Bali is a holiday heaven - lovely people, beaches, mountains, lush greenery, beautiful hotels, wonderful variety of food and a tropical climate. Yoga in Bali has gained popularity over the years, with several well-known yoga studios in various parts of the island like in Ubud, Seminyak and in almost every resort.

Rishikesh is, on the other hand, a famous international yoga city and deservedly so. There are yoga teacher training and classes in almost every corner of Rishikesh, all with well trained teachers who are qualified to teach more than yoga.  It can't get better than being totally immersed in India where the source of yoga originated, particularly in a holy city like Rishikesh. If learning yoga from excellent teachers, learning about vedic philosophy (like in ashrams), experiencing ayurveda and attending satsangs are what you are after, then Rishikesh is all about this. So the choice for a serious yogi is clear, Rishikesh is definitely the place to deepen your knowledge and practice.

So why do people still head to Bali for yoga? Bali is an island that is very well developed for the western tourists who want to have it easy. Standards of living are much higher and the living environment makes one feel much more comfortable. But don't expect more than yoga classes in Bali as most are drop-in studios which focus only on the physical aspects of yoga. If practising is all you want, Bali is a more comfortable and 'westernised' option.

Rishikesh is an Indian city, and like in any other place in India, things can get a little chaotic. The living environment is less comfortable or clean so you will feel more like on a budget holiday rather than a luxury retreat. Sure, there are better hotels but most are in the budget/mid-class range and once you are out of your hotel, it's the same chaos! People who do come to Rishikesh have a different mindset - to learn and to experience more than to be pampered.

For a serious yogi, Rishikesh is the obvious choice. If you don't want to sacrifice your western comforts, then Bali might be better. But why lose the chance to learn more about yoga if you are serious?

Check out here to know more about yoga and meditation classes in Rishikesh.

Rishikesh is a pure vegetarian city where you can enjoy excellent Indian vegetarian food everywhere within all budgets. This used to mean even eggs could not be found. These days though, you will see some egg and even chicken dishes at some restaurants, mostly located in the Upper Tapovan areas. What about vegan food in Rishikesh? Vegetarian Indians do enjoy dairy products such a chai, paneer and malai (a kind of cream). Many Indian vegetarian food are actually vegan, the problem is, you need to know what they are as the dishes are often listed in the menu with only their Hindi names. You could ask the service staff which dishes are vegan if you are in places that are better established.

As Rishikesh is a big tourist city, the restaurants often even serve vegan Western style dishes. Organic cafes are also not uncommon in Rishikesh although it is hard to say if all the ingredients used are indeed organic. These cafes and restaurants are mostly located in the areas around Laxman Jhula, all the way from the autorickshaw stand to the places across the bridge. Just keep a look out for the signs if you are looking for an organic place to eat.  

The large number of foreign tourists in high season brought along a few very good and big local provision shops selling organic and vegan food. So if you are vegan or vegetarian and plan to stay for a while in Rishikesh, here are some supermarkets you can buy your raw organic ingredients, packed organic/vegan food and other organic products:

Pundir Store

Tattv Organic Store

Arora Provision Store

They are probably the largest and most well-stocked organic shops in Rishikesh and all of them are located on the main Badrinath Road as you walk down towards Laxman Jhula. Can't miss them. If you aren't in this area, most other smaller provision shops scattered all over Rishikesh do sell a smaller selection of organic products.