Time is eternal in Rishikesh. Since thousands of years, Hindu ascetics and saints have loved Rishikesh to practice meditation and Yoga in search of a spiritual fulfilment. However, in recent decades, the character of the spiritual town has gone through a sea change. If you are there seeking peace of mind, you may get disappointed at first. However, a deeper look at Rishikesh will lead you to great offbeat things to do that will fulfil your objective. In this article, from my personal experience, I’m sharing a few interesting, offbeat and soulful things to do in Rishikesh.
After being here for a while now, I have started enjoying the quieter side of the city much more. Tapovan is one of those places where you can slow down without really planning to. You can spend some time making pottery, stop for coffee, walk through the smaller streets to the bank of the Ganga, or simply sit somewhere and watch the day go by. For me, that is what makes exploring Rishikesh feel more personal. You do not always have to follow a list of famous places to have a good day.
{However, if you are actually looking for popular things to do in Rishikesh, read: Things to do in Rishikesh.
Crowd Vs. Tranquility: The contrast
Along with its reputation as the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’, Rishikesh is now a popular hill station. Being the closest hill station to Delhi and not far from Chandigarh, it attracts thousands of leisure- seeking tourists during weekends. Plus, it serves as a gateway town for some major Hindu pilgrimage destinations like Badrinath and Kedarnath. Hence, Rishikesh can get quite busy, especially around the places that most people come to see.
Rishikesh does have a dichotomous nature as a travel destination. Some times of the year (spring- summer- autumn), it gets absolutely jampacked with tourists. But for quite a few months of the year (monsoon- winter), it remains quiet and peaceful. However, if you are visiting Rishikesh during the peak season, you might end up with thousands of visitors around you. If you want to get some peace of mind away from this crowd, and enjoy some time in tranquility, there’s definitely a way. So, here I go.
Why Tapovan area is good for offbeat things to do in Rishikesh
When I started spending more time in Rishikesh, I thought I would naturally end up doing all the things people usually associate with the city — yoga, cafés, the Ganga, and visit temples.
But I soon realised that some of my favourite things to do in Rishikesh are much simpler. They are the kind of things you don’t necessarily plan for. A pottery session that takes longer than expected, stopping at a café because something smells too good resist, talking to a traveller you have never met before, sitting quietly near the Ganga, or just walking without having anywhere particular to go.
Maybe that is what I enjoy most about Tapovan. The day does not have to be planned around a list of places. You can start with one thing, get distracted by a café or a shop, meet someone, and suddenly the day has taken a completely different shape. These are the little experiences that make Rishikesh feel less like a place you are visiting and more like a place you are actually spending time in.
Since Rishikesh is spread across both the banks of the Ganga over several kilometres, one may choose any place to stay- Tapovan, Laxman Jhula (both upstream), Ram Jhula (Jonk/ Swargashram), Muni Ki Reti (both middle stream) or, Main Market, Triveni Ghat (both downstream). However, staying in Tapovan has distinct advantages as it is convenient both for visiting popular destinations and engage in offbeat things to do in Rishikesh.
{For more such spiritual destinations in north India, check out: Kasar Devi ||| Ayodhya Ram Mandir}
Interesting offbeat things to do in Tapovan, Rishikesh
1. Pottery: A meditative art with open eyes
At Rishikesh Pottery Studio, which is situated in Lower Tapovan near Lakshman Jhula, I found more than just a pottery class. It is a friendly and welcoming space, and the mountain views make it easy to slow down and stay for a while. Sitting there with clay in my hands felt surprisingly calming. You become so focused on what you are doing that everything else seems to become a little quieter.
There is something about sitting in front of a piece of clay, putting your hands on it and slowly trying to give it a shape. It feels like a meditative experience, but with your eyes open. You are not sitting still or trying to empty your mind. Your hands are moving, you are paying attention to what you are doing, and somehow your mind becomes quieter while you are working.
And the funny thing is that the result does not have to be perfect.
Even when I make something as small as a little bowl, I feel happy looking at it because I made it myself. At the same time, pottery teaches you very quickly that something which looks easy is not always easy when you actually try it.
This is one of the things I enjoy about pottery in Rishikesh. It gives you something to focus on without making the experience feel like a task. So, if you are looking for offbeat things to do in Rishikesh, pottery is a great option for you.
