Settled in the peaceful Himalayan foothills lies Rishikesh, which is the birthplace of yoga and meditation. Situated on the banks of the Ganges river and surrounded by the ever-growing mountains and lush green forests, Rishikesh is a place where you will experience the ultimate peace. Apart from this, Rishikesh even played a crucial role in the development of Ayurveda and Spa treatments. There is no denying that Rishikesh is the yoga capital of the world, but the destination is also very famous for its adventure activities and is filled with activities such as hiking, river rafting, trekking, camping and, more. The traveler from across the world visits the heritage city to relax in its peaceful yet adventurous atmosphere. The holy place attracts numerous adventurers and spiritual seekers every year. If you’re looking to plan for the destination, make sure to consider a few things before starting your Rishikesh tour.
How to Reach
Being an essential religious destination, Rishikesh is well connected to all the major cities of North India. Rishikesh does not have its airport, but it quite close to the Dehradun airport that is well connected via flights from Delhi and other major airports across the country. If you’re looking to travel Rishikesh via road, then it takes 6-7 hours of journey from the main capital Delhi. You can book taxis or cabs from Delhi to Rishikesh that is comfortably available throughout the year but make sure to avoid traveling by car during the monsoon season, due to high chances of landslides. Reaching Rishikesh from the train is also very convenient as there are three to four trains available for Haridwar station, which is very close to the Rishikesh.
Suitable Time to Visit
Monsoon is the only season in which you should not visit as there is a possibility of landslides. And if you’re likely to visit Rishikesh in monsoon, make sure to take necessary measures to avoid any problems. The best season to visit Rishikesh is from late September till February as during the period the climate is favorable to indulge in adventure activities. Rishikesh should be best visited during winter when the climate is pleasant, and the scenery of the mountains can be enjoyed with the scorching heat of the sun.
Things to Do
Rishikesh is a quite enjoyable place to explore on foot. Crossing any of the two suspension bridges will give you a spectacular view of the city and river. Visit the ghat that made along the river Ganga and take some time to feel the surrounding atmosphere and address the night aarti.
If you’re looking to experience adventure, then Rishikesh is the right place as it provides numerous adventure activities that one may indulge in such as trekking, rafting, canoeing, mountain biking and much more. And If you’re wanting to attain peace and tranquility, then there is no better than Rishikesh as it has a lot of ashrams and meditation centers that perform various styles of Yoga and Meditation and even give you knowledge about its origin. Make sure to add these things to your list of Rishikesh tourism.
Where to Eat
Rishikesh is very suitable to hang out with friends in some ambient cafes and one of the famous cafes in Rishikesh is Cafe De Goa that is located near the Laxman Jhula bridge with a scenic view of the Ganges river and offers a wide variety of Indian cuisine along with continental cuisine as well. Chatsang Cafe is another cafe in Rishikesh that offers healthy and contemporary food that contains healthy ingredients.