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New York to Uttarakhand: Rishikesh and Haridwar

New York → Rishikesh → Haridwar

Haridwar
"View of river Ganga from the foot bridge in Haridwar ghat.jpg" by Subhrajyoti07, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Dehradun view from maggi point (Dehradun)
Photo: Anandsingh444, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yoga, the Ganges & evening aarti Best season (general guide): Oct–Apr

Where the Ganges leaves the Himalayan foothills, two towns draw pilgrims and travellers. This route spends four nights in Rishikesh and two in Haridwar. From New York you'll connect via Delhi to Dehradun. Rishikesh is known as a centre of yoga and meditation, with ashrams along both banks of the river. Suspension bridges such as Lakshman Jhula cross the river.

The Beatles Ashram, where the band stayed in 1968, is now a park with murals. Each evening, an aarti ceremony of lamps is held at Triveni Ghat. Haridwar, downriver, is one of the holiest cities in India. At Har Ki Pauri, crowds gather for the evening aarti, sending lamps floating down the river. October to April is the best season.

Good to know: Rishikesh is vegetarian and alcohol-free. Dress modestly, and keep away from fast currents if swimming.

Dehradun's airport is within driving distance of Rishikesh, and taxis are easy to arrange at arrivals. Rishikesh has many yoga schools, from drop-in classes to longer courses, so try a few before committing. The river is cold and fast, so swim only at safe ghats. Haridwar's evening aarti draws large crowds, so arrive early to find a place on the ghats. Remove shoes at temples and ghats where asked. Keep valuables secure in the crowds.

For safety, note that Uttarakhand lies well away from the areas Canada singles out in its India advisory of 13 Jul 2026 (Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and the Pakistan border), though it asks for a high degree of caution countrywide. The US level for India is 2, issued 16 Jun 2025. Rishikesh's cafés along the river are a calm place to spend an afternoon between classes. Bring a light shawl for cooler mornings and evenings in winter.

Suggested outline

  1. New York

    Start

  2. Rishikesh

    By air · 4 nights suggested

    A town of ashrams and bridges on the Ganges.

    Lakshman Jhula Rishikesh
    "Rishikesh, Lakshman Jhula.jpg" by McKay Savage from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

  3. Haridwar

    Overland · 2 nights suggested

    A holy city with a famous evening aarti.

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Rishikesh — Arrive; road from Dehradun· New York → Dehradun (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day, then Dehradun → Rishikesh (overland)
  2. Day 2 · Rishikesh — Yoga class and bridges
  3. Day 3 · Rishikesh — Beatles Ashram
  4. Day 4 · Rishikesh — Triveni Ghat aarti
  5. Day 5 · Haridwar — Drive to Haridwar· Rishikesh → Haridwar (overland)
  6. Day 6 · Haridwar — Har Ki Pauri aarti
  7. Day 7 · Haridwar — Travel home from Haridwar· Haridwar → Dehradun (overland), then Dehradun → New York (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Rishikesh

Nearest airport: Dehradun Search fares · Dehradun ↗

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