Byasi Rafting & Riverside Camping Base
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand · riverfront
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Byasi — also written Vyasi — is a small roadside settlement on the Rishikesh–Devprayag highway (NH-7), cradled in a broad, sal-forested bend of the Ganga roughly 30 km upstream of Rishikesh and about 16 km beyond the better-known Shivpuri put-in. Where the town of Rishikesh has grown crowded, Byasi remains comparatively hushed: a string of silver-grey sand beaches on the river's inner bank, backed by steep green ridges of the Shivalik foothills, with the milky-jade Ganga running clear and cold beside the road. For anyone travelling the holy corridor between Rishikesh and Devprayag, it is the point where the river still feels genuinely Himalayan — fast, glacial and half-wild — rather than tamed by the ghats and footbridges downstream.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Roadside vegetarian dhabas at Byasi and along the NH-7 highway – simple pure-veg thalis, aloo paratha, dal-chawal, Maggi and chai; menus are basic and vary by day, so confirm on arrival.
- ✦Camp mess kitchens (most Byasi/Marine Drive camps) – typically a simple pure-vegetarian buffet; confirm the meal plan and the camp's vegetarian, alcohol-free character when you book.
- ✦Shivpuri dhaba cluster (about 14 km back toward Rishikesh) – several pure-veg roadside eateries for North Indian thalis if you want more choice.
- ✦Tapovan & Laxman Jhula cafes, Rishikesh (about 30 km) – abundant pure-vegetarian cafes and bakeries for a proper meal before or after the run.
About
Byasi — also written Vyasi — is a small roadside settlement on the Rishikesh–Devprayag highway (NH-7), cradled in a broad, sal-forested bend of the Ganga roughly 30 km upstream of Rishikesh and about 16 km beyond the better-known Shivpuri put-in.
- Where the town of Rishikesh has grown crowded, Byasi remains comparatively hushed: a string of silver-grey sand beaches on the river's inner bank, backed by steep green ridges of the Shivalik foothills, with the milky-jade Ganga running clear and cold beside the road.
- For anyone travelling the holy corridor between Rishikesh and Devprayag, it is the point where the river still feels genuinely Himalayan — fast, glacial and half-wild — rather than tamed by the ghats and footbridges downstream.
- The base is best known as one of the standard launch points for white-water rafting.
- The Byasi-to-Rishikesh descent is a long, scenic run of roughly 26–30 km that threads a celebrated sequence of rapids — locally nicknamed The Wall, Three Blind Mice, Cross Fire, Golf Course, Club House and Roller Coaster — rated in the moderate Grade II–III range, with a few punchier III+ waves when the river is up.
- Because the put-in sits further upstream than Shivpuri or Brahmapuri, the Byasi run is favoured by paddlers who want more river time, calmer put-in beaches and fewer boats jostling at the start.
- Every reputable operator issues a helmet, a certified life jacket and a safety briefing, and children and non-swimmers are placed with an experienced guide; the river is a serious mountain waterway, so first-timers should book only with licensed, insured outfitters and follow every instruction on the water.
- The second draw is riverside camping.
- The sand flats around Byasi and the adjacent Marine Drive stretch host seasonal tented camps, and evenings here are about the essentials — a bonfire on the beach, the sound of the rapids, cold clear starlight and, at dawn, mist lifting off the water.
- Because Rishikesh and its surrounding Ganga corridor are a legally vegetarian and alcohol-free zone, the camps and dhabas here are pure-vegetarian; visitors should choose a camp that respects that character and keeps the experience dry, family-friendly and litter-free, packing out all waste from the fragile riverbank.
- For food, expectations should stay simple and honest.
- Byasi is remote, and the choice is limited to modest pure-vegetarian roadside dhabas along the highway and the vegetarian mess kitchens run by the camps — think aloo paratha, dal, rice, seasonal sabzi, Maggi and endless chai rather than restaurant dining.
- A proper cafe meal means driving back toward Shivpuri, or all the way to Tapovan and Laxman Jhula in Rishikesh.
- Confirm the day's menu and meal plan on arrival, and carry water and a few snacks, especially outside the peak season.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Byasi (Vyasi) village, Rishikesh–Devprayag highway (NH-7), right bank of the Ganga, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249302
How to Reach: Byasi lies about 30 km from Rishikesh on the Rishikesh–Devprayag highway (NH-7), beyond Shivpuri. Shared jeeps and buses bound for Devprayag/Srinagar pass through Byasi; a private taxi from Rishikesh (Tapovan/Nepali Farm) costs a reported ₹800–1,200 and takes around an hour. The nearest railheads are Rishikesh and Haridwar, and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant (Dehradun), roughly 45 km away. Most rafting operators include road transfer from Rishikesh to the Byasi put-in in their package.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Byasi and how far is it from Rishikesh?
Byasi (also spelled Vyasi) is a small settlement on the Rishikesh–Devprayag highway (NH-7), about 30 km upstream of Rishikesh and roughly 16 km beyond Shivpuri. It sits on a forested bend of the Ganga and is reached in around an hour by taxi, or by shared jeeps and buses heading toward Devprayag.
What is the Byasi-to-Rishikesh rafting run like?
It is a long, scenic descent of roughly 26–30 km, rated in the moderate Grade II–III range with a few stronger III+ waves when the river is high. It threads a famous sequence of rapids nicknamed The Wall, Three Blind Mice, Cross Fire, Golf Course, Club House and Roller Coaster. Because the put-in is further upstream than Shivpuri, you get more river time and quieter launch beaches.
Is there an entry fee at Byasi?
There is no gate fee to reach the riverbank or the highway — access is free. Rafting and camping, however, are paid, guided activities. The Byasi run is reported to cost roughly ₹1,000–1,600 per person depending on operator, season and group size, usually including transfer, equipment and a guide. Confirm the current rate directly with a licensed operator.
When is the best time to visit for rafting and camping?
The prime windows are late September to November and March to June, with October–November offering the clearest water and most comfortable weather. Rafting is generally suspended during the monsoon (about July to mid-September), when the Ganga runs high and fast, and on any day of unusually high flow, so always confirm locally before travelling.
Is rafting at Byasi safe for first-timers and children?
The Byasi run is popular with beginners, but the Ganga is a genuine mountain river, so safety depends on going with a licensed, insured operator. Every rafter is given a helmet and a certified life jacket and a mandatory safety briefing, and non-swimmers and children are seated with an experienced guide. Follow every instruction on the water. Age and health restrictions apply — check with the operator in advance.
What food is available at Byasi, and is it vegetarian?
Rishikesh and its Ganga corridor are a legally vegetarian and alcohol-free zone, so the dhabas and camps around Byasi are pure-vegetarian. Choice is limited and simple — roadside thalis, aloo paratha, dal-chawal, Maggi and chai, plus the camps' own vegetarian mess kitchens. For a proper cafe meal, drive back toward Shivpuri or on to Tapovan and Laxman Jhula in Rishikesh. Carry water and a few snacks, especially off-season.
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