Experiment with creativity:
At Rishikesh Pottery Studio in Lower Tapovan, I have found that the experience fits naturally into a slow day in the area. You can spend some time working with clay, try your hand at the pottery wheel or explore sculpting, and then continue walking around Tapovan afterwards.
For someone looking for creative things to do in Rishikesh, I think pottery is worth experiencing even if you have never touched clay before. You don’t have to be an artist. You just have to be willing to make something and see what happens.
And perhaps that is what I like most about it. You leave with something made by your own hands, even if it is a little uneven.
2. Walking around Tapovan:
After spending time with clay, I like going back to the streets of Tapovan without planning the rest of the day. Tapovan has a very peculiar feeling to it. You can walk down one street and hear music coming from a shop, then turn a corner and suddenly smell chai or Indian food being cooked.
The shop displays catch my attention quite often. Dream catchers, jewellery and colourful little things hanging outside shops are difficult for me to simply walk past. Sometimes I stop just to look at them even when I have no intention of buying anything.
Then there’s food!
The smell of tikki, chhole, samosa and chai comes from different corners, and it is almost impossible to walk around without noticing it. There are also monkeys, cows and dogs around the streets, which somehow become part of the everyday scenery after a while.
This is one reason I enjoy walking around Tapovan more than simply travelling from one planned activity to another. There is always something small happening around you.
3. The travellers who come your way:
Another thing I have noticed while being in Rishikesh is how many people arrive here thinking they will stay for a short visit and then end up staying much longer. I have met travellers who came to Rishikesh just to visit and eventually decided to stay. Some stay for weeks, some for months, and some seem to keep extending their plans.
You meet people from different countries, and conversations can start very casually. Sometimes it is about where someone is from, sometimes about food, yoga, the Ganga or what brought them to Rishikesh in the first place.
I have also seen foreign travellers become curious about Indian traditions and take part in festivals wearing traditional Indian clothes. There is something very beautiful about seeing people from completely different backgrounds connect with a place through its food, celebrations and everyday culture.
It is one of the things that makes Rishikesh feel different from a place you simply visit and leave. You can come here as a traveller and still end up feeling connected to the place.
4. Bhumi Café and a small act of kindness:
Food is obviously part of exploring Tapovan, and there are plenty of places where you can stop for a meal or a drink. One of my favourite little experiences has been at Bhumi Cafe.
Their hot chocolate is to die for. But what stayed with me was not only the food. Once, a friend of mine had a sore throat and asked if they could provide some warm water. They were kind enough to do it for him without making it feel like a big request.
It was such a small thing, but I remember it because these are often the moments that make you like a place. When you spend enough time somewhere, you stop judging a café only by its menu. You remember how you felt sitting there, how people treated you and whether you would want to come back.
For me, that small interaction is part of my memory of Bhumi Café. Hence, I would recommend visiting Bhumi Cafe as one of the best offbeat things to do in Rishikesh.
5. Coffee at Sangam Café:
And then there is coffee. I have tried coffee at different places around Tapovan, but personally, I think the coffee at Sangam Café is the best in Tapovan.
It is the kind of stop that can easily become longer than you planned. You sit down for coffee, start talking, watch people passing by and suddenly realise you have been there for much longer than expected.
I think cafés in Rishikesh work well for this kind of day because there is rarely a need to rush. You can sit with your drink, have a conversation or simply watch the street.
Sometimes that is enough.
6. Sai Ghat when I want peace:
If I want some quiet time, I like going towards Sai Ghat.
There is a rock area there where I prefer to sit when I want peace. It feels different from the busier parts of Rishikesh. You can sit near the Ganga and just spend some time there without needing to do anything.
But Sai Ghat can also have a completely different atmosphere.
After the aarti, there can be jamming and music, and the place starts feeling much more lively. I enjoy that contrast. One moment you can be sitting quietly by the river, and later the same area can feel full of music and people enjoying themselves. So, visiting Sai Ghat is definitely among the top offbeat things to do in Rishikesh.
For me, this is one of the nice things about Rishikesh. You don’t always have to choose between a peaceful experience and an energetic one. Sometimes both exist in the same place, just at different times.
7. Rishikesh Artshala and a place that makes you want to stay:
Another place I like around Tapovan is Rishikesh Artshala.
The first thing that really caught my attention there was a charcoal drawing of Neem Karoli Baba. I found the sketch incredibly realistic. I remember looking at it for a while because it did not feel like just another drawing on a wall.
