Things to Do in Rishikesh
Discover 33 activities and experiences in Rishikesh, India — from outdoor adventures to cultural events. Curated from real traveler recommendations.
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Yoga Study Centre
Bramacharya Rudra Dev, a senior Iyengar teacher and Rakesh Batra his disciple, conduct lessons in a rather militaristic style and students need to move quickly to keep up. Many western students appreciate his style and are able to feel the warmth behind his challenging adjustments. Students are a mix of locals and Westerners. Donated mats and blankets are provided though if you are concerned about cleanliness you might want to bring your own. As with most Indian yoga schools, women should dress modestly. There are classes daily at the centre. Twenty day intensives are held three times a year during February, April and September. The centre is closed from mid-December to mid-January and for March, May and June. The Yoga Study Centre is on the other side of town from the other ashrams, and from where most people stay. A constant stream of ₹3 shared rickshaws move up and down the main road, and many go as far as the centre.
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- Ganga Vihar, Haridwar Road
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- Free
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Himalayan Yoga Academy
Yoga teacher training all levels, internationally recognized certification; registration with Yoga Alliance USA and Yoga Alliance International also available. The school has many yoga teachers under one roof – Sri Surinder Singh, Yogacharya Ashish Sharma, Yogacharya Sanjeev Pandeyji, Yogacharya Kamal Bhatt, Yogacharya Sonu Yadav, among others. The school offers residential and non-residential yoga teacher certification courses and intensive yoga courses at various levels. Himalayan Yoga Academy is involved in various charities.
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- Kriya Yoga Ashram, Tapovan
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- 6am–9pm
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- $240–1,710
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Yoga Vini Rishikesh
Yoganivi is a registered Yoga school providing the yoga knowledge and training under the guidance of yoga experts. It is situated at Laxmanjhula in Trimbakeshwar Temple on the bank of the Ganges. The campus of Yogavini Ashram provides accommodation and meals. The ashram offers the 200-hour training session in Yoga Teachers Training Certificate (TTC) as per the guidelines of Yoga Alliance Association (YAA). This training includes the awareness, knowledge, tools & techniques of yoga, philosophy and culture of yoga.
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Free International Yoga & Music Festival
Enjoy free yoga classes and Indian classical music at the annual free yoga & music festival in Ram Jhula, Rishikesh. The festival is the largest public event in Rishikesh hosting over 50 yoga teachers from India and abroad and over 30 artists from all over the world. The festival is a charity project organized and carried on by Bhuwan Chandra, Himalayan Yoga Academy and Nad Yoga Trust.
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- Akash Ganga, Ganga Lane, Swarg Ashram, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
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- Free
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Akshi Yogashala
Akshi Yogshala is a certified school and is registered with '''Yoga Alliance, USA''', offering '''Free Scholarship 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training course in October'''. Ashtanga Vinyasa, Hatha Yoga, Meditation & Pranayama are few of the methods taught in the courses. Learned & certified yoga instructors, Ayurvedic food and other Ayurveda cleansing practising.
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- Swarg Ashram
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- Food & accommodation: $800
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Yoga Teacher Training by Rishikul Yogshala
Yoga Alliance-approved yoga school that offers 200 hour yoga teacher training, 300 hour yoga teacher training and 500 hour yoga teacher training as per the guidelines of Yoga Alliance, USA. The courses cover the comprehensive study of Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga and various other forms of yoga along with the meditation techniques and Ayurveda and Naturopathy.
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- Yoga Villa,Swargashrama, Ramjhula
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- 1500 USD
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Association for yoga and meditation, India
Offers yoga courses which are residential as well as non residential for different durations such as 200, 300 and 500 hours which focus asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha, kriya, relaxation and meditation along with yogic anatomy and physiology, psychology and teaching methodology. Yoga teacher training here is accredited by the International Yoga Federation.
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- Ombasananda Satyanasana Mandir. Laxman Jula
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- 7 am - 7 pm
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- 770$
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Braham Yoga Rishikesh
Managed by Aham Brahamasmi Yog Mandir Trust (Central Govt. Of India) Aham Brahamasmi Yog Mandir Trust (ABYMT) is dedicated to promoting Yoga & health awareness for the general public. If you are beginner, an experienced practitioner, an athlete or a yoga instructor, you will find a programme to deepen your yogic practice on your individual journey.
