Easy availability of autorickshaws
Direct road access to guesthouse for arrival and departure
Less yoga places nearby
The area along the busy main street behind Ram Jhula is generally known as Muniki Reti. It is the only main road connecting Rishikesh directly to other parts of India and further north into the mountains. Flag down shared autorickshaws anywhere on this street and for a few rupees, ride over to Laxman Jhula and Tapovan or in the other direction towards the main Rishikesh market. The autorickshaws unfortunately do not run frequently in the night and it may be altogether hard to find one.
The private autorickshaw stand is located at the entrance of the road that leads to Ram Jhula. These are autorickshaws you can rent to go to other places that are further away or which are not served by the shared ones on the street. The fares will depend on your bargaining skills. But they are always available (although less so late at night) and leave immediately upon hire.
Guesthouses on Muniki Reti/Ram Jhula.
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Ashram and guesthouses, Muniki Reti/Ram Jhula
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Mid-range accomodations directly at the Ganges
Noise from the main road, less accomodation, food, shopping
There are a few guesthouses and yoga centers along this street facing the Ganges. The famous Sivananda Ashram is up on the hill behind Ram Jhula and across the main road. Many guesthouses near Ram Jhula and in Swargashram are not directly accessible by public transport, thus requiring quite a bit of walking to reach. So if you plan to stay only for a short time in Rishikesh and do not want the hassle of walking with your luggage for half an hour or more, the accommodations along Muniki Reti is a good option as the autorickshaws can drop you off near, if not directly at, the guesthouses. Prices tend towards the mid-range budget. The downside of the location is the noise from the main road which is used by all vehicles from early morning till late at night. So do bring your earplugs if you intend to stay here!
There are some tourist shops and restaurants on this side as well. Choices may be more limited but standards are comparable with what you can get in the other areas. The advantage of staying along Muniki Reti really is the convenience of reaching all the different areas of Rishikesh as it is on the main road with easy availability of autorickshaws. But if you intend to visit Rishikesh for longer than 2 to 3 days, there are quieter and less busy areas to stay.
