Things to Do during The Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh, India

You are coming to the world capital of yoga, and we want you to experience and enjoy Rishikesh at its most while you are with us for the yoga teacher training course. Yoga is not only about learning and practicing in the classrooms. The purpose of learning yoga is not the learning and getting knowledge itself, but to apply the knowledge into the daily life. By exploring the world capital of yoga, you will feel yoga on your own skin, and you can learn a lot from that. These are the most popular places to visit and things to do in Rishikesh.

Watch or Take Part in the Ganga Aarti Ceremony

Ganga aati is performed everyday by the vedic priests, at the sunset timing from 6pm to 7pm, and this is something you should not skip if you are in Rishikesh. Despite the fact that it is held every single day, so many people are there to watch or take part in this beautiful spiritual ceremony not only from everywhere in India but all over the world. Ganga aarti includes mantra chanting, prayers, and sacred rituals around the fire. There are couple of spots you can go to see the Ganga aarti in Rishikesh, but the most famous spot is Parmarth Niketan Ashram. The daily yoga classes of our yoga teacher training course last until the evening from Monday to Saturday, and we hold a kriya (yogic deep cleansing of the body ) experience on some Saturdays in the morning and you will have some free time in the evening, so you can visit the Ganga aarti on the weekend with your new yogic friends.

 

Visit Kunjapuri Temple for the Sunrise

Kunjapuri temple is one of the Sunday excursions we take our yoga TTC students to see the magnificent sunrise from there. This temple is located on a hill at 1676mtrs height, and when you stand there, all the mountains are below your eye level. Kunjapuri temple is one of the 52 Shaktipeeth in Uttarakhand, and it is said the the chest part of burned Sati fell on the polace where Kunjapuri temple has been built on. Kunjapuri temple offer an open, panoramatic view where you can see both the sunrise and sunset over the mountains. Join us for the yoga teacher training course and let us take you to see this spiritual, and best sunrise spot in Rishikesh.

 

Hike Up and Jump into the Pool of the Neer Waterfall in the Mountain

This is also one of our Sunday excursion spots we take our students to. This natural waterfall has a blue color. Neer waterfall can be reached by a little 20 to 30 minutes uphill trek, and it is there in the middle of the mountain surrounded by so much nature. Trekking up the hill in the morning and jumping inti the clear blue waterfall pond (it is cold!) is super refreshing especially in the hot summer in Rishikesh

 

Hike Up and Jump into the Pool of the Neer Waterfall in the Mountain

This is also one of our Sunday excursion spots we take our students to. This natural waterfall has a blue color. Neer waterfall can be reached by a little 20 to 30 minutes uphill trek, and it is there in the middle of the mountain surrounded by so much nature. Trekking up the hill in the morning and jumping inti the clear blue waterfall pond (it is cold!) is super refreshing especially in the hot summer in Rishikesh.

 

Visit the Beatles Ashram

In February 1968, The Beatles traveled to Rishikesh to attain peace by taking transcendental meditation technique developed by one of the best yoga gurus in India, Yogi Maharishi Mahesh. It got closed in 1997 until 2005, and now this Beatles Ashram is open for tourists to walk around and feel the energy of this Ashram. If you are a fun of the Beatles or even if you are not, the Beatles ashram is like a spiritual and artistic large park full of green away from the noise and you will undoubtedly have a wonderful time by visiting here.

 

Cross the Massive Suspention across the Ganges

There are 2 main bridges in Rishikesh center over the Ganges. The Lakshman Jhula is connecting Pauri district with Tehri district. It is not only used by pedestrians but also motorcycles, scooters, and cows. Walking on this bridge over the Ganga will give you a thrilling experience. Another one is Ram Jhula. It is connecting Shivananda ashram with Swargashram. By walking on this bridge over the Ganga, you will have a pannoramatic view of Rishikesh center with lots of temples and ashrams around.

 

Walk Around the Rishikesh Center

Tapovan, Lakshman Jhula, and Ram Jhula are the main center areas in Rishikesh. It can get chaotic because of the constant traffics and car / scooter horns, but it will be a great experience to go there on your day off during the yoga teacher training course with us. There are many shops and cafes with many cows, dogs, monkeys and people on the streets in those areas where you can stroll around and find new things and get down-to-earth experiences.

 

Walk Around the Local Markets

If you are more interested in a local experience rather than touristy things, go to the local markets where you can actually find the same kinds of things you can find in the Rishikesh center, and so much more. Just walking around this local and raw area will be an interesting experience for certain. Sadly, the wrong idea that “India is unsafe” is spreaded by news and social media, but it is totally safe to walk around in Rishikesh even if you are alone. Anywhere in the world, it is not ideal to be in the dark and quiet places and just as the same as anywhere else, simply avoid being in dodgy environments unnecessarily. You will find the people are very kind and helpful in the local area too.

 

Visit Cafes where Yoga Practitioners Gather and Socialize

There are some cafes and restaurants our yoga courses students love to go on the weekend as Sundays is their days off. All those cafes and restaurants are popular among yoga students that have come to Rishikesh, and people are open to interact with each other and make new yogic friends. As Rishikesh is getting popular more and more as the world capital of yoga, the number of new and modern cafes are increasing. You will find so many vegetarian and vegan foods options anywhere you go in Rishikesh. During the yoga courses with Himalayan Yoga Association in Rishikesh, we provide delicious and nutritious vegetarian meals 3 times a day except for lunch and dinner on Sundays so you can use this time to explore and indulge yourself with new dishes at popular cafes and restaurants and make new friends!