Rishikesh on the foothills of Himalayas is the hub of many ancient temples, popular cafes, yoga ashrams and adventure sports. Rishikesh is the most beautiful blend of spiritual and adrenaline pumping experiences. With Whitewater Rafting industry growing and a number of camping and cafe spots springing up, Rishikesh has grown immensely as a favourite, catering to people with different needs.
Rishikesh, over the years, has become extremely popular as the top spiritual destination in the world, especially after the Beatles association with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi here in the late '60s. As it lies on the holy banks of river Ganga, this place has been a hub of Sadhus (saints) and there are numerous ashrams teaching spirituality, yoga, meditation and Ayurveda. With the tourists coming in, there has been a surge in the number of cafes and restaurants in the town and there a lot of cafes serving English and American food and beverages. However, in the last few years, Rishikesh has also been developed as the hub of Adventure Sports in India as there is a multitude of options including White Water Rafting, Bungee Jumping, Flying Fox, Mountain Biking, etc. here. It also serves as the gateway to many Himalayan treks and is used as a popular camping site. Rishikesh is a must visit for everyone visiting India to truly experience something new.
The weather is good throughout the year, however summers (May-June) could be a little warm. However, this is the peak season here as white water rafting is most active during these months. Rains could be a little messy and rafting and other adventure activities should be avoided. October-March has amazing weather, however, it becomes a little chilly in January.
Rishikesh in Summer (March-May)
The temperature during the summer season ranges between about 15°C and 40°C. While the early summers are perfect for adventure sports and camping, the hot weather in April- May does is not much enjoyable for tourists.
Rishikesh in Monsoon (June - September)
The monsoon season in Rishikesh comes with a lot of festivals like Savan. There is a rush of tourists in this season due to the religious events. Adventure sports are difficult to conduct in this season
Rishikesh in Winter (October - February)
With temperatures between 20° C and 6° C, winters are the best time in Rishikesh to enjoy the natural beauty and engage in adventure activities specially rock climbing.
How to Reach Rishikesh by Flight
The nearest airport Jolly Grant is in Dehradun, away from Rishikesh. One can opt for a flight to Dehradun via Delhi or Lucknow and reach Rishikesh via the regular buses and taxis available from the airport.
Nearest Airport: Dehradun - 34 kms from Rishikesh
How to Reach Rishikesh by Road
Rishikesh has regular bus services from Delhi, Haridwar and Dehradun. One can opt for buses or hire cabs from these places to reach Rishikesh.
How to Reach Rishikesh by Train
The nearest railway station, Haridwar is 25 km from Rishikesh. Haridwar is well connected to major cities of the country via a number of regular express and superfast trains. One can take up a bus or cab available from the Haridwar station up to Rishikesh.
Distance From Top City