Rishikesh Travel Guide: Ghats, Ashrams, Rafting and Where to Stay

Short answer: Rishikesh is the town where the Ganges leaves the Himalaya, about 240 km north-east of Delhi and 25 km upstream of Haridwar. It is three places in one: the ashram quarter around Ram Jhula and Swarg Ashram, the cafe-and-yoga strip of Tapovan near Laxman Jhula, and the rafting camps upriver at Shivpuri. Stay in Tapovan or Swarg Ashram, give it three nights, go to the Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan or Triveni Ghat at sunset, and raft the 16-km Shivpuri stretch between late September and June.

What is Rishikesh, and how is it laid out?

Rishikesh sits at about 370 m where the Ganges breaks out of the Shivalik hills onto the plain. It has been a place of sages and ashrams for centuries and became known abroad after the Beatles studied meditation here in 1968. Today it calls itself the yoga capital of the world, hosts the International Yoga Festival each March, and is also the starting point for white-water rafting and for the Char Dham pilgrimage roads into the mountains.

The geography confuses first-time visitors, so here is the map in words. The main town, with the bus stand and railway station, is on the west bank and is of no interest to visitors. About 3 km upstream, two footbridges cross the river. The lower one, Ram Jhula, links the Muni ki Reti side to Swarg Ashram on the east bank, where the big ashrams (Parmarth Niketan, Gita Bhawan) and the ghats are. The upper one, the old Laxman Jhula, closed in 2019; its replacement, the 132-metre Bajrang Setu with glass-floored walkways, was complete and awaiting its formal opening at the end of July 2026 (Curly Tales, 30 July 2026) with a proposed ₹100 fee for the glass walkways; check its status when you arrive. The west-bank neighbourhood above it, Tapovan, is where the cafes, yoga schools and most foreign visitors are. Everything beyond, up the Badrinath road, is the river gorge: Shivpuri (16 km) and its rafting camps, and the resorts on the bends above.

Dollar figures use roughly ₹95 to the US dollar (October 2026).

Where should you stay in Rishikesh?

Book ahead for the International Yoga Festival in early March, for Diwali (8 November 2026) and for weekends in October–November and February–April, when Delhi empties into Rishikesh.

What are the things to do in Rishikesh?

• Ganga aarti. Two options. Parmarth Niketan’s ghat on the east bank holds a sung aarti at sunset led by the ashram’s students, with a statue of Shiva in the river; it is orderly and you sit on the steps. Triveni Ghat in the town is bigger and louder, the local pilgrims’ aarti, around 17:30–18:30 in winter and 18:30–19:30 in summer (Yatradham, updated June 2026). Both are free; arrive 30 minutes early.
• Walk the ghats and the bridges. From Ram Jhula along the east bank through Swarg Ashram to the Laxman Jhula area is about 2 km of temples, book shops, chai stalls and monkeys. Go early, before 8:00, when the ashrams chant.
• The Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia). The abandoned Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram where the Beatles wrote much of the White Album, now inside the Rajaji tiger reserve with graffiti-painted meditation domes. Open 10:00–16:00 from September to February and to 17:00 the rest of the year, last entry 30 minutes before; the Indian ticket is ₹200 and foreign visitors pay a higher rate, listed at ₹1,200 in a February 2025 guide and ₹600 before that, so check at the gate. It is a 2-km walk south from Ram Jhula along the river.
• Rafting. See the next section.
• Bungee jumping and the giant swing at Mohan Chatti, about 20 km from town, run by licensed operators with fixed-height jumps; book a day ahead in season.
• Neer Garh waterfall (5 km from Laxman Jhula, a 30-minute walk from the road, small fee) and Kunjapuri temple at 1,650 m, 25 km away, for sunrise over the Himalaya on a clear winter morning.
• A yoga or meditation class. Drop-in classes run morning and evening at schools in Tapovan and at Parmarth; week-long and 200-hour courses need booking.
• Day trips: Haridwar’s Har ki Pauri aarti (25 km; our Haridwar to Rishikesh guide covers the hop), Rajaji National Park jeep safaris from the Chilla gate (November–June), and Devprayag, 70 km up the Badrinath road, where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi meet to form the Ganges.

How does rafting in Rishikesh work?

The Ganges below Devprayag has a run of Grade II–IV rapids that ends at Rishikesh, and rafting is regulated by the Uttarakhand tourism department: licensed companies, one trained guide per raft, helmets and certified life jackets compulsory, and no overloading (rules restated when the 2026–27 season opened on 23 September 2026, Navbharat Live). The river closes during the monsoon, roughly July to mid-September, when it is too high; it reopens in stages as the water drops.

Prices are set per person per stretch and vary by operator and season; expect the Shivpuri run to cost in the region of ₹1,000–1,500 (US$10.50–16) including transport back to town, and check what is included. Best months are October–November and March–May; December and January are cold on the water but clear. Our 4-day Rishikesh adventure package bundles rafting, a camp night and the bungee; ask for a quote.

