Rishikesh Beyond the Ganga Aarti: 5 Things Most Tourists Miss

The Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat gets every tourist's camera roll. Fair enough, it's genuinely beautiful. But it's also the one thing every single visitor does, which means you're seeing Rishikesh through the exact same lens as everyone else. Here's what most people miss. **1. The walk to Kunjapuri Temple at sunrise** A short drive plus a manageable climb gets you to a temple with a genuinely spectacular Himalayan sunrise view — with a fraction of the crowd you'll find at the main ghats. **2. Neer Garh Waterfall** A short trek off the main road leads to a multi-tier waterfall most day-trippers never bother finding. Bring water shoes if you want to actually get in. **3. The quieter stretch of Laxman Jhula side** While Ram Jhula gets the crowds, the cafes and quieter ghats on the Laxman Jhula side offer the same river views with noticeably more breathing room. **4. Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)** The abandoned ashram where the Beatles once stayed is now covered in genuinely striking graffiti art. Most tourists don't even know it's open to visitors. **5. Early morning yoga by the river, not in a studio** Many of the smaller ashrams offer free or donation-based morning sessions right on the ghats — a completely different experience from a paid studio class, and far more in keeping with why people actually come to Rishikesh. If you're only doing the aarti and the bridge, you're seeing about a third of what makes this town worth the trip. Our Rishikesh Weekender batch includes several of these spots — check the itinerary for the next date.