Rishikesh weather: today, this week and through the year
Live temperature and a five-day forecast for Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun, month-by-month temperatures and rain, the rafting season, and the best time to go.
- ~340 m Rishikesh
- Sep–Jun rafting season
- Oct–Mar best weather
- Live 3 places
Photo: meg and rahul, CC BY 2.0
Updated November 2026 · HP Tourism registered travel agent · Reg. No. DTO-MND-11-243/2022 · certificates · हिंदी में पढ़ें: ऋषिकेश का मौसम
Rishikesh lies on the Ganga at about 340 m, where the river leaves the hills — so it is far warmer than the hill stations above it. Winters are mild: January days are around 20 °C and nights about 6–8 °C, with morning fog. May and June are hot, often 35–40 °C. The monsoon (July–September) is very wet, and river rafting is closed from about July to mid-September. The best months are October–March for the weather and October–November and March–April for rafting and camping.
- WinterMild days around 20 °C, cool nights; morning fog.
- SummerHot — May–June often 35–40 °C.
- MonsoonJuly–September; very heavy rain.
- RaftingUsually about mid-September to June; closed in the monsoon.
- Best monthsOctober–March.
Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun weather today
Rishikesh (about 340 m), Haridwar (about 315 m) and Dehradun (about 640 m) — current temperature and the next days’ high, low and rain.
Forecast data: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), refreshed about once a day — last update —.
Rishikesh weather by month
Rishikesh has no recent published IMD normals, so the table gives the India Meteorological Department’s 1991–2020 normals for Dehradun, 45 km away. Rishikesh is about 300 m lower and usually 1–2 °C warmer than these figures; its rainfall is similar.
| Month | Dehradun avg high / low (IMD) | Rain | What to expect in Rishikesh |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.7° / 6.6 °C | 44 mm | Mild days, cold foggy mornings |
| February | 22.5° / 9.2 °C | 58 mm | Pleasant; Yoga Festival season |
| March | 27.4° / 13.1 °C | 46 mm | Warm; rafting and camping |
| April | 32.5° / 17.4 °C | 33 mm | Hot afternoons |
| May | 35.3° / 21.2 °C | 51 mm | Hottest; often 35–40 °C |
| June | 34.1° / 23.2 °C | 231 mm | Hot and humid; monsoon arrives |
| July | 30.6° / 23.6 °C | 622 mm | Very wet; rafting closed |
| August | 30.1° / 23.1 °C | 715 mm | Wettest; river high |
| September | 30.1° / 21.3 °C | 306 mm | Rain easing; rafting reopens mid-month |
| October | 29.0° / 16.3 °C | 38 mm | Clear; best rafting |
| November | 25.5° / 11.4 °C | 5 mm | Driest; pleasant |
| December | 21.7° / 7.6 °C | 13 mm | Cool; foggy mornings |
Source: India Meteorological Department climatological normals 1991–2020 for Dehradun, shown as a reference for Rishikesh. Month guide: Rishikesh in December · full guide: Rishikesh travel guide. Nearby: Haridwar weather · Dehradun weather.
Rafting season and the river through the year
White-water rafting on the Ganga above Rishikesh usually runs from about mid-September to June and is closed through the monsoon, when the river is high and fast. October–November and March–April are the most comfortable months on the water; in January the water is very cold but the rapids are calmer.
Yoga and the evening aarti run all year. Late February to early March is the season of the International Yoga Festival, and winter mornings by the river are cool and misty — carry a warm layer for the aarti at Parmarth Niketan or Triveni Ghat.
More: Rishikesh yoga retreat guide · nearby weather: Mussoorie weather, Lansdowne weather and Kedarnath weather.
Rishikesh in pictures
The Ganga, Lakshman Jhula, the ghats and the evening aarti — real photographs, each credited to its photographer.
Best time to visit Rishikesh
Depending on what you are going for.
Rafting
Comfortable weather on the water.
Yoga and calm
Yoga Festival season; mild days.
Pleasant weather
Mild days, cool nights.
Camping
Riverside camps open.
Avoid the heat
Often 35–40 °C.
Take care
Heavy rain; rafting closed.
Rishikesh trip: what the weather means for you
Clothing: cotton and sun protection from April to June; a sweater or light jacket for winter evenings and foggy mornings; a rain jacket in July–September.
Getting there: Rishikesh is about 240 km from Delhi, 25 km from Haridwar and about 20 km from Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport. Winter fog on the plains can slow trains and morning drives.
Cabs: Delhi to Rishikesh taxi · Rishikesh taxi service · guides: Delhi to Rishikesh, Haridwar to Rishikesh.
Our Uttarakhand trips
Hotels, meals and a private car in one quote.
Planning Rishikesh?
Tell us your dates, where you are starting from and how many of you are travelling. We check the weather and send a written quote with stays and a private car. Suzu Travels is a travel agent registered with HP Tourism, based in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, and plans trips across north India.
Rishikesh weather: frequently asked questions
What is the weather in Rishikesh today?
The top of this page shows the current temperature and the next days’ forecast for Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun (MET Norway data).
Does it snow in Rishikesh?
No — Rishikesh is only about 340 m high. The nearest regular snow is at Dhanaulti, Mussoorie’s higher points and further up in the Garhwal hills.
What is the temperature in Rishikesh in December?
Days of about 22–23 °C and nights of about 8–9 °C, with foggy mornings (based on Dehradun IMD normals, adjusted).
When is rafting open in Rishikesh?
Usually from about mid-September to June; it is closed in the monsoon months.
When is the best time to visit Rishikesh?
October to March for pleasant weather; October–November and March–April for rafting and camping.
Is Rishikesh hot in summer?
Yes — May and June often reach 35–40 °C.
Which is the wettest month in Rishikesh?
August, followed by July.
Sources
- MET Norway Locationforecast (CC BY 4.0) — live forecast data
- India Meteorological Department — climatological normals 1991–2020, Dehradun (reference for Rishikesh)
- Wikipedia: Rishikesh
Photo credits
Rishikesh across the Ganga — Photo: meg and rahul, CC BY 2.0 · Sunset at Lakshman Jhula — Photo: Tylersundance, CC BY-SA 3.0 · The Ganga valley at Rishikesh — Photo: Guptaele, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ghats on the Ganga — Photo: Baap8969, CC0 · The Ganga below the Shivalik hills — Photo: Nittu Gogoi, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Evening aarti at Parmarth Niketan — Photo: आर्या जोशी, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The river and the hills — Photo: Man, CC BY 2.0 · A suspension bridge over the Ganga — Photo: ビッグアップジャパン from EARTH, EARTH, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Green hills over the Ganga — Photo: Vinayaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0
