Impressively overlooking Laxman Jhula bridge stands Trayambakeshwar Temple.

Rishikesh is ok for children, but not a place you would head for for the children's sake. You will find a quiet, still peaceful place with clean air, that attracts a growing number of foreign as well a Indian tourists. But even if numbers are growing, there still is only a limited number of parents that find their way up to the foothills of the Himalayas.


Most travelers with kids will either stay only a few days to proceed further into the mountains thereafter or spend several weeks here - because the parents are into yoga or take part in one of the manifold spiritual activities offered here. But even if the town lacks the typical attraction for kids, there is a surprisingly great number of things you can do with them there.



The season lasts from October to late April. January and first half of February can be chilly (down to 0 degrees in the night), April can already be hot (up to 35 degrees).

Rishikesh consists of three parts: the uninspiring city of Rishikesh, the peaceful assembly of ashrams 2 km upstream Ganga, named Ram Jhula (or Swargashram) and the quickly growing village of Laxman Jhula, another 1 km upstream from Ram Jhula.

Both Ram Jhula and Laxman Jhula are dominated by trespassers-only suspension bridges that gave the two places their respective names, and it makes a pleasant half-hour-walk between the two. In both places you can find decent accomodation with kids, whereas you probably wouldn't like to stay in Rishikesh city.

There is a surprising number of activities you can go for with children. You can even enjoy a moderate form of beachlife, because alongside the Ganga there are several fine, sandy beaches, that don't have to hide their light behind a bushel if you compare them with Goas beaches.

The water is still clean and the beach is small but sandy in Phool Chatti

Swimming in Phool Chatti: The best beach to take a bath in the Ganga is in Phool Chatti, 4,5 km upstream from Laxman Jhula. At Phool Chatti, walk another 10 min alongside Ganga river to reach the bathing place in the bending of the river. But be aware that, due to the Theri Dam, the level of the water fluctuates by approx. 1,5 meters. So don't take a sunbath on a stone in the river without carefully observing the water-level.
You can either walk there (1,5 hours from Laxman Jhula), take one of the infrequent busses (10 Rs) or hire a jeep to bring you there (150 Rs one way). The way back is no problem. Just wait for one of the shared jeeps returning to Laxman Jhula.

The small Garud Temple, where you have to turn right to find the way to the waterfall

Waterfall at Garud Chatti: On the same road, but only half way from Laxman Jhula, you can visit a waterfall. Turn right at the building site of the new bridge, just before a little temple revering Garuda, the vehicle-bird of Vishnu, and walk for 30 min up the mountains. The waterfall gives a nice bathing place, especially if it is hot. But better don't drink the water, there are several villages upstreams.

Neer Garh Waterfall: The Neer Garh waterfall can be found on the right banks of Ganga. Follow the road to Badrinath for 2,5 km from Laxman Jhula to arrive at a small forrest post. There you pay 30 Rs for the right to proceed and walk another 1,5 km up the valley to see the impressive fall.

The Shiva-Temple in Neelkanth is well worth a visit

Shiva temple in Neelkanth: A nice 2-h-walk leads down from Neelkanth to Ram Jhula. Take a shared taxi from Laxman Jhula to the famous Shiva-temple of Nilkanth (40 Rs per head, 1h). From there it's an easy and mostly paved road down to Ram Jhula. Be aware that this spot is REALLY famous with indians to go around Shivaratri in February.

Hilltop Kunja Puri Temple: With elder children you can consider to walk down from Kunja Puri Temple (1665 meter) to Laxman Jhula (340 meter). On clear days you have a brilliant view over the himalyan peaks from the temple. To go up take a taxi in the wee hours of the morning (700 Rs, 1 h) to be there for sunrise. After being filled up with ample beauty, simply ask your way down. Everybods understands "Laxman Jhula". The way down leads through mellow hills and passes by tiny villages. Calculate 5 hrs for the descent.

Evening Aarati at Parmarth Niketan Ashram: Right at the banks of Ganges you can join the colourful evening (6pm) aarti ceremony at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Ram Jhula. The worship is centered around a big shiva statue that used to sit in the Ganga and will be placed on a monsoon-safe pillar shortly. The ashram children form an important part of the singing.

