At times we need to feel spirituality with ones More elf, and there is a world renowned place located at the fall of beautiful hills, where river Ganga flows in its purest form. We are talking about the 'Yoga capital of the World'

Rishikesh is a small town in the Dehradun district, located close to Haridwar in Uttarakhand. It is a gateway to Garhwal Himalayas, also a pilgrimage town and one of the holiest places for Hindus. It lies on the holy banks of river Ganga; Rishikesh has been a hub of Spiritual leaders known as saints or Sadhus with numerous ashrams teaching spirituality, yoga, meditation and Ayurveda springing up.

Talking about Rishikesh, one could never forget the well-known 'Beatles band', who actually made this place world famous. The Beatles visited the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi here. Today, the place is popular as The Beatles Ashram which beckons tourists globally. The tranquil town has long been a spiritual center but is equally popular for the white water rafting, bungee jumping, mountain biking and camping along the fast-flowing Holy Ganges. It also serves as the gateway to many Himalayan treks.

Best time to visit

Best time to visit rishikesh is during summers or post monsoons. During these months you can see the beauty of the holy Ganges and feel the spirit of lord shiva.

HOW TO REACH RISHIKESH

There are various modes of transportation available but certainly you will need to travel roadways to reach Rishikesh.

By Air : The nearest airport around Rishikesh is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun that is located at a distance of 35 km. After there, you can either rent a car or book a cab or travel by bus.

By rail: It is advisable to take the train till Haridwar and then either take a bus or hire a taxi to Rishikesh.

There are no direct planes or trains available to Rishikesh

ACCOMODATIONS

If you are visiting Rishikesh for spiritual cleanliness, we would recommend you to stay in an Ashram. Some Ashrams are free too. Our top picks are Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Sivananda Ashram and Phool Chatti Ashram.

Also, Geeta Bhawan, a large complex located at the banks of holy river Ganaga in Swargashram, Rishikesh. Huge complex of Geeta Bhawan has several discourse halls and over 1000 rooms for the comfortable stay of devotees free of cost. 

Moreover, you can consider options like Zostels, Bunk stays at a more convenient price.

PLACES TO VISIT

Start your trip by visiting Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula built above Gangotri. Lakshman Jhula is the bigger and more picturesque of the two and is where many of the hotels and restaurants.

 Then, You can move to see the abandoned Beatles Ashram. It is possibly the coolest attraction in Rishikesh. The entry fee for Indians is 75 rupees and that for foreigners is 500.

During the evening, you witness the famous Aarti at Triveni Ghat. This ghat is a place where three of the holy rivers; the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati meet. The Aarti here is something you simply cannot miss on your visit. It is an amazing feeling watching the flames, hearing the Bhajans(Hindu religious songs), and feeling the energy.

It starts around 6.30 pm each evening so get there early to guarantee a seat in peak season.

Have a holy dip at white sand beach on the banks of the Ganges. Located around 500m from Ram Jhula, it’s a great place to sit and relax, meditate or meet some locals.

EXOTIC THINGS TO DO

Rafting is a must to do if you visit Rishikesh. Mid-February to May is the best time to go rafting in Rishikesh. There are certified operators and you can get customized packages for camping and rafting at Rishikesh. The cost can range from rupees 800 to 1400 depending on the difficulty level.

Cliff Jumping is another one of the exciting activities in Rishikesh. It is basically just jumping down in the river from a considerable height i.e. from a high cliff. Considered one of the most thrilling water sports, this is one of the top things to do in Rishikesh.

Other adventure sports are rock climbing, bungee jumping, rappelling etc.

Ganga Aarti is the most auspicious and holiest ritual performed on the Ghats of Rishikesh in the evening at the time of dusk. Although the aarti is performed at several Ghats, the most popular ones are performed at Parmarth Niketan Ghat and Triveni Ghat. The chiming of the temple bells, the chanting of mantras and the overall ambience of the place is an experience of a lifetime.

Paddler zone is one of the best campsites in Rishikesh with activities like river rafting,Ganga zipline, Reverse Bungee, Giant swing and 75+ activities.

Also some of the places like Neerghar waterfall, Goa beach, Kharki Point, Kunjapuri Hills ,Mohan Chatti and  Bhootnath Temple are the hidden gems of Rishikesh and you must visit these places.

Food

As it is a Hindu religious place, non-vegetarian food and alcohol is prohibited. Although, you can get a variety of north Indian, Tibetan, south Indian etc. food options.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Rishikesh is an actual heaven on earth. One of the most peaceful and holiest pilgrimage centers of Hindus.