The city of Rishikesh with all its serenity and sheer beauty is located at the foothills of the Himalayas. Known for its devotional and spiritual vibe, it attracts tourists from all around the world. It also goes by the name of ‘City of Yoga’. Apart from that, Rishikesh is also the hub of many adventure sports, like white water river rafting and bungee jumping. From finding peace to living the wild life, Rishikesh has a platter full of experiences and adventures to offer. Even the Beatles couldn’t resist it! So what are you waiting for? Dive into this travel guide to explore tourism in Hrishikesh and plan your next trip.

Reaching Rishikesh is made easy because of its popularity as a tourist destination. It is also the initiating point of travel towards the famous pilgrimage of Char Dham. Char Dham mainly includes Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath.  

By Road:

This city is well connected through roads. Government buses are available from Delhi, and this journey takes about eight hours of travel. Shorter distance buses are also covered from Dehradun and Haridwar.

By Rail:

The closest railhead to Rishikesh is Haridwar railway station which is about 35 kms away. There are limited options for travel by rail. However, from Delhi, Mussoorie and Shatabdi express trains are available.

By Air:

The closest airport is Dehradun’s Jollygrant airport. It is about 25kms away from the city of Rishikesh. Regular flights are available from Delhi. Though there are also limited flights from Lucknow, available on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday. 

Rishikesh is pleasant throughout the year. And one can visit this place to make the most of it almost at any time of the year. Winters here, from October to March, are great. Though it becomes really chilly around January. The summers here, from April to June, are warm. This is the best time for white water river rafting. Most activities are active during this period. During monsoons, some activities and adventure sports are shut as it is considered dangerous. As it is located at an average elevation of about 1,220 ft. it has pleasant weather all through the year and offers views you will just not be tired of.

Yoga & Meditation:

It is impossible for any Rishikesh trip to be complete if you don’t indulge in yoga here. You can either seek small sessions of yoga or learn the entire course over a period of a month. The natural ambiance and serenity of the place make it one the best places for meditation.

Adventure Sports:

There are many adventures available to suit your tastes here. You can go for bungee jumping, kayaking, rafting, trekking, camping, rappelling, or rafting. A good time can be spent on these activities to get the adrenaline kicked in.

Ganga Arti:

Along the Parmarth or Niketan Ghat, every evening there takes place a ceremony. It is highly recommended that one come here and takes a dip in the Holy Ganges before attending the ceremony.  

Astrology session:

Astrology and Palmistry are two of the famous things about this place among many others. It is said to be among the most interesting sessions. It generally takes up to two hours. The pre-requisite is as simple as knowing the date and city of birth.

Ayurveda session:

Ayurveda is the use of plants for medicinal purposes. Rishikesh offers some of the best Ayurvedic treatments. Panchakarma is a popular therapy here. It is said to remove toxins from the body. Some ashrams and many specialized centers offer this treatment to everyone. 

Rishikesh receives people from both national and international areas. Therefore, the cuisine variety here is widespread. Though non-vegetarian food is strictly prohibited in Rishikesh. This is because the place is considered to be of national heritage and high religious importance. Though it has some amazing cafes and restaurants offering lip-smacking vegetarian variety. Honey Hut café, based in the Lakshman Jhula area has a unique concept of using honey in their items instead of sugar. 

Rishikesh Main Market located in near the Triveni Ghat is famous for clothes and daily necessities and serves mainly as the local market. Other famous markets are around Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula area. These are famous for tourist souvenirs and other things like books, jewelry, and precious stones.