Rishikesh is a yoga paradise in India that’s home to some mega chill vibes, immense spirituality and some pretty cool things to do! These Rishikesh sightseeing tips will help you have a trip to remember.
If you’re excited to visit Rishikesh, yoga isn’t the only thing to do in this part of northern India. There are also incredible natural attractions to see, delicious foods to consume, and even adventure sports for the brave!
I even cover where to stay in Rishikesh and offer some great Rishikesh restaurant recommendations. And for even more insight into traveling India, peep some of my India travel tips.
Here are 9 exciting Rishikesh sightseeing attractions sure to make your time in Rishikesh one to remember.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click my links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Learn more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support!
How Much Time Do you Need in Rishikesh?
I spent three days in Rishikesh, and had time to do most of the things on this list minus the yoga retreat. If you’re planning on visiting a yoga retreat in Rishikesh, you’ll very likely need a week or more in order to do yoga and see everything else. Some retreats run for a few weeks so it all depends on what things you want to do in Rishikesh.
Where to Stay in Rishikesh
Deciding where to stay in Rishikesh completely depends on the sort of vibe that you’re looking for – backpacking vibes, yoga vibes, or guesthouse vibes.
Hostel Cozy Beds: Best for Backpacking Vibes
We stayed in Hostel Cozy Beds (previously Moustache Hostel) while we were visiting Rishikesh and we weren’t disappointed. I personally liked how budget-friendly Moustache was as well as the fun backpacking vibes. It’s definitely not the absolute cheapest you can find, but I felt like we were also paying for the cleanliness.
The hostels we stayed in that were mega cheap at $1/night, were quite dirty so we upgraded to Moustache for our sanity. When you stay at multiple Moustache locations and book/pay in advance at your current location, you can get a 10% discount for your next stay, which we liked as well.
Anjali Home Stay: A Good Guesthouse Option
Guesthouses are a great way to experience Indian culture because you stay in a spare room that’s usually a part of a local family’s home. They often cook you delicious food and you get a much more personal experience with the local culture.
Since we stayed in hostels for a more social scene, something you don’t necessarily get with a guest house, I don’t have personal experience here, but it has great reviews and is highly ranked.
Sri Ved Niketan: Best Yoga Ashram
If you’ve come to Rishikesh in search of true yoga experience, you’ll want to set your sights on staying in an Ashrama yoga and meditation center/school that also has accommodation.
Sri Ved Niketan is well known as being one of the most popular in the city. You can show up the day of to book. Ashrams are usually more focused on their spiritual, meditative and yoga teachings than on amenities, so be warned the grounds will not be overly fancy.
The 10 Best Rishikesh Sightseeing Attractions
Whether you’re here for yoga or just to relax, there are so many incredible things to do in Rishikesh. Here is an ultimate list of the best Rishikesh attractions.
1. A Yoga Retreat.
I have to admit, I came to the land of yoga and did not actually participate in a single class while I was visiting Rishikesh…ridiculous I know! But everywhere we went, there were adverts for all types and styles of yoga for all sorts of lengths of time.
Since I’m clearly not an expert here, Hippie in Heels actually has a great post on how to prepare for a yoga retreat in Rishikesh and shares tips for everything you need to know.
If you’re looking for the best places, Travel Triangle has a comprehensive list of their top 8 yoga retreats in Rishikesh. I can’t personally vouch for any one retreat, but if you’re the type of person who needs to plan ahead and scour the interwebs for reviews, this list is a good place to start!
2. The Abandoned Beatles Ashram aka Rajaji Tiger Reserve.
My favorite thing to do in Rishikesh hands down, was exploring the abandoned ashram that the Beatles themselves visited a couple of times in the late 1960’s. Once a prominent yoga compound, this large area has tons of unique buildings that were once used for meditation and other spiritual endeavors.
Many of the decrepit buildings are now covered in stunning works of painted murals, and plants have begun to overtake many of the structures. Bring your camera and your imagination – running wild here was so much fun! It’s 600 rupees / $8.75 USD to enter for foreigners.
3. The Neer Garh Waterfall Trek
The Neer Garh Waterfall Trek is a perfect beginner’s trek and you can actually walk from the city if you’re up for adding a few extra km! The waterfall is multi-level and you can climb to check out a few different spots.
You can also swim in the natural pools so be sure to pack your swimsuit and lots of bug spray. Entrance into the falls is 50 rupees per person and will eat up about half of a day.
