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Municipal corporation and tehsil in Uttarakhand, India
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Rishikesh (Hindi: ऋषिकेश, pronounced RIH-shih-kaysh), a small town in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, is famously known as the "yoga capital" (or "Yog Nagari"). Scenically located where the Ganges comes down from the Himalayas, Rishikesh catapulted to Western fame when the Beatles dropped by for a visit to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram.
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One of the temples set up by 'Adiguru Shankaracharya' during the 12th century. This temple is a real tribute to Vishnu, the idol of which is carved from a sole piece of Saligram.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram
Historic ashram where The Beatles stayed and composed music in 1968. Now maintained by the Forest Department, featuring graffiti art in the former meditation caves and cathedral-like lecture hall.
Place of Guru Shri Ram Sukh Daasji (the great thinker of his time) and popular among the Hindu Brahmin community. Twice a year people gather at this ashram to read the Ramayana together.
Modern 346-meter suspension bridge opened in late 2020 featuring dedicated two-wheeler and pedestrian lanes, easing congestion between Muni Ki Reti and Swargashram.
One of the most sacred temples in Rishikesh. Located on hill over Swarg Ashram at a height of 1,675 m. A religious fair is held during July–August when many disciples from different corners of India visit.
One of the few ashrams left in India where children get the Vedas education. A must-visit in the evening for the Pooja/Aarti, at 5PM in winter and 6PM in summer.
Reaching Patna Waterfalls requires a little bit of trekking (600 metres), but you will find scenic spots at the top. There are a few tea stalls along the way.
Swargashram (Heavenly Abode), as the name connotes, is a beautiful place situated in picturesque surroundings at the foot of Himalayas on the left bank of the Ganges between Rishikesh and Laxman Jhula. It is the spiritual “ground zero” of Rishikesh, filled with a concentration of ashrams and temples. The areas is known for its healthy and satwik living environment. It is this spot where from ages of yore the famous yogis and rishis have been doing the Tapasya. Numerous mentions of this spot occur in the holy scripture Puranas.
It is 13 stories high, with different deities throughout.
This is a bathing ghat. Every morning and evening, thousands of visitors bathe here and enjoy the Maha Aarti being performed. It is very soothing to sit on the banks of the river and enjoy the cool breeze from the river. Here the water is much cleaner than downstream.
Centre for learning palmistry and astrology.
Personal horoscopes and palm reading from Dr. Gaurav Agrawal and the astrologer B.P. Uniyal. The horoscopes can be made on a distance, using your place and date of birth.
Run by soma a local reiki master which is in Gita Ashram.
Maayaa Healing
Maayaa offers sound healing, reiki, chakra healing, numerology, Tarot reading, physic counselling, aromatherapy, Kundalini meditation, dowsing, chakra balancing. Also these residential courses: sound healing teacher training course, meditation teacher training course, aromatherapy course, chakra plus crystal intensive program and yoga & meditation retreats.
Panchakarma Center
Panchakarma, Ayurveda, Physiotherapy, Yoga & Ayurveda retreat.
Dr. Mukesh Sharma and Dr. Vibha Sharma
Panchakarma, sound healing, astrology or Jyotishshastra, Ayurveda nutrition, yoga & Ayurveda retreat.
Run by a sitar player Bhuwan Chandra. Travelers can learn and buy sitar, tabla, harmonium, mantra chanting, and improve vocal skills.
Make Australian didgeridoos, African djmbes and other musical instruments under the guidance of Mukeshji, while he regales you with his hilarious stories and takes you along with him in his Himalayan journeys.
Extremely professional artist Pankaj teaches sitar, harmonium, tabla and bansuri in different styles in a slow-paced, yet intensive way.
Free concerts of live classical Indian music and free yoga classes with local top yoga teachers.
Probably the best cooks in town, these guys will serve you any food you like. Be prepared to wait 40-90 minutes as the place is extremely popular.
Don't miss their super-popular spinach pie. Come at 10AM to get a piece.
Fine Nepali Food
One of the best known cafes in town. Here you can get delicious Nepali, Indian, European, and Thai food for under ₹100 per dish. Three storeys, nice Ganga view.
Italian, Mexican American, Indian, Tibetan, Nepali, Israeli cuisine with all food prepared with fresh water. Great choice of delicious meals. Be prepared to wait for at least 40 minutes.
Has a very good variety of North Indian food.
Open air, river-facing restaurant and terrace
Serves Indian, Italian, Chinese, cafe-style, Tibetan and Israeli food. Vegetarian-friendly with vegan options, to eat in or take out. Outdoor seating with view of the Ganges. No smoking, child-friendly.
Offers strawberry smoothies, thick mango juice (ask for no ice), strawberry lassi, thick fresh pineapple juice. Drinks are served in 500 ml mugs.
Clean and comfortable, new rooms with attached bath. Good value for the money and the owner is a great and helpful host.
A large, popular place with a good restaurant.
Rooms overlooking the river and the mountains.
Decent rooms with Ganga views and balconies.
They claim to have neat and clean rooms and good service.
Opened 2010. Wifi. Rooms are big, clean and very comfortable.
