Short answer: Rishikesh in December is cool, dry and quiet: days around 20–21°C, nights near 7°C, and barely one rainy day all month. River rafting runs normally (the water is cold), the Ganga aarti moves earlier to about 5:30 pm, Rajaji’s Chilla safari is open, and hotels are cheaper than in October. It does not snow in Rishikesh. The two busy windows are Christmas weekend and New Year.
Quick answer: Rishikesh in December 2026 (checked 3 November 2026)
- Weather: about 21°C by day and 7°C at night on long-term averages, roughly 30 mm of rain and one wet day in the month (weather2travel long-term climate data).
- Rafting: open. The 2026–27 season restarted on 23 September after the monsoon and runs to about June; go mid-morning when the sun is on the river.
- Ganga aarti: Parmarth Niketan and Triveni Ghat at sunset, about 17:30 in winter, free.
- Safari: Rajaji Tiger Reserve’s Chilla zone is open 15 November–15 June, drives 6–10 am and 2–6 pm (Rajaji Tiger Reserve official site).
- Snow: none in Rishikesh (about 370 m). For snow add Auli or a lucky Mussoorie–Dhanaulti day.
- Crowds: quiet until about 20 December; Christmas (Friday 25 Dec) and New Year (Friday 1 Jan 2027) both fall on long weekends.
- Pack: a down or fleece jacket, thermals for camp nights, a warm hat for the 6 am yoga class.
Planning Rishikesh this December? Tell us your dates and group size; we will send a day-by-day plan with a car from Delhi, Haridwar or Dehradun.
See our 4-day Rishikesh rafting, camping and aarti package · WhatsApp us · Call +91 70874 88961
Is December a good time to visit Rishikesh?
Yes, for most people it is one of the best months. The monsoon haze has gone, the sky is usually clear, the river runs green and slower, and the October rush (Dussehra, Diwali and the end of the Char Dham season) is over. Hotels and camps that were full in October quote lower rates until about 20 December. The afternoon is warm enough to sit on a ghat in a T-shirt; the trade-off is that mornings and evenings are genuinely cold, especially by the river and in the riverside camps at Shivpuri.
December is not the month for a hot-weather beach-camp holiday on the Ganga, and the first two hours after sunrise are often misty. If you want snow, Rishikesh is the wrong place: it sits at roughly 370 m where the Ganges leaves the Shivalik hills. Use it as the warm, easy base of a winter trip and add a snow day higher up.
What is the weather like in Rishikesh in December?
Expect cool sunny days and cold nights. On long-term averages, the maximum drops from about 25°C in November to about 21°C in December and 19°C in January, while the minimum falls from about 10°C to about 7°C and then 6°C. December averages about 30 mm of rain with about one rainy day, so you will rarely lose a day to weather. Western disturbances can bring a grey, drizzly day or two late in the month, and they are the systems that put snow on Mussoorie, Dhanaulti and Auli.
| Month | Average max | Average min | Rain | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | about 25°C | about 10°C | about 10 mm, 0 wet days | Warm days, light jacket at night |
| December | about 21°C | about 7°C | about 30 mm, 1 wet day | T-shirt afternoons, warm jacket after sunset |
| January | about 19°C | about 6°C | about 58 mm, 3 wet days | Coldest month, more fog on the plains |
Source: weather2travel long-term climate averages for Rishikesh (converted from °F/inches; approximate). Actual nights by the river can be 2–3°C colder.
Can you do river rafting in Rishikesh in December?
Yes. Commercial rafting on the Ganga stops for the monsoon each year and the 2026–27 season restarted on 23 September 2026; it normally runs until about June. In December the river is lower and calmer than in autumn, which suits first-timers, but the water is snowmelt-cold. Operators run three common stretches of roughly 9, 16 and 24 km; the 16-km Shivpuri to Rishikesh run is the classic choice. Helmets and life jackets are compulsory and every raft carries a trained guide.
Three December tips from our drivers and camp partners: book a late-morning slot so you are on the water when the sun is high; carry a full change of warm clothes and a towel in the vehicle; and skip the optional cliff jump and “body surfing” if you feel cold, because hypothermia, not the rapids, is the real winter risk. Children’s age and weight limits are set by the operator, so tell us ages when you enquire.
What else is open and worth doing in December?
