Hotels in Rishikesh

Do a google search for hotels in Rishikesh and you will find hundreds of them. How do you select one that suits your needs? What should you be looking for?

First off, plan what you want to do in Rishikesh. Travelling around Rishikesh can be time consuming, so deciding what you want to do before choosing a hotel/guesthouse nearby could save you time to do more things. This is particularly important if you want to be involved in several daily activities like taking part in classes.

There are a few areas to stay in and each one provides different amenities. The distances to other places and the convenience of each area various. Check out the different areas here.

The hotels and guesthouses can be broadly classified into 3 categories:

1) higher end hotels  - these often feel more like middle class hotels in other countries. They are clean, often has in-house restaurants and sometimes a good view to the Ganges. Prices are upwards of US$60 per night.

2) middle class hotels - they feel more like budget hotels in other countries. Cleanliness is subjective, often in convenient and possibly quite noisy locations. Some have small in-house restaurants. Prices are upwards of US$30 per night.

3) budget guesthouses and homestays  - these rooms range vastly in standards, prices and locations. They form the bulk of the accommodations in Rishikesh. You do need to look at their reviews and be prepared that it may not be what you expected. If you plan to stay long-term, it is cheaper to look for a homestay with a shared or personal kitchen (often at extra charges to be fixed with a gas stove). Negotiate with the owners for better long-term rates. Be prepared to give the room a thorough clean up before you feel uncomfortable in them, just like you would in any rented rooms. There are many homestays in the Upper Tapovan area which is a little further away from the main tourist spots but also generally quieter and cheaper.