Nice rooms, some with a view and a good restaurant on the top floor that overlooks both the Laxman Jhula and the Ganges River.
Room price of US$20 per night includes 3 meals & free wireless internet. Also offers short term yoga and ayurveda courses/retreats (including Yoga Alliance certified 200 hour yoga teacher training) and budget car and taxi rental services from Delhi airport to Rishikesh.
Guest house with clean and comfortable rooms with attached kitchen, common kitchen and attached bathroom with 24 hours hot water, mountain view, in-house salad lounge & cafe. In-house reiki and crystal macrame workshops available. In-house salon for haircut by professional stylist. Yoga lessons, river rafting and other adventure activities are also available on request. The host is very helpful and kind and stays in the same property. The same owner also owns Yash Paying Guest House, which charges ₹400-500 for rooms and also offers them for monthly rentals. Contact info for Yash: email: yashpalbhatt@yahoo.com, +91 9412146858, Mr.Yash, +91 9997887794
Hostel with a rooftop and several terraces. Dorm, single and double rooms with all new beds and bedsheats. Staff sometimes takes tourists out on small daytours outside of town. Has Wifi.
8-room hotel on the banks of the Ganges with a river view. A restaurant serving Indian and Chinese food is under the hotel.
The friendly hostess, Mama, makes wholesome breakfasts and scrumptious thali. Nice Ganga views and a good shower.
Iyengar Yoga lessons are available in a studio with modern equipment.
Raj Resort Rishikesh
Clean and comfortable AC/non-AC rooms with attached bathrooms, hot shower, balcony with mountain view, garden, car parking, restaurant. Yoga lessons, river rafting and other extras are also available.
Osho Mystery Meditation Center
Clean and comfortable valley facing rooms near spring.
Family operated, beautiful rooms A/C and Non A/C available, water heater, delectable restaurant, cyber cafe, rafting and trekking packages, bus, air and train ticketing services available.
Reported to be clean and comfortable.
Open rooms with balconies and garden. Also offers yoga lessons in the morning (7:00AM to 8:30AM ) & evening (5:30PM to 7:00PM), in-house pool, Internet cafe, Ayurvedic treatments and panchkarma centre.
Clean and comfortable rooms with attached bathroom. Some rooms have Ganges views and free Wi-Fi. There is also a travel point at reception.
Clean and comfortable. The owner is a great guy and helpful host.
Clean and safe place to stay with air conditioning, television, water heater, attached bathroom facilities.
Yoga classes take place in their main ashram above - a five-minute uphill walk. Clean rooms on ground and first floors have private sit out with good view of the Ganges. Basic veg meals available on request or at the Ashram for ₹200 per day. Non Ac ₹500; AC ₹990.
Very close to Triveni Ghat
Mayakund, Nirmal Ashram is famous for its service to humanity. Free food, medical treatment, education to poor people are a few of the services which Nirmal Ashram provides. Free food is served to everybody who comes to the ashram.
Budget rooms on the banks with a great view from ₹250-700. Long stays allowed. Booking can be done only 1 or 2 days in advance. Homely restaurant attached.
Spacious yoga hall of the International Vishwaguru Meditation and Yoga Institute and huge and serene lush green court yard offering hatha yoga, meditation, teacher training course 200 hours and 15 days intensive course of hatha yoga, etc.
very calm environment inside with a costing of 700 rupee per person/day including food good enough for travel person they have arti and meditation hall as well which is good.
Situated on the outskirts of the city with a river view.
A small boutique family guest house, away from the hustle and bustle. Located peacefully on the edge of the reserve forest in the lower Himalayas overlooking the town.
14 rooms and Wifi.
Near the river line, in some quiet and serene surroundings. Rooftop yoga.
A newer hotel with good rooms and a garden. Also has a decent restaurant.
A quiet hotel with an informative, helpful staff. Rafting, camping, trekking and bungee jumping can be arranged.
Exquisite setting on the Ganges, surrounded by forested hills.
0135-2435243
On the banks of the Ganges, with a private ghat (bank), this boutique hotel overlooks Rajaji National Park. A couple of rolling lawns host morning yoga sessions and spiritual lectures. Various heads of states and celebrities have stayed here. The hotel houses a riverside cafe 'Rangoli' and a multi-cuisine dining lounge. Some years before it used to be the venue of international yoga week also.
By train
There are two stations serving the town: {{station|Yog Nagari Rishikesh|city=india|nr}} (YNRK), and the older {{station|Rishikesh|city=india|nr}} (RKSH).
By plane
Rishikesh is about 15 km from Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport (DED), which offers flights from Delhi IGI (DEL) and other Indian cities.
By taxi
Shared taxis to destinations within Uttarakhand leave from Natraj Chowk, 1 km from the Rishikesh bus station.
On foot
Swargashram is pretty much pedestrian only, but it's compact and walkable (as is the whole of the town).
By rickshaw
Auto-rickshaws (vikrams) are useful from the bus/train stations to get around:
By taxi
Near the bank of Ganges, share jeeps and taxis are available to drop visitors at Neelkantha temple and waterfall. Overall, it’s more than 16 km run by road to go from one side of river to another.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Dehradun (Jauligrant) · Regional · DED
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