Best Time to Visit Rishikesh - Summer, Monsoon & Winter

Renowned as the 'Yoga Capital of the World,' Rishikesh is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. If you plan a family holiday to Rishikesh, it's a great idea. However, be aware of the best time to visit Rishikesh is between September to March, which is the main point to discuss in this blog.

While spirituality, pilgrimage, and yoga get the city's maximum attention, if you think Rishikesh is limited to that, that's not true. A historic city in Uttarakhand, it is a great haven for thrill seekers and nature lovers. Beatles came here to find their spirituality and spent time at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram. 

The glistening holy River Ganga is the ultimate charmer; the chants of prayers reverberating all around touch the soul, and the scenic backdrop of the mighty mountains refreshes the soul. Rishikesh has all the right ingredients to leave you enthralled every moment you spend here. 

 Visiting Rishikesh in Summer (March to May)

The summers in Rishikesh tend to be pretty hot and humid, with the mercury level touching 40 degrees Celsius during the peak summertime. If you are not too fond of cold weather, the early summer months, i.e., March, is the best month to go to Rishikesh. 

The weather at this time is still pretty comfortable and provides a perfect setting for outdoor activities like camping and hiking. From the start of April, the heat rises gradually and keeps increasing till June until the arrival of the monsoon. 

So, summer is a great time to visit Rishikesh if you want to avoid the cool weather and the usual tourist crowd. 

Visiting Rishikesh in Monsoon (June to September)

After the scorching heat in the summer, the arrival of rain comes as a massive relief for the locals. The rain washes the entire region in shades of green and spreads joy everywhere. The start of the monsoon season also signals the start of the festival season, and several devotees come here to visit the various religious events. 

The region receives maximum rainfall between July and August and tends to be the wettest months of the year. Due to the swelling of the rivers during these months, activities like river rafting remain closed. Also, monsoon is not a good time to go trekking or hiking as the excessive rain causes landslides. So, apart from taking part in a religious festival, monsoon is not the best season for the Rishikesh holiday. 

Visiting Rishikesh in Winter (October to February)

Winter is undoubtedly the best season to visit Rishikesh to enjoy its natural beauty and engage in various adventurous activities like rock climbing. After the monsoon recedes in September, the entire city slowly undergoes a pleasant transformation and the weather drops. 

The average temperature during this time of the year ranges between 6 to 20 degrees Celsius, with January being the coldest month. However, the cold is not as severe as you would expect in a hilly town. The best thing about visiting Rishikesh in winter is the stunning sight of the snow-clad mountain peaks, and the clear blue sky only uplifts the beauty. 

Best places to visit in Rishikesh

As one of the most revered religious and spiritual places in India, most of the tourist places in the region have some kind of religious association. But apart from the various temples, spiritual centres and ashrams in the city, there are plenty of other natural sights that you must enjoy seeing. 

Rishikesh also has a reputation for being the adventure capital of India, as you get to participate in adrenaline-pumping sporting activities like bungee jumping, white water rafting, hiking, etc. Of course, you cannot miss seeing the main attractions in the city, the Ganga Aarti on Ganga Ghats, which is a spectacle that will leave you bedazzled. 

All-in-all, Rishikesh has the perfect blend of nature, spirituality, and adventure. So, whether you have an unending knack for adventure, want to explore your spirituality and connect with your inner self or just want to enjoy being in the laps of nature, Rishikesh satisfies all your needs. 

Speaking about the best places to visit in Rishikesh, there are many and picking only a few can be tough. But we have listed our top 10 picks. 

• Neer Garh Waterfall
• Devprayag
• Kunjapuri Temple
• The Beatles Ashram
• Ram Jhula
• Triveni Ghat
• Tera Manzil Mandir
• Byasi Village
• Jhilmil Cave
• Rishikesh main market

Things to do in Rishikesh

Whether you are visiting Rishikesh for a weekend trip or for an extended holiday, you can be sure that each day here is more exciting than the other. Throughout your stay, you will never have a dull moment as there are plenty of things to do in Rishikesh and experiences to soak in. Some of the must-have experiences in Rishikesh are –

• Go kayaking in the holy River Ganges
• Try cliff jumping
• Zipline between the valleys of Rishikesh
• Visit the Beatles Ashram and get to know about their life and time spent in India
• Satiate your craving for adventure with bungee jumping
• Explore the cafes and food joints to get a taste of the local cuisine
• Go camping on the banks of River Ganga and spend a night out in nature under the blanket of a million stars
• Enjoy the spectacular aerial view of the city and the stunning river below from Lakshman and Ram Jhula
• Meditate at the ancient Vashishta cave
• See the evening aarti at Triveni Ghat