Temples in Rishikesh
- 01
Geeta Bhawan
A residential guesthouse and temple dedicated to the Bhagavad Gita, offering simple rooms and meals to pilgrims and yoga students. It is as much a place to stay as to visit.
- Time needed
- 30–90 minutes, depending on whether you visit only the temple or consider staying
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning during prayers and breakfast, when the community is active
- Tickets
- Entry to the temple and halls is free. Rooms and meals are simple and inexpensive; rates and booking rules change, so ask at the office rather than relying on figures quoted online.
- 02
Kunjapuri Devi Temple
A hilltop temple dedicated to the goddess Durga, high above the Ganga valley. One of the most scenic temple locations in the Himalayas, with views over the river and peaks.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours including drive and hike, or 1.5 hours if driving the full way
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- Sunrise for clear views and cool temperature; sunrise hikes begin around 4–5 am and take 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on pace
- Tickets
- No entry fee. Jeep hire (if walking the full distance is not feasible) costs roughly 400–600 Indian rupees per jeep for up to 4 people, depending on rates and negotiations.
- 03
Lakshman Mandir
A small temple to Lakshman at the Tapovan (west-bank) end of Laxman Jhula, on the spot where he is said to have done penance. Simple, with river views, and easy to combine with a look at the old bridge.
- Time needed
- 30–50 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, before midday heat, or late afternoon into early evening
- Tickets
- No entry fee. Photography is generally allowed, but ask at the temple if you wish to photograph inside the sanctum.
- 04
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
A Shiva temple in a rocky gorge about 32 km north of Rishikesh, set where a tributary joins the Ganga. Legend says this is where Shiva drank poison to save the world.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours total, including travel and time at the temple
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning to mid-afternoon; it gets cool and atmospheric towards dusk, but roads back are busier
- Tickets
- No entry fee for darshan. Footwear is removed outside the sanctum. Donations are accepted.
- 05
Rishikundo Dhyana Kendra
A meditation centre and small temple on the eastern bank of the Ganges, built on the site where the sage Rishikundo is said to have meditated. It is quiet and used mainly by residents and dedicated practitioners.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning, 5–7 am, when meditation groups gather; or late afternoon, after 4 pm
- Tickets
- No entry fee. The centre may request a small donation (100–200 rupees) if you stay for a meditation session.
- 06
Virabhadra Temple
A lesser-known temple dedicated to Virabhadra, an incarnation of Shiva associated with ferocity and purification. The temple is small and rarely crowded, set back from the main ghat areas.
- Time needed
- 20–40 minutes
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning for the quietest atmosphere and coolest temperature
- Tickets
- No entry fee. The temple is small; offerings to the deity are optional and modest (flower or coins).
Experiences in Rishikesh
- 07
Ananda Yoga Ashram
A wellness-focused ashram offering yoga, Ayurveda therapies and meditation programs. It caters to visitors seeking holistic healing alongside traditional yoga practice.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours for a class; longer for a multi-day wellness programme
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning for yoga classes; afternoons for Ayurvedic treatments and consultations
- Tickets
- Drop-in yoga classes cost 300–500 Indian rupees. Ayurvedic treatments, consultations and multi-day programmes are separate and priced individually. Ask at reception for current rates.
- 08
Ganges River Rafting
White-water rafting on the Ganges, ranging from gentle 2–3 hour family-friendly floats to more challenging 7–8 hour runs with small rapids and faster currents. The river and the forested banks are stunning.
- Time needed
- 2–8 hours, plus travel to and from the put-in point
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to November and March to April, when water levels are manageable and weather is pleasant. Avoid June to September when monsoon swells make rapids dangerous.
- Tickets
- Prices are negotiable. Expect to pay 400–800 rupees per person for a 2–3 hour family float, 800–1,200 rupees for a half day, and 1,500–2,500 rupees for a full day. Many outfitters offer discounts for groups. Bring only waterproof bags for valuables; do not bring cameras or phones unless they are fully waterproof.
- 09
Parmarth Niketan
One of Rishikesh's largest and most prominent yoga ashrams, on the east bank at Swarg Ashram. Open to visitors, with daily yoga classes, meditation and participation in the evening aarti ceremony.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours for a morning class and aarti; longer if you stay for meals or multiple sessions
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning (5:30–7 am) for yoga classes; evening (around 4–6 pm) for aarti and meditation
- Tickets
- A suggested donation of 100–500 Indian rupees per day covers accommodation if you stay, or 300–500 rupees for day visitors using facilities and attending classes. No one is turned away for lack of funds.
