Incredible India
8 Things to Do in Rishikesh for First-Time Visitors
Suspension bridges over the Ganges, white-water rapids, and a hilltop sunrise, Rishikesh works well beyond the yoga-retreat reputation it's best known for.
Jul 23, 2026 · BigTravel.in
Rishikesh markets itself as the yoga capital of the world, and it earns the title, but the town on the banks of the Ganges holds a lot more than ashrams. Here are eight things to do for a first visit, each with a direct map link.
1. Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula suspension bridges
Two pedestrian suspension bridges strung across the Ganges connect the town's two halves, and walking either at dusk, when the ghats and temples along the banks light up, is the single most atmospheric free thing to do in Rishikesh.
2. Triveni Ghat evening aarti
The nightly Ganga aarti ceremony here, oil lamps floated on the river to devotional chanting, draws a genuine mix of pilgrims and travellers, and is worth arriving thirty minutes early for a spot close to the water.
3. White-water rafting on the Ganges
The stretch between Shivpuri and Rishikesh is one of India's most established rafting routes, with grade two to four rapids depending on season, and half-day trips are easy to book same-day through licensed operators near the ghats.
4. Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)
The former Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram where the Beatles stayed in 1968 is now a semi-restored ruin inside a forest reserve, covered in fan-painted murals and worth an hour's wander for the history alone.
5. A drop-in yoga or meditation class
Most ashrams along the river welcome single-class drop-ins without a multi-day commitment, a low-pressure way to actually experience what the town is famous for rather than just walking past the buildings.
6. Neer Garh Waterfall
A short, forested hike from the Laxman Jhula side of town leads to this multi-tiered waterfall with a swimmable pool at the base, a genuinely refreshing half-day trip away from the river's main crowds.
7. Café-hopping along the German Bakery strip
The cluster of cafés near Laxman Jhula, still collectively nicknamed after the original German Bakery, serves the town's best all-vegetarian, alcohol-free menu with river views, worth a slow breakfast rather than a rushed one.
8. Kunjapuri Devi Temple sunrise
A hilltop temple roughly forty minutes outside town with one of the region's best sunrise views over the Himalayan foothills, best reached by taxi in the pre-dawn dark to catch the actual sunrise.
Traveller tips
- Rishikesh is officially vegetarian and alcohol-free within municipal limits; do not expect meat or alcohol at any restaurant in the main town area.
- Book rafting trips through operators displaying a valid Uttarakhand Tourism license; unlicensed operators skip safety briefings and equipment checks.
- Dress modestly at ghats and temples, shoulders and knees covered, regardless of the heat; it is expected and locally enforced at several sites.
- Carry a headlamp or phone torch for the Kunjapuri sunrise trip; the temple steps are unlit and the pre-dawn taxi drop-off point still involves a short walk in the dark.
Where this is
Laxman Jhula, Rishikesh