Gita Bhawan
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Gita Bhawan is one of the largest and best-loved of the ashram-guesthouses that line the eastern, roadless bank of the Ganga at Swarg Ashram in Rishikesh, just upstream of the Ram Jhula suspension bridge. Developed through the middle decades of the twentieth century by the Geeta Bhawan (Swargashram) Trust, it grew from a simple pilgrim shelter into a sprawling devotional campus organised around the propagation of the Bhagavad Gita. Today the complex is best known for three things a visitor can enjoy in a single unhurried hour: its painted halls, its bookshop, and its riverside calm. Admission is free, and the atmosphere — bells, the murmur of satsang, and the constant sound of the Ganga a few steps away — makes it one of the gentlest introductions to Rishikesh's spiritual character.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Gita Bhawan's own community kitchen / prasad counter — simple sattvic fare for pilgrims; timings and availability vary, so confirm on arrival.
- ✦Chotiwala (Swarg Ashram) — a long-running pure-vegetarian thali restaurant a short walk away; reliably meat-free and alcohol-free like the whole east bank.
- ✦Swarg Ashram market bhojanalayas and chai stalls near Ram Jhula — numerous pure-vegetarian dhabas serving thalis, chole-bhature and South Indian tiffin; verify the specific stall, but the zone is entirely vegetarian.
- ✦Parmarth Niketan area cafes (a few minutes along the riverside path) — vegetarian, no-alcohol eateries popular with yoga travellers.
About
Gita Bhawan is one of the largest and best-loved of the ashram-guesthouses that line the eastern, roadless bank of the Ganga at Swarg Ashram in Rishikesh, just upstream of the Ram Jhula suspension bridge.
- Developed through the middle decades of the twentieth century by the Geeta Bhawan (Swargashram) Trust, it grew from a simple pilgrim shelter into a sprawling devotional campus organised around the propagation of the Bhagavad Gita.
- Today the complex is best known for three things a visitor can enjoy in a single unhurried hour: its painted halls, its bookshop, and its riverside calm.
- Admission is free, and the atmosphere — bells, the murmur of satsang, and the constant sound of the Ganga a few steps away — makes it one of the gentlest introductions to Rishikesh's spiritual character.
- The defining feature is the artwork.
- Verandahs, stairwells and the walls of the Lakshmi Narayan temple within the compound are covered with brightly coloured murals and inscribed shlokas (verses) drawn from the Gita, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
- The most photographed panel is the Gita Sandesh scene of Krishna counselling Arjuna from the chariot on the field of Kurukshetra, rendered in the blues, golds and reds typical of North Indian devotional painting.
- Reading the illustrated stories as you climb from level to level is effectively a walk through the Hindu epics, which is why the Bhawan is popular with families and first-time pilgrims.
- The Gita Bhawan bookshop is an institution in its own right — a well-stocked counter of inexpensive scripture, commentaries and illustrated children's titles published by the Gorakhpur-based Gita Press, alongside a cloth store and a long-running Ayurvedic dispensary whose herbal preparations, traditionally compounded with Himalayan herbs and Ganga water, are distributed free and also sold at modest prices.
- The Trust runs the campus in the spirit of atithi devo bhava (the guest is divine), offering simple rooms to genuine pilgrims and a plain, sattvic community kitchen.
- For vegetarian and teetotal travellers, Swarg Ashram could not be easier: Rishikesh is a holy city where meat, eggs and alcohol are prohibited by law, and the whole east bank is a pilgrim zone of pure-vegetarian bhojanalayas, chai stalls and prasad counters.
- Gita Bhawan pairs naturally with a slow morning at Parmarth Niketan, the Triveni Ghat aarti, or a walk across Ram Jhula, and it is best appreciated calmly and respectfully as a living place of worship rather than a ticketed sight.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Swargashram Road, Swarg Ashram (Gangapar), near Ram Jhula, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249304
How to Reach: Swarg Ashram sits on the east (roadless) bank of the Ganga, reached on foot across the Ram Jhula suspension bridge. From Rishikesh (Yog Nagari Rishikesh / Rishikesh railway station, ~3–4 km), take an auto-rickshaw to the Ram Jhula parking on the west bank (about ₹100–150), then walk 5–10 minutes across the bridge; a shared ferry across the Ganga is also available. From the main Rishikesh bus stand, autos cost roughly ₹120–170. No vehicles enter Swarg Ashram, so the final approach is always on foot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the timings of Gita Bhawan in Rishikesh?
Gita Bhawan is reported to be open daily from around 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM for temple darshan and satsang, while the bookshop, cloth store and Ayurvedic dispensary generally open from mid-morning until evening. Timings shift with the season and festivals, so it is worth confirming locally on the day of your visit.
Is there an entry fee for Gita Bhawan?
No. Entry to Gita Bhawan is completely free, in keeping with its character as a charitable pilgrim complex run by the Geeta Bhawan (Swargashram) Trust. The temples, painted halls and grounds are open to everyone; only purchases from the bookshop, cloth store or Ayurvedic counter cost money.
How do I reach Gita Bhawan in Swarg Ashram?
Gita Bhawan is on the east bank of the Ganga at Swarg Ashram, which is car-free. Take an auto-rickshaw to the Ram Jhula parking on the west bank (about ₹100–150 from central Rishikesh), then walk 5–10 minutes across the Ram Jhula bridge; a shared ferry across the river is also available. The nearest railway station is Rishikesh (about 3–4 km).
What is special about Gita Bhawan and what can you see there?
Its walls are famous for colourful murals and inscribed verses from the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana — most notably the Gita Sandesh scene of Krishna and Arjuna on the chariot at Kurukshetra. Inside the compound are the Lakshmi Narayan temple, a large Gita Press bookshop selling inexpensive scriptures and illustrated titles, a cloth store, and a long-running Ayurvedic dispensary. It also offers free lodging and simple meals to pilgrims.
Can you stay overnight at Gita Bhawan?
Yes — the complex has a very large number of simple rooms traditionally offered free of charge to genuine pilgrims, in the spirit of atithi devo bhava (the guest is divine). Rooms are basic and demand is high during pilgrimage season, so availability cannot be guaranteed; enquire at the Trust office on arrival. It is a devotional guesthouse, not a hotel, so a respectful, modest approach is expected.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near Gita Bhawan?
The whole of Swarg Ashram is a pure-vegetarian, alcohol-free pilgrim zone, so eating meat-free is effortless. Gita Bhawan itself has a simple community kitchen and prasad counter, and nearby you will find the long-running Chotiwala thali restaurant, numerous vegetarian bhojanalayas and chai stalls around Ram Jhula, and vegetarian cafes near Parmarth Niketan. Verify the specific outlet, but every option here is vegetarian.
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