How do you get to Rishikesh from Delhi?

By car: about 240 km and 5–6 hours on the Delhi–Meerut expressway and NH-334 through Roorkee and Haridwar; the last 25 km from Haridwar slows at weekends. A car with driver drops you at your guesthouse in Tapovan, which is the real advantage, because the bridges are pedestrian-only and taxis stop at the car parks. By train: the Vande Bharat from Delhi to Dehradun stops at Haridwar in about 3 hours 40 minutes, and Rishikesh’s Yog Nagri station has a few direct services; from Haridwar it is 45 minutes by taxi. By air: Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport is about 20 km from Rishikesh, 40 minutes by taxi, with flights from Delhi (about 1 hour), Mumbai and Bengaluru. Our Delhi to Rishikesh guide compares the options with current timings.

Around town: walk, or take a shared auto-rickshaw (“vikram”) between Tapovan, Ram Jhula and the town for ₹20–50. Scooter hire is common in Tapovan but the roads are steep and busy; we suggest it only for confident riders with a licence and helmet.

When is the best time to visit Rishikesh?

October–November: warm days (25–30°C), the river settling after the monsoon, rafting open, clear mornings. December–January: cold mornings around 7–8°C and foggy, mild afternoons, fewest tourists; the river is cold for rafting but the aarti fires are welcome. February–April: the second peak, with the Yoga Festival in early March and Holi (22 March 2027); warm and busy. May–June: hot (35–40°C) on the plain, but the river is a relief and the camps are full of Delhi weekenders. July–mid-September: monsoon, rafting closed, the Ganges brown and fast, some landslides on the hill roads; quiet and green, good for ashram stays.

Two events to plan around: the Haridwar Ardh Kumbh Mela from 14 January to 20 April 2027, which will fill Haridwar and spill into Rishikesh on the bathing dates (our Kumbh Mela guide explains how to visit), and the Char Dham pilgrimage season from late April to early November, when the Badrinath road through Rishikesh carries heavy traffic in the early morning.

Practical notes for international visitors

• No alcohol, no meat: both are banned from sale in Rishikesh; restaurants are vegetarian and the cafe scene is built around it. Our food safety guide covers what to eat with confidence.
• Dress: cover shoulders and knees around the ghats and ashrams; swimwear is for rafting only. See what to wear in India.
• The river: currents are strong even at the ghats; hold the chains when bathing and never swim from beaches without a guide.
• Monkeys on the bridges snatch food and sunglasses.
• Cash: ATMs are in Tapovan and the town; many guesthouses and cafes take cards or UPI, rafting counters often want cash. Our tipping guide covers guides and drivers.
• Onward: Rishikesh is the gateway to the Char Dham and to Uttarakhand’s hill stations; our Exotic Uttarakhand tour continues north, and we handle ground arrangements as an Uttarakhand DMC.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Rishikesh?

Three nights covers the ghats and the aarti, a morning of rafting, the Beatles Ashram and a day trip to Haridwar or a waterfall. If you want a drop-in yoga routine, five nights settles you in; a 200-hour teacher training course takes three to four weeks. One night is enough only for the aarti and a walk across the bridges.

Where is the best area to stay in Rishikesh?

Tapovan, above the Laxman Jhula bridge on the west bank, for cafes, yoga schools and views, with taxi access to your door. Swarg Ashram on the east bank, by Ram Jhula, is quieter, car-free and next to the Parmarth aarti. Shivpuri, 16 km upriver, is for rafting camps, and the resorts on the river bends above are the luxury option.

When is rafting open in Rishikesh?

From late September to about June. The 2026–27 season opened on 23 September 2026 after the monsoon closure, and the river shuts again in July when the water rises. October–November and March–May have the most comfortable conditions; December and January are cold but clear. Licensed operators, helmets and life jackets are mandatory under Uttarakhand rules.

Is the Beatles Ashram worth visiting?

Yes, if you like the story or the street art. The abandoned Maharishi ashram inside the Rajaji tiger reserve has graffiti-painted meditation domes and a quiet forest setting, a 2-km walk south of Ram Jhula. It is open 10:00–16:00 from September to February and to 17:00 in other months; foreign visitors pay a higher ticket than Indians, so check the rate at the gate.

What time is the Ganga aarti in Rishikesh?

At sunset, so roughly 17:30 in winter and 18:30 in summer. Parmarth Niketan’s ghat on the east bank holds a sung, orderly aarti led by the ashram; Triveni Ghat in the town has the larger pilgrims’ aarti. Both are free; arrive 30 minutes early for a seat on the steps and keep shoes off the ghat.

How do you get from Delhi to Rishikesh?

By car it is about 240 km and 5–6 hours via Haridwar, door to door. The Vande Bharat train reaches Haridwar in about 3 hours 40 minutes, then it is 45 minutes by taxi. Flights to Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport take about an hour, and the airport is 20 km from Rishikesh. A car with driver is the most convenient for Tapovan guesthouses.