Guide includes:About destination | Top things to do | Best accommodations | Travelling tips | Best time to visit
About Rishikesh
Rishikesh is a holy city on the banks of the River Ganges. This holy city, a part of Dehradun district is called the
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Devbhoomi and is considered as the doorway to the Himalayas. Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, this place in
Northern India attracts huge number of tourists and pilgrims from all parts of the country to offer their prayers at this holy
site.
History of Rishikesh
Ancient history suggests the presence of Rishikesh in the legendary Kedarkhand region. In mythological scriptures
Lord Rama meditated and practiced penance at this place after he executed Ravana. Lord Ramas younger brother,
Laxmana, crossed the Ganga from here due to which the popular Laxman Jhula was constructed.
Originally, Laxman Jhula was built from jute rope. This rope bridge was quite unsafe and was replaced with a stronger
iron- rope bridge in 1889. Due to floods in 1924 the bridge was damaged and finally replaced with a stronger
suspension bridge.
Things to do in Rishikesh
Rishikesh offers several tourist attractions right from religious locations to thrilling adventure sport activities. Religious
places include Gita Bhawan, Nilkanth Mahadev, Triveni Ghat and Swarga Ashram. A walk on the Laxman Jhula is a
major activity.
Rishikesh embodies many popular yoga and meditation centres. There are private universities, which have short-term
yoga courses that attract international tourists and visitors. Rishikesh is sometimes also referred to as the World Capital
of Yoga, as it is a perfect place to learn and study yoga, meditation and other spiritual practices.
Adventure sports and trekking also lure tourists to Rishikesh from all parts of the country. White water rafting is the main
adventure sport that is popular amongst water sports. River crossing is yet another challenging sport in which the
individual is supposed to cross the river sliding on a single rope just above the heavy water currents of River Ganga.
There are many Rishikesh holiday packages specifically targeted towards providing such services to tourists.
Other surrounding districts are Tehri Garhwal and Pauri Garhwal, whose governing agencies have brought a ban on the
use of plastic bags and selling of alcohol in the city, thus making it an alcohol free district. Another holy city, Haridwar is
just 25 km away, which is also located on the Ganges.
Food & Shopping in Rishikesh
Food in Rishikesh is a vegetarians delight. Non-vegetarian is banned in the pilgrim town. However, it hasnt affected
Rishikesh tourism as the town boasts of cafes and restaurants that serve health food as well as traditional Indian
delicacies like samosas, chaats among other street foods and meals. As for shopping, apart from souvenirs and
religious artifacts, Rishikesh does not have much to offer.
Travelling to Rishikesh
Rishikesh can be reached by air, rail and road. The nearest airport to the destination is Jolly Grant Airport, which is
around 18 km away, in Dehradun. Delhi Airport is the nearest international airport. Taxis are available from both the
airports to reach Rishikesh.
Rishikesh has its own railway station and is well connected to the rest of the country, especially to the northern part.
Trains are available frequently from Delhi, Dehradun, Mumbai and other cities. By bus, the destination can be reached
from nearby places like Haridwar, Dehradun, Pauri etc. Buses are run by the state as well as private operators.
Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh has a pleasant climate throughout the year. Those interested in
activities like white water rafting can visit from September to April.
Accommodation options in Rishikesh
Pilgrims and adventure seekers alike have many hotel options in Rishikesh. This includes budget hotels, tents and
camps popular among backpackers as well as guesthouses and lodges preferred by groups.
Information
State: Uttarakhand
Famous for/as: Pilgrimage
Altitude: 372 M
Pincode: 248040
District:
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District: Dehradun
Language: Hindi
STD code: 01364
Weather: Summer 21 To 42C, Winter 5 To 26C
Activities that kept me hooked included Rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping, flying fox, cliff jumping and rock climbing.
This is a paradise for a person seeking adventure. My advice to travellers would be to visit in march as at that time
Rishikesh will treat you with pleasant weather. Rishikesh is well connected so reaching there would not be much of a
problem." - Rahul Bajaj, Patna, 2 months ago
Mind blowing adventure in river rafting
"I went there in march 15 thought being my first trip will be very boring but the situation created an irony.