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- Flat number 1 and 2, Ganga Niketan, Swargashram Trust
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Rishikesh Yog Peeth - RYS 200, RYS 300
Yoga school registered with Yoga Alliance. Offers 200, 300 and 500 hour residential hatha yoga teacher training course in India (RYT 200, RYT 500 + additional 100 hrs) for US$ 1,350 to 2850 (course fee includes food and accommodation) and also conducts short term yoga courses for beginners and retreats (1~2 weeks) throughout the year.
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- Krishna Cottage, Swargashram, Ram Jhula
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Shakti Yoga Peeth
Offers intensive teacher’s training program through their 200-, 300- and 500-hour training program. The program follows the complete protocol as set by the Yoga Alliance, USA that certifies them to be a yoga teacher. Students are taught Ashtanga Vinyasa, Hatha Yoga, Meditation and Pranayama and other yoga forms.
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- Swarg Ashram, Raam Jhula
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- 24 hours
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- Food & accommodation: $1350
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Vinyasa Yoga School - RYS 200
One of the only 200-hour Vinyasa yoga teacher training courses in Rishikesh. They offer courses every month, and the tuition includes a private room and bath in the newly built Hotel Qube (with free WiFi, hot showers, and a security monitoring system), 3 yogic meals per day, and local sightseeing and adventures.
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- Hotel Qube, Laxman Jhula
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- 6:30AM to 8:00PM
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- $1900 USD
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Arsha Yoga Dham
This school dedicates itself to helping people grow spiritually, mentally and physically with the help of yoga, meditation and pranayama, by way of courses like 200-hour yoga teacher training, 3-day or 7-day retreats, etc. Swami Atamganananda Giri preaches the requirement of yoga in our daily lives.
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- Near Geeta Bhavan no. 3 Behind Parmarth Niketan Ramjula
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- 24 Hours Open
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- $1400
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Bungee Jump
You can try bungee jump at Jumpin Heights. It is a unique experience in India, a jump from 83 mtrs just above a natural river and have the time of your life. Bungee for ₹2800 (inc. ₹300 transport from Laxman Jhula and back) and Fox Flying for ₹1800 (inc. ₹300 transport from Laxman Jhula and back)
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Vedangas
Registered with Yoga Alliance USA. Offers 200-hour and 500-hour residential hatha yoga teacher training course (RYT 200) for US$1,150 and RYT 500 (course fee includes food and accommodation) and also conducts short-term yoga & Ayurveda courses and retreats (1~2 weeks) throughout the year.
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- Hotel Raj palace, geeta bhavan gate no 3, Swargashram
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Mahatma Yoga Ashram
A great little Ashram, newly built. It's far enough from the center of things to be quiet but close enough to still be a part of the scene. The staff are all incredibly kind and will help you to arrange anything from taxis to rafting.
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- Same side of the river as the German Bakery
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- 400/night
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Rishikesh Valley
Eco health resort run by naturopath and Ayurveda health consultant, offers rejuvenation therapies thorough a blend of Ayurveda and nature care with healthy food. Calming and relaxing therapies of yoga and passive meditation.
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- Neelkanth Temple Road
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Camp Gold Coast
Camp Gold, one of the biggest rafting beach camps situated on the banks of river Ganges, is around 26 kms. from Rishikesh. Rafting, kayaking, Body surfing, trekking, camping are the major activities conducted in this camp.
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- Beach no-17 B, Sing Talli- 7 Rishikesh
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Ojashvi Yoga Shala
Ojashvi Yoga Shala is a registered Yoga Teacher Training School with Yoga Alliance USA (YA ID : 154072), engaged in the programmes of Yoga Teacher Training, Promotion and Coordination of Yoga Education, in all its aspects.
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- Gayatri Kunj
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- Food & accommodation: $600
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Mukeshji's Jungle Vibes
Make Australian didgeridoos, African djmbes and other musical instruments under the guidance of Mukeshji, while he regales you with his hilarious stories and takes you along with him in his Himalayan journeys.
