Rishikesh

Where the holy Ganga rushes out of the Himalayas onto the plains sits Rishikesh — a town that is at once a sacred pilgrimage centre, the self-styled 'Yoga Capital of the World', and India's white-water adventure hub. It's a heady, uplifting mix of the spiritual and the adrenaline-fuelled.

Suspension bridges (the famous Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula) span the river between temples and ashrams; riverside ghats host a beautiful evening Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan and Triveni Ghat; and by day, rafts tumble down the rapids. Add yoga retreats, cliff cafés and the Beatles Ashram, and it's utterly unique.

• ›The evening Ganga Aarti at the riverside ashrams.
• ›White-water rafting on the Ganga.
• ›The Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula bridges, and a yoga class.

Rishikesh is a vegetarian, alcohol-free holy town. Rafting season runs roughly Sept–June (paused in peak monsoon). It draws a big international traveller crowd — book yoga/retreats ahead in season.