How to Reach Rishikesh

Rishikesh is a small city located at the foothills of the Himalayas in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is situated at a distance of 43 km from the capital city of Dehradun. Rishikesh is the gateway to the Garhwal mountain ranges of the Himalayas. In the Hindu religion, this city is considered as one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for sages and saints.

One of the most sacred rivers of India “Ganges” flows through Rishikesh. It is also termed as the Yoga Capital of the World. The city has a very interesting history according to the Hindu epic Ramayana. In this holy land, Lord Rama penanced his sin of killing Ravana.

Besides being a yoga capital and pilgrimage site, Rishikesh is a popular tourist destination for adventure lovers. One can perform a myriad of water adventure activities in this holy city. If confused how to go to Rishikesh then find here best way to reach Rishikesh from various destinations of India:

Best Way to Reach Rishikesh

By Train

The nearest railway station is the Haridwar Junction railway station located in Haridwar at a distance of merely 25 km. One can board a train to Haridwar and opt for a shared cab or bus to reach Rishikesh in less than an hour.A lot of trains are available like Jan Shatabdi Express, Mussorie Express, Vaisad- Haridwar SF Express, Kochuveli- Dehradun SF Express and more from some of the major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Kolkata, and Lucknow.

If you are travelling from any other city, you can reach one of these cities and board a train to Rishikesh. If you are travelling from abroad and experience a train journey, catch a flight to one of these cities and then board a train to Rishikesh.

By Road

Apart from Regular buses, which are available from Dehradun and Haridwar, several government and private buses run from New Delhi’s Kashmiri Gate ISBT. There are no bus services from any other place. You have to reach one of these cities for experiencing a bus journey.

Many also prefer driving on their own cars. Residents of Haridwar, Dehradun, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur and other places, which are in close proximity with Rishikesh generally opt for a road journey as it is well connected through national highways. Delhi to Rishikesh takes about 7 hours while from Chandigarh, it takes about 6 hours. A drive from Jaipur will take around 8-9 hours.

By Air

Rishikesh also has good connectivity through air transport. The nearest airport from Rishikesh is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun located at a distance of 43 km only. Frequent flights are available from Delhi and Chandigarh operated by carriers like Air India, Indigo, Spice Jet, and Jet airways.

It takes about 1 hour to reach Dehradun from Delhi by flight. There is a flight from Lucknow as well. If you are travelling for any other part of the country or abroad, you can board a train to Delhi and then one to Dehradun. The rest of the journey can be done through shared cab services or bus services from Dehradun at very affordable rates.

How to Reach Rishikesh from Delhi

Reaching Rishikesh from Delhi is quite easy due to excellent connectivity through rail, road, and air transport.

By Air : There are many flights operating from Delhi to Dehradun, which takes only about 1 hour to reach. Dehradun to Rishikesh takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. You can either take a bus from Dehradun or a local shared cab.

By Train : The train journey from Delhi to Rishikesh takes from 6 – 12 hours depending on the train.However, the trains operate only till Haridwar, the nearest railway station. There are many trains, which run from Delhi to Haridwar daily, while some run twice or thrice a week. You can board one of these trains to Haridwar and then take a bus or a shared cab to reach Haridwar. One can also board a train to Roorkee, from where it takes about 1 hour and a few minutes to reach Rishikesh.

By Road : Most residents of Delhi prefer a road trip to Rishikesh by buses or private cars. The journey takes about 6-7 hours taking you through National Highway 58. The hilly terrains make the journey a little uncomfortable but the scenic views are worth every pain.

How to Reach Rishikesh From Mumbai

By Air : To reach Rishikesh from Mumbai, one must board a flight till Dehradun, which takes about 2 hours. Air India, Indigo, and Spicejet operate a daily flight between Mumbai and Dehradun. After reaching Dehradun, a shared taxi or bus can be availed to Rishikesh.

Another option is flying to Delhi, and then boarding a bus or a train to Rishikesh. One can also rent a car from Delhi to drive to Rishikesh.

By Train : There are four trains that run from Mumbai to Haridwar, namely, Haridwar Express, LTT HW AC SUP, and the two Dehradun Express. Tourists can board one of these trains to reach Haridwar. It would take around 24 hours to reach your destination. After reaching Haridwar, a bus or shared taxi can be availed.

