The green Ganges flowing between forested hills at Rishikesh, with buildings on the left bank

ArticleVerified 2026-10-05

How to reach Rishikesh — distances and drive times

How to reach Rishikesh from Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Haridwar and Mussoorie by road, with measured distances and times, and the nearest airport and station.

Photo: Emőke Dénes · CC BY-SA 4.0

How these numbers were made

From Delhi and Chandigarh we ask a public OpenStreetMap router for a free-flow car time. From the airport and nearby towns we use our own BRouter routing. Buses are slower, and traffic adds time, so treat every figure as the least you should plan for.

From where you are

Delhi: about 241 km, 3.5 hours free-flow, more in practice.
Chandigarh: about 207 km, 3.5 hours free-flow.
Dehradun railway station: 41 km, about 47 minutes.
Jolly Grant airport: 22 km, about 33 minutes.
Haridwar: 24 km, about 26 minutes.
Mussoorie: 60 km, about 81 minutes.

By air, rail and bus

The nearest airport is Jolly Grant near Dehradun. Rishikesh has its own railway station, and Wikipedia also lists a second station, Yog Nagari Rishikesh. We have no verified train or bus timetable, so check current services.

Once you are there

The river splits the town, so crossing it takes planning. By road, the Lakshman Jhula is 5.6 km and 10 minutes from the centre and the Beatles Ashram 12.5 km and 25 minutes. See things to do in Rishikesh, the one-day plan and the two-day plan.

Plans that include this

All Rishikesh itineraries →

A beehive-shaped stone meditation dome among green trees at the Beatles Ashram

Day plan · First visitTemples & heritage

One day in Rishikesh — Beatles Ashram, Lakshman Jhula and the evening aarti

A one-day Rishikesh plan: the ruined Beatles Ashram in the morning, the Lakshman Jhula bank after lunch and the sunset aarti at Parmarth Niketan. Free to copy.

Best Jan–Mar · Oct–Dec

See the plan →

The Lakshman Jhula suspension bridge over the green Ganges below forested hills

1 night · 2 days · First visitTemples & heritage

Two days in Rishikesh — the bridges, the ghats and Neelkanth Mahadev

A two-day Rishikesh plan: the Beatles Ashram, both bridges and the Parmarth Niketan aarti on day one, then the Neelkanth Mahadev temple. Free to copy.

Best Jan–Mar · Oct–Dec

See the plan →

Questions people ask

How far is Rishikesh from Delhi?

About 241 km by road on our routing, where free-flow routing says 3.5 hours, and traffic usually adds more. Wikipedia says private and shared taxis connect the town with big northern cities such as Delhi, Chandigarh and Shimla. Plan for a morning of driving and leave early to avoid the evening traffic.

What is the nearest airport and railway station?

Jolly Grant airport near Dehradun is about 22 km and 33 minutes by road on our routing, and Wikipedia calls Dehradun the nearest airport. Rishikesh has its own railway station, about 2 km and 5 minutes from the centre. Wikipedia says a line towards Karnaprayag is under construction, so check for new services.

Is Rishikesh connected to Haridwar and Mussoorie?

Yes. Haridwar is about 24 km and 26 minutes away by road on our routing, and Mussoorie about 60 km and 81 minutes. Wikipedia describes Rishikesh as the start for the Char Dham pilgrimages and for hill trips towards Chopta and Auli, which makes it a natural halt on the way up.