Welcome to my Rishikesh travel guide! I came here so many times and every time I loved it. This place is known as is ‘Yoga capital of the world’, it has ashrams, meditation, and yoga centers. I have been to here many times and every time the natural beauty of the city makes me feel relaxed and happy. The more I explored the city, I found more surprises and wonders of nature with the most scenic views. 
This city in India offer most adventurous activities like river rafting, trekking, and bungee jumping. In this blog, we will cover how to reach here, hotel and the tourist places along with the finest activities to perform at a reasonable budget.

I planned a short tour covering Rishikesh and the places near it. I spent 3000 thousand rupees here exclusive of the food and beverages.

How to Reach Rishikesh?

Rishikesh does not have an airport, hence the only means of reaching here is by bus or train.

Although, the nearest airport is located in Dehradun. Therefore, you can take a flight to Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport and then catch a bus to Rishikesh.

Rishikesh By Train

Reaching here is not difficult as it is located at a distance of about 30 km from Haridwar while the Delhi to Rishikesh distance is approximately 240 kilometers. Rishikesh has very less connectivity of trains so you can reach Haridwar Railway station.

Rishikesh By Bus
You can reach Rishikesh by bus as many buses are available directly. The average cost for a person to reach Rishikesh by bus from Haridwar is around 60 rupees per person. Alternatively, you can also catch a direct bus from Delhi to Rishikesh. The average time to travel from Delhi by bus is 4 hours 30 minutes and the ticket price might range between Rs 450-500 per person.

Delhi to Rishikesh

One of the best ways to reach here is from Delhi. The distance between Delhi to Rishikesh is 228 km. While Delhi has a lot of options to reach Rishikesh, roads and railways are the best ones to consider. There are a lot of government as well as private buses available from Delhi almost every day. You can reach here from Delhi in only 6 hours 30 minutes and the minimum fare from Delhi to Rishikesh is around Rs 750/person.

Apart from this, you can reach here from Delhi via railways. With a cheap travel option, there are around 9 trains every day from Delhi. The cost of trains from Delhi to Rishikesh ranges between Rs 145 to Rs 1175.

Best Time to Visit

Rishikesh is a hill station and is also a land of spirituality. Therefore, the best time to visit can be in winter. However, people keep on visiting here throughout the year, and mostly between September to March, you can find a cool and soothing atmosphere here. 

Number Of Days In Rishikesh

On average 2-3 days are enough for a Rishikesh tour. The first day can be dedicated to all the adventurous activities, the second day can be dedicated to tourist places, and the third day is optional if you want to visit the hidden waterfalls and the yoga activity centers along with Neelkanth.
The major tourist places to visit in Rishikesh can be covered by hiring a scooter for 500 rupees per day. 

Places To Visit

Day 1

On the first day of exploring tourist places in Rishikesh, you can try out some amazing adventure sports in the city. This includes rafting, camping and bungee jumping. You can also easily make a booking for bungee jumping and do rafting one after the other.

Day 2

You can explore the following places in Rishikesh.

• Janki Bridge: While moving towards the Janki Bridge from the Madhuban Ashram each destination felt like it was framed in nature, this is the only reason why I couldn’t control myself from visiting Rishikesh. Being at the Janki Bridge, you get a completely different experience. While riding the scooter on the Janki bridge the chilled winds were hitting my face with the natural view of the Ganga river flowing between the mountains was eye-capturing. After crossing the Janki Bridge I entered the area of the Swarg Ashram.

• Swarg Ashram: Swarg Ashram is the heart of Rishikesh. Many small big Ashrams along with many sages were found here. The whole area had holy vibes and the air felt the essence of purity. I visited the Permath Niketan here. The pillars around the monument were finely carved. The ghat just opposite is quite big with the lord Shiva idol in the center of the river. The water flowing down is always crystal clear.

• Premnath Niketan: Next to the Permarth Niketan is the Geeta Bhavan which is a popular tourist spot for aarti. It is a must-visit place in the Swarg Ashram. The area also comprises cottages dedicated to the saints. Many yoga centers are found here where tourists visit worldwide. The silence of the area made me feel like I was really in the world of saints where everything was so calm and close to nature.

• Laxman Jhula: To return from the area of the Swarg Ashram Archives I opted for the path of the Laxman Jhula. The bridge seems to shake a bit while you visit. This makes this oldest bridge unique. Hundreds of people travel through this Bridge every day.

Day 3

The third day can be the last day of your trip. On this day you can explore some other famous spots.

