Festival · Rishikesh, Garhwal
International Yoga Festival, Rishikesh
Every March, Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rishikesh hosts a week-long International Yoga Festival, with sunrise to evening classes from teachers of many yoga schools, talks, kirtan and the nightly Ganga aarti. It draws students from India and abroad and needs paid registration in advance.
Photo: FIT-A-PALOOZA · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsRishikesh has been a yoga town since long before it became famous worldwide, with ashrams such as Sivananda's Divine Life Society working here from the 1930s. The International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan, on the Swarg Ashram bank below Ram Jhula, gathers that tradition into one week each March, when days are 13–28 °C and the river is clear.
A typical day starts before sunrise with meditation and asana, continues with parallel classes in different styles, from hatha and Iyengar-influenced alignment to kundalini and yoga nidra, and adds lectures on philosophy, Ayurveda and pranayama in the afternoon. Evenings end at the ashram's ghat for the Ganga aarti, followed by music and kirtan. Teachers come from Indian schools and from abroad; the line-up changes each year.
Registration is paid and usually covers classes, ashram meals and, in some packages, a room inside Parmarth Niketan. Rooms go early; many participants stay in Tapovan or Swarg Ashram and walk in. Dates and fees change each year, so check the organiser's official site and check current status before you travel.
Tips for the day
- Register early if you want a room inside Parmarth Niketan; otherwise book a stay within walking distance of Ram Jhula.
- Ashram rules apply on the campus: no alcohol, meat or smoking, and modest clothing.
- Bring your own mat and a warm layer; mornings by the river in early March are around 12–14 °C.
Where it happens
Rishikesh
Rishikesh is the town at 340 m where the Ganga leaves the Himalaya, and the start of almost every Garhwal trip. Come for yoga, the evening aarti, rafting from mid-September to June, and the 5 am buses to the Char Dham. Stay two or three nights; October to April is most comfortable.
Stay nearby
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Budget
Zostel Rishikesh (Tapovan)
A backpacker hostel in Tapovan, between Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula, with dorms, private rooms, a rooftop cafe an…
Photo: Roliwrites · CC0 · Commons
Mid
Aloha on the Ganges
A riverside hotel on the Badrinath road in Tapovan, near Lakshman Jhula, with rooms and apartments facing the Gang…
Questions
About International Yoga Festival, Rishikesh
When is the International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh?
It is held in the first week of March, usually starting around 1 March, at Parmarth Niketan. Dates and programme change each year, so check the organiser's official site and check current status before you travel.
Do beginners attend the Rishikesh yoga festival?
Yes. Several classes each day suit beginners, and you can choose sessions by style and level. Tell teachers about injuries and skip anything that hurts; talk to your doctor first if you have a medical condition.
How much does the International Yoga Festival cost?
Registration is paid, with packages for Indian and international participants that may include meals and an ashram room. Prices change each year; see the organiser's official site for current fees.
Can I visit the festival without registering?
The evening Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan's ghat is open to all and free. Classes and talks inside the festival are for registered participants.