Places to Visit in Rishikesh

Rishikesh rewards slow exploration more than a checklist, but a handful of places anchor almost every visit. Here they are, grouped by how much time and travel each one takes.

Right in the old town

• Ram Jhula & Laxman Jhula — the two suspension bridges that anchor Rishikesh’s riverside core, lined with shops, cafés and temples on either bank
• Triveni Ghat — the main bathing ghat and one of the two sites for the evening Ganga Aarti
• Parmarth Niketan — a large riverside ashram and the other major Aarti site, known for its scale and the row of Shiva statues along the ghat
• Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia) — the abandoned meditation retreat the band stayed at in 1968, now partly open with murals and old buildings to explore

A short taxi ride away

• Neelkanth Mahadev — a Shiva temple in the forested hills above town, reached by a scenic drive with views back over the valley; a half-day round trip
• Kunjapuri Devi Temple — a hilltop temple known for sunrise views over the Himalayan range, best visited before dawn

If you have longer

• Haridwar — about 25 km away, worth a half or full day for Har Ki Pauri and its own evening Aarti; see our Rishikesh vs Haridwar guide
• Rafting put-in points upstream (Shivpuri, Marine Drive, Kaudiyala) — not just transit points but scenic riverside spots in their own right

Putting it together

For a tight schedule, see our 1-day itinerary. With two days, you can add one adventure activity or Neelkanth Mahadev — see our 2-day itinerary. With three, there’s room for all of the above plus a slower morning — see our 3-day itinerary.