The tiered Trayambakeshwar Temple on the bank of the green Ganga with forested hills behind

City · Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Rishikesh

Yoga town on the Ganga at the foot of the Himalaya, known for ashrams, bridges and riverside aarti

Ambient sound · similar settingFast-flowing river over stones

Photo: Saurabh Kumar (@actsofseeing) / Unsplash

Discover Rishikesh

Rishikesh is strung along both banks of a fast, clear green Ganga as it leaves the forested hills of the Garhwal Himalaya. Temples, ashrams and guesthouses climb the slopes on either side, linked by footbridges, and the sound of bells and chanting carries over the water from morning to night.

The town is often called the Yoga Capital of the World, and many visitors come for classes, retreats or simply quiet days by the river. Others come for the Ganga itself: for a dip at Triveni Ghat, for the evening aarti at Parmarth Niketan or Triveni Ghat, or for white-water rafting on the rapids upstream. It is also a starting point for pilgrimages deeper into the Himalaya. Rishikesh is a vegetarian, alcohol-free town, which gives it a calm, unhurried character.

Don’t miss

01Evening Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat, held at dusk
02The sunset aarti on the riverbank at Parmarth Niketan ashram
03The multi-storey Trayambakeshwar Temple beside the Lakshman Jhula area
04Ram Jhula footbridge, linking ashrams on both banks of the Ganga
05White-water rafting on the Ganga upstream of town

History & culture

The story of Rishikesh

Rishikesh has long been associated with sages and ascetics, and Triveni Ghat appears in Hindu tradition as a place linked with episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Its riverside ashrams grew through the twentieth century; Parmarth Niketan, one of the largest, was founded in 1942.

The town gained international fame in 1968 when the Beatles stayed at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, where they wrote many songs. The Lakshman Jhula suspension bridge, completed in 1929, became a symbol of the town before it was closed to traffic in 2019 over safety concerns; a replacement bridge has been under construction nearby.

Local life & traditions

Daily life revolves around the river and the ashrams. Sadhus, pilgrims and yoga students share the lanes with local families and shopkeepers, and many people begin the day with prayers or a dip in the Ganga. The sale of meat, fish, eggs and alcohol is banned in the town, so restaurants are vegetarian, and visitors are expected to dress modestly near temples and ghats.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Take a drop-in yoga or meditation class at one of the many ashrams and schools, walk across Ram Jhula and along the riverside paths between the bridges, and end the day at an evening aarti. Triveni Ghat has a traditional ceremony with lamps floated on the water, while the aarti at Parmarth Niketan includes singing and is welcoming to visitors of every background.

For something more active, rafting trips run on stretches of the Ganga graded from gentle to challenging, and there are short hikes to waterfalls and hilltop temples in the surrounding forest. The International Yoga Festival takes place each year in early March.

When to go

February to April and September to November are the most comfortable months, with clear skies and mild temperatures. December and January are cool, especially in the mornings. May and June are hot, with temperatures that can exceed 40 degrees Celsius, and the monsoon from July to August swells the river, making it unsafe for bathing and suspending rafting. Rafting is generally best outside the monsoon.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat: Held every evening at dusk and lasts about 45 minutes. Source: incredibleindia.gov.in ↗
Aarti at Parmarth Niketan: Held every evening at sunset on the banks of the Ganga; open to people of all cultures and religions. Source: gangaaction.org ↗
Getting there: Nearest railway station: Rishikesh (RKSH). Airports: Jolly Grant Airport (DED), Dehradun, and Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), Delhi. Source: incredibleindia.gov.in ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Lakshman Jhula was closed in 2019 for safety reasons; check locally whether the replacement bridge has opened, and use Ram Jhula in the meantime.
The Ganga is cold and fast-flowing; bathe only at ghats with chains or railings and never during the monsoon.
Book rafting only with licensed operators who provide helmets and life jackets.
Arrive early for a seat at the evening aarti, especially at weekends and on festival days.
Expect vegetarian food only; the town does not sell meat, eggs or alcohol.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Rishikesh: food, markets & places to stay

The Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula areas are packed with vegetarian cafes, bookshops, yoga schools and guesthouses, while the main town around Triveni Ghat has markets and the bus stand. Haridwar, another major pilgrimage town on the Ganga, is about 25 km south. Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun is roughly 15 km from Rishikesh, and the town is several hours by road or rail from Delhi.

Where Rishikesh is

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Rishikesh in pictures

Riverside ghats and old buildings of Varanasi seen across the Ganges in soft morning haze

Religious site

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Varanasi Ghats and the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh

A long arc of stone steps, temples and old palaces lines the Ganga in Varanasi. Every evening at dusk, priests at Dashashwamedh Ghat perform the Ganga Aarti with tiered brass lamps, conches and chanting.

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