Tehri Garhwal / Dehradun · Uttarakhand
Rishikesh
Yoga capital in the Himalayan foothills — ashrams, Ganga aarti, river rafting.
Rishikesh is an easy retreat in Tehri Garhwal / Dehradun, Uttarakhand, reaching 600 m. The best time to go is February to April and October and November. Plan 2 to 4 days on the ground from Dehradun and about ₹2,500 per person per day.
What to do in Rishikesh
The one thing not to miss
Evening Ganga aarti
At Triveni Ghat or Parmarth Niketan; arrive half an hour early for a place by the water.
- 2River raftingThe Shivpuri stretch is the usual run. Closed in the monsoon.
- 3The Beatles AshramThe abandoned ashram, now inside the tiger reserve; there is an entry fee.
- 4Ram JhulaWalk the suspension bridge and the lanes on either bank.
A sample plan: 4 days
Day 1
Dehradun to Rishikesh
About 30–40 minutes on the road. Check in and take a short walk to get your bearings.
Day 2
Evening Ganga aarti · River rafting
Details for each are under What to do, above.
Day 3
The Beatles Ashram · Ram Jhula
Details for each are under What to do, above.
Day 4
Rishikesh to Dehradun
Leave after breakfast; hill roads are slower than the map suggests.
A starting point built from the things to do above. Move days around to suit your pace.
When to go
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Why go
The easiest spiritual or wellness reset to reach, with stays for every budget.
Why not
It is the foothills, not the high mountains — no snow, and it gets hot from May.
Before you go
- Permits
- None.
- Guide
- Rafting only with licensed operators (season roughly Sep–Jun).
- Safety
- Don't swim in the Ganga outside marked ghats — the current is strong.
- Phone & internet
- Excellent.
Permits, food and festivals in Uttarakhand →
These details haven't been field-verified yet. Confirm permits, road status and weather locally before you travel.
If something goes wrong
Main hospitals in Uttarakhand: Base Hospital, Haldwani; Community Health Centre, Munsiyari; District Hospital, Bageshwar.
All emergency contacts for Uttarakhand →What to pack for Rishikesh
Worked out from its season, altitude and terrain. Tick things off as you pack; tap a name to find it in a shop.
Clothing
4 items
- Fleece or light sweater Mornings and evenings are cool in the travel season.
- Sun cap or hat Hours in open sun, with little shade above the tree line.
- Compact umbrella Showers are frequent in the rainy months.
- Rain jacket or poncho The season here overlaps the rains.
Footwear
1 item
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip Hill towns mean slopes, steps and wet stone.
For day outings
2 items
- Day pack, 20–30 litres For day outings: water, a layer, a camera.
- Water bottles, 2 litres in total Refill rather than buying plastic bottles.
Health and sun
3 items
- Sunscreen, SPF 50 The sun burns faster in the hills than in the plains.
- Small first-aid kit and your own medicines The nearest chemist may be hours away.
- Insect repellent Mosquitoes and midges at lower altitudes and in the wet months.
Documents and money
3 items
- Government photo ID and two photocopiesAsked for at hotels, check posts and permit counters.
- Enough cash for the whole tripATMs are scarce and often empty beyond the gateway town.
- Permits and registrationsNone.
Phone and power
2 items
- Power bank Charging is limited, and cold drains batteries fast.
- A SIM that works thereExcellent.
For what you're going for
1 item
- Extension board with surge protection Few sockets per room, and voltage dips are common in the hills.
Read before you go
1 item
- A guidebook for Uttarakhand Worth reading before you go, and it works without a signal.
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Homestays in Uttarakhand
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Getting there
The nearest gateway is Dehradun.
Directions open in Google Maps with today's road time. In the mountains, add a third to whatever it says.
- Normal car?
- Yes, any car can make it.
By road
From
Delhi
- Distance
- about 240 km
- Drive time
- 5–6 hours
- Delhi
- Meerut
- Muzaffarnagar
- Roorkee
- Haridwar
- Rishikesh
From
Dehradun airport
- Distance
- about 20 km
- Drive time
- 30–40 minutes
- Jolly Grant
- Rishikesh
From
Haridwar
- Distance
- about 25 km
- Drive time
- 45 minutes
- Haridwar
- Raiwala
- Rishikesh
Buses and shared taxis. Frequent trains run from Delhi to Haridwar, and some to Rishikesh itself. Buses leave Delhi (Kashmere Gate) through the day and night.
Pickups & drivers
From Dehradun. Call or WhatsApp the driver directly.
No drivers listed for Rishikesh yet. Drive this route? List your cab.
Rishikesh: questions people ask
What is the best time to visit Rishikesh?
The best months for Rishikesh are February to April and October and November. December and January, May and September are possible but not ideal. Snow is rare here.
How difficult is Rishikesh?
Rishikesh is rated easy. No trekking is needed, starting at 372 m and reaching 600 m.
How many days do you need for Rishikesh?
Plan 2 to 4 days on the ground, counted from Dehradun. Add travel days to reach the gateway from your city.
How much does a trip to Rishikesh cost?
Expect about ₹2,500 per person per day for a mid-range trip (stay, food and local transport). That is roughly ₹10,000 for 4 days, before the cost of getting to Dehradun.
How do you reach Rishikesh?
By road: from Delhi it is about 240 km, 5–6 hours (Delhi → Meerut → Muzaffarnagar → Roorkee → Haridwar → Rishikesh); from Dehradun airport it is about 20 km, 30–40 minutes (Jolly Grant → Rishikesh); from Haridwar it is about 25 km, 45 minutes (Haridwar → Raiwala → Rishikesh). Frequent trains run from Delhi to Haridwar, and some to Rishikesh itself. Buses leave Delhi (Kashmere Gate) through the day and night. The nearest gateway is Dehradun.
Do you need a permit or a guide for Rishikesh?
Permits: None. Guide: Rafting only with licensed operators (season roughly Sep–Jun).
Is Rishikesh suitable for children and senior citizens?
With children it is good; with seniors it is great. It is busy in season. Don't swim in the Ganga outside marked ghats — the current is strong.
What should you pack for Rishikesh?
Pack fleece or light sweater, sun cap or hat, compact umbrella, rain jacket or poncho, comfortable walking shoes with grip, day pack, 20–30 litres, water bottles, 2 litres in total, sunscreen, spf 50, small first-aid kit and your own medicines. Also carry a government photo ID, enough cash and any permits. The full list is on this page.
Is there mobile network and internet at Rishikesh?
Excellent.
Who should not go to Rishikesh?
Rishikesh suits most travellers, including children and senior citizens. The one drawback to know about: It is the foothills, not the high mountains — no snow, and it gets hot from May.
Close to Rishikesh
Within about 35 km in a straight line. Hill roads are a good deal longer, so check the drive before you combine two.
- Haridwarabout 19 km