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Uttarakhand

Rishikesh

Yoga capital and rafting hub on the Ganges

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Best time to visit Rishikesh

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: February to March and October to November
  • Shoulder: April, September and December to January, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: May to August

Planning a specific month? FebruaryMarchOctoberNovember

Rishikesh season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Cool crisp days, clear Himalayan views from Kunjapuri, yoga ashrams at their calmest

Summer March to May Prime time

March is pleasant, but April-May heat climbs fast and the ghats fill with day-trippers

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Ganges swells brown and dangerous, rafting suspended, landslide risk on the Badrinath road

Autumn October to November Prime time

Best window of the year. Rafting resumes, skies clear, the whole backpacker scene wakes up

What Rishikesh is actually like

Zostel dorms full of backpackers doing yoga by day, riverside chai by night

Getting to Rishikesh

Fly Dehradun 35km or overnight Delhi bus 6-7h; local auto-rickshaw

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Made for solo travellers
Altitude
372 m
State
Uttarakhand
Coordinates
30.1086, 78.2946

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Rishikesh?

February to March and October to November is peak season in Rishikesh. April, September and December to January is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid May to August. Best window of the year. Rafting resumes, skies clear, the whole backpacker scene wakes up.

How many days do you need in Rishikesh?

2 days is the usual stay. Zostel dorms full of backpackers doing yoga by day, riverside chai by night.

How do you get to Rishikesh?

Fly Dehradun 35km or overnight Delhi bus 6-7h; local auto-rickshaw. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Rishikesh expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Made for solo travellers.

Is there a festival in Rishikesh?

Mar: International Yoga Festival. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Uttarakhand

All 29 destinations in Uttarakhand