Top places to visit in Rishikesh

• Laxman Jhula

  Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h

  Iconic pedestrian suspension bridge area over the Ganges, ringed by temples, cafes and markets — the bustling heart of Rishikesh's traveller scene.

• Triveni Ghat

  Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 1 h

  The largest and most sacred ghat in Rishikesh town, where the famous Ganga Aarti is performed each evening amid lamps, chants and floating diyas.

• Ram Jhula

  Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 0.7 h

  Landmark suspension bridge linking Sivananda Ashram and Swarg Ashram across the Ganges, with sweeping river views and a constant flow of pilgrims.

• Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

  Temple · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h

  Revered hilltop Shiva temple about 32 km from town, set amid dense forest, marking where Shiva is said to have drunk the poison from the ocean of milk.

• Parmarth Niketan Ashram

  Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 1 h

  Rishikesh's largest ashram on the Ganges, renowned for its serene riverside Ganga Aarti each evening and its yoga and meditation programmes.

• Shivpuri

  Nature · 4.4 rating · about 3 h

  The adventure hub 16 km upriver, the launch point for white-water rafting, riverside camping, bungee jumping and other thrills around the Ganges.

• Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)

  Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · entry INR 600

  Atmospheric abandoned ashram where the Beatles stayed in 1968, now covered in psychedelic murals and graffiti amid forest — a magnet for music fans and photographers.

• Kunjapuri Devi Temple

  Viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h

  Hilltop Shakti Peeth temple famed for spectacular sunrise views over the Himalayan peaks and the Doon valley, about 25 km from Rishikesh.

• Tera Manzil Temple

  Temple · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h

  Striking thirteen-storey riverside temple (Trayambakeshwar) near Laxman Jhula, housing many deities and offering panoramic Ganga views from its upper floors.

• Neer Garh Waterfall

  Waterfall · 4.2 rating · about 2 h · entry INR 50

  Tiered forest waterfall a short trek from Laxman Jhula, with natural pools for a refreshing dip — a popular easy nature escape.

• Rajaji National Park (Chilla)

  Wildlife · 4.3 rating · about 4 h · entry INR 600

  Sprawling Himalayan-foothills park near Rishikesh home to elephants, tigers, deer and rich birdlife, explored on jeep safaris from the Chilla gate.

• Vashishta Gufa

  Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 1 h

  Ancient meditation cave on the Ganges about 25 km from Rishikesh where sage Vashishta is said to have meditated; a deeply peaceful spiritual retreat.

Things to do

• Ganges White-Water Rafting Water Sports · 2.5 h · from INR 1,000 per person
• Bungee Jumping at Jumpin Heights Adventure · 2 h · from INR 3,700 per person
• Ganga Aarti Experience Cultural · 1 h
• Hatha Yoga & Meditation Session Wellness · 1.5 h · from INR 500 per person
• Giant Swing & Flying Fox Adventure · 1.5 h · from INR 3,700 per person
• Kunjapuri Sunrise Trek Hiking · 4 h · from INR 800 per person
• Neer Garh Waterfall Hike Hiking · 3 h · from INR 600 per person
• Sattvic Cooking Class Cooking Class · 2.5 h · from INR 1,500 per person

Day trips and tours

• Rishikesh Adventure & Aarti Day 8 h · from INR 2,000
• Rishikesh Temples & Yoga Day 7 h · from INR 1,500
• Kunjapuri Sunrise & Waterfall Day 8 h · from INR 1,800

Where to stay in Rishikesh

• Rajpur Road about INR 3,000 per night

  Yoga and spiritual center with ashrams and wellness retreats

• Tapovan about INR 1,500 per night

  Spiritual area near temple with guest houses and ashrams

Hotels

• Ananda in the Himalayas 5-star · INR 38,000 to INR 75,000 per night
• ShriJi Homestay 2-star · INR 1,500 to INR 2,200 per night
• Arogyadham Wellness Retreat 3-star · INR 1,991 to INR 2,700 per night
• Aloha on the Ganges 4-star · INR 8,000 to INR 15,000 per night
• Ganga Kinare - A Riverside Boutique Hotel 4-star · INR 6,000 to INR 11,000 per night
• Ima Ganga Hotel 3-star · INR 1,847 to INR 2,600 per night

Where to eat

• Chotiwala Restaurant North Indian, South Indian, Vegetarian · about INR 300 per person
• Little Buddha Cafe Continental, Italian, Cafe · about INR 500 per person
• Devraj Coffee Corner Cafe, Bakery, Continental · about INR 350 per person
• Beatles Cafe Continental, Cafe, Italian · about INR 450 per person
• Ramana's Organic Cafe Healthy, Continental, Cafe · about INR 450 per person
• The Sattvik North Indian, Asian, Continental · about INR 500 per person
• Freedom Cafe & Pizzeria Italian, Mexican, Israeli · about INR 450 per person
• 60's German Bakery Bakery, Cafe, Continental · about INR 300 per person

Getting around

• Auto Rickshaw main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Taxi main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Walking

  Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.

Safety and scams to avoid

• Pre-paid taxi "broken meter"

  Airports, train stations, popular squares

  Driver insists meter is broken, quotes ~3x the fair price; or detours via "shopping" stops earning commission.

  How to avoid it: Use pre-paid taxi counter at airport, or Uber/Ola/Rapido apps. Insist on meter or agree price upfront.

More in India

• New Delhi
• Agra
• Jaipur
• Panaji
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