Explore Rishikesh
Places to Visit in Rishikesh
Top attractions and must-see spots in Rishikesh
Landmarks
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Anand Prakash Ashram
Anand Prakash Ashram is a well-regarded yoga ashram in Rishikesh known for its structured and internationally accredited yoga teacher training programmes. Founded by Yogrishi Vishvketu, it blends classical Hatha and Ashtanga traditions with a warm, accessible approach suitable for serious students and beginners alike. Set within a leafy campus a short distance from the main ghats, the ashram also offers shorter retreat programmes and drop-in classes. Its strong reputation among the global yoga community has made it one of the more credible training institutions in the Rishikesh yoga ecosystem.
Geeta Bhawan
Geeta Bhawan is a landmark spiritual complex on the banks of the Ganges near Ram Jhula, established in 1950 and managed by the Gita Press, Gorakhpur. Housing over a thousand rooms for pilgrims, it is one of the largest dharamshalas in Rishikesh. The complex features temples, a library of religious texts, and walls painted with verses from the Bhagavad Gita. Scholars, pilgrims, and spiritual seekers have made it a long-standing base for extended stays in Rishikesh.
Jumpin Heights
Jumpin Heights is India's highest fixed object bungee jumping facility, set at 83 metres above a rocky gorge near Mohan Chatti, roughly 16 kilometres from Rishikesh. Operated with internationally certified equipment and trained instructors, it also offers a giant swing and a flying fox zip line across the valley. The site is open year-round and draws thrill-seekers from across the country. The dramatic Himalayan gorge setting, combined with the credibility of its safety standards, makes it the definitive adventure stop on any Rishikesh itinerary.
Lakshman Jhula
An iconic suspension bridge over the Ganges in Rishikesh, offering scenic views and access to nearby temples and ashrams.
Madhuban Ashram
A peaceful spiritual retreat in Rishikesh offering yoga, meditation, and Ayurvedic wellness programmes in a serene riverside setting.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Ashram "Shankaracharya Nagar"
The famous abandoned ashram in Rishikesh where the Beatles stayed in 1968, now a popular heritage and nature walk destination.
Osho Gangadham Ashram
Osho Gangadham Ashram is a meditation centre on the Ganges in Rishikesh drawing on the teachings of Osho (Rajneesh), offering active and passive meditation techniques including Osho Dynamic and Kundalini meditations. Set in a relatively quiet residential part of the city, it attracts a mix of domestic and international visitors interested in contemporary meditation practices outside the orthodox Vedic tradition. The ashram holds regular programmes and residential retreats throughout the year, making it a notable alternative spiritual destination within the broader Rishikesh wellness circuit.
Parmarth Niketan Ashram
One of the largest ashrams in Rishikesh, renowned for its daily Ganga Aarti, yoga programmes, and spiritual retreats on the riverbank.
Ram Jhula
A wide suspension bridge over the Ganges in Rishikesh connecting ashrams and temples, popular with pilgrims and visitors alike.
Sivananda Ashram
Sivananda Ashram, formally the Divine Life Society, was founded in 1936 by Swami Sivananda Saraswati on the banks of the Ganges near Ram Jhula. It stands as one of India's most influential yoga and Vedanta institutions, having shaped the global spread of yoga philosophy through its publications, teachers, and training Programmes. The ashram campus includes a hospital, publishing house, and multiple temples open to visitors. Daily satsang, kirtan, and meditation sessions welcome sincere seekers, making it a substantive spiritual destination beyond its historical significance.
The Beatles Ashram
The famous ashram in Rishikesh where the Beatles stayed in 1968 to study transcendental meditation, now an open heritage and nature walk site.
Scenic Spots
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Brahmapuri
Brahmapuri is a scenic riverside stretch of the Ganges north of Rishikesh, known as one of the calmer and more picturesque rafting launch points on the river. The area also serves as a popular spot for swimming, picnicking, and relaxed walks along the forested Ganga banks. Several yoga retreats and quiet ashrams are situated here, drawing visitors seeking a more contemplative alternative to the busier central ghats. The combination of river access, forest cover, and relative seclusion makes Brahmapuri a favourite among repeat visitors.