4. The Kunjapuri Trek
If you’re looking for something a little more challenging, the Kunjapuri hike is a one day trek that takes you through picturesque landscapes up to the Kunjapuri Temple. The trail requires a bit of physical toughness but it’s a beautiful thing to do in Rishikesh. You’ll see snow-capped mountains, a waterfall, and local villages on your way.
5. Tera Manzil Temple.
Probably the most iconic landmark in the city, one of the major things to do in Rishikesh is visit the Tera Manzil Temple or at least to marvel at it from across the Ganges.
6. Temple Hop
The Tera Manzil Temple isn’t the only worthwhile temple to see. If you’re keen to see more of the spiritual side of Rishikesh – it is a holy city after all – some other temples to add to your list include Nilkanth Mahadev Temple, Bharat Mandir, and Rishikund tank and Raghunath Temple.
7. Shop at the Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula Markets.
Along the Ganges and in the heart of the city, there are a few markets worth checking out for some cool souvenirs, yoga supplies, and delicious street food. Be sure to take a wander around the area to soak up the best of the Rishikesh shopping experience. These two main markets are within walking distance from the city center.
8. Go river rafting in the Ganges.
Rishikesh is home to the start of the Ganges River, the holiest river in the world. This brings many tourists from India and all over itching to get into the water for some river rafting. If this tickles your fancy, there were so many different rafting companies to choose from.
It’s not hard to find a decent deal and a reputable company once you arrive in person.
9. Brave the local adventure + water sports.
Much to my surprise, there are actually quite a lot of adventure sports for peeps to do while visiting this otherwise chill, spiritual and very yoga heavy destination. A few adventure things to do:
- Bungee jumping
- Rock climbing
- Kayaking
- Cliff Jumping
- Flying Fox
- Giant Swing
10. Triveni Ghat
The Triveni Ghat is the largest ghat in Rishikesh and is regarded as the holiest. Crowds of people flock each morning to bathe in the holy waters of the Ganges River. Taking the time to see if for yourself is a great glimpse into the local culture.
Where to Eat in Rishikesh
Rishikesh attracts many health-conscious visitors (aka yogis) and the restaurants in the area cater well to this clientele. You can easily find many hip and cute health joints serving up some good food and good vibes.
To find the best restaurants in the city outside of my recommendations below, Zomato is a great place to find new eats, see pictures and read reviews. Think of it as India’s Yelp!
For my party people; Rishikesh is considered a holy city, beer and any booze will be difficult to find. You won’t find it openly listed on the menu or sold in any local shops. I’m not saying it’s impossible to find, but if you’re interested in enjoying a few cold brews in Rishikesh, you’ll have to do a bit of hunting and pay a bit of an upcharge.
The Best Restaurants in Rishikesh
Iras Kitchen & Tea Room.
Iras was one of our favorite places to grab breakfast. This charming little vegetarian joint is owned by a local family and is rated as one of the best restaurants in Rishikesh. They serve up some healthy options and some good coffee!
Bistro Nirvana.
We loved this cozy restaurant situated up on top of a hill. They have delicious western and Indian dishes and have cool raised booths and cushy seating. While a little pricey compared to the other options in the city (it’s India though so still so cheap!), we feasted and relaxed in the restaurant a bit after dinner. Highly recommend.
Little Buddha Cafe.
This cool joint is so popular that when we tried to stop by, it was completely full! You’ll definitely want to check out this poppin’ cafe in Rishikesh but maybe come outside peak meal times.
Lotus Cafe.
I wouldn’t go as far to say the food at Cafe Lotus was the absolute best, but the chill atmosphere and awesome view of the Ganges River from above made the decent food taste fantastic! During our tour of Rishikesh, we went for the view and stayed for a bit of reading over a cup of tea long after dinner. I’m a sucker for cozy seating.
Ganga Beach Cafe.
On the same vein as Lotus Cafe, Ganga Beach Cafe boasts some cool views of the Ganges River right next to the bank and some colorfully cushioned floor seating. They serve up Indian and western options and is a good place to chill and enjoy a meal.
How to Get to Rishikesh.
Depending on your specific India itinerary, chances are you’ll be leaving from either Delhi or Varanasi, as these are the two closest major tourist spots in India. The city is actually quite far north, about 240 km (150 miles) from Delhi and 840 km (522 miles) from Varanasi. But don’t worry – you have some affordable, albeit time-consuming, options to choose from to get to Rishikesh!
Taking the Train to Haridwar Station.
First things first, you’ll want to set up an account with the IRCTC website to book your train tickets in advance. It’s a complicated ordeal and takes a few days since accounts are manually approved. If you can’t be bothered, you can use the website to search routes and grab tickets at the station. Just beware that it’s not uncommon for busy train routes to fill up the day before.