By Road : The road journey from Mumbai to Rishikesh takes about 30 hours via National Highway 48. Many people prefer driving all the way to Rishikesh. If you are planning for a road journey, it is better to research it first and have all the necessary resources and precautions.

How to Reach Rishikesh from Haridwar

By Road : Haridwar is satiated at a distance of just 25 km from Rishikesh. There are many bus services available to Rishikesh, which takes about 45 minutes. Private cabs are also available, which will take around half an hour.

By Train : One can also board a train from Haridwar to Rishikesh. There are a total of 7 passenger trains that operate from Haridwar to Rishikesh taking around 1 hour 20 minutes to reach Rishikesh.

How to Reach Rishikesh from Dehradun

By Road: Dehradun is the capital city of Uttarakhand located at a mere distance of 43 km from Rishikesh. Hence, it takes only about 1 hour and a few minutes to reach Rishikesh by road. One has to board shared cabs or buses from Dehradun.

How to Reach Rishikesh from Kolkata

By Air : Rishikesh has no airport. The nearest airport is in Dehradun. One has to board a flight from Kolkata to Dehradun. Available carriers are Air India, Indigo, SpiceJet. From Dehradun, one can board a bus or a shared cab. Alternatively, one can also fly to Delhi and then embark on a road journey to Rishikesh.

By Train : To reach Rishikesh from Kolkata, one has to board a train to Haridwar. There are many trains running from Kolkata to Haridwar. From Haridwar, you can either take a bus or a taxi.

By Road : The complete road journey from Kolkata to Rishikesh takes about 28 hours. The journey will be time-consuming

How to Reach Rishikesh from Hyderabad

By Air : Travelling by air is the fastest way to reach Rishikesh from Hyderabad. Take an Indigo, SpiceJet or Air India flight to Dehradun from Hyderabad. After reaching Dehradun book a bus or a local taxi. Or, you can also fly to Delhi if you want to enjoy a road trip. From Delhi, take a private or government bus or rent a car drive on.

By Train : There are no direct trains from Hyderabad to Rishikesh. One has to board a train to the nearest railway station Haridwar junction. From there, the distance is just about 45 minutes. Trains are also available to Delhi from Hyderabad. Delhi to Rishikesh road journey takes about 6-7 hours via National Highway.

By Road : The distance from Hyderabad to Rishikesh is 1751 km. Road journeys are time-consuming, uncomfortable and not recommended.

How to Reach Rishikesh from Pune

By Air : The best way to reach Rishikesh from Pune is to board a flight to Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. From Dehradun, you can board a bus or a local taxi. This is the fastest way. You can also choose to fly to Delhi and take up a road trip to Rishikesh.

By Train : If you have budget constraints, then a train journey is the cheapest. Board a train to Delhi and then embark on a road journey to Rishikesh. Delhi to Rishikesh takes about 5-6 hours. Pune has no trains to Haridwar.

By Road : The road distance from Pune to Rishikesh takes around 30 hours. This is not a very preferred mode of transport.

How to Reach Rishikesh from Chennai

By Air : There are no direct flights from Chennai to Rishikesh. However, one can fly to Dehradun or Delhi as per one’s convenience and choice. Dehradun to Rishikesh takes about 1 hour or so. Whereas, Delhi to Rishikesh by road takes 6-7 hours via NH 58.

By Train : There are numerous trains from Chennai to Delhi. After reaching Delhi by train, you can board another train to Haridwar from Delhi. Or you can go by road from Delhi.

By Road : The road distance from Chennai to Rishikesh is 2389.7 km. Road journeys are not very comfortable and recommended.

How to Reach Rishikesh from Lucknow

By Air : If you want to travel to Rishikesh from Lucknow by air, then you can board a flight to Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport. From there, take a bus or a shared cab to reach Rishikesh.

By Train : If you want to experience a train journey, then board a train to Haridwar from Lucknow. The journey from Haridwar to Rishikesh is only of about 45 minutes.

By Road : The road journey from Lucknow to Rishikesh takes about 11 hours (519km) via National Highway 30. There are no bus services. Hence, one has to take one’s own car or a rented car.