Discover Rishikesh Walking Tour Options for first-time visitors
For first-time visitors to Rishikesh, the Rishikesh Walking Tour offers the best choice for a day-exploration. Our years of experience providing this tour will significantly enhance your Rishikesh experience. Rishikesh is a small town, and even a half-day walking tour provides a deep understanding of its essence.
Embark on a private Rishikesh walking tour to discover the real charm of Rishikesh, experiencing into its rich culture and spiritual heritage. Given Rishikesh’s compact size, exploring on foot offers the most immersive experience, allowing you to visit numerous significant sites.
Your journey will include:
- Sivananda Ashram: A renowned spiritual center.
- Local Market: Experience the vibrant atmosphere and local life.
- Ganga River: Witness the sacred River Ganga, central to Hindu beliefs.
- Ram Jhula: Cross this iconic suspension bridge, offering picturesque views.
- Various Ashrams and Temples: Explore other spiritual institutions and places of worship.
A highlight of this tour is the mesmerizing Ganga Aarti Ceremony at Parmarth Niketan, a spiritual ritual performed by the riverbank. Throughout the tour, you’ll gain insights not only into Rishikesh itself but also the profound significance of the Ganga River and the Hindu religion. The total walking distance is approximately 5 kilometers.
Overview: Rishikesh Walking Tour
Your guide meets you near Ram Jhula. From there, you visit Sivananda Ashram, one of Rishikesh’s most famous ashrams. Swami Sivananda established this ashram, making it a prime example of a modern yet traditional spiritual center. Here, you can explore the Shiva Temple and Sivananda Shrine and Kirtan Hall 24/7.
Next, you walk down towards Ram Jhula hanging bridge where you cross this suspension bridge named after Lord Ram, an incarnation of Vishnu. From Ram Jhula, you waklk downstream to visit various ashrams and temples in the Swargashram area, including Swargashram and Gita Bhawan, Parmarth Niketan till Beatles Ashram. You also gain excellent views of the River Ganga, Janki Setu, and the Ghats.
The Beatles Ashram is one of the most iconic place to visit in Rishikesh where requires at least 1.5 hours to visit entire complex of the Beatles Ashram but the entry fee is a bit expensive for the foreign national that is INR 1200 per person and also requires to show up there a soft copy of passport for entry.
Finally, after Beatles Ashram you come back to Parmarth Niketan Ashram and experience its Ganga Aarti. The Parmarth Niketan Ganga Aarti is popular among tourists for its live music and chanting. Between 200 and 1000 tourists attend this daily ceremony, organized at sunset. Rishikumars from Parmarth Niketan Ashram perform the Ganga Aarti, sometimes joined by Swami Chidananda, a guru from Parmarth Niketan Ashram. The tour concludes at the Ram Jhula car parking. You can also add the Beatles Ashram to the tour (with an additional entry fee of INR 1200 per person for foreign tourists).
Walking Tour Timings
The tour starts promptly at 12:30. The conclusion time varies because it depends directly on the sunset in Rishikesh to ensure you experience the Ganga Aarti. Expect the overall tour to last approximately 6 hours.
Walking During the Tour
This tour involves significant walking, covering approximately 5 kilometers and including some stairs. Therefore, this tour is not recommended for individuals with difficulty climbing stairs. You will also need to remove your shoes multiple times when visiting temples and ashrams.
Your walking tour includes visits to:
- Sivananda Ashram
- Ram Jhula (the iconic suspension bridge)
- Swargashram
- Gita Bhawan
- Swargashram Market
- Janki Setu
- Beatles Ashram
- Parmarth Niketan Ashram & Ganga Aarti (a truly memorable experience at sunset)
Please note there is an additional entry fee of INR 1200 per person for foreign tourists for this inclusion.
Cost
The tour costs INR 2500 for two adults. For each additional person, there is an extra charge of INR 450.
More Information
- Duration: The tour lasts 5 hours.
- Language: An English-speaking guide leads this activity.
- Inclusions: Your tour includes:
- A local, professional English-speaking guide.
- When to Book: You can book up to 24 hours before the activity, provided spots are still available. Book now to guarantee your spot!
- Accessibility: This tour is not wheelchair accessible.
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