Budget Hostel · Rishikesh
Zostel Rishikesh (Tapovan)
A backpacker hostel in Tapovan, between Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula, with dorms, private rooms, a rooftop cafe and a common lounge looking over the hills and the Ganga. Good for solo travellers and students starting a Garhwal trip.
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · CommonsZostel is India's best-known hostel chain, and its Tapovan property sits on the bypass road above the cafe district, a short walk downhill to the river, yoga studios and the Lakshman Jhula area. It offers mixed and women-only dorms alongside private rooms, some with balconies, and a rooftop cafe serving Indian and global food. The common lounge has games and a work corner, and evenings often end around a bonfire.
It suits travellers who want company: rafting partners, someone to share a taxi to Neer Garh, or advice on the 5 am bus to Badrinath. It is not a quiet retreat, and the chain's policies generally exclude guests under 18, so families should look elsewhere. Book early for weekends and the March yoga festival, when Rishikesh's hostels fill.
Why we use it
- Dorm beds from about ₹500 in a walkable Tapovan location
- Rooftop cafe and lounge make it easy to meet other travellers
- Staff help with rafting, bus and trek bookings
Best for
The photo shows Rishikesh, not the property itself.
Trips that stay here
Sleep here on a trip
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Saver
Deoria Tal, Tungnath and Chandrashila
UTC and GMOU buses, shared jeeps and a shared taxi
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Saver
Valley of Flowers and Hemkund by bus
UTC and GMOU buses, shared jeeps and walking
Around the stay
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.
Photo: Bhuvi Uniyal · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Evening Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat
Every evening at sunset, priests at Triveni Ghat swing brass lamps over the Ganga while bells and chants fill the river…
Photo: Guy P Atkinson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Beatles Ashram walk in Rajaji forest
Walk through the overgrown academy where the Beatles studied meditation in 1968. Stone meditation domes, a graffiti-cov…
Photo: Ritikamaheshwari58 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Rafting the Ganga from Shivpuri
The 16 km Shivpuri run is Rishikesh's classic half-day on the river: grade II–III rapids, a cold swim in a calm stretch…
Questions
About Zostel Rishikesh (Tapovan)
Is Zostel Rishikesh good for solo women?
Yes. Zostel offers women-only dorms at many properties, and Tapovan is busy with solo women on yoga courses. Use lockers, keep valuables with you, and walk back along lit lanes after dark. Check room types when booking.
Can families or children stay at Zostel Rishikesh?
Zostel's policies generally do not allow guests under 18, and the atmosphere is aimed at backpackers. Families are better off at a guesthouse or hotel in Tapovan or Swarg Ashram. Confirm current rules when booking.
How far is Zostel Tapovan from the bus stand?
About 6–7 km from Rishikesh ISBT, 20–30 minutes by auto or taxi, depending on traffic. For 5 am Char Dham buses, book a taxi the night before or sleep near the ISBT the last night.
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