Rishikesh trip
Rishikesh trip guide: rafting season, Ganga Aarti, Rajaji
Rishikesh works for a weekend or a long week. Uttarakhand Tourism calls September to June the best months for rafting, the Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan begins every day at sunset, and the Rajaji safari season runs from mid-November to mid-June. Rafting stops when the river runs high, so check the status before you go.
Sourced 4 Nov 2026. Travel and rafting lines come from Uttarakhand Tourism (page data updated 3 February 2025), the Rajaji season from Incredible India (undated), the aarti from Parmarth Niketan (no page date), and the 2026 rafting season and Bajrang Setu fee from the news reports named next to each line.
Getting to Rishikesh
From Uttarakhand Tourism's Rishikesh page:
- Air: "Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest Airport to Rishikesh situated at a distance of 21kms. Taxis are easily available". It has daily flights from Delhi.
- Rail: "Trains to Rishikesh Railway station are frequent. Taxis and buses are easily available from Rishikesh to Muni-ki-Reti and Swargashram." Check when booking opens with our train booking date calculator.
- Bus: buses run from Delhi ISBT Kashmiri Gate and Meerut.
River rafting: season and rules
Uttarakhand Tourism says "September to June are the best months to experience rafting", with "many certified and authorised operators and instructors here for every grade of rafting". Shivpuri is 19 km from Rishikesh.
When rafting stops
Rafting is suspended when the Ganga runs high. In June 2025, PTI reported via The Tribune that rafting at Muni ki Reti stopped "until further notice in view of public safety" when the river reached 338 m against a 339 m warning mark. Muni ki Reti falls under Tehri district, whose tourism office makes the call. The same report says rafting runs for nearly 10 months a year, except in July and August.
The 2026 season reopened on Wednesday 23 September 2026 after an inspection by the tourism and adventure departments, as reported by Navbharat Live. Routes opened in phases: Brahmapuri (about 6 km), Golf Course (about 8 km), Shivpuri (about 18 km) and Marine Drive (about 24 km). Then rafting was "indefinitely suspended by local authorities due to heavy rainfall", as reported by Curly Tales on 28 September 2026, and we found no later update. The season reopens on inspection, not on a fixed date, so ask your operator for the status in the week you travel.
Safety rules for 2026
- Helmets and certified life jackets are mandatory.
- Only licensed rafting firms may operate, with a trained guide on every raft.
- Rafts must not be overloaded.
These are from the 23 September 2026 report. We found no government rate card for rafting, so we print no prices: compare quotes from licensed operators.
The Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan
Parmarth Niketan says its "Ganga Aarti begins every day at sunset (times vary depending on season, please check with reception for daily timings)". A yagna starts half an hour before. The page states no entry fee either way, so ask at reception. Incredible India describes the aarti on the ghats at dusk.
Bajrang Setu and Lakshman Jhula
Lakshman Jhula, the old suspension bridge, was closed for safety. Bajrang Setu is a new bridge of about 132 m with glass walkways, built near it, per newkerala.com on 29 July 2026. The same report says the state government approved a fee SOP drawn up by the PWD: Rs 100 per person for 2 hours on the glass walkway and Rs 50 for children, open 6 am to 10 pm. "The middle portion made of concrete will be accessible round the clock free of cost." The tender for fee collection had not been issued at that date, and we could not confirm an opening date, so check locally whether the fee is in force.
Rajaji Tiger Reserve
Incredible India says "The Rajaji National Park is open from mid-November to mid-June and is closed during the rainy season". The nearest airport is Jolly Grant (DED) and the nearest station Dehradun (DDN).
The reserve's official site did not open for us on 4 November 2026, so check booking there before you go. We print no safari dates, times or fees, because we could not read them on an official page.
More to do
- Bungee: Mohanchatti has a bungee jump of up to 83 m, per Uttarakhand Tourism.
- Nature: the state's line is that "For nature lovers, October to March is the most appropriate time".
- Ghats and ashrams: Uttarakhand Tourism lists Gita Bhawan "Near the Lakshman Jhula".
