Rishikesh weekend trip from Delhi
Ganga rapids by day, riverside aarti by dusk
- By road
- 249 km
- By bus
- ≈ 5½ h
- Best months
- Oct–Dec, Feb–Apr
- Trip length
- Fri–Sun
From
₹4,280 per person, all-in
Our estimate for 2 people on Comfortable, Fri 16 Oct – Sun 18 Oct, for the whole trip: travel both ways (the train or bus fare, which we book for you, plus its booking service charge), the stay, local transport and our fee. Everything is checked live before you pay.
Plan this weekendHow to get there
Overnight trains from Delhi
Mussoorie Express 14341Daily
10:25 pm
Old Delhi
8 h 21 min
6:46 am+1
Raiwala Jn · 8 km away
Timetable times; trains can run late. Station distances are in a straight line to Rishikesh.
- Direct busAbout 5½ h (fastest 3½ h). Lowest fare we've seen: ₹290 a seat.
- By road249 km from central Delhi.
- Nearest railheadYog Nagari Rishikesh, in town.
- Nearest airportDehradun (Jolly Grant), 14 km away in a straight line.
When to go
Best: Oct–Dec, Feb–Apr
Avoid: Jul–Aug
Jan
18°
6°
3d rain
Feb
22°
9°
3d rain
Mar
28°
13°
3d rain
Apr
33°
17°
1d rain
May
35°
21°
4d rain
Jun
35°
23°
7d rain
Jul
31°
25°
22d rain
Aug
31°
24°
22d rain
Sep
30°
22°
10d rain
Oct
29°
17°
1d rain
Nov
25°
12°
1d rain
Dec
20°
7°
1d rain
A sample 2-day plan
Saturday — rapids and Tapovan cafés
- 8:00 amDrive to Shivpuri for the 16 km rafting run back to Rishikesh
- 12:30 pmLunch at Little Buddha Café, Tapovan
- 3:00 pmWalk across Ram Jhula to Swarg Ashram; look at the closed Laxman Jhula and the new Bajrang Setu
- 5:30 pmGanga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan ghat
Sunday — Beatles Ashram and the ghats
- 7:00 amDrop-in yoga class at an ashram or Tapovan studio
- 9:30 amBeatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia) inside Rajaji Tiger Reserve
- 12:30 pmLunch at The Sitting Elephant, Tapovan
- 2:30 pmTriveni Ghat and the Rishikesh market lanes
Your own plan is timed around the train or bus you take and where you stay.
Nearby alternatives
Rishikesh: questions people ask
How far is Rishikesh from Delhi?
About 249 km by road from central Delhi. By public transport, direct buses take about 5½ h and the Mussoorie Express takes 8 h 21 min to Raiwala Jn.
What is the best time to visit Rishikesh?
Oct–Dec, Feb–Apr. Avoid Jul–Aug.
Is there a train from Delhi to Rishikesh?
Yes. The best overnight option is the Mussoorie Express (14341): it leaves Old Delhi at 10:25 pm and reaches Raiwala Jn at 6:46 am the next day (daily). Raiwala Jn is 8 km from Rishikesh in a straight line.
How much is the bus from Delhi to Rishikesh?
The lowest fare we've seen on a direct bus is ₹290 a seat, and the journey takes about 5½ h. Fares move with dates and demand.
What is the weather like in Rishikesh?
Warmest in May (days around 35°C), coldest in Jan (nights around 6°C). The wettest month is Jul, with about 22 rainy days.
Can I do Rishikesh in a weekend from Delhi?
Yes. Leave Delhi on Friday evening and be back by Sunday night or early Monday; the sample plan above covers 2 days there.
How much does a weekend trip to Rishikesh cost?
From about ₹4,280 per person for 2 people on our Comfortable style for Fri 16 Oct – Sun 18 Oct, for the whole trip: travel both ways (the train or bus fare, which we book for you, plus its booking service charge), the stay, local transport and our fee. It's an estimate until we check it live; the price for your dates is on the trip page.
Go to Rishikesh this weekend
The train, bus or cab, where you'd stay, every day planned and one all-in price per person for the whole trip. We book your train, bus or flight, stay and cabs, and confirm them before you pay.