Rishikesh is the place where yoga, spirituality and adventure meet. Yes, there are ashrams for Yoga, famous temples for pilgrims and rafting & bungee jumping for adventure lovers. Located in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand, Rishikesh is renowned as the Yoga Capital Of The World and the Getaway to the Garwhal Himalayas. It act as a getaway for Chota Charm Dham Yatra.
Every year millions of people visit Rishikesh for the enlightenment of mind and soul. The soothing sound of the river Ganges, ringing bells of temples and holy enchantment by Sadhus create the perfect setting for peace seekers. And the vibrant cafes, picturesque camp sights, white water rafting, cliff jumping, bungee jumping and affordable staying options attract backpackers from all around. Therefore, no matter what you’re planning and with whom you’re going, Rishikesh has all the needed ingredients to make a delicious recipe name Happy Vacation! But before leaving it’s good to check the best time to visit Rishikesh.
Let’s Quickly Dive Into The Details –
- Best time to visit Rishikesh
- Rishikesh in Summer
- Rishikesh in Winter
- Rishikesh in Monsoon
- Best time to visit Rishikesh for rafting
- Best time to visit Rishikesh for bungee jumping
- Best time to visit Rishikesh for Yoga
- Cheapest time to visit Rishikesh
- Weather in Rishikesh
- Burning Questions
Best Time To Visit Rishikesh
Rishikesh is a yearly destination which means you can choose any time of the year to plan a perfect trip to Rishikesh depending on your agenda. However, October to March is the best time to visit Rishikesh when the temperature becomes pleasant to explore the town properly. Before choosing the best time to visit it is important to decide what you’re looking to get in Rishikesh because each season has its own charm.
Winter is the peak season with pleasant weather & cool breeze while summer is perfect for adventure activities. And monsoon is perfect to enjoy the lush green beauty of Rishikesh. So, let’s break down each season in Rishikesh depending on the weather and adventure activities.
| Season | Months | Type of Season |
| Winter | October to February | Peak Season |
| Summer | March to May | Moderate Season |
| June to September | June to September | Low Season (cheapest time to visit) |
Winter in Rishikesh (October to February)
Winter is the time when you can see tourists from all over the world in Rishikesh. Foreigners visit Rishikesh to learn Yoga and Meditation.
The Climate stays cold but it is bearable. The day temperature fluctuates between 5 to 22 degrees Celsius while at night it can even drop down to 1 degree Celsius so bring heavy woolens.
During this time you can enjoy the bonfire at night and city-hopping in the afternoon. During winter the rays of the morning sun with ringing temple bells and religious enchantment will calm your soul and mind.
If you’re planning for rafting, kayaking, boating and cliff jumping then winter is not the advisable time to visit Rishikesh. As the water of the river Ganges becomes cold due to low temperature so it is not advisable to go inside the water.
Top Tourist Attractions in Rishikesh In Winter
- Enjoy adventurous activities like camping, bungee jumping, flying box and trekking.
- Visit Parmarth Niketan and Triveni Ghant to witness amazing scenes of Ganga Aarti.
- Click pictures at Ram Jhula, Laxman Jhula and Janaki Setu.
- Feel the religious and cultural vibes of Rishikesh in temples and ashrams.
- Do some yoga at the bank of the Ganga river.
- Feel the thrill at India’s highest Giant swing from the height of 83 meters.
- Participate in Yoga and meditation to calm your mind and soul.
- Get an Ayurvedic massage at Ayurveda Bhavan.
- Visit Beatles Aashram.
- Do some shopping.
- Cafe Hopping to enjoy the delicious dishes.
Summer in Rishikesh (March To May)
The summer in Rishikesh can be very hot and humid. The burning sun with moisture in the air will make the situation trickier. The temperature hovers between 15 to 40 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the climate becomes very hot. But there are various ways to beat the heat while having an exciting experience. During the morning you can take bath in the freshwater of the river Ganges. Also, you can opt for the thrilling experience of white water rafting in the backdrop of the Himalayas.
If you can bear some heat then summer is the perfect time to enjoy every kind of activity without any restriction. And the International Yoga Festival would be another interesting reason to visit Rishikesh in Summer.
Top Tourist Attractions In Rishikesh In Summer
- Enjoy white water rafting, cliff jumping, bungee jumping, giant swing, camping, flying fox, swimming, and trekking.
- Take a refreshing bath in Neer Waterfall.
- Visit Shivpuri for river rafting, kayaking and camping.
- Enjoy spectacular sunrise and sunset from Ram Jhula, Laxman Jhula and Janki Setu.
- Refresh yourself with an Ayurvedic massage.
- Witness famous Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan and Triveni Ghat.
- Start your day with morning yoga at the bank of the River Ganges. The refreshing will be a delicious treat to your lungs.
- Experience a glimpse of the art of the famous Beatles band at Beatles Ashram.
Monsoon in Rishikesh (June to September)
The surging Ganga river surrounded by the lush greenery and misty fog in the backdrop of mountains sounds like scenery coming out of a fantasy movie that is Rishikesh in monsoon. With pleasant temperatures, Rishikesh enjoys the comfy climate during the monsoon. The average temperature fluctuates between 22 to 40 degrees Celsius.
