One day covers Rishikesh's best-known sights if you start at 09:30: Bharat Mandir, Laxman Jhula and Tera Manzil, the Beatles Ashram, lunch, Parmarth Niketan and Neer Garh Waterfall, then the Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat at sunset. It is about 40 km by cab and back by about 18:15 in winter. No stop closes on a weekday, so it works on any day.
Bharat Mandir in the old town before its midday closure, then Laxman Jhula and Tera Manzil, and the Beatles Ashram on the east bank before lunch. After lunch, Parmarth Niketan and the walk up to Neer Garh Waterfall, then the evening aarti at Triveni Ghat. About 40 km by cab, back in Muni ki Reti by about 18:15 in winter, a long day of almost 9 hours because of the aarti.
A Vishnu temple in the old town, a few minutes from Triveni Ghat, said to be the oldest in Rishikesh. It is a quiet stone temple in a courtyard off the busy bazaar.
Tip: Entry is free. It closes from 12:00 to 16:00, so go in the morning or come back before the evening aarti.
Laxman Jhula is Rishikesh's famous old iron suspension bridge over the Ganga. It has been closed since 2022 because it is no longer safe, but Bajrang Setu, a new bridge with glass walkways right beside it, opened to walkers in 2026. Tera Manzil, the 13-storey Trayambakeshwar temple at the east end, has shrines on every floor and a view of the river from the top.
Tip: Tera Manzil has no lift, so the climb takes a while. The lanes round the bridge are full of cafes, so this is a good place for lunch. Hold on to food near the monkeys.
The old ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, where the Beatles stayed in 1968 and wrote many of their songs. It was left empty for years and the forest grew back. Now you walk among stone meditation huts shaped like domes and big halls covered in painted murals.
Tip: It is inside Rajaji Tiger Reserve and run by the forest department, with a paid ticket (higher for foreigners). Allow at least 1.5 hours; it is bigger than it looks. Wear walking shoes.
A large ashram on the east bank in Swargashram, with gardens, temples and a big Shiva statue at the river's edge. Its evening Ganga aarti, held every day since 1997, is the best known in town.
Tip: Entry is free. Its aarti is at sunset, the same time as the one at Triveni Ghat, so pick one. Arrive 30 minutes early for a seat.
A waterfall in steps down a forested gorge, about 6 km from Muni ki Reti off the Badrinath road. A path of about 1 km climbs from the gate past several pools to the main fall.
Tip: There is a small forest department ticket at the gate. The path is uphill and slippery when wet, so wear shoes with grip. Allow about 1.5 hours.
The biggest bathing ghat in Rishikesh, on the Ganga in the old town. Every evening at sunset priests wave big brass lamps over the river while bells ring and people sing, and floating leaf boats with candles go out on the water.
Tip: Get there 30 to 45 minutes early for a place on the steps. The aarti lasts about 45 minutes. Watch your bag in the crowd, and keep off the lower steps when the river is high.
Drive times come from road routing without traffic, which drives hill roads at plains speed. The lanes round Laxman Jhula and Swargashram are narrow and crowded, and the Neelkanth and Kunjapuri roads are steep and winding, so allow more time than shown. Weekends and the July to August Kanwar season bring long jams on the Haridwar and Neelkanth roads. Opening hours marked ? are not yet confirmed, so check them before you go.
Call or message a local Rishikesh operator with this plan. Tell them your hotel and dates, and they send a price for the car and driver.
We are still listing Rishikesh operators. Write to [email protected] and we will put you in touch.
The hours we planned around. Check before you go on a public holiday.
| Place | Open | Best time | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bharat Mandir | 05:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 21:00 | Morning, before it closes at 12:00. | 30 min |
| Laxman Jhula and Tera Manzil | Tera Manzil about 06:00 to 19:00 (one listing says 20:00); the Bajrang Setu glass walkway 06:00 to 22:00 | Morning, before the crowds. | 1 h |
| Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia) | About 10:00 to 16:00, last entry about 15:30 (one map listing says 08:00 to 18:00) | Late morning or early afternoon, before the last entry. | 1 h 30 min |
| Parmarth Niketan | Open grounds in the day; evening aarti on its own ghat at sunset, about 17:30 in winter and 18:30 in summer? | Any time in the day, or at sunset for its aarti. | 45 min |
| Neer Garh Waterfall | About 08:00 to 17:00 (listings give 17:00, 18:00 or sunset) | Morning or early afternoon. | 1 h 30 min |
| Triveni Ghat evening aarti | Ghat open all day; the evening aarti starts at sunset, about 17:30 in winter and 18:30 in summer. Planned from 16:45 to get a place on the steps | Sunset, for the evening aarti. | 1 h 15 min |
Ashrams, Laxman Jhula and the Triveni Ghat aarti · Neelkanth Mahadev and two waterfalls
See the 2-day plan →Ashrams, Laxman Jhula and the Triveni Ghat aarti · Vashishta Gufa, Neelkanth and Patna Waterfall · Kunjapuri sunrise and Neer Garh Waterfall
See the 3-day plan →Every sight with what to see, opening times and how long to stay.
See all places →You can see the town: the old temples, Laxman Jhula, the Beatles Ashram, an ashram on the east bank and the evening aarti. Neelkanth Mahadev and Kunjapuri need a second or third day.
The aarti is at sunset, about 17:30 in winter and 18:30 in summer, so the day runs to about 18:15 in winter and an hour later in summer. If you skip the aarti, the day ends after Neer Garh at about 17:00.
It closes from 12:00 to 16:00. The Beatles Ashram opens at 10:00, so the old town comes first.
Not with the aarti as well. The temple is about 23 km up a winding road and takes half a day there and back. Swap it for Neer Garh and the afternoon stops if Neelkanth matters more to you.