Per-person costs for a 2-day Rishikesh weekend from Delhi NCR: Rs 2,850-4,800 on a budget, Rs 5,100-8,000 mid-range and Rs 12,000-20,500 premium, itemised.
Quick summary
A Rishikesh weekend from Delhi NCR costs about ₹2,850–4,800 per person on a budget, ₹5,100–8,000 mid-range (a typical trip lands around ₹6,500) and ₹12,000–20,500 at the premium end. The difference comes almost entirely from how you travel, where you sleep and which rafting run you choose. The tables below break each band into line items that add up to the totals.
Assumptions
- 2 days and 1 night, Saturday to Sunday, from Delhi NCR, on a normal weekend between October and March.
- All figures are per person in Indian rupees and are estimates based on typical 2025–2026 rates; operators, hotels and fares change, so check before booking.
- Rooms are shared by two; cars are shared by four.
- Fuel is calculated for about 500 km round trip at around 15 km per litre and petrol at about ₹95 per litre, which comes to roughly ₹3,200 per car. Car tolls are estimated at ₹550–1,000 for the round trip.
- Rafting prices are indicative per-person rates reported in early 2025 for the Ganga stretches; your operator's quote may differ.
- Shopping, tips and long-weekend surcharges are not included. Expect stay prices to rise sharply on long weekends.
Budget plan: ₹2,850–4,800 per person
Bus both ways, a hostel dorm, the shorter or standard rafting run and dhaba food.
| Item | Low (₹) | High (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Bus, Delhi–Rishikesh return (government or private seater) | 800 | 1,400 |
| Hostel dorm bed, 1 night (Tapovan or Muni Ki Reti) | 400 | 800 |
| Rafting, Brahmpuri or Shivpuri run | 750 | 1,000 |
| Food for 2 days (dhabas, thalis, chaat) | 600 | 900 |
| Local autos and shared transport | 200 | 400 |
| Entry fees (Neer Garh, Beatles Ashram or Bajrang Setu walkway) | 100 | 300 |
| Total | 2,850 | 4,800 |
Mid-range plan: ₹5,100–8,000 per person
Four to a car, a decent guesthouse or riverside camp, the Shivpuri rafting run and a mix of cafes and local food. This is the band most Delhi NCR groups fall into, and around ₹6,500 per person is typical.
| Item | Low (₹) | High (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Car fuel and tolls, round trip, split four ways | 1,000 | 1,500 |
| Guesthouse room or riverside camp, 1 night, twin share | 1,500 | 2,500 |
| Rafting, Shivpuri run | 1,000 | 1,500 |
| Food and cafes for 2 days | 1,000 | 1,500 |
| Local transport and parking | 300 | 500 |
| Entry fees (Neer Garh, Beatles Ashram, Bajrang Setu walkway) | 300 | 500 |
| Total | 5,100 | 8,000 |
If you travel by bus instead of by car, swap the first line for ₹800–1,400. To work out the fuel cost for your own car and mileage, use the fuel calculator.
Activity and entry prices at a glance
| Activity or entry | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Rafting, Brahmpuri stretch | about ₹750 per person |
| Rafting, Shivpuri stretch | about ₹1,000 per person |
| Rafting, Marine Drive stretch | about ₹1,500 per person |
| Rafting, Kaudiyala stretch (full day) | about ₹2,000 per person |
| Bungee jump, 83 m, Mohan Chatti (Jumpin Heights) | about ₹3,500–4,500 |
| Bajrang Setu glass walkway | ₹100 per adult, ₹50 per child, per two-hour slot |
| Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia) | lower fee for Indians; ₹1,200 for foreign nationals (2025) |
| Neer Garh Waterfall | small entry fee at the gate |
| Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Chilla zone entry | ₹150 per Indian visitor plus vehicle charges; jeep hire extra |
| Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat or Parmarth Niketan | free |
Rafting runs only between late September (after the post-monsoon inspection) and 30 June. Book with a licensed operator and check that the quote includes life jacket, helmet, guide and transport to the put-in point.
Adding a third day
An extra night adds roughly the stay and food lines again: about ₹700–1,250 on a budget, ₹2,000–3,250 mid-range and ₹5,000–9,500 premium per person (estimates). It lets you add a Kunjapuri sunrise, a Rajaji safari between 15 November and 15 June, or a bungee jump without rushing.
Costs people forget
- Parking: paid parking in Tapovan and near the ghats fills early on weekends.
- Camp transfers: if you stay at Shivpuri without a car, budget for cabs into town.
- Photo and video packages: rafting and bungee operators sell these as extras.
- Long-weekend pricing: stays and cabs cost noticeably more around Holi, Independence Day, Diwali and Christmas–New Year.
- Waterproof pouch: worth buying before you go if you plan to carry a phone on the raft.
Ways to keep it cheap
- Travel four to a car; split fuel and tolls usually beat the bus fare per person.
- Book rafting directly with a licensed operator in Tapovan or Shivpuri rather than through touts on the bridge lanes, and compare two or three quotes.
- Go on a normal weekend in November, February or early March rather than a long weekend.
- Eat at thali places and old-town stalls; the aartis, ghats and walks are free.
- Compare rooms in Muni Ki Reti and the old town as well as Tapovan before booking.
To plan the days themselves, follow the 2-day Rishikesh itinerary, and for what to see, read the best places to visit in Rishikesh. Seasonal pricing and closures are covered on the best time to visit Rishikesh page, and the Rishikesh destination guide has routes and practical tips. To model your own group's numbers, try the trip budget calculator.