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Major city · India

Rishikeshऋषिकेश

Give Rishikesh 2–3 nights: yoga and rafting base, not a sightseeing city. Stay in Tapovan or Swargashram, walk the bridges, skip the town centre.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
INR
Best months
Feb–Apr and Sep–Nov
avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon, Savan crowds), May–Jun (heat)
Airport
DED
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 6
  • South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
  • South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
  • India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
  • India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
  • India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
  • India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.

Rishikesh sits where the Ganges leaves the Himalayas, about 230 km north of Delhi and 15 km from Dehradun's airport. It is a yoga and rafting town rather than a monument town: the useful time goes into ashrams, the two suspension bridges, the evening aarti at Triveni Ghat and a half-day on the river. Two nights covers the core; three lets you add a rafting day or a Neelkanth temple run. The centre around the bus and train stations is of little interest — sleep on the river banks instead.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Rishikesh, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeFilter coffee or chai₹20–60 (≈ under US$1)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week₹500–1,000 (≈ US$6–12)
  • Budget bedHostel or ashram dorm bed, a night, per person₹400 (≈ US$5)
  • Mid-range bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room₹2,500 (≈ US$30)
  • High-end bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room₹6,000 (≈ US$70)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,200 (≈ US$14) · Mid ₹2,800 (≈ US$35) · High ₹6,000 (≈ US$70)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Yoga and ashramsGanges aarti at Triveni GhatWhite-water rafting at ShivpuriRam Jhula and Lakshman Jhula bridgesBeatles Ashram
Airports
DED Jolly Grant, Dehradun (About 15 km from Rishikesh; flights from Delhi and other Indian cities. Taxi to Tapovan or Swargashram, roughly 30–40 min.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Rishikesh: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

20°C

7°C

2 rd

Feb

23°C

9°C

2 rd

Mar

29°C

13°C

2 rd

Apr

34°C

18°C

2 rd

May

37°C

22°C

4 rd

Jun

35°C

24°C

9 rd

Jul

31°C

24°C

17 rd

Aug

30°C

23°C

16 rd

Sep

30°C

22°C

9 rd

Oct

29°C

17°C

3 rd

Nov

25°C

12°C

1 rd

Dec

21°C

8°C

1 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Swargashram and the bridge lanes are walkable; cross the river on Janki Setu or Ram Jhula (a ferry also runs at Ram Jhula). Vikram shared autos link the bus and train stations with Janki Setu (about ₹10) and Tapovan (about ₹20–25). Shared jeeps and taxis from the ghats run to Neelkanth temple; the road detour between the two banks is over 16 km, so plan crossings on foot.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Haridwar

go

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h

Train from Rishikesh or Yog Nagari Rishikesh, or bus; shared auto from Haridwar station

Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri; easy half-day or evening trip.

Dehradun

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Bus from ISBT, about 1¼ h, ₹95 (≈ US$2)

Gateway city; combine with the airport run.

Mussoorie

overnight

Door to door: 2.5–3 h

Bus or taxi via Dehradun

Hill station; too far for a comfortable return day.

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Shared jeep or taxi from the ghats, hill road

Sacred temple above Swargashram; go early, roads are slow.

Shivpuri rafting stretch

go

Door to door: About 30–45 min

Operator pickup from Tapovan or Lakshman Jhula

12 km away; rafting season Sep–Nov and Mar–May.

Badrinath

overnight

Door to door: 8–10 h

Bus or shared jeep via Devprayag and Srinagar

Char Dham route; start from Rishikesh, sleep on the way.

Auli

overnight

Door to door: 9–11 h

Bus or taxi via Devprayag, Srinagar and Joshimath

Ski season Jan–Mar; a multi-day trip, not a day out.

Ghangaria (Hemkund Sahib and Valley of Flowers)

overnight

Door to door: 10–12 h to trailhead

Shared jeep to Govindghat, then trek

Trek base at 4,150 m; plan 3–4 days.

Lansdowne

overnight

Door to door: 4–5 h

Bus or taxi via Kotdwar

Quiet hill cantonment; better as an overnight stop.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Tapovan

Backpacker side above Lakshman Jhula; cheapest beds, cafés, yoga schools. 5 km northeast of the bus station.