Almost everything that matters in Rishikesh runs year-round, and several things are better in winter:
- Ganga aarti: at Parmarth Niketan (Swarg Ashram side) and Triveni Ghat at sunset, about 17:30 in winter and 18:30 in summer; free. Arrive 30 minutes early for a step to sit on, and bring a shawl.
- Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia): inside the Rajaji reserve boundary, open about 10:00–16:00 in winter. Foreign visitors pay a higher ticket than Indians (about ₹1,200 at our last check); confirm at the gate.
- Bajrang Setu: the 132-metre glass-sided bridge that replaced Laxman Jhula (closed in 2019). It was reported open to walkers on 1 August 2026 (India.com), with the glass skywalk open 6 am–10 pm and a ₹100 adult / ₹50 child charge for two hours announced by PWD; glass panels had cracked earlier in April 2026 (ETV Bharat, 10 April 2026). Check what is open on the day.
- Chilla jungle safari: Rajaji’s Chilla zone reopens every 15 November and stays open to 15 June, with morning (6–10 am) and afternoon (2–6 pm) drives, per the reserve’s official site. Elephants are the usual sighting; tigers are rare here. It is about 30–40 minutes from Rishikesh.
- Kunjapuri sunrise: a temple on a ridge about 25 km uphill, with a clear-day view of the Gangotri and Bandarpunch ranges. December’s dry air gives the best visibility of the year, but leave by 5:15 am and dress for near-freezing wind.
- Yoga and ayurveda: schools in Tapovan and Swarg Ashram run all winter; December drop-in classes are easy to find and teacher-training batches often start in early December or early January.
- Neer Garh waterfall and the cafe strip: a short, easy hike from Tapovan, then the cafes along the Laxman Jhula road with sun on the terrace.
Does it snow in Rishikesh in December, and where is the nearest snow?
No. Rishikesh is too low for snow at any time of year. The nearest realistic snow in December is a 2.5–3 hour drive up to Mussoorie and Dhanaulti, which get a light fall in some winters (more often in January), or a longer trip to Auli, where the ski slopes usually have cover by late December. Tungnath temple above Chopta closes for the winter on 6 November 2026, and the Chopta road can be blocked by snow, so treat that as a trek-only option with a local guide.
Is Rishikesh crowded at Christmas and New Year?
From about 20 December it gets busy, mostly with groups from Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday and New Year’s Day 2027 is also a Friday, so both make three-day weekends and the riverside camps at Shivpuri fill first. Rishikesh is a pilgrimage town: alcohol and meat are not sold in the municipal area, so New Year’s Eve is a bonfire-and-music night at the camps rather than a party town. If you want a quiet December, travel between 1 and 18 December.
Plan beyond December too: Haridwar’s Ardh Kumbh runs from 14 January to 20 April 2027, starting with the Makar Sankranti bath on 14 January (dates finalised by the Akhara Parishad, The Statesman and PTI, April 2026). Expect Rishikesh hotels and the Haridwar road to be under pressure from early January; our Kumbh Mela tour page has the bath dates.
How do you get to Rishikesh in December, and does fog matter?
Rishikesh is about 240 km from Delhi. A private car takes 5–6 hours now that the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway is fully open; the train option is the 12017 Dehradun Shatabdi from New Delhi at 06:45 to Haridwar (11:35), then a 45-minute taxi. Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport is about 21 km away. Our Delhi to Rishikesh guide compares every option in detail, and we run a Delhi to Rishikesh taxi with fixed pick-up times.
Fog is the December catch. Dense morning fog on the north Indian plains delays early trains and flights, especially from the last week of December: on 29 December 2025, 64 Delhi flights were cancelled and about 18 trains ran more than three hours late (All India Radio). Give yourself a buffer day before any onward international flight, and prefer a midday departure by road.
How many days do you need, and what does a December plan look like?
