1 Night and 2 Days itinerary Rishikesh

haridwar, rishikhesh, laxman jhula, uttarakhand, ganga arti

Published on 2022-01-17

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Destination

mountains

Best time to visit

May to July

  • Rishikesh, also known as the “Yoga Capital of the World”, is situated in the foothills of the Shivaliks on the banks of the holy river Ganges. 
  • Famous for yoga and adventure sports like white water rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping, zip lining etc., Rishikesh invites tourists from India and abroad.
  • Among its attractions are historic temples, shrines, and ashrams.
  • Rishikesh is 24 KM upstream of Haridwar and 42 KM from the State capital, Dehradun.
  • The best time to visit Rishikesh is between May and July as well as from October and February.

How to reach Rishikesh?

  • Airport - The nearest airport to Rishikesh is the Jolly Grant airport of Dehradun, about 35 KM. 
  • By Bus - Rishikesh is a popular tourist destination with a good network of bus-service connecting it to the major cities nearby, including Dehradun, Haridwar and Delhi. Tourists from nearby towns prefer to self-drive upto Rishikesh, which takes between 2-5 hours, depending upon where you are travelling from.
  • Railhead - The nearest railway station is in Haridwar (25 KM), which is connected to all major Indian cities with regular train service available From Haridwar, bus or taxi service is readily available every few minutes. The short journey takes about 30 minutes.

Highlights

  • Being the “Gateway to the Himalayas”, Rishikesh is often the starting point for several pilgrimages into the mountains, including the most famous Char-Dham Yatra.
  • Since it is located on the banks of the Ganges, Rishikesh is an ideal destination for both, pilgrims and adventure lovers.
  • The most attractive sites including Lakshman Jhula, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Ram Jhula, Geeta Bhawan, etc.
  • Some of the other nearby tourist attractions in Rishikesh are Kunjapuri Mata Temple, Patna Waterfalls, Vashishtha Cave Temple, Bhootnath Temple, and Mussoorie.
  • Tourists come here for water sports activities including rafting, kayaking, boat rides, ziplining, etc. Besides, there are several options for rock climbing and trekking as well.

Itinerary

Day 1- Arrival in Rishikesh, Local Sightseeing

Once you check-in at the hotel, you can have breakfast at the following places - 

  • Swiss Cottage Bakery, near Laxman jhula.
  • Divine Resorts - This place serves pure vegetarian North Indian food.

Lakshman Jhula (Oldest Bridge in Rishikesh) - Built way back in 1939, this hanging bridge is one of the main attractions in Rishikesh. It is only for pedestrians because no vehicles are allowed on it.

Lakshman Jhula
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Lakshman Jhula

Triambakeshwar Mandir - This famous 13-storied temple is located right next to the Lakshman Jhula and is another popular tourist destination.

Lakshman Siddhapeeth Mandir
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Lakshman Siddhapeeth Mandir

NeerGaddu Waterfall - This is a beautiful waterfall located 8 KM from Lakshman Jhula. Entry ticket cost is Rs. 30 per adult and Rs. 20 per kid.

  • Ram Jhula - Though bigger in size than Lakshman Jhula, this bridge is relatively less popular but attractive tourist spot.
  • Goa Beach - One of the rare white sand beaches in Rishikesh, as the name suggests, this place is quite popular among the tourists.
Ram Jhula
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Ram Jhula

Lunch options - You will find good places to have lunch within 1 KM of the Goa beach -

Swargashram (Famous Vedic Museum) - This Mythological museum houses various ancient scriptures and statues. Museum timings are 8 AM to 6 PM and it is open to all, with no entry ticket.

  • Beatles Ashram - As the name suggests, this ashram, located in a forest near Ram Jhula, is famous because the popular pop music band - The Beatles - are known to have spent time here. Graffiti artists from across the world use this site to display their art. Entry ticket costs Rs. 80 per person.
  • JankiSetuBridge - This is a newly constructed suspension bridge, which has become a popular tourist destination, specially towards evening time.
Beatles Ashram, Rishikesh
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Beatles Ashram, Rishikesh

Evening Snacks–For evening snacks, you can visit -

  • Gita Press Restaurant, Ram Jhula - Their laddoos and poori-sabji combo is quite popular.
  • Hideout Cafe - For some delicious sandwiches, pizza, and shakes, this place is a must-visit.

Triveni Ghat - This place is famous for being the confluence of water of three holy rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.

  • Aastha Path (Marine Drive) - This is a walking strip along the Ganges, very popular among locals for morning/evening walks.
  • Rishikesh Barrage - A beautiful, peaceful location by the river Ganges, it is the best place to visit during evenings.

Dinner - For the final meal of the day, you can visit -  

  • Little Buddha Café - near Lakshman Jhula, this place serves multi-cuisine meals.
  • Freedom Cafe, again near Lakshman Jhula, you will get to eat multiple cuisine meals here.
  • Overnight stay in Rishikesh.

Explore more hotels in Rishikesh

Day 2 – Local SightseeingIn &Around Rishikesh

Shivananda Ashram – This ashram is frequented by foreigners and locals who are yoga enthusiasts. The one-hour yoga session at the ashram, from 6 AM to 7 PM is free of cost.

  • Kunjapuri Mata Mandir - Located 16 KM from Rishikesh, in Narendranagar, the temple is located atop a hill, and offers a bird’s eye view of Rishikesh.

Breakfast– For breakfast, you can visit Chotiwala Café or Café Corner for a variety of sandwiches and parathas.

Other popular tourist attractions around Rishikesh include - Vashisht Cave Temple and Bhootnath Temple. Both the temples offer a scenic view.

Bhootnath Temple
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Bhootnath Temple

Lunch options - You can opt for any of the following places for lunch - 

  • Balaji South Indian Restaurant at Triveni Ghat offers delicious South Indian variety of dishes.
  • Beatles Café is a multi-cuisine restaurant, which serves delicious food along with a beautiful view.

Chilla Hydel Power Plant - Located about 3 KM from the Triveni Ghat, this hydel power project is famous for an underground canal beneath the river.

  • Proceed to your home location or nearby destination

Things to buy & Shopping

You can buy a variety of things from Rishikesh, which range between traditional and modern.

  • Vedic Malas, Ratnas (Gems), etc are available across the market, but you need a discerning eye to identify that you are purchasing the original.
  • Shops sell beautiful scarves, shawls, ponchos made of wool and silk.
  • A shop near Lakshman Jhula is known to sell Singing bowls, which make for a beautiful gift for music lovers.

Suggestions & Recommendations

  • Rishikesh is known for accommodation options suitable to all types of budgets. Usually, tourists prefer to stay where most of the action is, such as near Lakshman Jhula, where you can book hotels at tariff starting from Rs. 1500.
  • Besides hotels, you can choose to stay at an ashram, which offers reasonable accommodation around Rishikesh.
  • Gurudwara Shri Hemkunt Sahib in Rishikesh is considered the first stop of the significant Hemkunt Sahib Pilgrimage into the Himalayas.
  • Parking facility is available at select locations in the town, like near Lakshman Jhula, Ram Jhula and Gaddu Waterfalls.
  • You can hire a two-wheeler at a rent of Rs 300-400 to take you around Rishikesh. You will have to pay for the fuel though.