About Rishikesh Tourism
Our Rishikesh tourism guide unfurls every texture of the small town, which has secured itself within the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. The city with religious helms is amongst the popular places for adventure seekers, and famous for the captivating snow-capped Shivalik Ranges and some of the most alluring tourist places in Rishikesh. The mesmerizing beauty of this place is further enhanced with an enchanting Rishikesh weather, picturesque surroundings, saintly waters of the Ganges which is also the major source of Haridwar tourism.
Rightly called as the ‘Abode of Gods’, Rishikesh is alive with teeming temples welcoming thousands to lakhs of tourists every year. Worshippers from all castes and creed, lodge into the ashrams and join hands in the temples here, each hiding numerous mythical stories behind its establishment. And that’s why most of the Rishikesh travel guides advise visitors to plan their stay accordingly, and also be able to visit some famous temples, including Nilkanth Mahadev Temple, Parmarth Niketan Temple, Bharat Mandir, and many more. Besides the Rishi Kund and Raghunath Temple, and Triveni Ghat, the multi-story Tera Manzil Temple is also worth visiting, which is most sought after for the magnificent view of the sunset from there.
Adventure in Rishikesh
Rishikesh tourism is all about the religious faith intermixed with eventful activities. One of the advises that this Rishikesh travel guide has for travelers is to walk over the ever popular hanging bridges of Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula. Besides these attractions, tourism in Rishikesh also highlights a visit to the mighty Neer Garh Waterfall, primarily known to have mystical healing properties.
The fiercely flowing water of the Ganges has given birth to the thrilling activities of camping and rafting in Rishikesh. Fortunately, Rishikesh tourism acknowledges separate flow-ways for amateurs hence, no one is going to miss the fun. However, the calm water at some places invites numerous kayakers from all over the world to take part in its various championships. Apart from rafting, the ‘adventure capital of India’ is also famous for its year-round pleasant weather, and other adventure activities in Rishikesh such as bungee jumping, waterfall trekking, rappelling, river crossing, and more.
Rishikesh tourism offers the best opportunity to accomplish one’s camping dream with the numerous camping sites available in the town. Owing to the majestic Shivalik Range, rappelling, rock climbing as well as trekking counts among the popular adventure sports here. If any visitor is not scared of heights, then he should definitely buckle up and indulge in adventure sports like bungee jumping, flying fox, cliff jumping, and giant swing. One can also roll off on the rugged mountains with activities like mountain biking and waterfall trekking, and return back with the most flabbergasting experience of all time.
Recommended Food Joints
This Rishikesh tourism guide also highlights some of the best restaurants one can dine at after indulging in the tiring events in the foothills of Shivalik. The posh list of the restaurants would roll far away, but some worth mentioning are ‘The Sitting Elephant’, ‘Free Spirit Café’, ‘Holy Water Dining’ and ‘Ira’s Kitchen and Tea Room’. These restaurants are known for their gorgeous décor along with scrumptious food. While, cafes like ‘Bistro Nirvana’, ‘Ramana’s Organic Café’, Chatsang Café’, and many more offer their visitors some antique picturesque views besides some in-town famous delicacies.
Yoga Capital of the World
There is no end when the discussion comes to. The place is also Known as the “Yoga Capital of the World”, Rishikesh is famous for its age old practices of yoga postures. With Rishikesh tourism, travelers are served not only with breathtaking views but also with its devotion to yoga. And amidst all the places in the country, Rishikesh has always taken pride as the “alcohol- free city of the country.”
There is no end when the discussion comes to Rishikesh tourism. The place is also known as the “Yoga Capital of the World”, for its age old practices of yoga postures. It is known to heal its guests not only with the breathtaking views, but also with its devotion to yoga. And amidst all the places in the country, Rishikesh has always taken pride as the “alcohol- free city of the country.”
What is the best time to visit Rishikesh?
The best time to visit Rishikesh for white water rafting is September-June and November. Another good time to visit Rishikesh is from February to early May. The International Yoga Festival is organised in Rishikesh in the first week of March. It is not favourable to visit Rishikesh in summer (May-June) as the temperature during these months gets extremely high, making it unbearable for sightseeing.
How To Reach Rishikesh
If you are wondering how to reach Rishikesh then you have stumbled upon the right place to find out the best ways. There are no airports or railway stations in Rishikesh, so the only way to get there is by road. Apart from during the monsoon season, the roads remain in good condition and can be traveled on without much of a problem. However, during the rainy season the constant rains erode the roads and the frequent landslides can become a deterrent in the way of travelers trying to reach their destination. Local and private buses are easily available when traveling within the city, as well as autos so one can make their choices of transportation as per their requirements, preferences and budget. Know the best way to reach Rishikesh from your city to experience a journey like never before.
By Air
For those wondering how to reach Rishikesh by air, Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Rishikesh. Situated at a mere distance of 21 kilometers from the town, this airport enjoys great connectivity from many major destinations, especially from Delhi. It only takes an hour by flight to reach here from Delhi. Once here, one can take a taxi from outside the airport to reach Rishikesh directly. And even though, there are no direct flights to Rishikesh, it is a good mode of transport as air travel still saves a lot of time.
By Train
For travelers who find train journeys convenient and fun, and wish to know how to reach Rishikesh by train, the foremost thing to know is that the nearest railway station, which is Rishikesh Railway Station, situated in Ganga Nagar. It also enjoys great connectivity from several major stations like Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow. Some of the major trains that travel on this route are Shatabdi Express, Jan Shatabdi Express, and Mussoorie Express. While a train journey might cost one more time, it is definitely cheaper and convenient.
