About Rishikesh
Rishikesh is where the Ganga leaves the Himalayan foothills. It has been a place of ashrams and study for a very long time, and it became known worldwide after the Beatles came here in 1968.
The town suits two kinds of traveller equally well: those looking for quiet, and those looking for rapids.
Yoga and ashram life
Many ashrams and schools offer classes, from a single morning session to month-long courses. Parmarth Niketan and the area around Tapovan are the main hubs. The town is vegetarian and alcohol-free, which shapes its calm feel.
Rafting and the outdoors
Rafting runs roughly from September to June, with stretches from Shivpuri suited to beginners. Camps along the river add kayaking, cliff jumps and short treks. Trips stop in the monsoon when the water is too high.
Aarti at Triveni Ghat
Evening aarti at Triveni Ghat and Parmarth Niketan brings singing, lamps and leaf boats onto the river. The Beatles Ashram, now part of a forest reserve, is a peaceful walk through murals and meditation cells.
