Rishikesh Yoga & Wellness Retreat

Rishikesh: The Yoga Capital of the World

Rishikesh has been a centre of Hindu pilgrimage and yoga for over a millennium — and a global wellness destination since the Beatles famously stayed at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in 1968. Today it offers some of the most authentic yoga, Ayurveda and meditation experiences anywhere, taught by lineage-holding masters in ashrams set against the Himalayan foothills with the Ganges thundering past. This 5-day retreat is for travellers serious about wellness, not just yoga-curious.

The daily structure

5:30am wake-up bell, 6:00am hatha yoga and pranayama, 7:30am vegetarian breakfast, 9:00am philosophy class (Yoga Sutras of Patanjali), 11:00am Ayurvedic consultation or treatment, 1:00pm lunch, 2:30pm rest, 4:00pm evening yoga, 6:00pm Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat, 7:30pm dinner, 9:00pm meditation. Free time for journaling, walks across Lakshman Jhula bridge, or quiet reading by the river.

Where you'll stay

A boutique ashram with private rooms (not dorms), each with a Ganga view and en-suite bathroom. All meals are sattvic (yogic vegetarian — no onion, garlic, processed foods). The ashram is strictly alcohol-free and observes silence between 9pm and 6am.

Beyond yoga

Optional add-ons: a half-day visit to the abandoned Beatles Ashram (now a UNESCO-protected colourful art space), Ganga river rafting (Class III rapids, gentle), a private session with a Vedic astrologer, or a Pancha Karma Ayurveda detox extension (5-21 days additional).

Who this suits

Yoga teachers refining their practice, anyone returning from a difficult life period, couples seeking a meaningful shared experience, and travellers who want to leave India feeling lighter, calmer and clearer. No prior yoga experience needed; gentle modifications offered. Not suitable for travellers seeking party scenes or alcohol.