Following r the places I went and seemed to be interested:
1) Mansa Devi mandir via trolley
2) River rafting in ganga river most adventurous
3) Neelkanth joyfull journey
4 ) Ram and laxman jhulas very interesting pulls
Apart of these there were other activities that I didn't perform like camping, banji jumping, trekking, etc. Thinking to go
there in march would be better choice because that will provide you pleasant weather rather then too hot or too cold." -
Gaurav Budhiraja, New Delhi, 3 months ago
Rishikesh complete adventure
"Fun, excitement and wonderful al fresco experience! Hit upon all these at the foothills of magnificent Himalayas-
Rishikesh. The River Ganga tests your adventure skills and transports you to a tour of enjoyment and thrill. There is
something for everyone from a beginner to an expert!
Rishikesh, a charming city in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, offers the adventure lovers a plethora of exciting activities
to test their skills. It is equally a spiritual place for the dedicated pilgrims. Having marvelous temples and pilgrimages
sites, it is certainly a legendary place where every corner has great myths to spell out. Come and explore the destination
where peace can be felt, excitement can be had and adventure can be experienced amid the tranquility and gushing
sound of crystal clear waters. This is Rishikesh, a soil of gods, adventure and peace." - Deepanshu Miglani,
Gurgaon, 3 months ago
Excellent place to go-Rishikesh
"We took NH8 & NH58 which goes as Bhiwadi- Delhi - Ghaziabad (UP) - Modinagar (UP) - Pallavpurma (UP) -
Muzaffarnagar (UP) - Roorkee (UK) - Haridwar (UK) - Rishikesh (UK).
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The entire highway from Modinagar to Haridwar is full of slow moving traffic with potholes, handcarts, bullock cart,
tractors, broken vehicles on that narrow highway, etc.
Road Condition -
Delhi to Ghaziabad was good
Ghaziabad to Modinagar worst stretch & narrow highway with full of potholes and broken tractors and lot of traffic jams.
Modinagar to Muzaffarnagar was Good
Muzaffarnagar to Rishikesh was Bad
The perfect way to start the road trip would be to head out early and reach Haridwar by lunch time. Haridwar is one of
the most ancient cities and it still maintains its old town charm. Natural beauty enhances the city as it provides great
insights into the Indian cultures and traditions. This exquisite place is often known as the 'Gateway to God' as it presents
a large number of temples.
Located at 20 odd kms from Haridwar, reaching Rishikesh is extremely easy and comfortable. After reaching the
destination during the late hours, the best option is to rest and start exploring the city in the morning. While the ashrams
will be basic, the camp-sites often provide relaxing bonfires and other sources of entertainment. The choice indeed
depends on the persons personal preference. Have a good night's sleep and give your body the must needed rest after
such an eventful road trip.
So, after reaching at late evening checked in at resort, thanks to traffic jams at Rorkee, we enjoyed a bit at mighty
Ganges, drenched till tired with icy cold waters and had food at resort. Next day, went early morning for rafting from
Shivpuri to Rishikesh, sailing in mighty waves of Ganges. Had awesome lunch at famous Chotiwala restaurant- a must
when visiting Haridwar & Rishikesh. Evening, enjoyed arti in Haridwar river banks.
Went to cafe 60's and enjoyed Thai. Food was specially prepared for us. Next day was quite busy. As had dropped
staying one more day due to heavy rush in weekends. Got early to bungee point and performed giving the most
amazing experience of your life! & ultimate adrenaline rush. Rudraksh Trees near Rishikesh & after taking final dip at
Ganges, proceeded towards Bhiwadi via same route by 1500 and reached by 20:15PM, Fun filled, Heart Filled, Ganga
Snaned, Dupkied & Shikanjeed & yes, got some fresh farm Strawberries also en way near Rorkee." - Shubham,
Gurgaon, 3 months ago
Read 208 Rishikesh reviews on HolidayIQ.com
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"this is the place really worth investing time in rishikesh...I visited this place in may...they would charge you 400 for 16
km of river rafting....they would take you to the mountain top in their car...and a trainer would stay with you for your..." -
Bharat Tripathi, Lucknow, 2 months ago
9 Bharat Mandir
Type: Temple
Entry: Free
Ranked: 9 Of 38
Ratings: 5.81/7 (3 Reviews)
