian bridge, Bajrang Setu, has been built next to it, and Ram Jhula is open.
Rafting usually runs from around late September to June and is suspended during the monsoon. The exact dates are set by the local authorities each year.
About 240 km by road, usually five to seven hours. You can also take a fast train to Haridwar or fly to Dehradun.
Private itineraries you can take as they are or change to suit you.
9 nights / 10 days
Mughal monuments, Rajput palaces and two of India's holiest river towns, Varanasi and Rishikesh, in ten days.
Price on request, quoted for your group
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