The celestial city of Rishikesh is a hermit’s hermitage, a sage’s abode and an adventure lover’s hub. This lively Rishikesh city is among the holiest places of Hindus.
The word Rishikesh literally suggests the ‘locks or hairs of a sage’. The city is famously known as the ‘Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas' and the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’. Many locals, as well as foreign tourists, visit this place in the quest for spirituality and peace.
Rishikesh Travel Guide, Rishikesh Tourism Travel Tips
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Rishikesh is the only destination in the world that is equally popular for pilgrimage, Yoga, and Adventure Sports. It is situated in the foothills of the Shivalik range on the banks of the river Ganga in Northern India. Rishikesh has also become a popular destination for white water rafting and kayaking, attracting tourists from both India and abroad. It is also a center for hiking, backpacking, camping, rock climbing, rappelling, kayaking, and bungee jumping.
Rishikesh is a small serene town famous for meditation and yoga. It is Gateway to the Himalayas and being on the bank of the river Ganges it is an ideal destination for adventure activities like rafting, trekking, rock climbing, kayaking, etc.
Rishikesh is situated 25 km ahead of Haridwar at an elevation of 356 meters above sea level and consists of three distinct areas known as Rishikesh, Swargashram, and Muni-ki-Reti.
The town of Rishikesh is such strategically located at the Himalayan foothills that it has easy access by road to the entire Himalayan region in India, and is famous to be the ideal starting point for your exploring expedition in the Himalayan region.
Rishikesh known for its holiness has a lot to offer to its visitant as the city has an alter ego which sometimes becomes holy, sometimes adventuresome, sometimes surreal and comely. The travelers can go for temple-hopping to the nearby shrines such as Shri Neelkanth Mahadev, Vashishtha Gufa, or pamper themselves with an exotic Ayurveda treatment.
Either pay a short visit to the several assorted ashrams around Swargashram or relish the timeless beauty of the ancient temples such as Shatrughna Mandir, Bharat Mandir, and Lakshman Mandir that were enshrined by Guru Adi Shankaracharya.
One can stroll around the Sivananda Nagar, the home of Sivananda Ashram, or visit the Divine Life Society established by the great Hindu philosopher, Swami Vivekananda. You can also admire the construction of the two mammoth suspension bridges of Rishikesh, the Ram Jhula, and the Lakshman Jhula that are known for their exquisiteness.
If you are a hardcore Beatles fan, then head to the Beatles Ashram where the fab five attended a session of transcendental meditation. Also, don't miss the blissful Ganga Arti performed on the Triveni Ghat during dusk.
The project aims to bridge infrastructure gaps, enhance the overall tourist experience, and stimulate economic growth by centralizing rafting operations and upgrading facilities. Currently, a systematic booking system for rafting adventures is lacking at popular starting points like Brahmapuri, Shivpuri, and Kaudiyala, as well as at ending points such as Neem Beach, Laxman Jhula, and Janki Jhula. The initiative seeks to address these shortcomings and streamline operations. Check Rafting in Rishikesh
Foreign tourists joined in the festival of Diwali at Parmarth Niketan, a spiritual organisation in Rishikesh. The tourists enthusiastically participated in the traditional aarti ceremony and lit diyas.
Devprayag Police has taken a big decision to stop the increasing vehicle accidents at night on Rishikesh-Badrinath Highway. It has been decided to ban the movement of vehicles at night on Devprayag Rishikesh Highway from November 1. Only emergency services will be free from this ban.
There will be a ban on the movement of vehicles between Devprayag and Rishikesh from 10 pm to 5 am. If people are planning to travel at night, they should stop at Rishikesh, Srinagar, Devprayag, otherwise they may have to face trouble. This step has been taken for the safety of local people and travelers.
A huge crowd of tourists is flocking to Rishikesh to celebrate Deepawali. Bookings in Rishikesh hotels and camps are full. There is also a lot of demand for camping in Rishikesh. The major hotels of the area are full. The remaining hotels are also booked up to 80 to 90 percent.
Accommodation is not a problem at Rishikesh as the place is flooded with numerous guesthouses, hotels and resorts. Also, being a religious place, there are many ashrams and dharamshalas in Rishikesh where one can stay.
