Triveni Ghat
Central riverfront for Ganga Aarti, morning walks, temples, and local market access.
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Places, restaurants, and cafes in and around Rishikesh.
Use this to plan your stay area, daily route, and where to eat between visits.
Places to Visit in Rishikesh
Quick facts: places in and around Rishikesh
- Triveni Ghat, the central riverfront for the evening Ganga Aarti, is about 3.7 km in a straight line from Laxman Jhula.
- Bharat Mandir, one of Rishikesh's oldest temples, is about 500 m from Triveni Ghat.
- Janki Pul (Janki Setu) is the newest of Rishikesh's three suspension bridges over the Ganga.
- Kunjapuri Devi Temple, the sunrise viewpoint, is about 25–30 km away; Vashishta Gufa is about 25 km up the Badrinath road.
- Rajaji National Park's Chilla zone is about 18–20 km away, with safaris typically open mid-November to mid-June.
- Sivananda Ashram, headquarters of the Divine Life Society, was founded in 1933 near Ram Jhula.
Checked: Oct 2026
Parmarth Niketan
Well-known ashram area near the Ganga, often visited for spiritual atmosphere and evening aarti.
Find nearby stays
Beatles Ashram
A forested, art-filled ashram site linked to the Beatles' 1968 Rishikesh stay.
Plan route
Neer Garh Waterfall
A popular nature stop near Tapovan for short walks, seasonal water flow, and hill views.
Stay near Tapovan
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
A revered Shiva temple outside town, usually planned as a half-day visit with transport.
See quiet stays
Ram Jhula
A classic river crossing for Ganga views, ashram walks, cafes, and photography. Check current bridge access locally.
Build a day plan
Janki Setu
A newer pedestrian crossing with open river views, connecting the ashram and market side of the Ganges. Check local access and timings before visiting.
Plan a bridge visit
Bajrang Setu Glass Bridge
A newer bridge attraction near the Rishikesh river corridor, planned for wide valley views and a glass-floor experience. Check opening status and access rules before visiting.
Plan a bridge visit
Kunjapuri Devi Temple
A hilltop temple about 25-30 km away, famous as a sunrise viewpoint over the Himalayan snow peaks and Ganga valley. Most visitors leave before dawn to reach it for sunrise.
Plan a sunrise trip
Sivananda Ashram
Founded in 1933 by Swami Sivananda, the headquarters of the Divine Life Society sits on the riverbank near Ram Jhula — one of the most historically important yoga and Vedanta institutions in India.
Stay near Muni Ki Reti
Patna Waterfalls
A forest waterfall reached by a short trek off the Neelkanth temple road — a natural, less crowded stop best visited just after monsoon for full flow and greenery.
Add to your day plan
Vashishta Gufa
An ancient meditation cave on the Ganga bank, about 25 km along the Rishikesh-Badrinath road. Legend holds that Sage Vashishta meditated here; a working ashram (est. 1930) still maintains the site for silent meditation.
See the Badrinath route
Gita Bhawan
A large pilgrim ashram in the Swarg Ashram area, built around a simple mission of free lodging and reflection on the Bhagavad Gita, with a Laxmi Narayan temple inside its riverside complex.
Stay near Swarg Ashram
Swarg Ashram
A historic, car-free riverside precinct between Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula — ghats, ashrams, and small temples maintained by a trust since 1938. Best explored on foot, early morning or evening.
Stay near Swarg Ashram
Bharat Mandir
One of Rishikesh's oldest temples, its main idol carved from a single Saligram stone. Local tradition credits its founding to Adi Shankaracharya; it sits about 500 m from Triveni Ghat, an easy walk.
Near Triveni Ghat
Tera Manzil Temple
A 13-storey Shiva temple (Trayambakeshwar) near Lakshman Jhula, with shrines to different deities across its floors — the name literally means "13 floors" in Hindi.
Near Lakshman Jhula
Bhootnath Temple
A hilltop Shiva shrine in the Swarg Ashram area, a short walk above Parmarth Niketan, with its sanctum on the seventh floor of a 13-storey structure.
Stay near Swarg Ashram
Gurdwara (Hemkund Sahib Trust)
A Sikh gurdwara and waystation associated with the high-altitude Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage, especially active during the Hemkund Yatra season from May to October. Pilgrims register on the official yatra portal.
Plan a Himalayan pilgrimage
Astha Path
A paved riverside promenade running along the Ganga toward Triveni Ghat — sometimes called Rishikesh's "Marine Drive" — popular for evening walks and watching the aarti from a distance.
Combine with Triveni Ghat
Shri Sachcha Akhileshwar Mahadev Temple
A Shiva temple near Tapovan on the way to Lakshman Jhula, notable for its 11-foot, 7-tonne Shivalinga.
