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Uttarakhand

Rishikesh

Yoga capital and rafting hub on the Ganges

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Best time to visit Rishikesh

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: February to March and October to November
  • Shoulder: April, September and December to January, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: May to August

Planning a specific month? FebruaryMarchOctoberNovember

Rishikesh season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Cool crisp days, clear Himalayan views from Kunjapuri, yoga ashrams at their calmest

Summer March to May Prime time

March is pleasant, but April-May heat climbs fast and the ghats fill with day-trippers

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Ganges swells brown and dangerous, rafting suspended, landslide risk on the Badrinath road

Autumn October to November Prime time

Best window of the year. Rafting resumes, skies clear, the whole backpacker scene wakes up

What Rishikesh is actually like

Zostel dorms full of backpackers doing yoga by day, riverside chai by night

Things to do in Rishikesh

The local places worth your time in and around Rishikesh, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Triveni Ghat

    Ghat · in town

    The main bathing steps in town where the Ganga aarti is sung at dusk; free, get there by 6 pm for a place on the steps.

  • Parmarth Niketan

    Ghat · 3 km out

    Ashram ghat at Swarg Ashram with the big Shiva statue and a lamp lit aarti sung by resident boys; free, sit down early.

  • Beatles Ashram

    Heritage · 4 km out

    Maharishi's abandoned Chaurasi Kutia, graffiti covered domes inside Rajaji forest; ticketed, gates about 10 am to 4 pm.

  • Lakshman Jhula

    Heritage · 4 km out

    The 1929 suspension bridge, shut to walkers since 2019; cross on Ram Jhula or the newer Janki Setu and shoot it from there.

  • Shivpuri

    Activity · 16 km out

    Put in point for the standard 16 km raft back to town, grade 3 in season; agencies bus you up, closed in the monsoon.

  • Neer Garh Waterfall

    Waterfall · 6 km out

    Three tiered fall above Lakshman Jhula, 20 minutes uphill from the road; small ticket, the pools are best after rain.

  • Vashishta Gufa

    Cave · 22 km out

    Meditation cave by the Ganga on the Badrinath road, silence inside and a sand beach below; buses drop you at the gate.

  • Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

    Temple · 32 km out

    Shiva temple at 1330 m in the hills behind town, 32 km by road or a 12 km forest walk; Mondays and Shivratri are mobbed.

Getting to Rishikesh

Fly Dehradun 35km or overnight Delhi bus 6-7h; local auto-rickshaw

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Made for solo travellers
Altitude
372 m
State
Uttarakhand
Coordinates
30.1086, 78.2946

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Rishikesh?

February to March and October to November is peak season in Rishikesh. April, September and December to January is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid May to August. Best window of the year. Rafting resumes, skies clear, the whole backpacker scene wakes up.

How many days do you need in Rishikesh?

2 days is the usual stay. Zostel dorms full of backpackers doing yoga by day, riverside chai by night.

How do you get to Rishikesh?

Fly Dehradun 35km or overnight Delhi bus 6-7h; local auto-rickshaw. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Rishikesh expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Made for solo travellers.

Is there a festival in Rishikesh?

Mar: International Yoga Festival. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Rishikesh?

Triveni Ghat, Parmarth Niketan, Beatles Ashram, Lakshman Jhula, Shivpuri and Neer Garh Waterfall, and more. The main bathing steps in town where the Ganga aarti is sung at dusk; free, get there by 6 pm for a place on the steps.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Uttarakhand

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