• Neelkanth Mahadev Temple: The Neelkanth Mahadev temple is around 32 kilometers from Rishikesh. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is one of the most sacred Hindu temples around Rishikesh. Hence, you can consider visiting it on the third day of your trip.

• Waterfalls: Rishikesh is also quite famous for many waterfalls. The Neer Garh Waterfall, Patna Waterfall, Phool Chatti Waterfall, Himshail Waterfall, and the Garud Chatti Waterfalls are some of the major waterfalls you can explore.

• Yoga Activity Centers: Rishikesh is the Yoga Capital of the world. Therefore, you must consider visiting some famous yoga centers here. Spending some time and practicing the art of Yoga can help you relax your mind and body as well.

Is it Safe to Travel?

Rishikesh is more of a spiritual land than a travel destination. Although people from all around the world visit this place, it is still a safe and secure place to travel. Whether you are a solo female traveler, a family person, or anyone, So it is an absolutely safe place to visit.

Mobile Network?

Rishikesh is quite a developed city. Hence, you will not have to face major mobile network issues here. You can easily find a good mobile network and fine internet connectivity at almost every spots.

Where to Stay?

There are many hotels in Rishikesh providing a wide variety in terms of view and price. You can book hotels online or offline. Usually looking for a good hotel is not a big issue here. I had some really good options with a good environment and even had a discount. During my stay, I chose an average hotel that was quite budget-friendly. Accommodation in a decent hotel for two people is easily available for just INR 800 per night. There are quite a few options for hostels and guest houses available in Rishikesh. However, for budget-friendly travel, you can also consider staying in hostels which can be a cheap option.

Best Hotel Recommendations-

• Hotel The Tirath View: The Tirath View Hotel is located on the Rishikesh-Haridwar highway and is one of the best hotels in Rishikesh. The hotel is furnished with every luxury possible and provides a comfortable stay during your Rishikesh trip. It is located about 5 km away from Har Ki Pauri while the Haridwar Railway station is 6.5 km away from it. Since the hotel is a luxury one, you can get rooms starting at Rs 1600/day.
• Bonfire Hostels Rishikesh: Looking for a good hostel around? This 4-star hostel in here and it can be the best option for you. With a semi-luxury service facility, free wifi, and much more, you can find a bed here starting at just Rs 700. The hostel provides a comfortable stay and is located around 30 km from the famous Mansa Devi Temple

• Veda5 Ayurveda & Yoga Retreat: This amazing hotel cum ashram, can be the perfect choice for anyone looking for Yoga therapy in Rishikesh. The hotel is just at a distance of 9 km from the famous Parmart Niketan Ashram and 15 km from Triveni Ghat. Although, the stay here is quite expensive and luxurious. Starting from Rs 11,000 per night, the hotel can be a luxurious choice to consider.

• Shalom Backpackers Rishikesh: Just 600 meters from Laxman Jhula, this hotel can be the most budget-friendly option to stay in Rishikesh. With a serene river view and relaxing spots, you can get a hotel room for as less as Rs 500 only.

How to Travel in Rishikesh

You can hire Scotty or any other two vehicle from Rishikesh . You can visit some places in shared taxi too. Since the rate of taxis is quite high in Rishikesh therefore exploring the places on a two-wheeler is the best option available if you are looking for budget-friendly travel.

What to Eat in Rishikesh?

Rishikesh is often famous for its mouth-watering sweets and street foods. Though there are not many fancy food items available in the city, you can try out food items like samosas, aloo poori, lassi, Chole Bhature, and some other sweets as well.  

Other Tips

Many Tourist visit Rishikesh Every year. Hence, there are many facilities here. Here are a few tips you must know before planning a trip to Rishikesh.

• The temperature of Rishikesh may vary between 19 degrees to 33 degrees excluding the extreme winters. Therefore, if you are visiting Rishikesh, a mix of summer and winter clothes collection can be the best choice.
• For a family trip, Rishikesh can be the perfect option. As the place drives you towards spirituality, it might not be a good option for honeymoon couples.
• There are petrol pumps easily available all around Rishikesh.
• ATM facility is also available in Rishikesh. Although, you must try to carry enough cash to avoid any unnecessary panic.

Budget to Travel to Rishikesh

Considering a 1-night & 2-day itinerary for Rishikesh, your ideal budget can look somewhat like this.

• Transportation: 500/-
• Hotels: 500/-
• Meals: 500/-
• Rafting & Camping in Rishikesh: 1500/-

Hence, you can explore Rishikesh in only Rs 3000. The Budget does not have activities and shopping expenses.