Rishikesh01$120/ night
Aloha on the Ganges
Tapovan· Hotel
River-view rooms, a pool and yoga classes on site.
India · Ready-made itinerary
3 Day Rishikesh Itinerary: Yoga, Rafting & Ganga Aarti
Rishikesh splits neatly into stillness and adrenaline. This plan alternates them: yoga and the aarti at either end of the day, rapids and waterfalls in between.
- Length
- 3 days
- Budget for two
- $300 incl. stays
- Best time
- Oct – Nov, Feb – Apr
- Pace
- Balanced
Who it suits: Solo travellers, yoga beginners and anyone wanting a calm weekend that still has some thrill.
Day 1: The bridges and the aarti
- 9:00 AM · Laxman Jhula and Tapovan, Tapovan
- 12:30 PM · Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia), Rajaji National Park
- 5:30 PM · Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan, Swarg Ashram
Day 2: Rapids and cliff-side cafés
- 8:00 AM · Rafting from Shivpuri, Shivpuri
- 1:00 PM · Lunch and a sound-healing session, Tapovan
- 5:30 PM · Triveni Ghat aarti, Triveni Ghat
Day 3: Sunrise and the waterfall
- 6:30 AM · Sunrise yoga by the Ganga, Tapovan
- 10:00 AM · Neer Garh Waterfall, Badrinath Road
- 3:00 PM · Café afternoon and the Ram Jhula market, Ram Jhula
3 days · GoRoam travel package · Solo
Rishikesh
Three days in the yoga capital on the Ganga: sunrise yoga, the Beatles Ashram, rafting through the Shivpuri rapids and the Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat and Parmarth Niketan.
From
Anywhere
to Rishikesh
Travellers
1 traveller
1 adult
Pace
Balanced
Savvy spending
Staying in
Hostel
2 nights
Into
Wellness, Adventure
+1 more
Don't miss
The big moments.
4 highlights · tap one to see its day
Where to stay
Pick your base.
Hand-picked for a hostel stay · Nov 19 Nov 21
The plan
Day by day.
Day 01 · Thu, Nov 19
The bridges and the aarti
Walk the riverside between Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula and end at the evening aarti.
1
2
3
- 1Morning· 9:00 AM - 12:00 PMEst.$109:00 AM - 12:00 PM 3 hours
Laxman Jhula and Tapovan
Sight TapovanThe suspension-bridge stretch of Rishikesh, with the 13-storey Trimbakeshwar temple and a strip of cafés and yoga schools along the river.
Local tip · The old Laxman Jhula bridge is closed to traffic; the new glass bridge alongside is the crossing.
- 3.3 km~20 min by metro or taxiDirections
- 2Afternoon· 12:30 PM - 3:30 PMEst.$1512:30 PM - 3:30 PM 3 hours
Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)
Culture Rajaji National ParkThe abandoned Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram where the Beatles stayed in 1968, now a forest ruin of meditation domes covered in murals.
Local tip · Foreigners pay a higher ticket; carry ID. Go at midday when the light falls through the domes.
- 1.8 km~15 min by metro or taxiDirections
- 3Evening· 5:30 PM - 7:30 PMFree5:30 PM - 7:30 PM 2 hours
Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan
Culture Swarg AshramThe ashram's riverside aarti with chanting, drums and lamps circled over the Ganga at dusk, open to everyone.
Local tip · Arrive by 5:30 to sit on the ghat steps; the best seats fill early.
Day 01 · Thu, Nov 19
The bridges and the aarti
Walk the riverside between Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula and end at the evening aarti.
1
2
3
- 1Morning· 9:00 AM - 12:00 PMEst.$109:00 AM - 12:00 PM 3 hours
Laxman Jhula and Tapovan
Sight TapovanThe suspension-bridge stretch of Rishikesh, with the 13-storey Trimbakeshwar temple and a strip of cafés and yoga schools along the river.
Local tip · The old Laxman Jhula bridge is closed to traffic; the new glass bridge alongside is the crossing.
- 3.3 km~20 min by metro or taxiDirections
- 2Afternoon· 12:30 PM - 3:30 PMEst.$1512:30 PM - 3:30 PM 3 hours
Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)
Culture Rajaji National ParkThe abandoned Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram where the Beatles stayed in 1968, now a forest ruin of meditation domes covered in murals.
Local tip · Foreigners pay a higher ticket; carry ID. Go at midday when the light falls through the domes.
- 1.8 km~15 min by metro or taxiDirections
- 3Evening· 5:30 PM - 7:30 PMFree5:30 PM - 7:30 PM 2 hours
Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan
Culture Swarg AshramThe ashram's riverside aarti with chanting, drums and lamps circled over the Ganga at dusk, open to everyone.
