How To Reach Rishikesh

The town brings together a perfect blend of spirituality and adventurous sporting activities. You can lookout for some beautiful Hindu temples and meditation centers, indulge in some exciting water sports or just take a holy dip in the freezing waters of the river Ganges. The city is home to one of the most pious places in the Himalayas and attracts thousands of tourists all throughout the year. Rishikesh serves as an important ground for the Hindus because of which there are strict regulations laid on alcohol and non-vegetarianism. Rishikesh is also called the 'city of temples' and is the door to many popular religious destinations like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri. Besides the pilgrims, the place also attracts tourists seeking adventure and people wanting to connect to their spiritual side. Rishikesh comprises of sporting activities such as river rafting, hiking and backpacking. As for those in quest of mental peace and a lifestyle change, enrolling in a yoga crash course could be a great experience. The city has several yoga centers that promise to improve your health condition and rejuvenate your spirits. Some of the meditation ashrams are almost a century old and are extremely popular among international travelers. Such is the popularity of the ashrams that even England's popular rock band 'Beatles' wrote songs on the spiritual centers of Rishikesh. The city is a popular tourist destination among both Indians and international travelers. Read this article to know how to reach Rishikesh and find out the most preferable modes of transport to this hallowed city.

Traveling To Rishikesh

By Air
This hilly city does not have an airport of its own. The nearest airport, which is the Jolly Grant airport, is situated at Dehradun, almost 35 km away from Rishikesh. There aren't too many flights operating from this region on a daily basis. Do check with your travel agent to book your tickets in advance. Once you have reached Dehradun, you can either hop on to a local bus or hire a cab to reach Rishikesh. The ride from Rishikesh to Dehradun is short and you will be in the holy city in no time.

By Rail
Although the city does have a railway junction of its own, the local people prefer to use the one at Haridwar. Since not many trains make a stop at the hill-station on a regular basis, Haridwar station is most preferred stop for those traveling by train. There are several trains that make a scheduled stopover at Haridwar and connect to the major cities of Delhi, Dehradun, Nainital, Agra, Chandigarh and other cities within Uttaranchal. Although the train journey may seem to be a time-consuming bet, the bewitching scenery of the region is definitely a consolation to the mind.

By Road
Rishikesh is well connected to many cities in India. The best route from Delhi to Rishikesh is the NH 58 and the distance between the two cities is 227 kilometers. Start early in the morning and you should be just in time in the city to sample the delicious vegetarian meals for lunch. There are several buses and taxis that travel back and forth from Rishikesh to Dehradun and Haridwar. So, you don't have to worry about finding transport.

Local Transportation
When in Rishikesh, you can avail the auto-rickshaws or vikrams to travel around. However, if you would love to discover the bounties of the city, there is no better way than to explore the city by foot.