Ashram Atlas

Best Ashram to Stay in Rishikesh: who can stay, rules & how to book

Parmarth Niketan, Divine Life Society and Phool Chatti compared: who can stay, published costs, rules and official booking routes — no unsourced prices.

Updated 2026-10-22

In short: there is no single "best" ashram in Rishikesh. Pick by what you want and whether you're eligible: Parmarth Niketan is open to all, the Divine Life Society is free but needs written permission, and Phool Chatti runs paid 7-day retreats. Book only through each ashram's official channel.

Last checked 2026-10-22 on each ashram's official site.

Rishikesh ashrams at a glance

AshramWho can stayCost (as published)Stay lengthHow to bookSource
Parmarth NiketanOpen to all; meant for pilgrims who come for sadhana, meditation, seva and satsangRoom rates not publishedNot publishedReservation request form; confirmed only by emailsource
Divine Life Society – Sivananda AshramVisitors with written permission; women and older people are expected to come with a close relativeStay and meals free for permitted visitorsNot publishedEmail the application form at least 15 days aheadsource
Phool Chatti AshramRetreat participants7-day retreat from ₹32,000 (single, non-AC)7-day retreat; paid extensionsOnline booking or emailsource

Ashrams with a page on Ashram Atlas

Parmarth Niketan: the large Ganga-side ashram, open to all

Parmarth Niketan sits in Swargashram on the banks of the Ganga. It describes itself as the largest ashram in Rishikesh and says it is open to all, regardless of race, gender, nationality or religion. Daily activities include morning prayers, yoga and meditation classes, satsang and the sunset Ganga Aarti, which guests are expected to attend (parmarth.org, guidelines).

Booking: send the general reservation request from the official page. If you don't hear back within 3 days, send a reminder to [email protected]. Reception is open 8 am–8 pm, and guests are asked to arrive between 8 am and 9 pm and check out before 11 am (reservations). Cost: room rates aren't published. Contact the ashram, and ask for a receipt for any donation. Fraud warning: Parmarth says it never asks for accommodation payment by phone or WhatsApp.

Forum: How do I book a stay at Parmarth Niketan? · dress code · what's not allowed

Divine Life Society – Sivananda Ashram: free stay, but only with written permission

The Sivananda Ashram is the headquarters of the Divine Life Society, on the right bank of the Ganga about 3 km from Rishikesh town (dlshq.org). The Society says visitors who stay can be housed and fed at the ashram without charge (sivanandaonline.org; dlshq.org confirms the Guest House, that the kitchen feeds guests, and that visitors need written permission first, but does not itself say the stay is free: dlshq.org). There's a condition, though: because space is limited, you have to write in advance and get written permission before you arrive.

Applying: the official application form says to send your request at least 15 days in advance, with the form attached as a file to an email to the General Secretary. Foreign nationals, OCIs and NRIs must show their original passport and visa or OCI card at reception, and resident Indians a photo ID. The same form says women and people of advanced age are expected to visit only with a close relative, not alone (application form). Fraud warning: the official site cautions against a fake website that collects money for room bookings and courses in the Society's name (sivanandaonline.org).

Phool Chatti Ashram: structured 7-day retreats upriver

Phool Chatti, on Nilkanth Temple Road, runs a fixed 7-day retreat. Official prices: a single non-AC room is ₹32,000, a single AC room ₹38,000, a shared double non-AC room ₹54,000 for two people and a shared double AC room ₹60,000 for two. All prices include a ₹10,000 booking fee per person, and there's no refund if you leave early. Check-in on day 1 is 10–11 am, and the retreat ends at 9 am on day 7 (retreat details). The ashram rules ask you to cover your shoulders and knees, and the ashram is vegetarian, with no alcohol or smoking (ashram rules).

More Rishikesh ashrams to know

Gita Bhawan, Swami Dayananda Ashram (Arsha Vidya Peetham), Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram, Yoga Niketan, Omkarananda Ashram, Sadhana Mandir Trust and Art of Living Rishikesh are on our list to research. We haven't yet confirmed their stay terms or prices on their official sites, so we don't list any here. Please check with the ashrams directly and ignore prices quoted on third-party blogs.

Which Rishikesh ashram fits you?

How to book safely

BookRetreats lists packaged retreats from third-party organisers. These are not the ashrams in this article, and Ashram Atlas doesn't take bookings for any ashram.

Rules to expect

Expect vegetarian food, no alcohol, smoking or drugs, and modest dress that covers shoulders and knees (Parmarth also asks you to cover your midriff and calves, and to wear white for yoga classes). Parmarth asks for silence from 10 pm to 6 am (guidelines). See ashram etiquette for first-timers and what to pack.

When to go

See best time to visit ashrams by region and the Uttarakhand listings. Phool Chatti asks guests to bring warm clothes for November–February (retreat details).

Questions travellers ask

What is the cost of a room in Parmarth ashram?

Parmarth Niketan doesn't publish room rates on its official site. You request a room with the reservation form and are told the details when it's confirmed by email. Pay only through official channels, never by phone or WhatsApp, and ask for a receipt for any donation.

What is the cost of an ashram stay in Rishikesh?

It ranges from free to tens of thousands of rupees, depending on the ashram. The Divine Life Society houses and feeds permitted visitors free of charge. Phool Chatti's 7-day retreat starts at ₹32,000 for a single non-AC room. Parmarth doesn't publish its rates. Be wary of figures you see on blogs; check each ashram's official page.

Which place is best to stay in Rishikesh?

For an ashram stay, pick the place whose eligibility and routine match your plans. Parmarth is open to all and sits right on the Ganga in Swargashram. The Divine Life Society, on the Ganga's right bank about 3 km from town, needs written permission. Phool Chatti, on Nilkanth Temple Road, suits a fixed 7-day retreat.

Where is the best place to meditate in Rishikesh?

We don't rank ashrams. Among the ones we've verified, Parmarth runs daily meditation classes and satsang, Phool Chatti's 7-day retreat covers yoga, philosophy, chanting and silence, and the Divine Life Society is a working spiritual community where visitors can stay with permission. Ask in our forum if you want more.

Can anyone stay in an ashram in Rishikesh?

Not everywhere. Parmarth is open to all through its reservation request. The Divine Life Society requires written permission in advance and expects women and older people to come with a close relative. Phool Chatti takes retreat participants.

More: Free ashram stays in India · Free or donation-based stays (forum) · Long stays for foreigners (forum)

Sources