By road
~230-240 km from Delhi
North India · Uttarakhand
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
Yoga, ashrams and Ganga rapids · ~230-240 km from Delhi
Getting there
By rail
Haridwar Junction, ~25 km, is the practical choice; Rishikesh's own station has only limited slow trains
By air
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, ~22-43 km
Best time to visit
September to April; March for the yoga festival
Don't miss
Laxman Jhula
Ram Jhula
Triveni Ghat aarti
Neelkanth Mahadev
Things to do
White-water rafting
Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat
Bungee at Mohan Chatti
Ashram stays
Where to eat
Sources: wikimedia, Photo: Tylersundance · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Yoga-friendly clothing, river sandals, warm evening layer
A quieter corner
The Beatles Ashram's graffiti halls inside Rajaji forest
Before you go
Yoga capital and the starting point of the Char Dham road; the International Yoga Festival is in March. The town is vegetarian and alcohol-free by rule; rafting season runs roughly Sept-June.
Questions travellers ask
When should I go to Rishikesh?
September to April. March is the month if you want the yoga festival.
How do I reach Rishikesh?
Jolly Grant at Dehradun is 22-43 km away, but Haridwar Jn at 25 km is the practical rail choice. From Delhi it is 230-240 km by road.
What should I know before arriving?
The town is vegetarian and alcohol-free by rule. Bring yoga-friendly clothing, river sandals and a warm layer for the evenings.
When can I raft?
The rafting season runs roughly September to June.
What is worth seeing beyond the ghats?
The Beatles Ashram's graffiti halls, inside Rajaji forest. Neelkanth Mahadev is about 30 km up the hill if you want the longer trip.
About Rishikesh
- Riverside
- Hills
Where it is
Rishikesh is a town in Uttarakhand where the Ganges leaves the Himalayan foothills for the plains, upstream of Haridwar and on the edge of Rajaji National Park.
History
Rishikesh has drawn sages and pilgrims for centuries as a gateway to the Himalayan shrines of the Char Dham. Its ashrams multiplied in the 20th century, and the Beatles' stay at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in 1968 made it famous around the world as a centre of yoga and meditation.
People
Rishikesh's people speak Garhwali and Hindi, and the town's life is shaped by its ashrams and sadhus and by the pilgrims and yoga students who come from around the world. The International Yoga Festival is held here each March.
Known for
- Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula
- The Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat
- Yoga and meditation ashrams
- White-water rafting on the Ganges
- The Beatles Ashram
Did you know?
Rishikesh is often called the yoga capital of the world, and by local rule meat and alcohol are not sold in the town.
Shrines and sites
- Triveni Ghat evening aarti
- Parmarth Niketan and the Ganga aarti
- Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
- Ram Jhula / Janki Setu and the ashram belt of Swarg Ashram
Traditions
- Hindu
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.