Short Rides from Rishikesh
Most people renting from us have three or four days and no fixed plan, and every one of these is doable in a morning on a ₹500 scooty.
They're ordered by distance. Everything here is within about 30 km.
Barely a Ride — Under 10 km
Tapovan market and the ghats — around 2 km
Where you probably already are. Worth the ride down to the river in the early evening rather than walking it.
Bajrang Setu — a few minutes from Tapovan
India's first glass-floor suspension bridge, at the site of the old Laxman Jhula. Full guide →
Neer Garh Waterfall — around 6 km
Up the Badrinath highway from Laxman Jhula, then a short walk in to a three-tiered waterfall with pools you can sit in at the lower levels. Best early morning, or just after monsoon when it's at full flow. It's a genuine walk up, not a roadside stop — wear something other than flip-flops. Ask us for the current entry fee.
Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia) — around 8 km
The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram, where the Beatles stayed in 1968 and wrote much of the White Album. Abandoned in the 1990s, reclaimed by the forest, and reopened as a site inside Rajaji National Park. The meditation huts and the domed cells are still there, covered now in murals by later visitors.
Allow an hour and a half, more if you like photographing things. It's on the Swarg Ashram side of the river — ask us for the current best route from Tapovan, and for entry fees, which differ for Indian and foreign visitors.
Triveni Ghat — around 8 km
The main ghat in Rishikesh town, and where the largest Ganga Aarti happens each evening. Busy, and worth seeing once. Park well back and walk in.
A Morning's Ride — 10 to 30 km
Shivpuri — around 16 km
The rafting hub upstream. River beaches, camps, and the launch point for most of the Ganga runs. Full route guide →
Vashishtha Gufa — around 22 km
A meditation cave in the rock beside the river, with a quiet sand beach below it. The best short ride from Rishikesh. Full route guide →
Kunjapuri Temple — around 25 km
Sunrise from 1,676 m, with the Himalayan front range on one side and the Ganga valley on the other. Leave at 4:30 AM. The best two hours you'll spend here. Full route guide →
Byasi — around 30 km
Further up the river road, quieter than Shivpuri, and where the valley starts feeling like mountains.
Neelkanth Mahadev — around 32 km
Switchbacks through Rajaji forest to a hilltop Shiva temple. The classic Rishikesh ride. Full route guide →
If You Only Have Time for One
One morning — Vashishtha Gufa and the beach below it. Easy riding, and you can swim at the edge.
One early start — Kunjapuri for sunrise. Nothing else here comes close.
One afternoon — the Beatles Ashram, if the murals and the abandoned-building atmosphere appeal. Otherwise Neer Waterfall.
One proper ride — Neelkanth Mahadev. Real hill road, and a temple worth arriving at.
If You've Got Three Days and a Scooty
Day 1 — Neer Waterfall in the morning, Bajrang Setu and Tapovan in the afternoon, Ganga Aarti at Parmarth in the evening.
Day 2 — Leave at 4:30 for Kunjapuri sunrise. Back by 9, sleep. Beatles Ashram in the afternoon.
Day 3 — The river road: Shivpuri, Vashishtha Gufa, and as far up as Byasi if you're enjoying it. Swim at the edge, ride back for dinner.
Three days on an Activa is ₹1,350 at our three-day rate. Rates →
If you have a fourth day and a bigger bike, ride to Devprayag. Route guide →
Riding Around Rishikesh
- Helmets, both riders. Enforced, particularly on the highway stretches
- Cows and monkeys own the road. Cows stop without warning; monkeys take anything loose off a parked bike
- Fuel is easy in Rishikesh and thins out fast once you're past Shivpuri
- Cash for entry fees and parking
- Don't leave anything on the bike at any of the parking areas
- The river is more dangerous than it looks. Strong current, steep shelving, cold water. Stay at the edge
- Ride back before dark where you can. The ghat roads are unlit
Longer Rides From the Same Yard
- Devprayag & Tehri Lake — ~75–85 km, a full day on a 350cc+. Devprayag → · Tehri Lake →
- Mussoorie & Dhanaulti — a long day or an overnight. Route guide →
- Chopta & Tungnath — 200 km, overnight, Himalayan recommended. Route guide →
- Kedarnath, Badrinath, Auli & Char Dham — multi-day mountain trips. Kedarnath → · Badrinath → · Auli → · Char Dham →
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best short rides from Rishikesh?
Can I visit these on a scooty?
How do I get to the Beatles Ashram from Tapovan?
What can I do in Rishikesh in three days?
Is it safe to swim in the Ganga at Rishikesh?
Do I need a bike, or can I walk?
Three Days, One Scooty
₹450 a day on a three-day rental, delivered free anywhere in Tapovan, Laxman Jhula or Ram Jhula. Two helmets, full tank, and we'll mark the turnings on your map.