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- Shisham Jhari
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Rishikesh Yog Dham
Offers 200-hour yoga teacher training & yoga for beginners. Yoga learners who wish to become certified yoga instructors can apply to get international certification. Also, travellers can join drop-in classes.
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- Mount View Cottage, Badrinath Road, Tapovan
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- 07:00 to 20:00 Hrs
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- $4
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Nada Yoga School
Nada Yoga School provides 200-hour yoga teacher training training courses, yoga retreats, nada yoga courses and yoga intensives with team of professioanl yoga teachers, ayurvedic doctors and nad yogis.
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- Swargashram
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- 9am-5pm
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- ₹300 / hr
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Shatrughan Mandir
One of the oldest temples in Rishikesh, established by Adi Sanchracharya in the 11th century. The only temple in India dedicated to lord Shatrughan, brother of Lord Ram.
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- Muni ki reti
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Siddhi Yoga
Siddhi Yoga is a Yoga Alliance USA registered RYS200 and RYS300 School. At Rishikesh it offers Multi Style with Therapeutic, Vinyasa, Healing, Hatha and Alignment.
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- Hotel Moksha, Village Jonk, Near Geeta Ashram Taxi Stand, Swarg Ashram, Rishikesh-249192, Uttrakhand, INDIA
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- 7AM-7PM
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- Starts from ₹85K
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Team 4 Adventure
They give a 4-day course in whitewater kayaking, starting near Rishikesh. They also conduct 5-day rafting trips from Srinagar to Rishikesh.
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- Team 4 Adventure House, Near Shivpuri Bridge, V.P.O. Shivpuri
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- ₹12500-₹13500 for the whitewater kayaking course
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Bhuwan Chandra Music School
Run by a renowned sitar player, Bhuwan Chandra. Travelers can learn sitar, tabla, harmonium, mantra chanting, and improve vocal skills.
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- Ram Jhula, Swaargashram, near Ram Jhula Bridge
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Ved Niketan Ashram
Yoga Iyengar general class and 15 days intensive Master One courses by Iyengar yoga certified teacher Yogi Prakash Dabhekar.
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- Swatgashram, Ram Jhula
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White Water Rafting
Offering rapids of Grade-I to V, this place has become a quintessential destination for the water rafting mongers.
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Vishwa Shanti Yoga School
Provides residential hatha yoga teacher training — 200-hour, 300-hour and 500-hour — and yoga retreats.
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- Vashisth Guest House Near Vanprasth Ash Part-2, Sawargashram
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Ashtanga Rishikesh
Traditional daily Mysore style ashtanga with Louise Ellis. Louise is certified by Sri K Pattbhi Jois.
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- Topovan Laxman Jhula
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Yoga School India
Yoga Alliance-approved yoga school for 200 hour, 300 hour and 500 hour yoga teacher training.
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- Omkarananda Bhawan, Laxman Jhoola
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- 200
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- $850
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Tattvaa Yoga Shala Rishikesh
International standard yoga training centre by the Ganges River
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- Rishikesh Swargashram Ramjhula
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- 1500 usd
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Institution for Higher Meditative Consciousness
Certified yoga and meditation classes and Vedic teaching.
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- C14 Ganga Vatika,Phase I,Muni-ki-Reti
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Soma Reiki centre
Run by soma a local reiki master which is in Gita Ashram
Exploring Rishikesh: A Traveler's Guide to Activities
Rishikesh rewards curious travelers with an exceptional range of experiences. Whether you have a weekend or several weeks, the city's 33 documented activities cover the full spectrum — architectural landmarks and world-class museums at one end, local neighborhood festivals and underground cultural scenes at the other. The activities listed on this page come from Wikivoyage contributors who have personally explored Rishikesh and written detailed, practical descriptions to help you plan your visit.
The most rewarding way to experience Rishikesh's activities is with company. Solo travelers who arrive without plans often find that meeting a fellow traveler at a hostel, cafe, or through the Nomax app opens up entirely new itineraries — a museum visit becomes a half-day exploration, a street food crawl turns into an evening of discovery, a day trip to a nearby site becomes an adventure. Rishikesh has an active traveler community, and the city is designed to reward those who explore it with open curiosity.
