Rishikesh is widely regarded as one of the leading destinations for learning yoga in India. Located on the banks of the Ganga and surrounded by the Himalayan foothills, the town is home to numerous yoga ashrams, meditation centres and internationally recognised yoga schools offering short courses, retreats and Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) programmes.
Whether you are looking for traditional ashram-style learning, meditation retreats or certified yoga teacher training, Rishikesh offers options suitable for beginners as well as experienced practitioners.
| Yoga Centre | Best For |
|---|---|
| Parmarth Niketan | Beginners & Spiritual Retreats |
| Sivananda Ashram | Traditional Yoga |
| Omkarananda | Iyengar Yoga |
| Sadhana Mandir | Meditation Retreats |
| Anand Prakash | Teacher Training |
Parmarth Niketan is one of the largest yoga ashrams in Rishikesh. It offers daily yoga classes, meditation sessions, spiritual discourses and the evening Ganga Aarti. The ashram welcomes both Indian and international visitors.
Sivananda Ashram was founded by Swami Sivananda and is run by the Divine Life Society. It is also one of the top yoga centers in India. Here free yoga and meditation classes are offered daily. The ashram is located 3 kilometers from Rishikesh, on the way to Badrinath.
Omkarananda Ganga Sadan is located at the Muni-ki-Reti of Rishikesh, on the banks of the Ganges River. Iyengar yoga classes are the specialty of this ashram. Daily yoga classes are open to everyone only Sunday is close. Lectures on the Bhagavad Gita are also offered.
Sadhana Mandir focuses primarily on meditation, silence and self-awareness. The peaceful surroundings make it suitable for visitors seeking residential meditation retreats.
If your focus is more on meditation than yoga, Shree Mahesh Heritage Meditation School is the right place for you. The school's approach is based on Vedic texts, and you'll also learn about yoga, Ayurveda, life healing, and spiritual development.
It was founded by Swami Yogeshwaranand Paramahansa, a renowned master of Raj Yoga. The ashram requires a minimum stay of 15 days for any of its courses for the beginners.
Swami Dayananda ashram was established in the 1960s by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. It's located around 10 minutes walk from the Ram Jhula. Vedic chanting is also taught during the courses.
The Meaning of Phool Chatti is "Land of Flowers", the ashram was founded in the late 1800s (yes, it's more than 120 years old) and is located 5 kilometers from Laxman Jhula. The ashram is renowned for its frequent seven-day yoga and meditation program.
Anand Prakash Ashram offers Akhanda Yoga programmes, yoga retreats and teacher training courses throughout the year for practitioners of different experience levels.
Osho Ganga Dham Ashram is situated on the Ganges River at Brahampuri, around 10 minutes drive from the Laxman Jhula near Badrinath Road. Meditation practices are taught at the ashram, and meditation camps are offered throughout the year.
