From the easy Neer Garh waterfall walk to the 3-day Rajaji forest trail — the complete trekking map from Rishikesh with difficulty, season, and what to carry.
Rishikesh sits at the gateway of the Himalayas — and the trekking options that radiate from it span the full difficulty spectrum, from a 45-minute waterfall walk you can do in flip-flops to a 3-day forest expedition in Rajaji National Park. The majority of Rishikesh visitors come for the river and skip the hills entirely. This is a mistake: the sunrise view from Kunjapuri temple at 1,645 metres, with the Garhwal Himalayan range spread across the northern horizon, is one of the finest accessible mountain panoramas in North India.
The Best Treks Near Rishikesh — Ranked by Difficulty
A forest trail from Laxman Jhula to two tiered waterfalls — Neer Garh I (lower) and Neer Garh II (upper). Easy terrain, well-marked path, good for families and first-time trekkers. Best in October–November when the waterfalls are at full flow post-monsoon. Morning start recommended to avoid the afternoon heat and crowds.
Kunjapuri Devi temple at 1,645m offers what most trekkers describe as the finest accessible sunrise view in Uttarakhand — a 270-degree panorama of the Garhwal Himalayan range from Gangotri to Kedarnath on a clear winter morning. Drive to the Kunjapuri trailhead (35 km from Rishikesh, 30-minute drive) at 4 AM, trek 1.5 hours to the summit, watch the sunrise illuminate the snowline, descend, and be back in Rishikesh by 9 AM for breakfast.
Neelkanth Mahadev is one of Uttarakhand's most sacred Shiva temples — the site where Shiva is believed to have consumed the poison from the cosmic ocean. The 14 km pilgrimage route from Swarg Ashram climbs through dense forest and passes several smaller shrines. The trek is culturally rich, with pilgrims of all ages on the trail year-round. You can also drive to the temple (30 km, 45 minutes) — but the trek adds dimension the road can't replicate.
Patna Waterfall sits above the hills near Tapovan and sees a fraction of the Neer Garh traffic. The approach trail passes through quieter forest with better wildlife sighting potential. The waterfall itself is larger than Neer Garh in post-monsoon season. Recommended as an alternative for travellers who've done Neer Garh on a previous visit and want something less crowded.
Rajaji National Park, beginning 9 km from Rishikesh, offers guided forest treks into elephant and leopard territory — a completely different experience from the hill temple treks. Forest Department-approved guides must be arranged through the Rajaji Tiger Reserve office in Haridwar or Dehradun. Day safari permits and overnight camping within the park (at designated spots) are also available.
A challenging full-day trail combining riverside terrain with significant ridge climbing. Used by serious trekkers and adventure tour operators as a conditioning route before longer Himalayan expeditions. The views from the ridgeline section are exceptional and rarely seen by general visitors. Hire a local guide from Shivpuri — the trail is not always clearly marked.
What to Carry on a Rishikesh Day Trek
- Minimum 2 litres water per person
- Energy bars / trail mix
- Electrolyte sachets for longer treks
- Light packed lunch for 5+ hour treks
- Closed-toe shoes minimum for all treks
- Trekking shoes or boots for moderate+ routes
- Quick-dry clothes — no cotton for long treks
- Light jacket for early morning starts
- Sunscreen SPF 50+ (UV is intense at altitude)
- Sunglasses
- Basic first aid kit
- Fully charged phone with offline maps
- Download offline trail map before departing
- Neer Garh: ₹100 entry fee (cash)
- Rajaji: Forest Department permit required
- Government ID for all permit-required treks
✓ Trekking Tips Near Rishikesh 2026
- For the Kunjapuri sunrise trek: depart Rishikesh by 4 AM for the drive and trailhead start — summit by 6 AM for the clearest Himalayan views before valley haze develops
- October to March gives the clearest high-altitude views — post-monsoon October is particularly exceptional with washed-clean air and full-flow waterfalls
- The Neelkanth Mahadev route is also accessible by road (₹800 return taxi) — combine the drive up with the trek down for the full experience without backtracking
- None of the day treks listed here require a guide for reasonably experienced walkers — but for Rajaji National Park, a Forest Department-approved guide is mandatory by law
- Combine a morning trek with afternoon adventure sports at Shivpuri for the full Rishikesh experience in a single day
- After returning from a long trek, the Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat fits perfectly into the early evening — see the complete Rishikesh guide for timing
The Himalayas Start Right Here.
The best trekking near Rishikesh doesn't require a multi-day expedition or a professional mountaineer. Kunjapuri at dawn, Neer Garh at full post-monsoon flow, Neelkanth through pilgrim forest — all are within reach on a standard Rishikesh trip, all reward the early start, and none require more than decent shoes and a water bottle.