Local tip · Arrive by 5:30 to sit on the ghat steps; the best seats fill early.
Day 02 · Fri, Nov 20
Rapids and cliff-side cafés
Rafting in the morning, a slow afternoon in Tapovan.
1
2
3
- 1Morning· 8:00 AM - 12:00 PMEst.$308:00 AM - 12:00 PM 4 hours
Rafting from Shivpuri
Activity ShivpuriThe classic 16-km run from Shivpuri back to Rishikesh through rapids like Roller Coaster and Golf Course, with a cliff-jump stop.
Local tip · Book an operator licensed by the state; rafting closes in the Jul-Aug monsoon.
- 8.4 km~30 min by metro or taxiDirections
- 2Afternoon· 1:00 PM - 4:00 PMEst.$401:00 PM - 4:00 PM 3 hours
Lunch and a sound-healing session
Wellness TapovanA long lunch at a cliff-top café, then a singing-bowl sound-healing session at one of Tapovan's studios.
Local tip · Most sessions are drop-in; ask at the studio in the morning.
- 4.9 km~25 min by metro or taxiDirections
- 3Evening· 5:30 PM - 7:30 PMEst.$25:30 PM - 7:30 PM 2 hours
Triveni Ghat aarti
Culture Triveni GhatThe town's biggest ghat, where locals float leaf-boat diyas on the river during a grand evening aarti.
Local tip · Buy a diya boat from the stalls for a few rupees and float it yourself.
Day 03 · Sat, Nov 21
Sunrise and the waterfall
Morning yoga, then a forest walk to a waterfall.
1
2
3
- 1Morning· 6:30 AM - 9:00 AMEst.$126:30 AM - 9:00 AM 1.5 hours
Sunrise yoga by the Ganga
Wellness TapovanA drop-in hatha class on a riverside deck as the sun comes over the hills, the way to start a day in Rishikesh.
Local tip · Drop-in classes cost ₹300-600; bring nothing but water.
- 2.3 km~15 min by metro or taxiDirections
- 2Afternoon· 10:00 AM - 1:30 PMEst.$610:00 AM - 1:30 PM 3.5 hours
Neer Garh Waterfall
Nature Badrinath RoadA short climb through forest to a series of turquoise pools and falls, cool and quiet compared with the town.
Local tip · The path is slippery after rain; wear shoes, not sandals.
- 3.6 km~20 min by metro or taxiDirections
- 3Evening· 3:00 PM - 6:00 PMEst.$203:00 PM - 6:00 PM 3 hours
Café afternoon and the Ram Jhula market
Shopping Ram JhulaA last masala chai on a terrace and a wander through Ram Jhula's stalls for rudraksha beads, singing bowls and yoga wear.
Local tip · Rishikesh is vegetarian and alcohol-free by law; meat and alcohol aren't sold in town.
Know before you go
Sorted before take-off.
Entry & visaCan you get in?
Check what your passport needs: visas, e-visas and any arrival forms.
Check your passportStay connectedData from the moment you land
A travel eSIM installs before you fly: maps, rides and WhatsApp work at the airport, without roaming bills.
Get an eSIMTravel insuranceCovered if plans change
Medical care, cancelled flights and lost bags, for a few dollars a day.
Good to know
The essentials.
Weather
Oct-Nov and Feb-Apr are ideal (15-30°C). Rafting stops in Jul-Aug.
Money
Indian Rupee (INR). UPI and cards work in towns; carry cash for small temples, coracles and rural stalls.
Language
Hindi and Garhwali; English common in Tapovan
Hari Om: the common greeting
Plugs
Type C/D, 230V
Tipping
Not expected
0%10%20%25%
Not expected; tip rafting guides
Getting around
Shared autos run between Ram Jhula, Laxman Jhula and Tapovan; Dehradun airport is 35 km.
Make it yours.
Change the dates, budget, pace or who's coming, and GoRoam re-plans every day around you.
Questions about this trip
Which aarti is best in Rishikesh?
Parmarth Niketan's aarti is the most famous, with chanting and music; Triveni Ghat's is larger and more local. This itinerary does one each evening.
When is rafting open in Rishikesh?
Roughly September to June. It closes during the July-August monsoon when the river runs too high.
Can beginners do yoga in Rishikesh?
Yes. Most studios in Tapovan and Laxman Jhula run drop-in classes for all levels for about ₹300-600.
Is alcohol available in Rishikesh?
No. Rishikesh is a vegetarian, alcohol-free town by law.