You will have fun - and become wet! Life jacket is a must.

Rafting: Elder children will love rafting down the Ganga. Big rubber dinghys wash down the torrents - fun and wet chlothes guaranteed. For your own safety it is advisable to wear life jackets, and children below the age of ten are not allowed.

Hours are easily spent in this water-and-fun-resort

Fun Valley: This commercial place between Dehra Dun, Rishikesh and Haridwar is fun for children from the age of two. You can easily spend a whole day there, swim, eat, go down the slides. It's similar to well-equipped western outdoor pool facilities.

Suitable places to stay with children are easy to find - at least in Laxman Jhula. Many hotels have at least some suitable rooms. So to find good accommodation it's needed to look around.

The former ashram grew into a hotel of more than 90 rooms

Sant Seva Ashram: Sant Seva Ashram in Laxman Jhula meanwhile turned from a tranquil ashram to a huge hotel offering a mountain of nearly 100 rooms along the banks of Ganga. All rooms are individually shaped and are connected by a system of balconies and bridges. What makes this place a childrens place is the proximity to the nearby beach (without bathing possibility), the big courtyard and the numerous fights of staircases. A drawback is the frequent presence of monkeys. You wouldn't like to know your child alone with them. Go for some of the rooms with barred balconies. map

Tel: 0135-2430465, 2433250
Email: santsewa@hotmail.com
Website: www.santsewaashram.com
Price: 150 to 500 Rs, 1000 Rs with A/C

Nice, clean and surprisingly quiet during the night: Aadi Badri Guesthouse

Aadi Badri Guesthouse: This newly built guesthouse, next to and connected to Ganga View Restaurant, offers eight decent-sized rooms, some of which have a nice ganga view. The peaceful atmosphere and the existence of big balconies make it a good childrens place. map

Tel: 0135 2433197
Email: aadi.badri@gmail.com
Price: 300 Rs

Aastha Guesthouse: If you want to cook yourself, this little place, just next to Tavovan Resort in the village might be a good choice. The friendly, but Hindi-only owners of the place have equipped all the rooms with cooking facilities. Two more jet nameless guesthouses next to Aastha offer the same kind of rooms - some of surprisingly big shape. map

Email: no
Price: around 200 Rs

New Bhandari Swiss Cottages: New Bhandari Swiss Cottages a little uphill from the Ganga in Laxman Jhula make a nice place to stay. The place is next to the forest, comprises gardens and different roof terraces and offers an astounding view. Restaurants, travelling- and email-facilities are on the compound. A beautiful and safe place to stay with children. map

Tel: 0135 2435322, 24321534, 2431322
Price: 350Rs - 800Rs

The big but unshaded terrace gives a good playground

Rajastan Guesthouse: Rajastan Guesthouse near Laxman Jhula Circle is conveniently located and offers basic and somewhat neglected rooms. In the morning and evening hours children find a good playground on the huge but unshaded terrace. Sometimes noise from the circle can be troublesome. map

Tel: 0135 2434077
Email: rajasthan_guesthouse@yahoo.com.in
Price: 175 Rs

Balconies, staircases and great views on Ganga, mountains - and development areas

Devine Ganga Cottage: Devine Ganga Cottages are the biggest building in the little village Tapovan, starting just behind the first buildings next to Laxman Jhula bridge. The offer decent rooms, nearly all of them with phantastic view on the Ganges and a less phantasic view on the newly built appartement block vis a vis. The many balconies and the proximitiy to Ramanas Garden childrens home make this a good childrens place. In January this place can be very chilly. map

Tel: 0135 2442175
Email: divinegangacottage@yahoo.co.in
Website: www.divinegangacottage.com
Price: 250Rs to 350Rs

Sonu Guesthouse: Sonu Guesthouse near Hotel Divya offers quiet rooms with kitchen and a big rooftop terrace partially shaded by a tree. map

Tel: mob. 9837850500
Email: sonuindia_shri143@yahoo.com
Price: around 200 Rs

Laxman, the warrior, is guarding the entrance to Hotel Ishan

Hotel Ishan: Conveniently located at Laxman Jhula circle you find Hotel Ishan, run by the same owner as New Bhandari Swiss cottages. Hotel Ishan is very popular and offers rooms of a wide range of prices. The most expensive ones have a great look over the Ganges river and big terraces. map