Swargashram

Eastern bank between Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula; ashrams, Gita Bhavan, pedestrian lanes.

Lakshman Jhula

Cafés and shops around the bridge; convenient for rafting pickups and Neelkanth taxis.

Muni Ki Reti / Triveni Ghat side

Western bank near the bathing ghat and the aarti; quieter, closer to the bus station.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
₹1,200–2,500 (≈ US$14–30) excl. bed
Mid
₹2,500–5,000 (≈ US$30–60) excl. bed
High
₹5,000 (≈ US$60)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Guesthouse double room1 × 2 nights × ₹2,500₹5,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ₹2,800₹11,200
Airport taxi DED to Tapovan, one way1 × ₹1,200₹1,200
Rafting day trip with transport2 × ₹1,500₹3,000
eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹800₹1,600
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge₹2,200
Trip total≈ ₹6,050 per person per day, bed included₹24,200≈ US$300

2026 estimate in rupees; flights and long-distance trains excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Thali at a Swargashram eatery₹100–250 (≈ US$2–3)
Filter coffee or chai₹20–60 (≈ under US$1)
Bottled water, 1 litre₹20–30 (≈ under US$1)
Vikram shared auto, station to Tapovan₹20–25 (≈ under US$1)
Rafting day trip (Grade I–V stretch)₹1,000–2,500 (≈ US$12–30)
Bungee jump at Jumpin Heights₹3,700 (≈ US$45)
Yoga class drop-in₹200–500 (≈ US$3–6)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week₹500–1,000 (≈ US$6–12)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Rishikesh is generally safe for tourists, including solo women, but the real risks are the fast Ganges, unlicensed rafting operators, monsoon landslides on hill roads and overpriced taxis from the airport — agree the fare first.
  • Non-vegetarian food and alcohol are banned in Rishikesh; do not carry or expect either.
  • July–August Savan festival blocks roads and fills hotels — book ahead or avoid.
  • Rafting and adventure operators vary in safety standards: check equipment and life jackets before paying.
  • The Ganges is fast and cold; swim only at marked ghats with locals around.
  • Temple and ashram photography rules vary; ask before shooting.

Emergency numbers

All services
112
Ambulance
108
Tourist helpline (Uttarakhand)
1363

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Rishikeshऋषिकेश

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

कृपया इस पते पर ले चलिएTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All services112
  • Ambulance108
  • Tourist helpline1363

Embassy

No embassies in Rishikesh; most are in New Delhi. The US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand missions are all in Delhi (check addresses).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • DED airport to Tapovan, taxi: about ₹1,000–1,500 (≈ US$12–18), 30–40 min
  • Delhi to Rishikesh, bus: ₹130–350 (≈ US$2–4) ordinary, ₹200–500 (≈ US$3–6) AC, 5–7 h
  • Haridwar to Rishikesh, bus: about ₹20 (≈ under US$1), 45 min
  • Vikram station to Tapovan: ₹20–25 (≈ under US$1)

Say or show

  • नमस्ते — Hello / Namaste (namaste)
  • धन्यवाद — Thank you (dhanyavaad)
  • कितने का है? — How much is it? (kitne ka hai)
  • शौचालय कहाँ है? — Where is the toilet? (shauchalay kahan hai)
  • कृपया मुझे इस पते पर ले चलिए — Please take me to this address (kripya mujhe is pate par le chaliye)
  • नहीं चाहिए, धन्यवाद — I don't want it, thank you (nahin chahiye, dhanyavaad)

Non-vegetarian food and alcohol are banned in Rishikesh; many ashrams have their own rules on dress, phones and curfews.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Rishikesh. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Feb–Apr and Sep–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon, Savan crowds), May–Jun (heat) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 9 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for DED: taxi rates field-checked, shared-jeep fallback, late-arrival rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Tapovan, Lakshman Jhula, Swargashram, Triveni Ghat and Muni Ki Reti.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Triveni Ghat aarti, Parmarth Niketan, Neelkanth temple, Beatles Ashram) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Rafting and yoga-school fixtures with season windows and safety checks so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to India

Sources