Honestly, I almost skipped Rishikesh. A friend kept pushing, I kept saying yoga wasn’t really my thing, and then one random Thursday I booked an overnight bus anyway. Best impulse decision I’ve made. Ever since, people have messaged me asking about the best places to visit in Rishikesh, so I’m finally writing it all down instead of typing the same voice note forty times.
The Route and Destination
Some facts on Rishikesh. Uttrakhand is located at that spot where the Ganga river originates from the foothills of the Himalayas. If you are interested in getting some idea about the location of Rishikesh, then Rishikesh is part of the city of Dehradun, which is located about 240 kilometres away from Delhi.
How do you get there?
| Option | Details |
| Train + taxi | Usually people go through Haridwar by train and then take a taxi, which takes around half an hour. There are more train choices available in Haridwar. |
| Flight | But flying is also an option; you can fly through Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun, which is half an hour away. |
| Overnight bus | I chose the overnight bus route from Delhi. I slept badly, reached in bad mood, but forgave everything the moment I saw the river. |
Now how to choose accommodation?
- For me the best places are Tapovan or Laxman Jhula, as cafes, hostels and yoga studios are all close at hand.
- Do you like it silent? Then it is the other side of the river, as on holiday weekends it is very noisy.
Why Is Rishikesh Famous, Anyway?
- Mostly because of yoga. It’s called the Yoga Capital of the World.
- Then there’s the Beatles story, since they stayed at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram here in the late sixties.
- And the Ganga is so cold and fast that rafting feels like a real adventure.
- Oddly, it all works together. You can chant at sunrise and scream down a rapid by afternoon.
When to Go
- September to November and March to April felt perfect.
- March has the International Yoga Festival, which is great but crowded, so book early.
- I’d skip the monsoon.
- Winters are chilly too, and a lot of rooms don’t have proper heating.
Day 1: Ghats, Bridges and the Aarti
- I woke up early for Triveni Ghat and watched people take their sunrise dip. Peaceful, and less touristy than I expected.
- But should the situation arise that you have sufficient time only to visit one mandatory place in Rishikesh, then you must visit the Ganga Aarti ceremony held near the Parmarth Niketan temple in the evening at about 6:30 pm Fire, bells, music, tiny lights floating on the water. Yeah, it’s touristy, but I got my eyes watering a little bit, which is embarrassing.
- Then I walked past Ram Jhula bridge to enter Swarg Ashram, a jumble of ashrams, bookstores and sadhus. Don’t forget to cover your shoulders and knees.
- Close to Laxman Jhula bridge you can see the huge orange Temple of Trayambakeshwar, fifteen storeys high. Climb all the way up. My legs hate me, the view doesn’t.
- Finally, the Beatles Ashram. Abandoned, surrounded by the forest, each wall full of graffiti. Fees vary from time to time, check them out in advance.
Day 2: Yoga, Oil and Rapids
Not all places to visit in Rishikesh are temples, which is good news if you’re like me.
- Walk into a drop-in yoga class. Posters are plastered everywhere, and trying a couple of teachers is half the fun. I’m terrible at balance poses, and nobody cared at all.
- Afternoon: Ayurvedic massage. Warm herbal oil, a very reasonable price, and I nearly fell asleep on the table.
- Then rafting. The popular half-day route covers about 27 km, and you can choose Grade 1 to 5. The season runs from around mid-September to June. Bungee and riverside camping are also available if you’re feeling brave. Whatever you pick, go with a licensed operator who gives proper life jackets.
Day 3: Waterfalls and a Sunrise
- Hike to Neer Garh Waterfall and Neelkanth Mahadev Temple. It’s about three hours on foot from Swarg Ashram, or you can take a bike or taxi if your knees complain.
- Kunjapuri Devi Temple, though, was my favourite sunrise. The road winds through the mountains, and halfway up you suddenly get a view of the town and the Ganga below.
- There are lovely places near Rishikesh too. Haridwar is only thirty minutes away, with a huge evening river ceremony of its own.
- Don’t have much time? Then my 2-day plan will be just “Day 1” and “Day 2,” without hiking.
What I Ate
Food matters as much as the places to visit in Rishikesh, trust me. It’s a holy town, so no alcohol, meat or eggs. I genuinely didn’t miss any of it.
| Cafe | Details |
| Little Buddha | Little Buddha has giant portions and a river view, and I went twice. |
| Free Spirit Cafe | Free Spirit Cafe, near Laxman Jhula, does a falafel burger I still think about. |
| Beatles Cafe | Beatles Cafe plays sixties music all day, so it’s a natural stop after the ashram. |
| Pumpernickel Bakery | For dessert, Pumpernickel Bakery. |
| Ramana’s Organic Garden Cafe | Ramana’s Organic Garden Cafe is fresh and healthy, and the money helps a school next door. |
| Pure Soul | Pure Soul has smoothies and decent wifi if you need to answer work emails. |
Where I Slept
Where you sleep changes how you feel about the places to visit in Rishikesh.
- I stayed in a guesthouse like Shiv Shakti in Laxman Jhula, with a rooftop and plenty of solo travellers to chat with.
- For mid-level comfort hotels include Hotel Peepal Tree and Ganga Kinare, where Ganga Kinare also has its own ghat.
- But for luxury, Aloha on the Ganges is a good choice, which has a swimming pool and spa, 2 km away from Laxman Jhula.
Places List: Must-Visit Places in Rishikesh
List of places to visit in Rishikesh:
- Triveni Ghat
- Ganga Aarti
- Ram Jhula
- Laxman Jhula
- Swarg Ashram
- Trayambakeshwar Temple
- Beatles Ashram
- Neer Garh Waterfall
- Kunjapuri Temple
- Rafting
One Last Thing
However, 3-5 days should be more than enough for your first trip there, although if you wish to have a good yoga course, it will take about one month. I went back home with my tired legs, camera filled up with pictures and a little bit of silence in my mind. I hope that this will help you discover your own favourite spots in Rishikesh.
FAQs
Q1. What are the best places to visit in Rishikesh?
Triveni Ghat, Ganga Aarti, Laxman Jhula, Beatles Ashram, Neer Garh Waterfall and Kunjapuri Temple. This visiting places list covers the top Rishikesh tourist places and the must-see places to visit in Rishikesh.
Q2. What is the Rishikesh location, and how do I navigate to Rishikesh?
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, comes in the Dehradun district, about 240 km from Delhi. Take a train to Haridwar and then a taxi, or fly to Jolly Grant Airport.
Q3. Why is Rishikesh famous, and what is near Rishikesh?
It is the Yoga Capital of the World, and rafting and yoga classes are trending. Haridwar, near Rishikesh, is about thirty minutes away and pairs well with the places to visit in Rishikesh.
Q4. How many days do I need for the places to visit in Rishikesh?
A 2-day itinerary covers the main sights, and a 3-day itinerary adds the waterfall and Kunjapuri sunrise.
Q5. What is the best location to stay and the best time for a Rishikesh visit?
Tapovan and Laxman Jhula are the best location choices for the places to visit in Rishikesh. September to November and March to April are the best months.
For more travel ideas, itineraries and destination guides, visit IndianTravels.
