Trip highlights
- 1Daily sunrise yoga at Parmarth Niketan Ashram
- 2Ganga Aarti sunset fire ceremony at Triveni Ghat
- 3White water rafting Grade 3–4 on the Ganges
- 4Beatles Ashram — the abandoned meditation pods
- 5Neelkanth Mahadev Temple forest hike
Daily spend
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Day-by-day plan
Arrive Rishikesh
Monday, March 1
Est. spend
$45
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive Rishikesh from Delhi or Haridwar
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
Jolly Grant Airport (DED, Dehradun) is 35km from Rishikesh — taxi INR 600–800 ($7–10). From Delhi: overnight Shatabdi train to Haridwar (4.5 hours, INR 450/$5.50) then shared jeep to Rishikesh (45 minutes, INR 100/$1.20). Delhi to Dehradun bus: 6 hours, INR 500 ($6).
Stay in Tapovan (across the Lakshman Jhula bridge from the main town) for the best combination of yoga centres, affordable guesthouses, and the authentic spiritual atmosphere without the tourist-heavy Laxman Jhula strip.
☀️ Afternoon
Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula suspension bridges
Laxman Jhula, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
The two iconic suspension bridges over the Ganges (238m span, built 1939) connect the east and west banks. The Laxman Jhula bridge is the postcard image of Rishikesh — the whole panorama of river, ghats, ashrams, and Himalayan foothills framed in one view.
Monkeys on the Laxman Jhula bridge will steal any food or plastic bags with food smell — hold bags close. The bridge itself is free.
🌙 Evening
Triveni Ghat Ganga Aarti — first evening
Triveni Ghat, Rishikesh
The nightly fire ceremony at Triveni Ghat — priests in orange robes performing the aarti ritual with camphor flames, conch shells, and devotional chanting to the river goddess Ganga. Attendance is free and open to all. The ceremony runs from sunset (6pm in March) for 45 minutes.
The Parmarth Niketan Ashram Ganga Aarti (Ram Jhula) is more elaborate and photogenic than the Triveni Ghat version — try both over the course of the week.
🍽️ Meals
Chotiwala Restaurant, Swarg Ashram
North Indian vegetarian · $6 · The most famous restaurant in Rishikesh since 1958. The thali (INR 150/$1.80) feeds two. The lassi is excellent.
First Yoga & Ashram Life
Tuesday, March 2
Est. spend
$45
per person
🌅 Morning
Sunrise Hatha yoga at Parmarth Niketan
Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Swarg Ashram, Rishikesh
Parmarth Niketan is the largest ashram in Rishikesh (capacity 1,000+) and runs daily yoga classes open to non-residents. The 6am Hatha yoga class on the Ganges bank (in the open-air court, river flowing 5 metres away) is the essential Rishikesh yoga experience. Drop-in INR 300–500 ($3.60–6).
Parmarth also runs a full residential program — 7-day yoga retreats from INR 6,000–12,000 ($72–145) including accommodation and meals. The evening Ganga Aarti at Parmarth's own ghat is magnificent.
☀️ Afternoon
Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram, Swarg Ashram, Rishikesh
The abandoned meditation complex where John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr spent 3 months in 1968 studying Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The dome-shaped meditation pods are now covered in graffiti art. Entry INR 150 ($1.80).
The Beatles Ashram was abandoned in the 1970s and taken over by the forest department. The meditation pods are intact and covered in murals — a surreal combination of spiritual architecture and street art.
🍽️ Meals
Ganga Beach restaurant, Tapovan
Indian/Israeli · $8 · Rishikesh has a major Israeli backpacker community — Israeli-Indian fusion food (hummus with Indian spices, shakshuka with local vegetables) is an unexpected Rishikesh speciality. Little Buddha Café is the best.
White Water Rafting
Wednesday, March 3
Est. spend
$45
per person
🌅 Morning
White water rafting on the Ganges
Brahmpuri Rafting Start, Rishikesh
The Ganges through the Rishikesh gorges runs Grade 3–4 rapids from March to June (when snowmelt swells the river). The 16km route from Brahmpuri to Rishikesh takes 3 hours and passes the spectacular 'Roller Coaster' and 'Golf Course' rapids. INR 600–800 ($7–10) per person.
Book directly at the Shivpuri or Brahmpuri put-in points rather than through hotels (markup is 40%+). All operators are licensed — the government regulates the river closely. Body surfing in the calmer sections (jumping from the raft) is included.
☀️ Afternoon
Cliff jumping at Neer Garh Waterfall
Neer Garh Waterfall, Rishikesh
The 1.5km forest trail from Rishikesh leads to a 10m waterfall with a natural pool — the cliff jumping here (6m and 10m jumps) is a Rishikesh adrenaline tradition. Free.
Check the water depth before jumping (lifeguards confirm it) and don't jump if there is any doubt. The trail through the forest to reach the falls is pleasant regardless of whether you jump.
🍽️ Meals
Freedom Café, Tapovan
Multicuisine · $8 · The best dinner views over the Ganges from a rooftop terrace. The masala chai and the paneer curry are excellent.
