Complete Guide: 25 Best Things to Do in Rishikesh
Adventure Activities
1. White-water river rafting (₹600–₂,500): Rishikesh's defining activity. Stretches from gentle 9-km Grade II to thrilling 36-km Grade IV–V. Best season: October–November and February–May. See complete rafting guide.
2. Bungee jumping at Jumpin Heights (₹3,550): India's highest fixed-platform bungee at 83m above the Ganga gorge, 15 km from Rishikesh at Mohan Chatti. Operated by Jumpin Heights — India's most established bungee operator. Minimum weight 40 kg; maximum 110 kg. Run year-round (closed monsoon). Book via Jumpin Heights website — spots fill fast in season. See bungee jumping guide.
3. Flying fox (₹1,100) & Giant swing (₹1,550): Also at Jumpin Heights — the flying fox runs 1 km over the Ganga gorge; the giant swing is a giant-arc pendulum over the valley. Both are run from the same Mohan Chatti venue.
4. Kayaking (₹800–₁,500): Single-person kayaking on the Ganga — novice sessions on the Shivpuri section (Grade II water) for beginners; more technical sections for experienced paddlers. Several operators near Shivpuri Beach run half-day kayaking courses. Best season: October–June.
5. Body surfing / body rafting (₹400–₆₀₀): A foam-mat assisted solo ride down Grade II rapids — exactly what it sounds like and excellent fun. Available at the Brahmapuri and Shivpuri sections. Short, thrilling and available to non-swimmers (life vest and guide supervision provided).
6. Camping on the Ganga bank (₹1,200–₂,500/person): Overnight beach camping at Shivpuri (16 km from Rishikesh) — tent setup on a Ganga shingle beach, bonfire, dinner and breakfast, morning rafting. The quintessential Rishikesh budget adventure package. See camping guide.
7. Cliff jumping (₹200–₄₀₀): Natural rock platforms at Shivpuri and along the Ganga offer cliff jumping into pools — 5–12 metre jumps depending on water level. Informal but popular; guided by local operators who know the safe jump points.
8. Paragliding (₹1,500–₂,500): Tandem paragliding from Jonk (22 km from Rishikesh) with views of the Ganga valley and the Himalayan range. 15–25 min tandem flight. Best: October–March (stable thermals).
9. Zip-lining (₹600–₁,000): Several operators near Shivpuri and Laxman Jhula run zip-line courses. Shorter format adventure; suitable for children 10+.
10. Mountain biking (₹500–₁,000/half-day): The forest roads around Rishikesh (toward Neelkanth, the Rajaji Park perimeter, and north on the Badrinath highway) offer good mountain biking terrain. Guided MTB tours available from operators near Laxman Jhula.
Spiritual & Yoga Activities
11. Morning yoga class (₹200–₅₀₀): Walk-in yoga classes at dozens of studios and ashrams — morning sessions (6–8 AM) most common. Styles from Hatha and Ashtanga to Iyengar and Kundalini. Best studios: Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh Yoga Peeth, Yoga Niketan, Anand Prakash. See yoga guide.
12. Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan (free): The sunset Ganga Aarti ceremony — 50+ priests in saffron robes, conch shells, hundreds of diyas floated on the Ganga, devotional music and ancient Sanskrit chants. The most cinematic and powerful spiritual experience in Rishikesh. No booking; arrive 30 min early for a good position. See Ganga Aarti guide.
13. Ashram stay (₹300–₂,000/night): Rishikesh has 40+ ashrams offering accommodation with meals, yoga, meditation and spiritual programs. Most notable: Parmarth Niketan, Sivananda Ashram, Phool Chatti, Omkarananda. Longer stays (1–4 weeks) available. See ashrams guide.
14. Meditation and pranayama class (₹300–₈₀₀): Stand-alone meditation sessions and pranayama (breathing) workshops run at most major yoga centres. Walk-in or book through your accommodation.
