Rishikesh - A holy city for Hindus Scenically located where the Ganges River comes down from the Himalayas.
The city had gained international popularity when the Beatles(A pop & Rock band formed in 1960) paid a visit to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram and since then has been full of backpackers from around the world in search of peace and serenity.

The place is not only popular with backpackers but also a lot of Indian tourists as it is the religious gateway to the popular Char Dham Yatra(Pilgrimage) - Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
The place is full of Ashrams & Meditation & Yoga centres like OSHO & Vivekenanda that are a faviourate amongst backpackers and other travelers.

Rishikesh is at a distance of 230 Kms from Delhi

By Bus

The best option to reach Rishikesh is to take a Bus from Delhi as it is a comfortable 6 Hrs journey that is considerbly inexpensive.The average cost of bus comes out to be between Rs250-350 from the ISBT,Whereas an A/C bus can cost between Rs250-500.

By Train

It is considered best to travel to Haridwar by train and then get a Bus(costing Rs 17/- & Time 45 min) or a shared Auto-rickshaw(costing Rs 20-25/- time 30 min) or even a Taxi (costing Rs 500/- & time 30 min)
There are many trains running between Haridwar and Delhi, some of the preferred ones are : Shatabadi Express, Jan Shatabdi, AC Special Express and Mussoorie Express.
To get the proper availbility and fares www.indianrail.gov .in

By Plane

The airport that is in the closest proximity to Rishikesh is the Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport( 21 Kms) which handles only 2 flights from delhi.

Getting Around Rishikesh

The most convenient way to travel within Rishikesh,specially for backpackers is by foot as everything is in close prximity but there are Auto-rickshaws that are a great help to transfer from the bridges to the bus/train stations which cost a mere Rs8-10/-

Places of Interest

Rishikesh is a place that is full of interesting things all around, may it be the roadside "chaiwallas" or the Sadhus(Saints) passing by. Backpackers are extremely attracted towards the calm river banks in Rishikesh and is one their favorite places to hang out.

Here is a list of a few of the must see places in Rishikesh

The Famous Ram Jhula & Laxman Jhula

The Beatles Ashram (One of the most popular ashram amongst backpackers)

Geeta Bhavan - An old Hindu temple complex where the famous Indian epic Ramayana & Mahabharata are described on the walls.

Parmarth Niketan- This is one place no backpacker misses, the ideal time to visit this place is in the evening around 6 pm to attend the Shiv Aarti (prayer to the lord Shiva) which takes place at the river banks of the river Ganges.

Neelkanth Mandir- A beautiful trek to a Hindu temple situated around 12 kms from Laxman Jhula

Tera Manzil Temple- A multistory temple of idols of Hindu gods & Goddesses.

Shivpuri- A place around 20 kms from rishikesh, particularly known for its adventure sports like River rafting,Para-gliding,Camping & Trekking. This place is not only popular amongst backpackers but also the indian youth

Goa Beach- A nickname given to a place on the river banks is often referred to as Goa Beach by foreign backpackers, the only advise is not to go to this place when the current of the river is strong.

Places to Eat

Non-vegetarian food is strictly Banned in Rishikesh as it is considered to be a holy place.But the city still has a lot of multi-cuisine backpacker cafes that have delicious food and drinks(non-alcoholic), infact one of the attraction for backpackers is the delicious ayurvedic food that is available at many restaurants.
Here are a few of the popular places to try

Chotiwala- The most popular restaurant in Rishikesh that serves both north as well as south indian food at a good price.(situated near Ram Jhula)

Little Italy- A multi cuisine restaurant situated near the Ram Jhula which is the favorite place for backpackers to have a filling breakfast with either a big bowl of musseli or an American breakfast. (situated near Ram Jhula)

The Office- This place has to be visited for an evening snack of Samosas which boosts of some sweet samosas filled with apple/banana/mango and/or Chocolate. These definitely can beat the taste of any popular confectionaries.(situated near Ram Jhula)

Madras Cafe- One of the oldest places to eat in Rishikesh that offers the best prices for the budget traveler with south Indian food.(situated near the Ram Jhula Taxi Stand)

Lucky Restaurant- A multi-cuisine restaurant that is a good option to relax by the river banks and have a good afternoon meal.(situated near the Laxman Jhula)

Buddha Cafe- Another popular hang out cafe for backpackers that offers good food and a mind blowing ambience with a wonderful view of the river.(situated near the Laxman Jhula)

Place to Shop

The city does not boost of any designer showrooms or expensive clothing or accessories but is ideal for backpackers as it offers the cheapest Fishermen pajamas as well as cool beads and inexpensive slippers.
There are two markets mainly situated near the Jhulas that offer Tibetan as well as Indian handicrafts that can be bought at a real cheap price if bargained properly.

Apart from this there are well equipped book shops that sell books on Yoga & Meditation.

Article by Akshay Chhugani

An Indian Backpacker