Garud Chatti Waterfall
A serene waterfall near Rishikesh tucked within dense forests, popular for its peaceful atmosphere and short trek.
Goa Beach Rishikesh
A quiet sandy stretch along the Ganges near Rishikesh, popular for relaxing, camping, and enjoying riverside views.
Kunjapuri Trek Viewpoint
Kunjapuri Trek Viewpoint refers to the ridgeline trail and summit clearing surrounding the Kunjapuri hilltop, distinct from the temple shrine itself. The pre-dawn trek through forested switchbacks is as much the draw as the destination, with the route offering progressive views of the Ganges valley below and snow-capped Himalayan peaks ahead. Trekkers typically start by 4 AM to reach the summit in time for sunrise. The viewpoint is widely considered one of the finest accessible sunrise experiences within the broader Rishikesh and Tehri Garhwal region.
Marine Drive Beach
Marine Drive Beach is a broad sandy stretch along the Ganges connecting Rishikesh to Shivpuri, named for its scenic riverside road that traces the river's course through forested hills. It serves as a popular launch and landing point for multi-day rafting expeditions and is lined with riverside campsites during the rafting season. The beach itself offers a relaxed setting for bonfire evenings, stargazing, and early morning Ganga views. Travellers often combine a stay here with rafting, trekking, and bungee jumping at nearby sites.
Mohan Chatti
Mohan Chatti is a small village roughly 18 kilometres from Rishikesh that serves as the primary trailhead for treks into the lower Himalayan ranges, including the popular Nag Tibba and Phool Chatti routes. Situated at a scenic confluence of forested ridges and river valleys, it also marks the starting point for the Jumpin Heights adventure zone. The village has basic facilities for trekkers and is increasingly popular as a quieter base for multi-day Himalayan walks departing from the Rishikesh circuit.
Neer Waterfall
A refreshing waterfall near Rishikesh reached via a short jungle trek, popular for a cool dip and nature walks.
Patna Waterfall
A small scenic waterfall near Rishikesh surrounded by forest, offering a quiet retreat and a refreshing natural experience.
Phool Chatti
Phool Chatti is a peaceful forest ashram and riverside retreat located about 10 kilometres upstream from Rishikesh on the Ganges. Surrounded by dense forest and accessible via a scenic road or trail, it is a popular stop on longer rafting runs and a base for short Himalayan walks. The ashram here has long offered rustic accommodation and yoga programmes. The combination of river sounds, forest solitude, and minimal tourist infrastructure makes Phool Chatti a favoured escape for those seeking quiet beyond the main Rishikesh settlements.
Rishikesh View Point
A scenic elevated viewpoint near Rishikesh offering sweeping panoramic views of the Ganges valley and the surrounding Himalayan foothills.
Shivpuri
Shivpuri is Rishikesh's most popular white water rafting destination, located about 16 kilometres upstream on the Ganges. The stretch offers Grade 3 and 4 rapids with runs ranging from 9 to 36 kilometres, making it suitable for both first-timers and experienced rafters. Beyond rafting, Shivpuri is well established as a riverside camping hub, with numerous camps operating along its forested banks. The combination of adventure, overnight camping, and Himalayan scenery makes it the heartland of Rishikesh's outdoor tourism scene.
Triveni Ghat
The main bathing ghat in Rishikesh where three sacred rivers meet, famous for its spectacular evening Ganga Aarti attended by thousands.
Shopping
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Laxman Jhula Market
Laxman Jhula Market is the bustling bazaar radiating from the eastern end of Laxman Jhula bridge, one of the liveliest shopping strips in Rishikesh. Narrow lanes are lined with shops selling rudraksha malas, crystal singing bowls, yoga and meditation supplies, Ayurvedic herbs, incense, and colourful spiritual clothing. The market also has several rooftop cafes and juice bars popular with long-stay visitors. Whether shopping for a yoga mat or a temple souvenir, this is the most concentrated and characterful retail stretch in the city.