- 10
Sivananda Ashram (Divine Life Society)
The headquarters of the Divine Life Society, founded by Swami Sivananda in 1936, on the west bank at Muni ki Reti beside Ram Jhula. Visitors can see the temple, samadhi shrine and riverside ghat, and attend the regular satsang.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours for a class and rest
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning for yoga (usually 5:30–7 am); late afternoon for meditation
- Tickets
- Free to visit. The ashram does not sell drop-in classes like commercial yoga studios; ask at the reception about the day's satsang and any programmes open to visitors.
Landmarks in Rishikesh
- 11
Janki Setu (Janki Jhula)
The newest of Rishikesh's footbridges (opened November 2020), linking Muni ki Reti on the west bank with the Parmarth Niketan end of Swarg Ashram. It lies a little downstream of Ram Jhula and has separate lanes for walkers and two-wheelers.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon; busiest around the Parmarth evening aarti
- Tickets
- Free to cross.
- 12
Laxman Jhula
The 1929 iron suspension bridge between Tapovan (west bank) and Jonk (east bank), about 2 km upstream of Ram Jhula. It has been closed to the public since April 2022 over safety concerns, so today it is a landmark to see from the banks rather than a crossing.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 1 hour for the viewpoints and lanes on one bank
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning for clear light and fewer people; late afternoon for softer light
- Tickets
- No toll, as the bridge is closed. A replacement glass-deck bridge (Bajrang Setu) has been built alongside it, but as of April 2026 it had not been formally opened and pedestrian movement was restricted after cracks in the glass; check locally.
- 13
Ram Jhula
A wider and newer cable suspension bridge than Laxman Jhula, spanning the Ganga. It is a quieter crossing with newer infrastructure and equally striking river views.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon; it is quieter than Laxman Jhula throughout the day
- Tickets
- No toll is normally charged to walk across.
- 14
The Beatles Ashram
An abandoned ashram where The Beatles stayed in 1968 to study Transcendental Meditation. Now a pilgrimage site for music history fans and a glimpse into early-1970s ashram architecture.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon when light is softer and crowds are fewer
- Tickets
- Managed by the forest department as part of Rajaji Tiger Reserve. Entry was ₹150 for Indian nationals and ₹1,200 for foreigners as of March 2025; keep your ticket, as it is collected when you leave.
Day trips in Rishikesh
- 15
Devprayag
A pilgrimage town where two of the Ganges's source rivers, the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi, meet to form the main Ganges. The confluence is dramatic and sacred. Devprayag is less touristy than Rishikesh or Haridwar, and the town retains a quieter, more authentic feel.
- Time needed
- 6–8 hours from Rishikesh, including drive and time in the town
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- October to November and March to May, when roads are clear and weather is pleasant. Avoid June to September for monsoon floods.
- Tickets
- No entry fee. Hiring a taxi or joining a tour from Rishikesh costs 1,500–3,000 rupees depending on group size and whether the driver waits. Local restaurants and shops have reasonable prices; it is less touristy than Rishikesh.
- 16
Haridwar
A pilgrimage city on the Ganges, 24 km south of Rishikesh, famous for the Har ki Pauri ghat and the evening Ganga Aarti. The city is more congested and commercially developed than Rishikesh, but the ghat rituals are vivid and essential to the Ganges pilgrimage route.
- Time needed
- 3–5 hours from Rishikesh, including travel
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Afternoon, arriving by 4 pm to secure a good spot for the evening aarti at 6–7 pm
- Tickets
- No entry fee. The ghat itself is free. Restaurants, shops and guesthouses in the surrounding lanes have their own prices. Avoid eating from street stalls if you have a sensitive stomach.
Neighbourhoods in Rishikesh
- 17
Rajpur Road
Rishikesh's main market street, lined with shops selling textiles, trinkets, yoga mats, prayer beads and local crafts. The pace is energetic and chaotic in the mornings, quieter by evening.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning before 8 am or after 6 pm for a calmer walk
- Tickets
- No entry fees. Shops have varying hours; many close around 2 pm for a few hours, then reopen.
Ghats in Rishikesh
- 18
Triveni Ghat
The sacred bathing point where the Ganga meets two smaller rivers, marked by temples and the nightly aarti ritual. Rishikesh's spiritual heart and the place pilgrims come to bathe and worship.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours for the aarti and time to bathe or sit by the water
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Evening around sunset for the main aarti ceremony; early morning for a quieter, meditative visit
- Tickets
- No entry ticket required. The aarti ceremony is free and happens daily, usually at sunset. Timings vary by season; check locally or ask your hotel.
Close enough to combine