Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand Travelers Recommend

Rishikesh is known for its ashrams, temples, and yoga, but it also offers some of North India's best outdoor activities. With two days in town, you'll be able to experience the best of Rishikesh's spiritual side and its outdoor adventures, too. Here's how.

Day 1: Spiritual Highlights

Morning: Start your morning off with a yoga class (this is the yoga capital of the world, after all). Afterward, grab breakfast and make your way over to the old Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram, known locally as the Beatles Ashram, in honor of its most famous guests.

Afternoon: In the afternoon, take a trip out to the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple on the outskirts of town. You’ll need to take a taxi to get here, and tours with guides are available—never a bad idea if you want to learn about the spiritual significance of the place and avoid any faux pas.

Night: When night begins to fall, head over to the Parmarth Niketan Ashram on the eastern banks of the Ganges for the evening aarti (prayer) ceremonies, which involve beautiful ritual singing and fire offerings. As with the Mahadev Temple, you’ll get the most out of your experience by going with a guide, particularly if you’re unfamiliar with local spiritual practices.

Day 2: Outdoor Adventure

Morning: Rishikesh has long been known as a whitewater-rafting hot spot, and taking a trip down the rapids of the Ganges River is a highlight for many guests. Just make sure to prebook as this experience is popular, and people from all over India come to Rishikesh specifically to raft.

Afternoon: Don't bother drying off after your raft trip; instead, head up to the beautiful Neer Waterfalls, set in the forest a short drive from Rishikesh. Accessible via a short hike, this waterfall is a great place to cool off, with cascading water leading into a shallow pool. Guided tours often include visits with locals in nearby Neer Village.

Night: In the evening, head back to your hotel to clean up before making your way back out for dinner. There are all sorts of great spots to eat in this vegetarian city, from hippie backpacker cafés to the famous Indian fare at Chotiwala. Consider joining a food tour if you want to try as many local treats as possible.

With three days in Rishikesh, you’ll have plenty of time to hit up the highlights, from the temples and ashrams along the banks of the Ganges River to the jungles on the outskirts of town. You’ll even have time to get active, whether it’s practicing yoga, white-water rafting, or learning to cook Indian fare. Here’s how to make the most of your time.

Day 1: City of Seekers

Spend your first day exploring the spiritual side of Rishikesh. Start your day with a yoga class, then visit the former ashram of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, known locally as the Beatles Ashram as the Fab Four once stayed here. Now open to the public, the ashram can easily be visited independently or as part of a tour (going with a guide is a good idea if you want to learn more about the space, as there’s not much in terms of signposting). Next, book a taxi or tour to Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, on the outskirts of town, then return to Rishikesh before sunset to attend the evening aarti (prayer) ceremonies on the banks of the Ganges River.

Day 2: Water Adventures

Spend your second day enjoying the outdoors in Rishikesh: go ziplining, plan a multi-day trek, or do what the area is best-known for: white-water rafting on the Ganges River. Other area highlights include Neer Waterfalls, in the forest just outside of the city. A short trek will get you right to the falls, which have a pool popular for wading and cooling off. In the evening, head back to town for dinner; choose one of the many restaurants in town, or join a food walk to immerse yourself in the local culinary scene.

Day 3: Welcome to the Jungle

Not far from Rishikesh is Rajaji National Park, a quiet, well-maintained park that's home to boars, deer, peacocks (India's national bird), and elephants, though it's best-known as one of the few places in the state of Uttarakhand where you might spot a tiger in the wild. On your final day, grab your camera and take a jungle safari with a local guide who can help you spot wildlife. Back in Rishikesh, finish your day with a bit more yoga, some souvenir shopping, or, for a particularly memorable experience, a cooking class, where you'll get the chance to make (and eat) vegetarian Indian mainstays.

On the banks of the River Ganges, the holy city of Rishikesh has long attracted spiritual seekers; even the Beatles did a stint here. It’s also dubbed the yoga capital of the world, and you can’t go far without spotting an ashram or a yoga center. Here’s how to make the most of your day in Rishikesh.

Morning: Yoga and the Beatles

Rishikesh is the place to go if you want to practice yoga, with yoga studios and ashrams galore. Start your day with a yoga class (most accept walk-ins, though it’s never a bad idea to prebook). Once you’ve limbered up, grab a quick breakfast and make your way out to the Beatles Ashram on the eastern banks of the Ganges River, just south of the Swarg Ashram neighborhood. Originally the ashram of the Beatles’ guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, this ashram was left derelict for many years, so those who wanted to visit had to sneak in. Today it’s a popular stop on most Rishikesh tours.

Afternoon: Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

In the afternoon, make your way to one of the most famous temples in the Rishikesh area: Neelkanth Mahadev. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple stands on a hilltop overlooking the forested region surrounding it, and while many devout pilgrims choose to visit on foot, if you aren't in the mood for a trek you can take a guided tour that includes transport up to the top. There's also a holy freshwater spring right in front of the temple where devotees often stop for a ritual purification dip before entering the temple.

Night: Aarti on the River Ganges

As the sun begins to set, make your way to the ghat (riverside steps) right in front of the Parmath Niketan ashram in the Swargashram neighborhood for the evening aarti (prayer) ceremonies. It's best to arrive early to get a good spot. As the sun sets, devotees, led by a group of yellow-clad aspirants, sing religious songs and engage in prayer, culminating with the release of hundreds of tiny offerings featuring flowers and little candles that are floated ceremoniously down the river. A local guide can come in handy in terms of helping you understand the rituals and their significance.