Finding your bliss | Rishikesh | Mariellen Ward

Known as the yoga capital of the world, Rishikesh is a small, picturesque town in the Himalayan foothills about a five-hour drive from Delhi. Since the dawn of history, spiritual seekers and sages (rishis) have been drawn to Rishikesh for peace, spiritual studies, and meditation on the banks of the sacred Ganga River.

However, in recent times Rishikesh has become a popular rafting and leisure tourism destination and the peaceful vibes can sometimes be hard to find. Especially on weekends, crowds of domestic tourists visit Rishikesh and the small town can become frenetic. Read on to discover some ways to find your bliss in Rishikesh.

Embrace the morning

Sunrise is a beautiful time to enjoy Rishikesh. Plan to be on the banks of the Ganga River as the sun peeks over the mountains and pilgrims perform their ablutions. It’s a quiet time where you are likely to hear only temple bells and flute music. You can visit the ghats of Swargashram, where you will find devout pilgrims dipping in the sacred waters. Or try one of the beaches, either just north of Ram Jhula or at the top end of Rishikesh, beyond Tapovan. Neem Beach is easily accessible and popular. From here you can see the river flowing through the pristine valley, still untouched by development.

Find a waterfall

Depending on the time of year, there are some lovely waterfalls around Rishikesh. The best times to visit are September to November, to ensure there is water flowing. Some well-known waterfalls are Neer Garh and Patna, or you can simply walk through upper Tapovan, into the hills, where you will find waterfalls by the side of the road. If you go early in the morning, you will find the walks peaceful and the waterfalls relatively unoccupied. There are also small, outdoor cafes near many of the waterfalls where you can stop for chai and pakoras as you dry off from your refreshing dip in the water.

Take a sunrise Yoga class

Rishikesh is of course known for Yoga and there are dozens, possibly hundreds, of Yoga schools and ashrams to choose from right in Rishikesh and in the outlying areas. Many of them are located in busy Tapovan, which has become very built-up in recent years. But here there are a lot of hostels, guest houses, and hotels too. Some ashrams and schools have lovely rooftop Yoga shalas where you can enjoy an invigorating Yoga class as the sun rises and the cool breeze wafts down from the Himalayas. Or, you can try visiting an ashram or Yoga school that’s out of town, there are many located peacefully among nature in the hills and near the banks of the Ganga River.

Get out of town

Vashista Gufa is a cave about 25 kilometres from Rishikesh on Badrinath Road. It is located in a small ashram on the banks of the Ganga River. Here, the sage Vashista – who was an ancient vedic scholar and a contributor to the Rigveda – meditated and it’s a very profoundly peaceful place to visit. After spending some time in the cave, you can walk along the beach to the so-called “Jesus’ cave.” There’s a tradition that Jesus visited India and mediated here. Whether or not you believe it, the natural beauty and tranquillity of this largely undeveloped area will leave you feeling refreshed and at peace.

Go for a hike

There are a lot of hiking options in and around Rishikesh. If you don’t want to drive, you can take the well-known Neelkanth Mahadev Trail, which starts at Ram Jhula right in Rishikesh. The trail is about 8 kilometres and leads to the famous Shiva temple, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple. Or, you could start at Lakshman Jhula and take the Garuda Chatti trail, which is about 5 kilometres into the forest that surrounds Rishikesh. Kunjapuri Temple, about 25 kilometres outside of Rishikesh, offers a spectacular sunrise vista. You can drive most of the way and do a short trek – or if you are feeling up for it, go for the difficult 22 kilometres trek all the way from Rishikesh. There are other short treks you can do in Rishikesh, such as the one to the Bhootnath Temple in Swargashram. The views from Bhootnath Temple are spectacular.