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 October to November and February to April. May and June are very hot, and the monsoon (late June to mid-September) brings heavy rain and occasional landslides on mountain roads.

Why Rishikesh is the yoga capital

Yoga teachers have gathered in Rishikesh for well over a century. Swami Sivananda founded the Divine Life Society here in 1936, and its graduates spread his style of hatha yoga worldwide. The Beatles’ stay at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram in 1968 made the town famous in the West; the ruins of that ashram, now often called the Beatles Ashram, can be visited today. Each March, Parmarth Niketan hosts the International Yoga Festival on the banks of the Ganges.

Choosing a teacher training

• 100-hour courses (about two weeks) suit dedicated students who want depth without teaching
• 200-hour courses (three to four weeks) are the standard foundation for new teachers
• 300-hour courses build on a 200-hour training; together they make 500 hours
• Many schools are registered with Yoga Alliance, a private registry rather than a government licence; check what the registration means for you
• Expect long days, often from about 6 am, with asana, pranayama, philosophy, anatomy and meditation

Ashram stay or yoga school?

Ashrams offer a traditional, community-based experience: early mornings, set meal times, satsang and seva (selfless service), often with rules on silence, dress and leaving the grounds. Some accept donations rather than fixed fees. Yoga schools are more like intensive courses, with a structured curriculum, a certificate at the end and more freedom outside class hours. Read the daily schedule and house rules carefully before choosing.

Where to stay

• Tapovan: on the hillside above the river, with many yoga schools, cafés and guesthouses
• Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula: the areas around the town’s two suspension bridges, busy and central
• Swarg Ashram: across the river from Ram Jhula, home to large ashrams and the evening Ganga aarti on the ghats
• Further upriver, quieter retreats sit along the road towards the Himalayas

Getting there

The nearest airport is Dehradun (Jolly Grant), roughly an hour away by taxi. Trains run to Haridwar, about 25 km south, and to Rishikesh itself. From Delhi the journey is around 240 km, usually six to seven hours by road or a little less by train to Haridwar.

Good to know before you go

• Rishikesh is a holy town: meat and alcohol are largely unavailable, and modest dress is expected
• The Ganges is cold and the current is strong; only bathe at ghats with chains and steps, and never swim out
• Monsoon rains (late June to mid-September) can close mountain roads with landslides
• Confirm fees, accommodation, food and refund terms in writing before you pay a deposit

Questions