Rishikesh has dozens of temples, ashrams and ghats, and it is very easy to spend three days seeing five of them. It is equally easy to see all five in a single day if you order them correctly and start early.
This is the route our tour desk recommends — it follows the light, avoids the midday heat, and ends at the evening Ganga Aarti so you are not walking back to your hotel in the dark.
The route at a glance
| Time | Place | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 5:30 AM | Triveni Ghat | Sunrise, morning Ganga snan and photography |
| 7:00 AM | Tera Manzil Temple | Maa Shringa Rani temple, walk up the steps |
| 8:30 AM | Parmarth Niketan | Swami Vivekananda Ghaat, Dhanvantri temple |
| 10:30 AM | Laxman Jhula | Cross the bridge, browse the bazaar |
| 1:00 PM | Lunch | Local thali near the bazaar |
| 3:00 PM | Ram Jhula | Quiet afternoon walk, Swarg Ashram |
| 5:30 PM | Ram Jhula Ghat | Evening Ganga Aarti |
1. Triveni Ghat — start at sunrise
Triveni Ghat is the most sacred of the Rishikesh ghats and the place where the Ganga is traditionally said to divide and then rejoin. At 5:30 AM the steps are almost empty, the light is soft, and you will see the Ganga Aarti of the morning — a smaller, quieter version of the evening ritual.
This is also the best hour to photograph the ghats, because the market stalls on the bazaar side are still shuttered and the river is completely still.
2. Tera Manzil Temple — 7:00 AM
Situated on the Tapovan side above the river, Tera Manzil (thirteen-storey building) is dedicated to Maa Shringa Rani. The climb up the flight of steps takes about ten minutes and the view back down the Ganga is the best free panorama in Rishikesh.
Go early — the temple gets busier after 9 AM. Shoes and leather items are not allowed inside, so leave them at the entrance counter.
3. Parmarth Niketan — 8:30 AM
Walk across Laxman Jhula and follow the riverside path to Parmarth Niketan, the ashram founded by Swami Vivekananda. The Swami Vivekananda Ghaat inside the ashram has a long marble platform over the water and a small Dhanvantri temple dedicated to the Ayurvedic healer.
The morning Ganga Aarti is performed here too, and because the ashram is quieter than the public ghats, it is a calmer place to sit and watch.
Walk slowly through Parmarth Niketan. The ashram buildings are open to visitors, the lawns face the river, and many of the trees still carry the names of the visitors who planted them decades ago.
4. Laxman Jhula and the bazaar — 10:30 AM
Cross back over Laxman Jhula and spend the late morning in the bazaar. This is where you buy marigold garlands, brass diyas, Rudraksha malas and yoga mats, and where you can try jalebi and aloo ke Gutke from a roadside stall.
Stay on the western side of the bridge until after lunch — the traffic is heavier at this hour and the pedestrian walkway is narrow.
5. Ram Jhula and the evening Aarti — from 3:00 PM
After lunch, take the riverside path towards Ram Jhula and the Swarg Ashram. The walk is flat, shaded for most of its length, and there are plenty of small stalls for chai and lemon soda.
Be on the ghat beside Ram Jhula by 5:30 PM in winter or 6:15 PM in summer. The evening Ganga Aarti is the single most beautiful thing you will see in Rishikesh — lamps on the water, bells, incense, and the whole ghat lit up against the hills.
Practical notes for the day
- Start before 6 AM. Everything works because the day starts early, not because the sights are rushed
- Total walking for this route is roughly 5–6 km, mostly flat
- A taxi or e-rickshaw between stops costs very little and saves a lot of time in the heat
- Carry water, a cap and ₹200–₹300 in cash for offerings and small purchases
- Dress modestly for the temples — shoulders and knees covered
- Skip this route on the day of a large festival unless you want the crowds
Let us organise it for you
Our tour desk can put this exact day together — a car, a guide who knows the timings, and the aarti slot booked in advance. Trips start from ₹799 per person for a half-day temple trail, and the Ganga Aarti walk is ₹499.
Stay at Sakshi Upvan Resort and the whole trail begins from your balcony — the riverside path to Triveni Ghat is a short, level walk from the hotel.
