Yoga in Rishikesh

Rishikesh sits in the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, northern India, where the Ganges leaves the mountains. For centuries it has drawn sages and pilgrims, and today it is home to dozens of ashrams and yoga schools, earning it the nickname ‘yoga capital of the world’. The Beatles’ 1968 stay at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram brought it worldwide fame, and the International Yoga Festival takes place here each spring.

Many visitors come for 200- and 300-hour teacher trainings, which typically run for three to four weeks with daily asana, pranayama, philosophy and meditation. Others join drop-in classes or short ashram stays. The town is largely vegetarian and alcohol-free, with evening aarti ceremonies on the river ghats.

The most comfortable months are September to November and February to April. May and June are very hot, and the monsoon (July to August) brings heavy rain and occasional landslides on mountain roads.