Rishikesh is a picturesque town nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India. It is renowned for its spiritual significance and natural beauty, making it a popular destination for both pilgrims and tourists. It is the most ancient pilgrim place in India, also said to be the abode of the Gods, a place of worship and penance of the sages and saints. The celestial stream, Ganga, descends here from the foothills of the Himalayas.
Ganga Arti
It is the most auspicious and holiest ritual performed on the ghats of Rishikesh in the evening at dusk. Although the aarti is performed at several ghats, the most popular ones are performed at Parmath Niketan Ghat and Triveni Ghat. The riverbank is lit up with dainty floating diyas, the chiming of the temple bells, the chanting of mantras, and the overall ambiance of the place is an experience of a lifetime.
Rafting
It’s an adventure-filled activity where you can sail on a rubber boat. Rishikesh’s proximity to the Himalayas and the flowing Ganges through this city makes it a popular spot for River Rafting in Rishikesh. People travel to Rishikesh for this adventurous activity and its surroundings, including lush greenery, blue water, and the view of the Himalayas. If you are visiting and wish to go on an adrenaline-pumping activity, rafting should be on your bucket list of things to do in Rishikesh.
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Camping
The beautiful mountain scenery, the lush greenery, and the Ganges flowing make it a camper’s delight. Rishikesh has a lot of stories to be discovered, making it the perfect spot to camp under the stars and marvel at the sights and sounds of the surroundings and the city. Camping here will have an ethereal effect and is sure to delight you. Make your trip memorable at some of the best camps in Rishikesh.
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Giant swing
Much like Bungee Jumping, giant swing works on the same principle. But unlike Bungee Jumping, which is a free fall on a giant swing, a person’s rope harness is connected to a holding point from where he swings. Rather, imagine a person being a pendulum ball and swinging from one end to another. It is usually conducted at the nearest spot to Bungee Jumping due to the similarity between the activities. The distance covered in a Giant Swing adventure ranges between 1 - 1.5 km.
Bungee Jumping
It is a fun, adventurous activity that involves jumping from a tall structure like a vertical rail, building or cliff while suspended from a rope harness. The fun lies in the jump, and the recoil one encounters when they are bounced back and the rope is completely stretched out. It’s a unique and thrilling experience, having been introduced to Rishikesh a few years ago.
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Cliff Jumping
It involves jumping off a cliff ranging from 20 to 50 feet into the waters. It’s a fierce and thrilling activity that requires one to jump from a height into cold waters. Rishikesh is the perfect spot to indulge in this. So, add it to the bucket list as you crash into the water and come out with a ton of good memories.
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Trekking
Rishikesh is surrounded by majestic mountains, freshwater rivers and streams, picturesque valleys, and beautiful flora and fauna. One can hike or trek amidst nature. Being at the foothills of the upper Himalayas, this is the ideal spot for anyone to trek in. Rishikesh’'s proximity to places such as Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath makes it a perfect place to trek in or start trekking from.
Kayaking
It is a water activity like canoeing that involves paddling across the water. A kayak is a canoe-like boat, but unlike a canoe, you sit facing the front. Kayaking is a fun activity, especially on the streams of Rishikesh due to its clear waters and the rapids that make for a bumpy and fun activity. Go kayaking on the Ganges and meander through rough patches along the stream.
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Cafe Hopping
One of the emerging cultures is cafe hopping, where you can have a coffee in a café near the bank of River Ganga, read a book overlooking the Himalayas or enjoy a hot mug of coffee downtown across LakshmanJhula. One of the famous downtown cafes is the ‘Beatles Cafe’, where ‘The Beatles’ band members visited and ended by creating new songs. Since then, this café got a new name- The Beatles’ Café.