A simple two-day plan
- Day 1: arrive by train, bus or the Jolly Grant airport, walk the riverfront and watch the evening Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan.
- Day 2: a morning rafting stretch if the river is open, or a Rajaji safari between mid-November and mid-June. Cross Bajrang Setu on the way back.
Traveling with children
- Rafting has no official minimum age that we could find. A 2024 news report says most operators require 14 years and about 35 kg, and some ask for 16 or 18 on the longer stretches. Confirm with your operator.
- On Bajrang Setu, the reported fee for children is Rs 50, against Rs 100 for adults.
Hey UlaYour AI travel companion
- You: Two of us, Rishikesh in December. Can we raft and see the aarti?
- Hey Ula: December is inside the September to June rafting window Uttarakhand Tourism gives, but the season opens and stops on inspection, so I'll ask the operator that week. The Parmarth Niketan aarti begins at sunset every day.
- You: And a safari?
- Hey Ula: Rajaji opens around mid-November each year. I'll check the reserve's official site for booking before we go.
What we could not confirm
- Whether rafting is running now, in November 2026, after the suspension Curly Tales reported on 28 September 2026.
- An official rafting minimum age or weight, and any government rate card.
- Bajrang Setu's opening date and whether its fee is being charged.
- Rajaji safari dates, times and fees on an official page, and the 2026 to 2027 opening notice.
- The Ganga Aarti time at Triveni Ghat, and whether the newer Yog Nagari Rishikesh station appears on an official Indian Railways page.
Want somewhere closer for a weekend? The weekend getaway finder lists more places by distance and month. For another river city, see our Varanasi trip guide.
Sources
- Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Rishikesh (page data updated 3 February 2025): uttarakhandtourism.gov.in, sourced 4 November 2026
- Incredible India, Rishikesh (undated): incredibleindia.gov.in, sourced 4 November 2026
- Incredible India, Rajaji National Park (undated): incredibleindia.gov.in, sourced 4 November 2026
- Parmarth Niketan, Ganga Aarti (no page date): parmarth.org, sourced 4 November 2026
- The Tribune (PTI), rafting suspended as the Ganga nears the warning level (25 June 2025, news): tribuneindia.com, sourced 4 November 2026
- Navbharat Live, 2026 rafting season and rules (news): navbharatlive.com, sourced 4 November 2026
- Curly Tales, Rishikesh suspends river rafting indefinitely amid heavy rain (28 September 2026, news): curlytales.com, sourced 4 November 2026
- newkerala.com, Bajrang Setu entry fee (29 July 2026, news): newkerala.com, sourced 4 November 2026
- Share image photo: Het.ambaliya, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped, headline added.
Questions
What is the best time for rafting in Rishikesh?
Uttarakhand Tourism says September to June are the best months. A June 2025 PTI report says rafting runs about 10 months a year, except in July and August, and it also stops when the Ganga nears its warning mark.
Is rafting open in Rishikesh now?
The 2026 season reopened on 23 September 2026 after an inspection, as reported, and Curly Tales reported on 28 September 2026 that it was indefinitely suspended for heavy rainfall. We found no later update on 4 November 2026, so ask your operator.
What is the minimum age for rafting in Rishikesh?
We found no official rule. A 2024 news report says most operators require 14 years and about 35 kg. Confirm with your operator.
What time is the Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh?
At Parmarth Niketan it begins every day at sunset, and the time varies by season, so check with reception. A yagna starts half an hour before.
Is there an entry fee for Bajrang Setu?
As reported on 29 July 2026, the state approved Rs 100 per person for 2 hours on the glass walkway and Rs 50 for children, with the concrete middle free. We could not confirm that the fee is being charged.
When is Rajaji National Park open?
From mid-November to mid-June, per Incredible India. It is closed in the rainy season.
How far is Jolly Grant airport from Rishikesh?
21 km, per Uttarakhand Tourism. Taxis are easily available.
How many days do I need in Rishikesh?
Two days covers an evening aarti, a rafting stretch or a Rajaji safari, and the riverfront.
Can Hey Ula plan my Rishikesh trip today?
Not yet. Hey Ula is in early access with a waitlist and is letting travelers in gradually.