Rishikesh is also known as the world capital of yoga. Filled with cows, monkeys, monks, sadhus and yoga practitioners from all over the world, it’s a very dynamic, high-vibrational and unique city. Alcohol and meat are completely forbidden which contributes to the peaceful energy. Rishikesh cannot be explained in words but needs to be experienced in order to comprehend its complexity and uniqueness.

Did you know that thousands of yogis travel to Rishikesh every year to experience its blissful scenery, rich culture and diverse yoga courses?

It has truly become the hotspot of yoga, meditation and spirituality. The city is divided into two parts by the holy Ganges river. Two hanging bridges called Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula connect both sides of the city.

Rishikesh lures travelers who are seeking inner peace and knowledge with its numerous ashrams, institutes and temples. The charming and relaxing feel attracts a growing number of visitors.

From adventurous activities among the breathtaking mountain ranges to the endless yoga classes, there is plenty to do and places to visit in this town that sits on the holy river Ganges.

Here is our guide on the best things to do in Rishikesh and how to get there.

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How to Get There

The easiest way to get to Rishikesh is by flying to Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport. It’s only 30km away from Rishikesh. You can easily catch a taxi to Rishikesh which takes around 40 minutes and costs less than $15.

Alternatively, you can take a bus or train from Delhi to the Rishikesh railway station if you’re looking for a truly authentic Indian experience. The buses leave every morning and evening from Kashmiri Gate. Train tickets should be booked in advance on the Indian Railway website.

Top Thing to Do in Rishikesh

If you finally make the trek to Rishikesh, then you’ve got a fun and enchanting time ahead of you. You can visit all the main tourist attractions, like the Beatles ashram or white water rafting on the river Ganga, or get your Rishikesh tour like a spiritual nomad. No matter what kind of experience you’re looking for, these are the 10 best things to do while visiting Rishikesh.

Dine at The Juice House at Ram Jhula

The best breakfast, smoothies, fruit salads and healthy yogi snacks can be found at the Fruit House at the Ram Jhula bridge. The small and cozy street shop offers benches and tables, cooled drinks and a huge variety of fruit meals, muesli, shakes and bliss balls. The friendly and skilled staff prepares everything freshly right in front of you and you get to enjoy organic and locally farmed fruits that nourish each and every cell of your body.

Because as delicious as the local dhaba might be, there’s only so much butter naan and daal makhani that your body can take.

Go to The Ganga Aarti Fire Ceremony

Every evening at 6 PM, hundreds of people gather at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram near the Ram Jhula bridge to worship the holy river Ganga, gods and life. The so-called Ganga Aarti involves a fire ceremony with flowers, mantras, music and community feeling. If you’re looking for an authentic spiritual experience that is steeped in tradition, then this is definitely something to do at least once. After all, you don’t go to Rishikesh just to practice yoga. You go to totally embody it and that includes Bhakti yoga too.

Suggested read: My Experience at Yoga School in Rishikesh

Dine at Rajasthani Restaurant & Sweets

This is probably the most famous restaurant in Rishikesh known for its quick service, huge varieties of Indian dishes and fresh sweets. At Rajhastani’s, you will be able to choose from more than 250 different traditional Indian sweets like Barfi, Ladhu and Ras Malai. It’s a local restaurant at the Rishikesh Market (Bazaar) that is still quite unknown to tourists, making it one of the best kept secret tourist attractions in town.

River Rafting On The Ganga

Rishikesh River Rafting is a must-do when in Rishikesh. Especially during summer, it’s a great way to cool down in the healing waves of the holy River. Even though the Ganges looks quite calm, it gets quite adventurous higher north. With a jeep, you will drive around 15km ahead of Rishikesh and then raft down the river. There will be options to jump into the river and have Indian chai along the way. If you’re into adventure sports, then this is a great activity to do. After all, when else will you have the opportunity to do white river rafting on the Holy River Ganges??

Trek To Neer Waterfall

Do you love swimming in ponds and waterfalls? Then, you must visit the Neer Waterfall. From Tapovan, it’s a 2-hour walk into the mountains. At about half-way up, you can have a little snack and swim in the ponds. Once you reach the top, you can enjoy the powerful waterfall.

Trek to Narendra Nagar

Narendra Nagar is a small village 12km away from Rishikesh. If you enjoy trekking, this is an awesome route along the Himalayan range, full of water, jungle and silence. At Laxman Jhula, you can book a trekking guide or simply get the maps to go on a little adventure with your friends.

Visit Kunjapuri Devi Temple

The Kunjapuri Temple lies 25 km away from Rishikesh and 8km from Narendra Nagar. It’s a beautiful temple and site from which you can enjoy the sunrise over the mountains and nature. It’s worth an early wake-up! Watching the sunrise above the Himalaya will surely give you a lot of good energy and calmness.

Safari at Rajaji Tiger Reserve

The Rajaji Tiger Reserve is a protected national park and home to many elephants, tigers, cheetah, turtles and crocodiles. A limited number of safari cars is permitted every week. If you are lucky, you can spot wild-living animals and learn about their natural habits.

Shop at Paridhan Fabrics

Paridhan is one of the oldest and best fabric shops in Rishikesh. The family-run shop holds over 1500 different colored and patterned fabrics, sarees, kurtas and dresses made from pure linen, cotton and silk. If you are looking to get a souvenir from Rishikesh, you should check out this shop! It provides the best quality and is affordable.

Final Thoughts

You can find hundreds (thousands?) of yoga classes, the world-famous yoga festival, and countless ashrams in Rishikesh. You can find adventurous activities, like camping or bungee jumping, alongside spiritual activities, like bhajans and meditation. And it’s all set in the unspeakably beautiful Himalayan range, making it an even more magical experience to visit this sacred place.

And don’t forget to take the quintessential tourist pic in front of the famous orange suspension bridge.

Whether you’re there to get the experience of an ashram in Rishikesh, to do your yoga teacher training, to attend the yoga festival, drop into a yoga retreat, or simply check out what all of the other tourists are doing, you will certainly enjoy your visit.

Things To Do In Rishikesh That Will Give You Life