The hook
Where the Ganges leaves the Himalaya and runs clear and cold through a town of ashrams, yoga schools, and swaying footbridges, the self-styled yoga capital of the world and the spot where the Beatles once came to meditate.
01Why it's worth it
Rishikesh sits at the point where the sacred Ganges emerges from the mountains onto the plains, so the river here is fast, green, and clean, and the town has drawn seekers and pilgrims for centuries. It became famous in the West when the Beatles spent time at a local ashram in 1968, whose graffiti-covered ruins you can still visit, and it has leaned into that ever since as a global hub of yoga and meditation, with schools and retreats lining the riverbanks and long suspension footbridges crossing the water. There is a serious, spiritual side, dawn ceremonies on the ghats and strict vegetarian, alcohol-free ashrams, and an adventure side, since it is also India's white-water rafting centre and a gateway to Himalayan treks and the Char Dham pilgrimage. It suits both the contemplative and the active.
02How to experience it
Take a yoga or meditation course if that's why you came, or just watch the evening Ganga aarti on the ghats and walk the footbridges. Raft the Ganges rapids for the adventurous side, and use the town as a launch point for foothill treks. Respect the vegetarian, alcohol-free norms of the ashram side.