Practise yoga in an ashram at Rishikesh

What the experience is

Rishikesh lies in the state of Uttarakhand, at the point where the Ganges comes out of the Himalayan foothills. Pilgrims and ascetics have lived along the river for centuries. Swami Sivananda founded the Divine Life Society here in 1936, and in 1968 the Beatles came to study meditation, which made the town famous. An International Yoga Festival has been held in March for many years.

The traditional way to practise is to stay in an ashram, which is a religious community as well as a place of instruction. Life follows a timetable of dawn meditation, yoga classes, chanting, simple vegetarian meals and early nights, with rules about silence and dress. Rooms are plain and the cost is modest. The Sivananda Ashram is among the most traditional. Parmarth Niketan, one of the largest, is accessible to newcomers and hosts the yoga festival.

The day ends at the river. At dusk, lamps are offered to the Ganges with chanting and music. The ceremony at Triveni Ghat, in the town, is among the largest; the one on the steps of Parmarth Niketan is more intimate. It is a religious ceremony; watch quietly and follow what others do.

Other ways to do it

The lanes of Tapovan hold many yoga schools offering drop-in classes and longer courses; standards vary, so attend a class before enrolling. For comfort and Ayurvedic treatment as well as yoga, Ananda in the Himalayas stands in the hills above the town, and Six Senses Vana is outside Dehradun.

When to go

The best months are usually February to April and September to November. The monsoon runs from July to mid-September, and winter mornings are cold.

Good to know

The old town and the ashram areas along the river are vegetarian and alcohol-free, and dress is modest. Ashrams set their own conditions for guests, including minimum stays, and should be contacted in advance. Dehradun airport, with flights from Delhi, is roughly an hour away by road. OKYTO makes no claim for health effects of yoga or meditation.

Why OKYTO recommends it

Yoga is taught everywhere now. Here it is still part of a religious town’s daily life, on the bank of its sacred river. Our guide to Rishikesh compares ashram, school and retreat, and our guide to the leading retreats of Asia covers the alternatives.