Tel: 9758622059, 0135 2431534
Email: narendra_u@hotmail.com
Price: 350Rs to 700 Rs, 1500 A/C

A little uphill, but with perfect view to the west

Hotel Divya: Long time travellers favourite Hotel Divya offers smallish rooms, some of which have Ganga view. Suitable for parents with children are especially the two rooms with kitchen and three beds each. map

Address: Near Taxi Stand, Laxman Jhula, Rishikesh-India 249302
Tel: 0135 2435998, 2434938
Email: Divyanew@yahoo.com
Website: www.laxmanjhula.com/hoteldivya.html
Price: 200 to 300 Rs

Garden, balconies and mountain view

Tavpovan Resort: The Tapovan Resort uphill from Laxman Jhula is one the few middle-class hotels in this area. They provide rooms of good size, each with balcony, TV and attached bath. They have a well kept, little sterile garden and a restaurant that is remarkable for it's round shape. Children below the age of 10 get extra beds without additional cost. map

Email: tapovanresort@yahoo.com
Website: www.tapovanresort.com
Price: 1250Rs to 2000Rs

Outside is a little rundown, but inside is still an ashram

Hari Hara Peeth Ashram: Inconspicuously situated behind the the big Trayambakeshwar Temple is Hari Hara Peeth Ashram. Surrounding an open courtyard you find balconies and gloomy rooms, many of which have attached kitchens. The place is very popular with travelling parents with their children, partly because it's the cheapest option in Laxman Jhula, partly because the children find lots of protected playground on the big internal balconies. map

Price: from 150 Rs

A few good places for children are also found near Ram Jhula.

The well-kept gardens of Parmath Niketan Ashram invite you to relax

Parmarth Niketan Ashram: Parmarth Niketan Ashram near Ram Jhula comprises a spacious terrain with hundreds of rooms and huts. The huge gardens and wide pathways make a nice playground for children. Most of the rooms come with attached bath, western style toilets and hot water. There are regular yoga and meditation classes in English and Hindi and a famous evening prayer ceremony on the Ganges river banks (see Activities-Section). During International Yoga Festival from March 1-7 this place is fully booked.

Address: P.O. Swargashram, Rishikesh (himalayas), Uttarakhand - 249304
Tel: 0135-24343000, 0135-2440077, 2440088, 2434301
Email: parmarth@parmarth.com
Website: www.parmarth.com
Price: Rs. 300 - Rs. 800 per person

Shiva Resorts & Spa: Shiva Resorts & Spa in Ram Jhula is (other than the name might suggest) a nice little hotel with green garden, restaurant and email-facility on the ground. Prices for doubles with attached bath are 250 Rs.

Tel: 0135-2440094
Price: 250 Rs

Krishna Cottages: Krishna Cottages nearby offers basic rooms for just 150 Rs and an uninteresting garden. In the attached restaurant they serve ayurvedic food. (Sonia adds:) The restaurant is beautifully run by Ashley and Mady. Internet is also available at the restaurant. Try the rose milk lassi! It is fabulous on a hot day.

Tel: 0135-2440193 (hotel), 9897668352 (restaurant)
Price: 150 Rs

Finding places to eat is not difficult: Tons of new restaurants have opened up and you have to face the choice. With a few exceptions all have adjusted to tourists taste, finding unspicy food for children is therefore no problem.

Filtered Water: There is a free supply of filtered water in the popular German Bakery. You can drink it without doubt.
Generally the water situation in Rishikesh can sometimes be difficult. It depends on the rainfall and how strong the springs on both sides of the river flow. So keep your ears open, if after a long time of drought the situation becomes critical. Even then the situation can be very different on the two sides of the river.