Stay near Tapovan
Shatrughna Temple
A rare temple dedicated to Shatrughna (most such temples honour Ram, Lakshman, or Bharat instead), reputedly over 1,000 years old and tied to Ramayana-era legend.
Build a day plan
Chilla Canal Viewpoint
A scenic stretch along the Ganga canal en route to Chilla, popular for cycling and photography, with the canal's blue water framed by the Rishikesh hills.
Add a cycling stop
Janki Pul
The newest of Rishikesh's three suspension bridges over the Ganga, connecting the city side to the Beatles Ashram side — a good, less crowded photo spot at sunrise or sunset.
Near Beatles Ashram
Rajaji National Park (Chilla Zone)
A protected forest and tiger reserve about 18-20 km away. The Chilla zone offers jeep and elephant safaris through Sal forest and riverine habitat, typically open mid-November to mid-June; check with the Uttarakhand Forest Department.
Plan a safari dayFor a short weekend
Stay around Tapovan or Muni Ki Reti. Keep one adventure activity, one aarti evening, and one slow cafe or river walk block.
For families and seniors
Stay closer to Triveni Ghat or central Rishikesh if easy transport and fewer steep walks matter more than cafe access.
Why every menu here is vegetarian and alcohol-free?
Rishikesh's town core bans the sale of alcohol and non-vegetarian food within municipal limits — a rule tied to its status as a major Hindu pilgrimage centre, home to hundreds of ashrams and sanyasis. In practice, this means virtually every restaurant and cafe in the tourist areas — Tapovan, Laxman Jhula, Ram Jhula, Swarg Ashram — serves vegetarian food only, with no beer or wine on any menu near the ghats. Don't plan around finding meat or alcohol close to the river; a few places further from the municipal core reportedly do serve it, but that's not the Rishikesh most travellers stay in.
Food Styles to Try in Rishikesh
Riverside cafes
Ganges-facing decks and rooftop seating are the single biggest draw across almost every cafe category — breakfast with a river view is a Rishikesh ritual.
Israeli food
Falafel, hummus, and shakshuka are common, reflecting the large Israeli backpacker and yoga-tourist crowd that has long passed through town.
German bakeries
A long-standing Rishikesh institution — pastries, breads, and strong coffee, some running since the early backpacker era.
Organic & health cafes
Smoothie bowls, muesli, and vegan-friendly plates catering to the yoga and wellness crowd.
Local thali & South Indian
Traditional North Indian thali and dosa counters, mostly away from the tourist strip, serving pilgrims and local travellers.
Where the clusters are?
The Laxman Jhula–Tapovan strip, on both banks near the bridge, has the densest run of backpacker-facing cafes — walkable one after another. The Ram Jhula and Swarg Ashram side leans more toward German bakeries and a mix of traditional Indian food. The older Triveni Ghat area has more local, pilgrim-oriented thali spots and less of the cafe-strip feel.
Restaurants and Cafes to Visit in Rishikesh
Little Buddha Cafe
Rishikesh's best-known cafe — banana pancakes, wood-fired pizza, Ganga-facing tables near Laxman Jhula. Go for the view and the atmosphere as much as the food.
Om Freedom Cafe
Fluffy pancakes and quiet sunset views near Laxman Jhula, with a relaxed riverside atmosphere that works especially well for a slow breakfast.
The 60's Cafe (The Beatles)
Veggie burgers and 1960s-themed decor in Tapovan. Distinct from the unrelated Beatles Ashram ruins across the river.
Shambala Cafe
Indian and Israeli dishes, veggie burgers, and colourful decor across the river from Laxman Jhula.
Devraj Coffee Corner
One of the original German bakeries in town — pastries, baked goods, and a set breakfast with temple views.
The Arches Cafe & Bakery
Fresh bread, espresso, and a broader menu beyond the bakery counter — consistently among the highest-rated spots in town.
Ramana's Organic Cafe
Organic-focused meals served as part of Ramana's Garden, with cafe proceeds supporting its school and children's home.
Pure Soul Cafe & Organic Kitchen
Organic, vegan-friendly European fare in a quieter setting away from the busiest stretch.
Bistro Nirvana
A leafy bamboo-and-wood retreat in Tapovan for Indian and international vegetarian dishes, long lunches, and a quieter garden atmosphere.
Chotiwala
A long-running Rishikesh landmark near Ram Jhula for vegetarian thalis and classic North Indian food, known for its unmistakable traditional mascot.
This is a starting list, not the full picture — ask your host for their own current favourites, since cafes here open, close, and change hands often.
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