The scenic town of Rishikesh is situated in Uttrakhand state of India. It is one of the holiest and religious places in India. Rishikesh is surrounded by the splendid Himalayan range and the holy river ‘Ganges’ flows through this land of Gods. Indians believe that water from river Ganges (Ganga) has healing powers that attracts millions of people to get rid of their ailments. Rishikesh has grown as round the year destination among travelers.


Main Attractions

•    Ram & Lakshman Jhula – Famous bridges spanning river ‘Ganga’. Almost all the activities and places of accommodation are located on the either ends of these bridges.

•    Swarg Ashram - Known as the Heavenly Abode, is the place located in the picturesque surrounding of Himalayas. All the ashrams and places of worship are concentrated in Swarg Ashram. You can find a Satvik environment here with temple bells ringing and fragrance of incense in the air.


•    Triveni Ghat - For the people who want to take bath in the holy river, Triveni Ghat would be an ideal place. Men and women taking a holy dip in the water and priests waiting with pooja thalis takes you into the lap of serenity. You can be a part of “Maha Arti” performed in the evening. At the time of Arti, the floating carpet of rose petals starts to spread out from the ghats across the river.

•    Bharat Mandir , Parmarth Niketan, Tryambkeshwar temple and Gita Bhavan are some other places where you can visits

What to Do In Rishikesh

•    River Rafting – White river rafting on the clear water of Ganga would be highly adventurous and an unusual experience for you.

•    Adventure – Rock climbing, Trekking, Rappelling, Cliff jumping and camping on the silver sand beaches around Rishikesh.


•    Yoga and Meditation - Peace seekers consider the place as their Mecca and call Rishikesh the ‘World Capital of Yoga’. You can join various meditation and yoga classes and can experience a homely stay in the midst of the nature. Some of the famous yoga ashrams situated on the banks of Ganges are ‘Tattvaa Yogshala’, ‘Brahmayog Center’ and ‘Ved Niketan Ashram’.

Eating Out

As far as food is concerned you can get Indian food at its best in Rishikesh. Because of the divinity and religious sentiments associated with the place, Non-vegetarian food is strictly prohibited in Rishikesh but you can get healthy and delicious food at many local restaurants like:
•    Mukti’s Health Food – You can get a mix of Indian and continental food with great taste. Green pasta, apple pie and chocolate cake are some of the specialities.
•    Little Italy- Pizzas and pastas at reasonable price
•    Chotiwala – famous for its 5 different thalis.
•    The Welcome Center- Provides good ayurvedic food and tea.
•    Lucky Restaurant – Indian cuisine restaurant

While roaming around the market if you want to buy some handy snacks then many pushcarts offer popcorn, warm cookies, samosas, nuts etc. Special masala chai and lassi is also famous among tourists.

Shoppers Paradise

The most exciting activity for foreigners as well as Indians is to buy some cheap and good quality clothes, religious bronze effigies, Incense sticks and many other things related to god and worship. Rishikesh is a hub of ayurvedic products. You can find almost all the rare ayurvedic medicines and products in the local market

With all these attractions, Rishikesh attracts people from different caste, creeds and religions, all of them lured by its irresistible spell. For those who are fond of culture, cuisine and adventure, Rishikesh is a must visit.



Have a quick look at the important information about Rishikesh

Distances from important destinations

Delhi-230 km, Haridwar-25 km, Dehradun- 43 km

How to Reach Rishikesh

By Plane – ‘Jolly Grant Airport’ Dehradun (Rishikesh is approximately 15 km from here)
Handles 2 flights daily from Delhi, soon to be extended to handle more flights from other cities also.

By Train – Nearest station – Haridwar
Trains from Delhi- Shatabdi Express, Jan Shatabdi, Mussourie Express
Haridwar to Rishikesh – through bus, taxi or shared auto-rickshaws(Vikrams)

By Road – 5-7 hrs journey from Delhi by bus. Many luxury buses ply between Delhi & Rishikesh daily

Best time to visit

Februray, March, August-October. Savan festival in July attracts millions of pilgrims.

Climate    

Temperate climate. Summers are pleasant and in winters temperature drops below freezing point. June-September are the rainy months.

Area

Elevation 532 m(1,745 ft)

Accommodation in Rishikesh

Budget Hotels – Lucky Hotel(per day Rs. 300-1299), Vashisth Guest House(Rs. 300-650), Ananda Guest House(Rs. 150-200), Raj Resort(Rs. 200-1500)

Mid-range Hotels – Hotel Ganga View(INR 1950-2350), Tapovan Resort(INR 1650-1850), Hotel Prassana Inn(Rs. 600-2000), Bharat Bhumi(Rs. 600-2000)

Ashrams for cheap Lodging – Sri Ved Niketan Ashram(Rs. 50-150), Patanjali Yoga Center(Rs.100), Yoga Niketan Guest Houses(Rs. 500-990), Sant Seva Ashram(Rs. 250-700)

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