For a comprehensive guide for how to set up a train account, check out Hippie in Heels Guide.
OK, now you’re ready to book your ticket. Rishikesh actually doesn’t have a train station, so it’s not technically possible to grab a direct train. Haridwar is the nearest station and is about a 45 minute drive or 1 hour bus ride from Rishikesh’s city center.
So regardless of where you’re coming from via train, set your arrival station to Haridwar. The Indian train website is annoying and requires you to know the exact name of the station you wish to travel to – they don’t tell you the nearest station to a place.
Train from New Delhi to Rishikesh
From New Delhi, you have a few options leaving from most main stations in the city (Delhi, New Delhi and Delhi Cantt stations) starting as early as 2 am and as late as midnight. Most trains leave all days, but some are only on certain days so keep an eye out for that. The journey from Delhi to Haridwar can take you anywhere from 4 to 8+ hours.
If you’re looking to take the train from Varanasi, there are three trains daily from Varanasi Junction to Haridwar Station, one at 01:55 am, or 08:25 am or 10:30 am. Sleeper class price starts at 400 rupees / $6 USD and the journey takes about 19 hours on the express or 14.5 hours on the slow train. Taking a sleeper train is a true budget, Indian experience.
Bus from Haridwar to Rishikesh.
Once you arrive at Haridwar Station, you’ll want to locate the local bus station – which isn’t super easy to spot. When you exit the train station, take a right and cross the street. It’s only a short walk, maybe one minute, and you should see two large parking lots with many buses pulling in and out.
Ask around for the bus to Rishikesh, nothing is marked so you’ll need to follow word of mouth. We were told the buses to Rishikesh leave about every 20 min, and the one we got was 35 rupees.
The bus ride from Haridwar to Rishikesh is an hour long and will drop you off on the outskirts of the city. You’ll most likely be staying more central so you’ll need to find a tuk tuk or taxi to take you the rest of the way – about a 15/20 minute drive.
If you arrive early enough in the day, across from the Rishikesh bus station parking lot are large shared tuk tuks you can take to the city center for about 100 rupees per person. We arrived a bit late in the evening and had to take a private tuk tuk for 200 rupees per person.
If at any point you feel lost or confused, the locals are always happy to help and point you in the right direction. Just be weary of those who say these options don’t exist – they probably just want you to pay for an insanely expensive private taxi.
Direct Bus to Rishikesh.
Buses are always pretty easy to navigate in India. You can check for schedules and timetables on RedBus.in to get an idea of some of your options. As with many things in India however, this shouldn’t be your end all be all resource – the website doesn’t list or show all options.
From Delhi, there are plenty of options to travel directly to Rishikesh departing from the New Delhi Train Station Bus Terminal. The journey is about 8 – 10 hours and will run you anywhere from 300 – 700 rupees. It all depends on the route and company.
I don’t think there are any direct buses from Varanasi to Rishikesh, but the best thing would be to ask a local while you’re there. There might be a one off direct bus not listed online or there might be a fairly easy transfer to get from Varanasi to Rishikesh. Otherwise you’ll have the train or flying as an option.
Flying to Rishikesh.
The Jolly Good International Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Rishikesh for those interested in flying. It’s certainly not the cheapest way to start off your 3-day Rishikesh itinerary but it will be the fastest option if you have limited time. From New Delhi you can expect to pay about $30-$50 one-way or about $75+ from Varanasi.
From the airport in Dehradun, it’s about a 40 min drive to Rishikesh. Unfortunately, this isn’t the route I went with, but there should be plenty of taxis and cabs looking to take passengers onward to Rishikesh. It’s a bit of a journey and they may try to upcharge you since you don’t have many options for getting to Rishikesh from the airport.
There are murmurings online about a bus from the main road outside of the airport to Rishikesh, which knowing India probably does exist to convenience the locals. When you land, ask around the airport to get the 411.
Asking locals is hands down the best way to get accurate and up to date information about transportation in the country. The bus will be heaps and bounds cheaper than a private taxi – usually cents compared to a few+ dollars.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click my links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Learn more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support!
Hope you enjoyed this list of the can’t-miss Rishikesh sightseeing attractions and best things to do in Rishikesh! Comment below with any recommendations!
Thanks for this information !!! really cool, Rishikesh is widely for its yoga and other adventure activities, you will never be bored here. There are many institutes of yoga. I love this place.
You’re right it is such a beautiful place and so much yoga!!! Thanks for reading!