Yoga, ashrams and the Ganges in the foothills
Rishikesh sits where the Ganges leaves the mountains, its ashrams and temples spread along both banks and linked by footbridges such as Ram Jhula. It became famous in the West after the Beatles stayed at the Maharishi's ashram in 1968, and it still attracts people for yoga courses and meditation retreats. The evening Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan is a moving sight. Upstream the river offers whitewater rafting, and trails lead into the forested hills. The town is vegetarian and alcohol-free.