Neelkanth Temple Hike
Thursday, March 4
Est. spend
$35
per person
🌅 Morning
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple hike
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Pauri Garhwal District
The 11km one-way hike through pine and rhododendron forest to the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple (1,330m elevation) — one of the most sacred Shiva temples in the Himalayas, built on the site where Shiva is said to have drunk the cosmic poison. The forest trail passes waterfalls and mountain viewpoints.
Hire a guide from Rishikesh (INR 500–800/$6–10) for the trail — the forest paths branch frequently. The jeep option (INR 300 shared) goes most of the way but misses the forest experience. Start by 7am.
🍽️ Meals
Temple prasad and chai
Indian temple food · $3 · The temple serves free prasad (sacred food offering — sweet halwa and puri bread) and the chai stalls around the temple compound serve excellent ginger tea.
Meditation & Cooking
Friday, March 5
Est. spend
$45
per person
🌅 Morning
Vipassana meditation session
Omkarananda Ganga Sadan, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh
The Omkarananda Ganga Sadan meditation centre (above the Ganges) offers drop-in Vipassana (silent breath meditation) sessions. 2-hour session in complete silence with instruction. Free / donation.
Vipassana at this level is an introduction — the 10-day silent courses (free, residential) at Dhamma Salila near Rishikesh are the authentic full Vipassana experience. Apply at dhamma.org.
☀️ Afternoon
Sattvic cooking class
Cooking schools, Tapovan, Rishikesh
Sattvic food (yogic diet — no onion, garlic, or meat) is the traditional ashram diet. A 3-hour cooking class teaches kitchari (cleansing mung bean and rice), sabzi (vegetable curry), and chai from scratch. INR 800–1,200 ($10–15) at local cooking schools.
Sattvic cooking uses asafoetida (hing) instead of garlic and onion — a strong-smelling spice that actually has a more complex flavour than either. The technique transfers to Western kitchen use.
🍽️ Meals
Cooking class meal
Indian sattvic · $0 · Included — you cook and eat.
Rajaji National Park
Saturday, March 6
Est. spend
$80
per person
🌅 Morning
Rajaji National Park jeep safari
Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Chilla, Haridwar
The jungle reserve 24km from Rishikesh — elephants, leopards, sloth bears, king cobras, and the highest density of wild elephants in Uttarakhand. Jeep safari: INR 1,500 ($18) per jeep (4 people). Best morning hours for wildlife.
The elephant herd crossings of the Ganges at Chilla Gate are the park's most remarkable sight — 20–40 elephants crossing the river together in the early morning. Dawn entry (6am) gives the best chance.
☀️ Afternoon
Haridwar Har Ki Pauri — the sacred ghat
Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar, Uttarakhand
Haridwar is 24km from Rishikesh — the sacred ghat where the Ganges officially leaves the Himalayas and enters the plains. The evening aarti at Har Ki Pauri is even more elaborate than Rishikesh — thousands of pilgrims, floating flower lamps, and the most photographed ghats in India.
The Kumbh Mela — the world's largest religious gathering (every 12 years at Haridwar) — attracts 30 million pilgrims in a single day. If your visit coincides (next major Kumbh: 2026), it's unmissable.
🍽️ Meals
Chole bhature at a Haridwar dhaba
North Indian · $3 · Chole bhature (spiced chickpeas with deep-fried bread) for INR 80 ($1) at any Haridwar street stall. The best informal meal in the region.
Final Yoga & Departure
Sunday, March 7
Est. spend
$40
per person
🌅 Morning
Dawn yoga on the Ganges bank
Ganges ghat, Rishikesh
Final sunrise yoga session — either at an ashram or independently on the riverside ghat. The Ganges at 5:30am, with fog on the water, birds calling, and the first light on the Himalayan foothills, is the image that defines Rishikesh.
☀️ Afternoon
Return to Delhi or Dehradun for departure
Delhi or Dehradun departure
Shared jeep to Haridwar (INR 100), then bus or train to Delhi (5 hours). Or taxi to Dehradun (45 minutes) for the DED airport.
🍽️ Meals
Final chai at a roadside dhaba
Indian · $1 · The best chai is at roadside dhabas (transport cafés) in North India — boiled milk, ginger, cardamom, and strong Assam tea leaves. INR 15–25 ($0.18–0.30).
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
February–April (cool, clear, spring flowers) and September–November (post-monsoon, greener hills). May–June is hot but the river is high for rafting. July–August is monsoon — beautiful but riverside activities restricted.
🛂 Visas
India e-visa required for most nationalities — apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in ($25–80). Approved within 24–72 hours. Rishikesh is in Uttarakhand state — no permit needed.
💱 Currency
Indian Rupee (INR). 83 INR per USD. Rishikesh is one of India's cheapest tourist towns — a full day with yoga, meals, and activities costs INR 800–1,200 ($10–15). Cash is preferred everywhere.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 100
ambulance: 108
tourist helpline: 1800-180-5412
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Rishikesh is a holy city — beef and alcohol are officially banned in the entire district. This is observed seriously by residents. Bring alcohol from elsewhere if needed (hotels outside the holy zone may serve it).
- The Ganges water at Rishikesh is considered sacred and is used for drinking and bathing by pilgrims. It is NOT safe to drink by modern standards (E. coli). Don't accidentally ingest it while rafting.
One thing worth not skipping
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