Three days lets you see Rishikesh and the hills around it. Day one is the town, its ashrams, Laxman Jhula, the Beatles Ashram and the Triveni Ghat aarti. Day two is Vashishta Gufa, Neelkanth Mahadev and Patna Waterfall, about 74 km and back by about 14:00. Day three starts at 05:30 for the sunrise at Kunjapuri, then Neer Garh Waterfall, back by about 09:45 with the afternoon free for rafting.
Sivananda Ashram and Bharat Mandir in the morning, then Laxman Jhula and Tera Manzil with lunch there. In the afternoon, the east bank: the Beatles Ashram, Parmarth Niketan and Gita Bhawan, then back across the river for the aarti at Triveni Ghat. About 41 km by cab, back in Muni ki Reti by about 18:30 in winter, a day of about 8.5 hours because of the aarti.
The home of the Divine Life Society, founded by Swami Sivananda in 1936, on the hillside in Muni ki Reti. Visitors walk the gardens, sit in the meditation hall and see the samadhi shrine of its founder.
Tip: Entry is free. Dress modestly, speak quietly and take your shoes off in the halls. Staying here needs written permission ahead of time.
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 large old ashram in Swargashram with painted walls showing scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. It also has a ghat on the river, a bookshop and an Ayurvedic shop.
Tip: Entry is free. It is next to the east end of Ram Jhula, about 800 m from Parmarth Niketan along the river.
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.
Up the Badrinath road to Vashishta Gufa while it is quiet, then over the river and up to Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, and the walk to Patna Waterfall. About 74 km by cab, back by about 14:00 for a late lunch in town.
A cave by the Ganga, about 19 km up the Badrinath road, where the sage Vashishta is said to have meditated. You sit in the dark, cool cave in silence, then walk down to a quiet sandy beach on the river.
Tip: There are steps down from the road. Keep silent inside the cave. In the monsoon the path to the river can be closed.
A Shiva temple in the forested hills above Rishikesh, where Shiva is said to have drunk the poison that turned his throat blue. The tower is covered in bright painted figures, and a spring by the temple is used for a holy dip.
Tip: The road up is narrow and winding, about 23 km from Muni ki Reti. Queues are very long at Shivratri and in the July to August Kanwar season, when the road can close to cars.
A small waterfall in the forest above the Neelkanth road, reached by an easy walk of about 1.5 km. The water drops into a clear pool among limestone rocks, and there are small caves on the way.
Tip: The cab waits on the road. Allow about 2 hours there and back with time at the falls. It runs low in summer; September to November is best.
Leave at 05:30 for Kunjapuri Devi Temple, about 26 km up in the hills, and climb the steps for sunrise. On the way down, Neer Garh Waterfall when it opens at 08:00. About 63 km by cab, back by about 09:45, with the afternoon free for rafting from Shivpuri.
A hilltop temple to the goddess Kunjapuri, about 26 km from Rishikesh by road. At sunrise you look out over the Ganga valley and, on a clear morning, a long line of snow peaks to the north.
Tip: You climb a few hundred steps from the road, so start early to be at the top for sunrise. Take a warm layer; it is cold before dawn, even in summer.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sivananda Ashram | Open to visitors through the day, about 05:00 to 21:00 in listings; planned 06:00 to 20:00 | Morning, when it is quiet. | 45 min |
| 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 |
| Gita Bhawan | About 07:00 to 21:00; planned to 20:00 | Any time in the day. | 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 |
| Vashishta Gufa | About 08:00 to 18:00; one tour page says it closes 12:00 to 15:00, so go in the morning? | Morning, when it is quiet. | 1 h |
| Neelkanth Mahadev Temple | About 05:00 to 18:00 in most listings, and it may close for a few hours in the afternoon; planned 06:00 to 17:00, best before noon? | Morning, before the queues and a possible afternoon break. | 1 h 15 min |
| Patna Waterfall | No listed hours; go in daylight? | Late morning, after Neelkanth. | 2 h |
| Kunjapuri Devi Temple | About 06:00 to 18:00; people come for sunrise, about 05:30 in summer and 06:45 in winter? | Sunrise. | 1 h 15 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 |
Laxman Jhula, the Beatles Ashram and the Triveni Ghat aarti
See the 1-day plan →Ashrams, Laxman Jhula and the Triveni Ghat aarti · Neelkanth Mahadev and two waterfalls
See the 2-day plan →Every sight with what to see, opening times and how long to stay.
See all places →Yes, on a clear morning. You see the Ganga valley and a line of snow peaks to the north. October to March is clearest. In summer the sun rises about an hour earlier, so leave at about 04:30.
One listing says the cave closes from 12:00 to 15:00, so the plan is there by 08:30. Neelkanth is best before noon too.
Book rafting from Shivpuri, which runs about 2 to 3 hours back to town, or the bungee jump at Jumpin Heights. Both pick you up in Tapovan, so you don't need the cab.