When planning what to do in Rishikesh, consider mixing well-known attractions with neighborhood-level experiences. The city's most photographed sights are popular for good reason, but Rishikesh's character lives in its quieter corners too — the local markets, the parks where residents spend their weekends, the small performance venues where the next generation of artists and musicians are finding their voice. The 33 activities on this page include both categories, ordered by the richness of their traveler-written descriptions.
How to Get the Most from Rishikesh's Activities
Timing matters in Rishikesh. Many of the city's best attractions have shorter queues and better atmospheres on weekday mornings. Major cultural sites — museums, galleries, historic monuments — often run free admission windows on certain days or evenings; check before booking. Outdoor activities and walking tours are best enjoyed in the morning before the city heats up or fills with tour groups.
Budget-conscious travelers will find that Rishikesh has a strong free-to-access layer. Public parks, open-air markets, architectural walking routes, and many community events cost nothing. The price information included with activities on this page (where available) helps you plan a realistic daily budget. A mix of free and paid activities across a week in Rishikesh is entirely feasible for most traveler budgets.
For travelers who want to do more than just sightseeing, Rishikesh offers organized activities through local guides, tour companies, and traveler apps like Nomax. Group activities — cooking classes, cycling tours, kayaking excursions, photography walks — are a natural way to meet people while experiencing the city. Many travelers who use Nomax in Rishikesh coordinate these types of group experiences together, splitting costs and building memories that last beyond the trip itself.
Activities for Different Travel Styles
Not every traveler wants the same experience. History enthusiasts will gravitate toward Rishikesh's museums, heritage sites, and guided historical walks that reveal the layers of the city's past. Outdoor and adventure travelers will focus on the parks, cycling routes, climbing areas, and day trips to surrounding natural areas. Food travelers will treat Rishikesh's markets, restaurants, and food tours as the primary activities of each day. Culture seekers will fill evenings with concerts, theater, gallery openings, and street performances.
The 33 activities documented on this page span all these categories. Use the numbered list above to browse in order of description quality — longer descriptions generally mean more detailed, firsthand traveler knowledge. For each activity, the address and opening hours (where available) give you everything you need to plan your visit without needing to search elsewhere.
Connecting with Travelers in Rishikesh
One of the best things about traveling to Rishikesh is the community of international travelers already there. Backpackers, digital nomads, long-term expats, and short-trip tourists all share the same city at any given moment. Nomax makes it easy to find who is in Rishikesh right now, see what activities they are joining, and coordinate plans. Whether you want a hiking companion, someone to split museum entry with, or a group for an evening out — the app connects you to people with the same itinerary in minutes.
Download Nomax before your trip to Rishikesh to set your travel dates and start discovering who else will be there at the same time. The app is free, requires no subscription, and works across all the major traveler destinations worldwide — meaning the community you build in Rishikesh often extends to your next destination too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Rishikesh?
Rishikesh offers 33+ activities and experiences for travelers. Top highlights include Yoga Study Centre, Himalayan Yoga Academy, Yoga Vini Rishikesh, and much more. This page lists every documented activity in order of description quality, so you can find both the major attractions and the hidden gems.
Are there free things to do in Rishikesh?
Yes — Rishikesh has a strong selection of free activities. Public parks, open-air markets, walking routes through historic neighborhoods, and many cultural institutions offer free admission on specific days. Scroll through the list above and look for activities marked with free or no price information — these are often the city's most authentic experiences.
How do I meet other travelers while exploring Rishikesh?
Download Nomax — a free travel companion app that shows you other solo travelers currently in Rishikesh. You can join group activities, chat with travelers at the same spots, and plan outings together. Many travelers in Rishikesh use Nomax to find companions for day trips, museum visits, and evening activities.
What activities can I do with travel companions I meet in Rishikesh?
Rishikesh has activities for every interest — guided tours, food experiences, outdoor adventures, cultural events, and nightlife. Use Nomax to coordinate with other travelers: join a group for a walking tour, split a day-trip cost, or simply explore the city together. The app makes spontaneous plans easy.
Explore Rishikesh with fellow travelers
Download Nomax — find travel companions, join group activities, and chat with solo travelers in Rishikesh right now. Free forever.
Travel tips by Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 3.0). Content may have been updated since publication.