Address: Devaraj Coffee Corner

Devaraj Coffee Corner is popular with tourists and overlooks Laxman Jhula bridge

Devaraj Coffee Corner: Devaraj Coffee Corner, superbly located at one end of Laxman Jhula Bridge, caters spritual books for the parents, german bakery and cookies for the kids and an entertaining view on the endless procession over the bridge for both of them. map

Tel: 0135 2442089/ 2435231
Email: gangaemporium@hotmail.com

Viewing the greenish Ganga can lead you to mystical experiences.

Ganga View Restaurant: Ganga View Restaurant keeps the promise it's name is giving and offers a peaceful view over Ganga and the new ghats, while you munch on your nonspicy evening thali or eat through you morning fruit muesli. Children love this place. map

Open: 7:30am to 10pm

Jhula Restaurant: Jhula Restaurant next to the taxi-stand is the best place in town for pizza and pasta. Even in Italy the cook wouldn't be hanged for that (as he probably would in most of the other places). map

Oasis Restaurant: Oasis Restaurant in Ishan Hotel is one of the few places that provide indoor dining possibilies. map

A funnily costumed mascot lures in customers at the Chotiwala restaurants

Chotiwala-Restaurants: The Chotiwala-Restaurants in Ram Jhula, run by two hostile brothers, serve the classic indian middle-class food, including an overwhelmingly opulent Chotiwala thali. I couldn't figure out, which of the two restaurants is better.

You will love what you get at Pappu Lassi Corner

Papus Lassi Corner: Papus Lassi Corner in Rishikesh is tiny but famous for the best lassi in town. It is worth a detour any time you are in Rishikesh market.

Ramans Garden Restaurant: Ramanas Garden Restaurant is a peaceful, hidden place, that is attached to a Childrens Orphanage. The restaurant is open on four days only and serves excellent food on biologial basis. It is one of the few places, where you can eat raw salad without risk. map

Open: Thu, Fri, Sat and Sun

Everything is in pyramid form here

Pyramid Cafe: Run by the French owner and long-time traveller "Sleemy", this is a relatively new place in a secluded location above the village. It aims at the travellers scene and is a beautiful place to hang out. Children will love the compound where they can play freely and make contact to goats and cows. map

Address: near Post Office

Dr. Bhradwaj and his wife are Rishikesh's doctors. They run a small private Hospital on 288, Haridwar Road, and every riksha-driver knows their address. They are friendly, competent and overloaded with work. Calculate two hours waiting. Tel: 0135-2432155. Timings: Mo-Sa 10am-3pm and 5pm-9pm, Su 10am-1pm.

Even though Rishikesh has a railway station, it is not convenient to take the train to or from Rishikesh, because the last stretch from Haridwar to Rishikesh is in a bad condition and very slow. Better book the train to and from Haridwar and do the rest by tempo, taxi or bus.


There are several daily trains from Delhi to Haridwar. The Deradhun Shatabdi leaves New Delhi Railway Station 7am and arrives 11am in Haridwar (435 Rs, including food and A/C). You can buy the tickets half an hour before the train leaves at a special counter in Ajmeri Gate part of New Delhi Railway station (past platform 12).
In the afternoon the equally fast Jan Shatabdi leaves Delhi at 3:20pm, is scheduled to arrive in Haridwar 7pm and costs only 107Rs (without food or A/C). You can book this train on short notice only on tourist quota and in Haridwar you will need to proceed by taxi because the shared rickshaws will have finished their service once you arrived.



A taxi to pick you up from Haridwar to Rishikesh is 450 Rs and takes one hour. From Delhi Airport to Rishikesh it needs 6 to 8 hours and costs 2200 Rs.



During daytime, shared rickshaws ply between Haridwar and Rishikesh. You can squeeze in for 15 Rs per head. Jump on one of them on the road in front of Haridwar station, left exit. Be prepared to change rickshaws half way to Rishikesh. It's the normal thing to happen.



You may also take the bus to do the stretch from Haridwar to Rishikesh (10Rs). The bus stand in Haridwar is just opposite to the train station. And you will arrive in Rishikesh bus stand, from where you will have to take another rickshaw.

Regular tempos ply from Laxman Jhula via Ram Jhula to Rishikesh town. The flat price for a ride is 5Rs per adult. If coming from Rishikesh make sure, the tempo goes all the way up to Laxman Jhula and doesn't end at Ram Jhula.