Rishikesh
The "Yoga Capital of the World," on the banks of the Ganges — and the starting point for the Char Dham Yatra.
Where the Ganges leaves the mountains.
Rishikesh sits right where the Ganges comes down out of the Himalaya onto the plains, and that river shapes everything about the town — the suspension bridges crossing it, the ashrams lining its banks, and the evening Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat that draws a crowd every single day. It earned global recognition as a yoga and meditation centre, and that identity is still very much alive alongside the rafting crowd the same river attracts.
It's also the traditional starting point for the Char Dham Yatra, the pilgrimage circuit to four of Uttarakhand's most sacred sites.
Two bridges, and India's best-known rafting stretch.
- 01Lakshman Jhula & Ram JhulaTwo iconic suspension bridges across the Ganges, both lined with temples and shops.
- 02Triveni GhatThe site of Rishikesh's evening Ganga Aarti, a genuine daily ritual, not a staged show.
- 03Beatles AshramThe former Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram where the Beatles famously stayed in 1968, now open to visitors.
- 04White-water RaftingGrade I–IV rapids on the Ganges depending on the stretch and season, one of India's most established rafting circuits.
Best time & getting here.
Best Time to Visit
September–April. Rafting season runs September through June, avoiding the monsoon.
Getting Here
About 45km, roughly an hour, from Dehradun. Rishikesh also has its own small airport.
Activities
White-water rafting, yoga and meditation retreats, the evening Ganga Aarti, ashram visits.
Good To Know
Rishikesh is dry and vegetarian by local custom — no alcohol or meat sold within town limits.