Ram Jhula Market
Ram Jhula Market is a compact but well-stocked bazaar at the Ram Jhula bridge end, connecting the ghat area to Geeta Bhawan and the ashrams beyond. Shops here specialise in religious items, brass idols, puja accessories, devotional literature, and pilgrim clothing, giving it a distinctly Vaishnava character compared to other Rishikesh markets. The market is walkable, relatively unhurried, and well suited for picking up authentic religious goods without the crowds of the Laxman Jhula strip.
Swarg Ashram Market
Swarg Ashram Market is a pedestrian-only market street running through one of Rishikesh's oldest spiritual neighbourhoods on the eastern bank of the Ganges. Free from vehicle traffic, the lane is lined with shops selling handicrafts, Himalayan herbs, essential oils, wooden artefacts, saffron robes, and Ayurvedic preparations. Small eateries and ashram-run food stalls add to its unhurried character. As the commercial spine of the Swarg Ashram area, it captures the distinctive blend of spiritual atmosphere and artisanal trade that defines old Rishikesh.
Temple
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Bharat Mandir
Bharat Mandir is Rishikesh's oldest and most sacred temple, believed to have been established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 9th century. Dedicated to Lord Hrishikesh (Vishnu), the presiding deity of the city, this ancient stone shrine sits in the heart of Rishikesh near Triveni Ghat. The original idol is said to be a shaligrama stone personally installed by Shankaracharya. A deeply venerated site for Vaishnavas and a must-visit for those tracing the city's spiritual origins.
Kunjapuri Devi Temple
Kunjapuri Devi Temple sits at 1,676 metres in the Shivalik hills, roughly 25 kilometres from Rishikesh, and is counted among the Siddhapeethas of Uttarakhand. Dedicated to Goddess Kunjapuri, it offers panoramic sunrise views of the Himalayan peaks including Bandarpunch and Gangotri ranges. The temple is accessible by road and a short climb of around 150 steps. Popular with trekkers, pilgrims, and sunrise chasers, it is a rewarding detour from the main Rishikesh circuit.
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
A revered Shiva temple 32 km from Rishikesh at 1,330 metres, marking the spot where Shiva is said to have swallowed the cosmic poison halahala, turning his throat blue.
Raghunath Temple
Raghunath Temple stands near Ram Jhula as one of Rishikesh's principal Vaishnava shrines, dedicated to Lord Ram alongside Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman. The temple is an active centre of Ramayan-tradition worship, attracting steady devotees throughout the day. Situated within walking distance of several ashrams and the Ganga ghat, it forms a natural part of any pilgrimage circuit in the area. The evening aarti here carries a warm, unhurried devotional character distinct from the larger riverside ceremonies.
Shatrughan Temple
Shatrughan Temple is a relatively lesser-known Vaishnava temple in Rishikesh dedicated to Shatrughan, the youngest of the four brothers of Ramayan fame. Located in the older quarter of the town, it holds significance for devotees completing a pilgrimage that covers shrines to all four brothers across the Rishikesh area. The temple maintains a quiet, contemplative atmosphere removed from the main tourist circuit, offering a more personal encounter with the Ramayan devotional tradition rooted in this sacred Himalayan town.
Trayambakeshwar Temple
Trayambakeshwar Temple is a revered Shiva shrine perched on the banks of the Ganges near Ram Jhula in Rishikesh. Dedicated to the three-eyed form of Shiva, it draws a steady stream of devotees seeking blessings before bathing at the ghats. The temple's riverside location makes it especially atmospheric during early morning prayers and evening rituals. Often overlooked by casual tourists, it remains a living place of worship central to the daily devotional life of Rishikesh.
Virbhadra Temple
An ancient Shiva temple in Rishikesh dedicated to Virbhadra, a fierce form of Shiva created to destroy Daksha's yajna, located in the historic Virbhadra village area.