VANAMCOVE 
Rishikesh
Yoga capital, rafting and suspension bridges
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
- Arrive (Dehradun airport / Haridwar rail, 45 min)
- Lakshman Jhula + Ram Jhula circuit
- Swarg Ashram aarti or Parmarth evening aarti
- Yoga class if the timing fits
Geography & terrain
Rishikesh sits at 372 m where the Ganges leaves the Shivalik hills and straightens onto the plains — the 'Gateway to the Garhwal Himalaya'. The town straddles the river across the Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula footbridges, with the jungle hills rising directly behind both banks.
History & culture
The yoga capital of the world since the Beatles' 1968 visit to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram — the ruins of which still draw pilgrims to 'Beatle Ashram'. The town has been a pilgrimage stop for millennia; Neelkanth Mahadev, 32 km up the hill, is where Shiva drank the poison of the churning ocean.
Where to stay
Things to do
Fees & timings
Eat & drink
- Chotiwala — The 1942 ghat-side institution — thali and pakoras on Ram Jhula road
- Little Buddha Café — Riverside hummus, pizzas and the town's favourite mint margarita
- Pure Veg cafes of Swarg Ashram — Ganga-view tables — masala chai and kachori at dawn
Getting there
- Fly
- Dehradun (1 h) + 45 min drive
- Train
- Haridwar (4.5 h) + 30 min cab
- By car
- 4.5–5 h via NH-334B (230 km)
Practical info
- Connectivity: Good at cafés and retreats — NCR's favourite workation
Practical tips
- Rafting season is Sep–Jun; the morning slot has the best water
- Beatles Ashram needs entry booking online
- The NCR–Rishikesh weekend is packed — book stays by Wednesday
Frequently asked questions
The classic 16 km stretch is grade II–III and fine for first-timers; licensed operators and life jackets are mandatory. April–June is the peak rafting season.
Yes — alcohol and meat are banned in the town; the food is excellent thalis, chaat and café fare.
March–June for rafting and yoga mornings; October–February for quiet ghats and jungle walks.
Rishikesh is the rare town that runs on two different currents of energy at once. On the river, the rafting is cold and loud — the guides chanting, the raft slamming through waves, the gorge walls and forest sliding past, and then the sudden hush of calmer water. On the ghats, it's the opposite current: the evening aarti at Parmarth Niketan is a slow, beautiful ritual of fire and chant, and the ashrams hum with the sound of meditation bells and 'Om'. The bridges sway over the green water, sadhus sit with their books, and the air smells of sandalwood and river. It's a weekend for both adrenaline and silence, and the Ganga runs through both of them like a single, continuous thought.
Take the break. We'll take the planning.
Tell us your dates, budget and travel style — we'll build your Rishikesh plan with day-by-day routing, stays, food and bookings.