The paintings around the place have a similar quality for me. They almost feel alive.
There is also something about the environment of Rishikesh Artshala that makes learning there feel different. It is peaceful enough that I sometimes get the feeling that I could simply live there forever.
Besides, they also organize retreats, which add another side to the experience.
I like places like this because they don’t feel like you are simply ticking off another tourist attraction. You can actually spend time there, look around, learn something and enjoy being in the space. So if you are looking for offbeat things in Rishikesh, head to Artshala.
Other offbeat things to do elsewhere in Rishikesh
If you are not staying in Tapovan area and are willing to explore offbeat things to do all over Rishikesh, here’s a list for you to take note of.
- Take a stroll along Aastha Path: Starting from Triveni Ghat, it’s a scenic peaceful walkway along the Ganga
- Jhilmil Cave: A short trek from Rishikesh, this a mystical cave surrounded by lush green forests.
- Kunjapuri Temple: If you love sunrise, head 25 kms away to this serene Kunjapuri Temple atop a hill.
- Visit Phool Chatti Ashram: One of the original ashrams in Rishikesh, this is a quiet place for spending time with self.
- Garud Chatti Falls: Though the waterfall is small, it’s nice place to enjoy the nature.
- Neergarh Falls: About 6 kms away, this lovely waterfall can steal your heart.
- Vashishth Cave: A little farther (25 kms) away, Vashisth Cave is another fascinating hidden gem, among the best offbeat things to do in Rishikesh.
The Kind of Day That Doesn't Need a Plan
In the above two sections, for one’s convenience, I listed a few offbeat things to do in Rishikesh for planning purpose. However, planning may not be the ideal thing to do always. Sometimes, it’s better just to go by the flow. If I had to describe one of my favourite ways to spend a day in Rishikesh, it would probably look something like this.
Start with pottery.
Spend some time working with clay and trying to make something with your hands. Maybe the bowl turns out well, maybe it doesn’t. Either way, you have spent some time doing something completely different from scrolling through your phone or thinking about what you have to do next.
Then walk around Tapovan.
Look at the jewellery and dream catchers outside the shops. Notice the music coming from different places. Smell the chai, samosa, tikki and chhole as you walk past. Stop somewhere for coffee or hot chocolate.
Talk to people.
You might meet someone who came to Rishikesh for a few days and has already decided to stay longer. You might hear a story from a traveller from another country. Or you might simply have a short conversation with someone you would probably never have met anywhere else.
Later, go towards the Ganga.
If I want quiet, I go towards the rock area at Sai Ghat. If I want some music and energy, I can stay around for the jamming after the aarti.
And somewhere in between, there might be another café, another street, another conversation or something completely unplanned.
That is the kind of day I have started appreciating more.
Concluding Thoughts
To me, a peaceful day is when there is no pressure to make it productive.
You don’t have to wake up early, complete ten activities, take photographs at every famous spot and go back exhausted. Sometimes a good day in Rishikesh can simply be a day where you walked around, ate something you liked, made something with your hands and sat near the Ganga for a while.
You Don’t Have to See Everything. I think one of the nicest things about staying in Rishikesh for a little longer is realizing that you don’t have to see everything.
When you first arrive, it is tempting to make a list of all the things to do in Rishikesh. You want to visit the ghats, try yoga, explore cafés, see the temples, walk around Tapovan and experience everything people tell you about.
But after some time, I started enjoying the places I returned to.
The same street can look different depending on the time of day. A café can become familiar. A shopkeeper’s face can become recognisable. You might start noticing the same dogs or cows on your walk. You begin to know which corner smells like chai and where you can sit quietly for a while.
And pottery became part of that experience for me.
It is not something I expected to connect with so much. There is something very satisfying about taking a shapeless piece of clay and slowly turning it into something you can actually hold.
Maybe that is why I like the slower side of Rishikesh.
The town offers plenty of popular experiences, but some of the memories I value the most are much smaller: a warm cup of coffee, a piece of jewellery catching my eye while walking, a conversation with a traveller, music after the aarti, a quiet place beside the Ganga, or the feeling of clay moving underneath my hands. You may call them offbeat things to do in Rishikesh, but for me this is the Rishikesh I love the most.
If you are looking for things to do in Rishikesh, you can certainly make a long list. But you can also leave some space in your day and see where it takes you.
For me, that is when Tapovan feels the most like itself.
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