Due to the high influx of tourists and pilgrims to Rishikesh respectively, there are plenty of restaurants and roadside food stalls mushroomed at Rishikesh where chiefly Indian vegetarian food is served along with Punjabi and Garhwali dishes. Being a revered place of religious importance, non-vegetarian food and alcohol is strictly prohibited in Rishikesh.
Widely known as one of the holiest towns of India, Rishikesh is associated with several legends and mythological tales. The first one states that a sage by the name of Raibhya Rishi performed a strict penance on the banks of river Ganga. Impressed by his utmost devotion, Lord Vishnu appeared in front of him as 'Hrishikesh' meaning ‘Lord of the Senses’ in Sanskrit. Therefore, the place became popular by the name of Hrishikesh, another name for Lord Vishnu and was later re-named as Rishikesh. The 'Kedar Khand' of Skanda Purana, also mentions the existence of Indrakund at this very point.
While the other legend states that Lord Rama indulged in deep meditation here for annihilating Ravana and it was here that Lakshmana, the younger brother of Rama crossed the mighty river using a jute rope bridge. However, the original bridge was later replaced by an iron rope suspension bridge in 1889 and a similar bridge called Ram Jhula was made in 1986. Also, there are several ancient temples in Rishikesh that were enshrined by Adi Shankaracharya.
There are several ancient temples and ashrams in Rishikesh which are associated with our mythological and historical background. A dip in the holy water of Ganges flowing from the river beaches of Rishikesh is capable of washing all the sins of a person.
Thousand of years ago saint came to this place in order to attain peace and spirituality. As their study and practice flourished here, Rishikesh soon established itself as the birthplace of the Ayurveda, Yoga, Meditation, Spirituality and Spa Therapies, and it became famous world-over as a perfect place to study, learn and practice the Ayurveda, Yoga, Meditation, Spiritually and Spa Therapies. It is believed that meditation in Rishikesh brings one closer to attainment of moksha, as does a dip in the holy river that flows through it.
Rishikesh at a Glance
Rishikesh is a city, a municipal council and a tehsil in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. It is the seventh most populous city of Uttarakhand and the largest municipal council of Uttarakhand. Rishikesh is the starting point for travelling to the Char Dham Yatra sites namely Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
The locals of Rishikesh are found to be mostly peaceful with friendly demeanor, speak local language, with good Hindi and some workable English.
Map for representation purpose only - not to scale.
Check out the Rishikesh weather report for January
The minimun and maximum temperature in January in Rishikesh is 5°C and 17°C respectively. The weather is generally pleasant and clear in January and you would feel chilling cold throughout the day. Heavy Woolen clothes are recommended for Rishikesh in January.
Rishikesh is famous among tourist as Yoga, Pilgrimage, Rafting, Kayaking, Adventure Tourism, Temples, Ashrams, Weekend Getaway.
Rishikesh is recommended destination for Corporates, Couples, Family and Kids, Foreigners, Groups, Solo.
Rishikesh is popular destination for following activities/ interests - Adventure, Biking, Camping, Char Dham Route, Christmas and New Year, Hiking, Kayaking, Leisure, Pilgrimage, Rafting, Religious, Shopping, Temples, Weekend Getaway, Yoga and Meditation.
When I visited Rishikesh, I quickly realized why it’s such a popular destination. The views of the Ganga River, the peaceful temples, and the calming ashrams were beautiful, but what truly stood out for me was the river rafting experience. I remember the thrill of being on the fast-moving Ganga, the cool breeze hitting my face, and that surge of adrenaline as we navigated the rapids. It was an unforgettable experience, and the excitement was like nothing I’d ever felt before. For any adventurer, it was the perfect rush, and honestly, it made the entire trip special. If you ever find yourself in Rishikesh, don’t miss out on rafting—it’s a whole new kind of adventure!
Our family trip to Rishikesh was amazing .. We enjoyed peaceful walks along the Ganges, visited temples, and tried white-water rafting. The evening Ganga Aarti was a highlight ... Rishikesh has the perfect mix of adventure and spirituality for all ages. A great family destination ..
A busy town with lots of lots of temples, in each and every street. We love the local people treat us with their welcoming nature. We were in Rishikesh for Yoga training in one of the best Yoga schools in Rishikesh.
