This “Things to Do in Rishikesh” guide will unveil a complete exploration experience that includes exhilarating activities, relaxing spots, and spiritual practices to explore while in Rishikesh.
Rishikesh is the yoga capital of the world, where travellers can experience the power of spirituality, and the beauty of nature while also enjoying the mix of traditional and modern trends being followed. A variety of things to do and experience in Rishikesh has helped the city to get the required acknowledgement and love from travellers across the globe.
Whether you wish to experience holy spiritual activities or relax in the lap of nature, Rishikesh is the first place that comes to mind.
Figuring out the best places to visit and activities to do in Rishikesh would be tough for travellers visiting for the first time. To save time and energy The Basera is here with a list of the best things to do in Rishikesh to elevate your experience. So without any further ado, let’s take a look at the list:
1. Holy Ganga Aarti
Visiting Rishikesh is incomplete without the divine Ganga Aarti. To experience this city’s pure spiritual bliss, peace and serenity, spending time on the Ganga ghats and witnessing the holy aarti is a must. Though there are a lot of ghats that can be visited to attend the aarti however, our personal favourite is the Shatrughan Ghat, Rishikesh.
With less crowd and a pure procedure of praying to the holy river Ganges, these 20 minutes will fill you with positivity, purity, and spirituality. While, if you wish to attend other ghat’s aarti, then Triveni Ghat and Parmarth Ashram are among the most popular ghats to attend the same.
Note: The Ganga Aarti is held between 6-7 PM. Timing may differ at different ghats and as per the season.
2. Experience the Serenity
Rishikesh is known for its spiritual beliefs and a peaceful environment similar to what our ancestors cherished. The purity in the air blended with nature makes it the perfect place to find yourself and experience the best practices to join the spiritual journey.
Every corner, every street, and even the ghats are filled with unique stories of gods, their worshippers, and their followers with their unique journey of spirituality. Every traveller, who is spending time in Rishikesh, should travel to Geeta Bhawan, Ram Jhula, Lakshman Jhula, Beatles Ashram, Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Vashishta Gufa, Kunjapuri Temple, Bhootnath Temple, Neem Beach. You should engage with yogis and people of different cultures and get to know their life-transforming stories of spirituality. With each story, you will find yourself a step closer in your journey of life.
3. Cafe Hopping
After a tiring day of exploring the beauty of Rishikesh, stop at the best cafes around to have a lively ambience, delicious food and a view of the mountains with a river flowing in front to end your day perfectly.
- VJs Pizza
- Aarcana
- Rustic Road Cafe
- Tat Cafe (Vegan)
- Little Buddha Cafe
- CAFE on the Ganga
For more personal recommendations, visit @the.basera and check out our “Personal Favs” highlight on Instagram.
4. Adventure Activities
For all the adventure seekers, trying the highest bungee jumping or enjoying rafting in the white water is no less than bliss. Rishikesh apart from offering peace and harmony for spiritual ones also seeks great adventure activities for the enthusiasts that can offer an adrenaline rush. Here is the dropdown of all the activities you can try in Rishikesh.
- Bungee Jumping: Rishikesh offers the highest bungee jumping experience in India, 109 meters, while it also has the natural bungee which is situated at a cliff. As per your preference, you can choose.
- River Rafting: Among the most famous tourist adventure sports, river rafting is on the top due to its high rapids and clean water that fulfils the quench of adventure with just 1 to 5 hours of rafting. Travellers get an option to choose between the distance of rafting. The options include 9, 16, and 32 km of pure adventure.
Other activities that can be done in Rishikesh include reverse bungee jumping, flying fox, zip line, rappelling, and many others.
5. Attend Spiritual Events
The welcoming residents make Rishikesh even warmer for travellers and people who wish to explore the traditional and local events. With multiple events happening across the town, you will never feel bored or wasting time figuring out what to do today. The city is always filled with events and explorations planned by experts in different fields.
Pro Tip: Look around the bulletin boards across cafes to find out your choice of event to attend.
- Fire show at the Bhumi Cafe
- Women’s Circle at Aavya
- Meditational strokes at Aarcana Cafe
- Solar Soundscape at Aarcana Cafe
- Ecstatic Night at the Secret Garden Cafe
- Fire Ceremony at the Secret Garden Cafe
- Live Music at Tat Cafe every weekend
Concluding the list of things to do in Rishikesh
The blissful experience of Rishikesh only completes when you get to see the traditional practices as well as the beauty that makes Rishikesh the hub for spiritual and holy practices. Following the list shared above, you will get a complete experience filled with spirituality, adventures, a blend of modern-traditional cuisine, and heartwarming events. We hope that this list will help you in your next visit to Rishikesh and explore the real beauty.
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Happy Travelling!