Rishikesh
A Himalayan foothill town on the Ganga, known for yoga, river rafting and the evening aarti, about 5 hours from Delhi by road.
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Rishikesh is a town in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand, in northern India, where the Ganga comes down out of the mountains. Travelers come for yoga schools and ashrams, white-water rafting on the river, and the evening aarti, a lamp-lit prayer ceremony held on the riverbank. From Delhi the drive takes about 5 hours, so a few days here fit well into a northern India route.
Plan three to four days for a slow trip, and longer if you want a multi-day rafting run or a yoga course. October to March is the most comfortable period for walking and for most river trips. From July to September the river runs high, and rafting operators often stop running trips. Choose a base close to the river, since the aarti and most morning walks take place there.
Rishikesh in five
- Pick a base before you pick a yoga schoolTapovan has cafes and drop-in classes, the Ram Jhula side has ashrams and the ghats, and rafting camps sit well upstream. Walking times between them are longer than the map suggests, so choose by what you will do daily.Where to stay in Rishikesh
- Book rafting with a licensed operatorRafting runs on the Ganga outside the monsoon, with stretches graded for beginners up to experienced paddlers. Ask which stretch you are booked on, and check helmets and life jackets before you board.Rishikesh in 3 days
- Reach the aarti ghat 30 minutes earlyThe evening Ganga aarti at the main ghats draws crowds, and the front steps fill early. Arrive before sunset, dress modestly and keep shoes in a bag you can carry.
- Choose Rishikesh or Haridwar for your nightHaridwar is a bigger, busier pilgrim city 25 km downstream and has the rail station. Many visitors arrive there and move on to Rishikesh; the comparison explains who should stay where.Rishikesh or Haridwar
- Treat the old town as vegetarian and alcohol-freeThe temple-lined core is largely meat-free and dry, and many cafes follow suit. Check your guesthouse rules if you expect a drink, and look further out for places that serve it.
Need to know
- Airport
- Jolly Grant, Dehradun; roughly 1 hour by taxi
- Getting there
- Train to Haridwar or Dehradun then taxi; Delhi about 5–6 hours by road
- Getting around
- Shared autos, e-rickshaws and walking over the footbridges
- Best base
- Tapovan for cafes, Ram Jhula side for ashrams and the ghats
- Time needed
- 2–3 days; a week or more for a yoga course
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear5 rainy daysHigh19°Low7°Cool morningsJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool mornings
- FebruaryClear4 rainy daysHigh23°Low9°Mild, clearFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- MarchClear4 rainy daysHigh29°Low13°Warm, springMarchClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, spring
- AprilClear3 rainy daysHigh35°Low18°Hot, raftingAprilClear
Mixed
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 15 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, rafting
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh37°Low21°Very hotMayClear
Poor
- High
- 37°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- JuneClear11 rainy daysHigh37°Low23°Hot, humidJuneClear
Poor
- High
- 37°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- JulyRain27 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low23°MonsoonJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 394 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Monsoon
- AugustRain27 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°MonsoonAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 383 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon
- SeptemberRain15 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low21°Rain easingSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 216 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rain easing
- OctoberClear2 rainy daysHigh29°Low16°Clear, warmOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 29 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, warm
- NovemberClear1 rainy dayHigh25°Low12°Mild, dryNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, dry
- DecemberClear1 rainy dayHigh21°Low8°Cold nightsDecemberClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold nights
Average daily high and low in Rishikesh, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Rishikesh
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 15°
- Humidity
- 77%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Rishikesh
04:52 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today28°16°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 28°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed26°14°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 26°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu26°14°0%Thursday: Fog. High 26°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri26°14°0%Friday: Clear. High 26°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat25°14°0%Saturday: Fog. High 25°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun26°13°0%Sunday: Fog. High 26°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Mon27°13°0%Monday: Clear. High 27°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 03:47 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Haridwarabout 1 hour by roadA pilgrim city with the Har Ki Pauri aarti and the main rail station.Read the guide
- Mussoorieabout 2.5–3 hours by roadA hill station with cooler air and long Himalayan views on clear days.Read the guide
- Neelkanth Mahadev templeabout 1 hour by roadA forest-road drive to a hilltop Shiva temple above the town.
Before you go to Rishikesh
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Rules for Rishikesh, checked
- Confirm on the official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, that your passport qualifies for an Indian e-Visa before you book flights.
- Rishikesh is a Hindu pilgrimage town where the sale of alcohol and meat is restricted, so check hotel and restaurant policies before you order.
- Remove your shoes before entering temples and ashrams, and cover shoulders and knees.
- Pick a rafting operator that shows its registration and safety equipment before you pay.
Rishikesh FAQ
How many days do you need in Rishikesh?
Two or three days cover the aarti, a rafting run and a slow morning of yoga or cafes. Add days only for a course or a wider Uttarakhand trip. A day trip from Haridwar is possible but skips the evening.
Is Rishikesh worth visiting if you do not do yoga?
Yes, for the river, rafting, the aarti and the walks, though the atmosphere is built around yoga and spirituality. If you want nightlife or big sights, Haridwar or Delhi suit you better.
What is the best time to visit Rishikesh?
February to April and October to November are comfortable. May and June are hot, and the monsoon brings rain and landslide delays on the hill roads. Rafting generally pauses in the wet months, so confirm with operators.
How do you get to Rishikesh from Delhi?
Take a train to Haridwar and a taxi for the last 25 km, or hire a car for the 5–6 hour road trip. Flying to Dehradun's Jolly Grant airport is the quickest if your flight times line up.
Can you drink alcohol in Rishikesh?
Not in most of the old town, where shops and cafes are dry and vegetarian by custom. Some hotels and places outside the core may serve it, so ask before you book if it matters to you.