Rishikesh

Rishikesh sits where the Ganga leaves the Himalayan foothills. It mixes white-water rafting and forest hikes with ashrams, yoga and the evening fire ritual on the ghats.

Places we love here

• Culture

  Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)

  A forest ruin of meditation huts with large murals.

• Experiences

  Drop-in yoga class

  Many studios offer drop-in classes for all levels.

• Viewpoints

  Kunjapuri sunrise

  A hilltop temple with Himalayan views at dawn, about an hour's drive.

• Nature

  Neer Garh waterfall

  A short uphill walk to a series of small pools and falls.

• Lesser-known · lesser-known

  Patna waterfall trail

  A quieter forest trail with limestone formations near the falls.

• Experiences

  Shivpuri rafting stretch

  Graded rapids on the Ganga. Operators run half-day trips from Shivpuri back towards town.

• Food

  Tapovan café lunch

  River-view cafés serving thalis, bowls and wood-fired bread.

• Culture

  Triveni Ghat aarti

  The evening fire ritual on the main ghat, with lamps floated on the river.