Christmas in Rishikesh 2026: Cafés, the Ganga Aarti and a Quiet Winter Break

Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday, so 25 to 27 December makes a long weekend, and many travellers from Delhi, Chandigarh and Dehradun spend it in Rishikesh. Christmas here is not a big public festival, and that is the appeal: winter sun on the ghats, the evening Ganga Aarti, cafés with cake and live music, bonfires at the riverside camps, and a quiet start to the holiday week before the New Year crowd arrives.

Christmas in Rishikesh at a glance

What Christmas is like in Rishikesh

The celebration is in the cafés and guest houses rather than on the streets. Around Tapovan, Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula, many cafés put up lights and a tree, bake plum cake and hold acoustic or open-mic evenings over the holiday week, and riverside camps around Shivpuri light bonfires. Programmes are each venue's own and change every year, so look at their pages in December. Because Rishikesh is vegetarian and alcohol-free by local rule, the evenings are about food, music and the river rather than bars, which suits families and anyone who wants a calm break.

The Ganga Aarti on Christmas Eve

The evening Ganga Aarti goes on every day of the year. At Parmarth Niketan and Triveni Ghat it begins around sunset, which in late December is shortly after 5:30 pm, so arrive by 5 pm for a place on the steps. Watching the lamps on the river on Christmas Eve is, for many visitors, the moment they remember. Our Rishikesh guide covers the aartis, the bridges and the ghats.

Things to do over the Christmas weekend

• Sunrise at Kunjapuri: the temple above Narendra Nagar looks out over the snow peaks on a clear winter morning; leave before dawn.
• River rafting: trips run in winter; the water is cold, so choose a short stretch and wear the wetsuit offered.
• Neer Garh waterfall and the Beatles Ashram make an easy half day each.
• Yoga and meditation: many ashrams and schools run drop-in classes and short retreats over the holidays.
• Day trips: Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri aarti is an hour away; Mussoorie is about two and a half hours by road. See our Christmas and New Year in Mussoorie guide if you want snow and the Winterline Carnival instead.

Is it a good time to visit?

Yes, if you pack for the cold. Days are bright and pleasant, but mornings are often foggy and nights are cold, especially by the river. Bring layers, a warm jacket, socks and a cap, and choose a room with a heater and reliable hot water. The roads from Delhi are slower in fog, so drive in daylight. Rooms near the ghats and in Tapovan fill up for the week between Christmas and New Year, so book early.

Where to stay for Christmas

Stay in Tapovan or near Laxman Jhula for the cafés and evening music, near Ram Jhula and Parmarth Niketan for the aarti and a quieter walk, or in a riverside camp around Shivpuri for bonfires and rafting. Compare verified stays with real photos on our hotels in Rishikesh page, or stay an hour away and visit for the day from our hotels in Haridwar. Staying on for the New Year? See our guide to the week as it fills up.