Three nights is right for Rishikesh itself; four if you add the Chilla safari or a Kunjapuri sunrise. This is the shape we use for winter trips:
| Day | Morning | Afternoon / evening |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drive or train from Delhi (leave by 7 am) | Check in; Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan about 17:30 |
| 2 | Yoga class; rafting from Shivpuri around 10–11 am | Hot shower, Tapovan cafes, bonfire at camp |
| 3 | Chilla safari 6–10 am or Kunjapuri sunrise | Beatles Ashram, Bajrang Setu, Ram Jhula walk |
| 4 | Haridwar Har ki Pauri (25 km) or onward to Mussoorie | Return to Delhi, or continue the Uttarakhand loop |
For the full loop with Mussoorie, Nainital and Corbett, look at our Uttarakhand tour packages. For the town itself (which bank to stay on, ashram rules, where the bridges are), read our Rishikesh travel guide.
Where should you stay in Rishikesh in December?
Pick by how you handle cold. Hotels and guesthouses in Tapovan and Swarg Ashram have solid walls, geysers and room heaters on request, and you can walk to the aarti and the cafes. The Shivpuri camps are the fun option for rafting groups, but a tent at 7°C needs proper bedding: ask whether the camp has insulated cottages or “Swiss tents” with heavy quilts, hot water and a bonfire. Families with small children or older parents are usually happier in a hotel and a day trip to the camps. In December, prefer a room with sun in the morning; north-facing rooms by the river stay cold all day.
What should you pack for Rishikesh in December?
- A down or thick fleece jacket, plus a light layer for the warm afternoon.
- Thermal top and bottoms for camp nights and the early yoga class.
- A woollen cap, socks and a shawl for the aarti.
- Quick-dry clothes and a full spare set for rafting; sandals with a back strap.
- Modest clothing (shoulders and knees covered) for the ashrams and temples.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses: the December sun is strong on the water.
What this means for your trip
December gives you Rishikesh at its most comfortable and least crowded: clear days, rafting, the aarti and the jungle safari all running, and lower rates until about the 20th. Book camps and Christmas-week rooms early, build in a fog buffer for the Delhi leg, and if snow is on your wish list, pair Rishikesh with Mussoorie or Auli rather than expecting it in town. For other options this month, see our list of the best places to visit in India in December.
Want us to plan Rishikesh for your December dates? We are a registered travel agent with HP Tourism (Reg. No. DTO-MND-11-243/2022, see our certificates), running North India trips since 2019.
View the 4-day Rishikesh package · WhatsApp us · Call +91 70874 88961 · info@suzutravels.com
Rishikesh in December: frequently asked questions
Is Rishikesh too cold in December?
No. Days are pleasant at around 20–21°C and sunny, and only early mornings and nights are cold, with average lows near 7°C and a little colder by the river. A warm jacket, thermals for the night and a cap are enough. Riverside tents feel colder than hotel rooms, so choose a camp with heavy quilts or insulated cottages if you are travelling with children or older parents.
Is rafting open in Rishikesh in December?
Yes. The Ganga rafting season restarted on 23 September 2026 after the monsoon and normally runs until about June. December has calmer, lower water that suits beginners, but it is very cold. Choose a late-morning slot, wear quick-dry clothes, keep a full change of warm clothes in the car and skip the optional swim if you start shivering.
What time is the Ganga aarti in Rishikesh in December?
The evening Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan and Triveni Ghat follows sunset, so in December it starts at about 17:30, an hour earlier than in summer. Entry is free. Arrive around 17:00 to get a place on the steps, keep shoulders covered and bring a shawl, because the temperature drops quickly by the river after dark.
Does it snow in Rishikesh?
No. Rishikesh sits at about 370 m, far too low for snow. In December the nearest snow chances are Mussoorie and Dhanaulti, about 2.5–3 hours by road, which get light falls in some winters, and Auli, where the slopes usually have snow cover from late December. Plan Rishikesh as the warm base and add a snow day elsewhere.
Is the Rajaji jungle safari open in December?
Yes. Rajaji Tiger Reserve’s Chilla zone near Rishikesh and Haridwar is open to tourists from 15 November to 15 June, with morning drives from 6 to 10 am and afternoon drives from 2 to 6 pm, according to the reserve’s official website. Elephants, deer and birds are the usual sightings; tigers are seen only occasionally in this zone.
Is Rishikesh good for New Year’s Eve?
It is good for a quiet, outdoorsy New Year. Alcohol and meat are not sold in the town, so celebrations happen at the riverside camps with bonfires, music and dinner rather than in bars. New Year’s Day 2027 is a Friday, making a three-day weekend, so camps and hotels fill by mid-December; book early and expect higher rates from about 20 December.