Timings: Monday - Friday - 07:00 To 19:00 , Saturday - 07:00 To 19:00 , Sunday - 07:00 To 19:00 , Public Holidays -
07:00 To 19:00
"In Rishikesh town near Triveni ghat is the ancient Bharat Mandir. This is the temple of Lord Hrishikesh known as
Bharatji Maharaj in Kalyuga. He is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This temple was built in the 8th century AD and the
deity was..." - Ramesh Kabra, Mumbai, Nov 20, 2014
10 GitaBhavan
Type: Ashram
Entry: Free
Ranked: 10 Of 38
Ratings: 6.50/7 (2 Reviews)
"IT IS VERY GOOD PLACE FOR HINDU RELIGIOUS. THERE ARE MANY OLD PERSON LIVE THERE AND DO
BHAKTI OF GOD. THERE ARE ROOM IS ALSO AVAILBALE THERE SOME PEOPLE STAY THERE AND MAKE
THERE FOOD OWN SALF AND DO POONA OF GANGA MAA." - Pritesh Mehta, Baroda, Aug 2, 2015
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7 Green Hotel
Price: Rs. 1,100 - 3,200
Ranked: 7 Of 277
Ratings: 5.75/7 (34 Reviews)
Address: Sheshdhara, Tapovan, Laxman Jula Road
Rishikesh, Dehradun
Phone: 135-2431242
Website: Www.hotelgreen.com
"We stayed in green hotel on 10 /01/2016. located in gali , can park 4 to 5 vehicles only,restaurant is
good esp italian food.pic of room on display in make my trip is of suite. suite is good.however standard
room and ac deluxe are just avg. staff..." - Deepak Kumar, Varanasi, 2 weeks ago
Read 34 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com
8 Shivansh Inn
Price: Rs. 1,500 - 2,000
Ranked: 8 Of 277
Ratings: 5.54/7 (50 Reviews)
Address: Tapovan, Near Badrinath Highway
Yoga Street
Tapovan, Rishikesh
Phone: 91-9412394902
Website: Www.hotelshivansh.com
"Hotel is in the renovation phase however room were good & specious. One has to walk little to reach
laxman jhula. Room service needs to be more attentive. We requested extra towel & toilet paper roll
however it never came till we checked out..." - Dattaprasad tirodkar , , 3 weeks ago
Read 50 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com
9 Divine Ganga Cottges
Price: Rs. 1,500 - 2,950
Ranked: 9 Of 277
Ratings: 5.43/7 (31 Reviews)
Address: Vill. Post. Tapovan,
Laxman Jhula
Tapovan ,Rishikesh
Phone: 135-2442175
Website: Www.divinegangacottage.com
"Nice value of money place to stay. Excellent view of Ganga from rooms and terraces. Rooms were
clean and fine but some things were not working like bathroom geysers and showers. However the staff
was very prompt to attend to the calls and quickly..." - Akash sareen , , Today
Read 31 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com
10 Sound Sleep Hotel
Price: Rs. Upto 2,000
Ranked: 10 Of 277
Ratings: 5.42/7 (94 Reviews)
Address: 8, Avas Vikas Veerbhadra Road
Rishikesh
Phone: 0135-2439669
"It was ok no permanent receptionist was there. Need some good food tea was good in the evening but
was not as good as it was in evening. Little expensive as compaired to its prise. Could improve there
quality a bit...." - Dilip ., New Delhi, 1 month ago
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Read 94 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com
View all Rishikesh hotels
Rishikesh weather
Best Season / Best Time to Visit Rishikesh
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Rishikesh is situated in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 532 meters above sea level. It is the first
destination of Char Dham pilgrims.
Rishikesh experiences a temperate climate all round the year. The average maximum temperature in Rishikesh is 35
Celsius and the average minimum is 7 Celsius.
Summer in Rishikesh begins in March which lasts in late June. The maximum temperature recorded during summer in
Rishikesh is 40 Celsius and the minimum is 29 Celsius. The climate is hot and humid during summer. There will be
scanty rains during mid-June which can add up the heat.
Monsoon begins in July and it ends in mid-September. Moderate to heavy rain falls is experienced by Rishikesh during
monsoon. The temperature can get at a lower level with a maximum of 27 Celsius and a minimum of 19.3 Celsius.
Winter in Rishikesh begins in November and it is extended till mid-February. Rishikesh is chilly during winter. The
maximum temperature that has been recorded during winter in Rishikesh is 20 Celsius and the minimum is 5 Celsius.
The temperature can touch sub-zero levels in winter nights during the months of mid-December to late-January.
The best season to visit Rishikesh is from March to November which is also the peak season of Char Dham pilgrimage.
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