15. Ayurveda treatment (₹500–₂,000/session): Shirodhara, Abhyanga and Panchakarma treatments at Rishikesh's Ayurveda clinics and wellness centres. Ananda in the Himalayas (25 km) offers the most luxurious treatments at corresponding rates.
Cultural & Sightseeing Activities
16. Beatles Ashram visit (₹150–₆₀₀): Heritage forest site. See Beatles Ashram guide.
17. Laxman Jhula & Ram Jhula walk (free): The two iconic suspension bridges and their surrounding market areas. See Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula.
18. Kunjapuri Devi sunrise (free + transport): 25 km, 4:30 AM departure for sunrise over the Himalayas. One of the finest dawn views in Uttarakhand.
19. Neelkanth Mahadev temple drive (32 km, free): Forest road drive to the sacred Shiva temple. See Neelkanth guide.
20. Ghat walk at sunrise/sunset: The Triveni Ghat and Swarg Ashram ghats at dawn — when pilgrims bathe in the Ganga, sadhus meditate, and the early light turns the river gold — is one of the most atmospheric free experiences in India.
21. Rajaji National Park safari (₹1,500–₂,500/jeep): Elephant, leopard and crocodile sightings in the adjacent national park. Morning safari only; book at the Chilla Range gate.
22. Cafe crawl at Laxman Jhula (₹100–₄₀₀/meal): The cluster of rooftop cafes at Laxman Jhula (Little Buddha, Oasis, German Bakehouse, 60s Cafe) is the social hub for international backpackers. Veg international food, yoga community notice boards, and Ganga views. See cafes guide.
23. International Yoga Festival (March 1–7, free–₹2,000/day): The world's largest yoga festival at Parmarth Niketan. 100+ teachers, 100+ countries, 7 days of classes, workshops and Ganga Aarti. Day passes available; accommodation must be booked months ahead. See festivals guide.
24. Chardham gateway visit — Haridwar Ganga Aarti (24 km): Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri is 24 km from Rishikesh — an easy evening trip for the evening Ganga Aarti at one of India's most sacred ghats. The scale and drama of Haridwar aarti is different from Rishikesh's — both are worth experiencing on consecutive evenings.
25. Cooking class — local vegetarian cuisine (₹800–₁,500): Learn to cook Garhwali dal, roti and subji in a homestay kitchen near the ashram quarter. Short cooking workshops organised by several Laxman Jhula area guesthouses.
How to Reach Rishikesh
239 km from Delhi (5–6 hrs), 24 km from Haridwar (45 min). Nearest airport: Jolly Grant (DED), 35 km. See Rishikesh overview.
Budget, Hotels & Travel Tips
- Plan 2–3 mornings for activities: Rafting, bungee and Kunjapuri sunrise all need early starts (5:30–7 AM). If combining two of these, allocate separate mornings — you cannot do all three in the same day comfortably.
- Evening is Ganga Aarti time: Reserve 5–7 PM every evening for the ghat experience. The Parmarth Niketan Aarti (Ram Jhula area, ~6 PM) is the main event; arrive 30 min early.
FAQs
- What is the most popular activity in Rishikesh?
- River rafting is Rishikesh's most popular activity by visitor numbers — thousands raft every day in season (October–June). Bungee jumping at Jumpin Heights is the most talked-about single-experience activity. Among spiritual experiences, the Parmarth Niketan Ganga Aarti draws the largest evening crowds. If forced to pick one activity that is uniquely Rishikesh and can be done nowhere else in India with the same combination of water quality, rapid grade and setting — it is the 36-km Kaudiyala-to-Rishikesh Grade IV–V rafting run.
- Is Rishikesh good for non-adventure travellers?
- Very much so. The yoga, meditation and ashram experiences, the ghats and Ganga Aarti, the Beatles Ashram heritage site, the temple circuit (Neelkanth, Kunjapuri, Triveni Ghat), the cafe culture and the Garhwal cuisine all have nothing to do with adventure sports. Rishikesh attracts spiritual seekers, yoga practitioners, pilgrims and simply people who enjoy riverside town ambience — in at least equal number to adventure tourists.