The shower of rains brings out the new side of nature that create ample opportunities for tourists to enjoy. Waterfalls and streams come alive while the drops of rain combined with misty fog create a magical aurora that you would love to experience.
All kinds of water activities including rafting are stopped during monsoon. Due to that, you won’t find much crowds during the monsoon in Rishikesh. Therefore, you’ll get amazing discounts on hotels price, food and transport. And also it allows you to spend some time in solitude at the bank of the river Ganges.
Note: The prone to heavy rain, landslides and unwanted road blockage are high during monsoon in Rishikesh. So, do check the news and weather forecast before leaving. And be ready to get an unwanted shower in rain.
Top Things To Do In Rishikesh In Monsoon
- Watch magical sunset from Kunjapuri temple.
- Capture instragammble shots from Ram Jhula and Laxman Jhula.
- Seek blessing of River Ganges during Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat.
- Visit Neer waterfall.
- Enjoy activities like Jungle Camping, trekking and giant swing.
- Take a scenic road trip – Rishikesh-Haridwar via Chilla Road and Haridwar-Kotswar via Lal Dangh Road.
- Take cooking classes.
Best time to visit Rishikesh for River Rafting
From March to May and late September to November is the best time to visit Rishikesh for river rafting. Overall, March, April, the first week of May, the last week of September, October and the first week of November are the best months to enjoy rafting in Rishikesh. There are total of four famous rafting points in Rishikesh –
- Brahampuri Club house to Rishikesh (9 KM)
- Shivpuri to Rishikesh (16 KM)
- Marine drive to Rishikesh (26 KM)
- Kaudiyala to Rishikesh (35 KM)
Best time to visit Rishikesh for Bungee Jumping
Rishikesh has the highest bungee jump spot in India with the height of 83 meters at Mohan Chatti Village. March to May and September to November is the best time to visit Rishikesh for Bungee Jumping. This is the peak time for bungee jumping therefore you’ll meet with lots of adventure freaks like you. The cost of Bungee jumping is 3550 INR with entry ticket of 100 INR. There you can try giant swing, and flying fox as well.
Best time to visit Rishikesh For Yoga
Any time of the year would be perfect for Yoga in Rishikesh. However, March is the month when the international yoga festival is held in Rishikesh. During this time thousands of national and international tourists visit Rishikesh for yoga.
Cheapest Time To Visit Rishikesh
July to September is the cheapest time to visit Rishikesh as it is the low season in Rishikesh. During this time the major attraction of Rishikesh, rafting is stopped due to the risk of heavy rain, strong winds and floods. Therefore, you’ll get great deals on hotel booking, flight tickets and food. Also, this is the most peaceful time to visit Rishikesh. The low crowds allow you to experience the raw beauty, culture, tradition and history of Rishikesh.
Weather in Rishikesh (Month Wise)
| Month | Avg. Temperature (Celsius) |
| January | 3 to 18 degrees Celsius |
| February | 8 to 23 degrees Celsius |
| March | 16 to 32 degrees Celsius |
| April | 20 to 38 degrees Celsius |
| May | 25 to 42 degrees Celsius |
| June | 27 to 42 degrees Celsius |
| July | 25 to 38 degrees Celsius |
| August | 24 to 32 degrees Celsius |
| September | 22 to 32 degrees Celsius |
| October | 16 to 30 degrees Celsius |
| November | 10 to 25 degrees Celsius |
| December | 5 to 20 degrees Celsius |
Burning Questions –
How many days are enough for Rishikesh?
3 nights and 4 days would be enough to explore Rishikesh without getting rushed. You can manage to explore most of the attractions in 1 and half days like Ram Jhula, Laxman Jhula, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Parmarth Niketan, Triveni Ghat, Beatles Ashram, Neer waterfall and much more. And in the rest of time, you can enjoy the various kinds of adventurous activities like river rafting, bungee jumping, flying fox, camping, trekking and giant swing.
Which month is best for rafting in Rishikesh?
March, April, May, October and November are the best months to enjoy river rafting in Rishikesh. Early summer and post-monsoon are the perfect seasons for rafting in Rishikesh.
Is there snowfall in Rishikesh?
No, there is no snowfall in Rishikesh. For snowfall, you can move to places like Auli, Kufri, Shimla, Manali, and Chopta.
Is river rafting in Rishikesh safe?
Yes, the rafting in Rishikesh is safe 90% of time. The remaining 10% is highly unpredictable or out of human control. Rafting is one of the most adventurous sports that comes with a little risk. If something happens then a life jacket, helmet and trained rafter will save you. Although, the Ganga river is considered one of the safest rivers for rafting in India because it is a pool and drop river which means after every rapid there is a long calm section. And be aware of fake companies.
Can non swimmers do river rafting?
Yes, you can enjoy river rafting without knowing how to swim. The life jackets will help you to float in case of an accident. But if you know how to swim that it will add mental benefit.