By Road
Rishikesh is a place where anyone would love to travel by road. But, for those who aren’t aware of how to reach Rishikesh by Road, they would love the fact that there are a lot of private and normal buses that run on a daily basis from Delhi, Meerut, and many other cities. With a distance of some 240 kilometers from Delhi, one can reach Rishikesh in five to six hours. While self-driving is fun, taking a bus saves a lot of money.
42 Places To Visit In Rishikesh
In order to witness the best of this town in Uttarakhand, you must consider visiting some of the best places to visit in Rishikesh. Here are some that you can add to your itinerary:
Laxman Jhula And Ram Jhula, The Beatles Ashram, Shivpuri
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Triveni Ghat, Neer Garh WaterfallKaudiyalaJumpin Heights, Swarg Ashram, Rishikund, Geeta Bhawan, Vashishta Gufa, Kunjapuri Temple, Parmath Niketan Ashram, Bharat Mandir, Tera Manzil Temple, Sadhaka Grama Ashram, Muni Ki Reti, Swami Dayananda Ashram, Andhra Ashram, Garud Chatti Waterfall, Byasi, Raghunath Temple, Rajaji National Park, Patna Waterfall, Rishikesh ViewPoint, Bairaj Lake, Himshail Waterfall, Bhootnath Temple, Phool Chatti Waterfall, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Sivananda Ashram, Anand Prakash Ashram, Osho Ganga Ashram, Phool Chatti Ashram, Virbhadra Temple, Vanprastha Ashram, Nirmal Ashram, Himalayan Yog Ashram, Madhuban Ashram, Kuari Pass, Piran Khaliya Sharif etc.
Essential Information Of Rishikesh
Often referred to as the adventure capital of India, Rishikesh is one of the perfect destinations to escape for a quick and short holiday. Situated on the Ganges with a gorgeous backdrop of the Himalayas, a visit to this place is all one needs to rejuvenate oneself.
Most of the information on Rishikesh denotes the association of the town with Hindu mythology. The town marks the starting point of the famous Char Dham pilgrimage tour, and is a great destination for all types of travelers. To make the most out of the trip, one could make use of all the available facts about Rishikesh. And so, the below mentioned Rishikesh facts can come really handy for experiencing a great holiday.
For additional Rishikesh tourist information, one can always visit the official tourism site of Rishikesh and take a note of all the important facts about Rishikesh. Though, a helpful tip for all the visitors would be to carry a tourist map of Rishikesh for easy commuting as a tourist map with distances is quite helpful, especially for the ones who are an adventurer at heart.
Stay In Rishikesh
Accommodation facilities available for all types of travelers if one of the most important Rishikesh tourist information. There are a plethora of accommodation options available for tourists of all kinds in Rishikesh. These include 2, 3, 4 and 5-star hotels, and also ashrams and government-operated guest houses.
While the town is known for its range of adventure sports and activities, and for being a great pilgrim spot in the country, it offers a home-like experience to everyone. The weather of Rishikesh remains soothing and cool throughout the year, but can be best experienced during the months of February and March, and from August to October.
The climate at Rishikesh makes it highly convenient for the visitors to explore the city and relax to the maximum. To enjoy adventure sports, the best time to visit is during September to October, and March to April, since the climate of Rishikesh becomes a bit hot during the summers.
Food In Rishikesh
There are a number of great restaurants in Rishikesh if one is looking for options to dine out. By law, the food in Rishikesh is purely vegetarian, but that shouldn’t keep the hardcore non-vegetarians away from visiting the city. The Rishikesh food is primarily dominated with the north Indian authentic cuisines, and a range of local specialities as well.
The food of Rishikesh also consists of South Indian, Italian, Nepali, and Chinese cuisines. Whereas, the Rishikesh special food items include the Ayurvedic food, which is offered by a good number of outlets. The main food of Rishikesh is continental, which includes a number of delectable dishes. All these items come under the main food of Rishikesh and are available to the tourists at a number of restaurants.
The variety of food in Rishikesh can be tried and tasted by simply ordering a Thali at any restaurant. The continental cuisines comprise of the Rishikesh famous foods. However, the Rishikesh street food, which includes mouth-watering jalebis, imarti, samosas are also worth a try. One can enjoy all the local cuisines of the country right here in Rishikesh.
Language and Festivals Of Rishikesh
The festivals celebrated at Rishikesh definitely need a place in the Rishikesh tourist information since the celebration times of a place are absolutely worth witnessing. Being a pilgrimage center, the Rishikesh festivals are generally associated with Hindu mythology.
The festivals of Rishikesh include the traditional Hindu festivals like Holi and Diwali. All these festivals of Rishikesh are celebrated in a grand and spectacular way. Another important festival of Rishikesh is Sawan, which is generally held in the month of July. apart from this, the Ganga Aarti is also one of the most common celebrations at Rishikesh.
The festivals celebrated in Rishikesh reflect the traditions and culture of the town at its best. Some festivals of Rishikesh are also around yoga that is highly practiced in Rishikesh.
When it comes to languages, apart from Hindi and Sanskrit, Garhwali is the local language of Rishikesh. Though, tourists can also communicate in Hindi and English. The people in Rishikesh are friendly and religious, which makes a holiday experience here only more homelike. Since the destination attracts tourists throughout the year, the local people generously help in the development of the tourism industry through their hospitable behavior.