International Yoga Festival
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand · fair
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
The International Yoga Festival is one of the world's largest and most respected annual yoga gatherings, hosted since 1999 by the Parmarth Niketan ashram on the western bank of the Ganga at Swargashram, Rishikesh — the town widely known as the yoga capital of the world. Held over roughly one week each March, the festival draws well over 1,500 participants from as many as 80 countries, transforming the riverside ashram into a temporary global village of mats, mudras and mantra. It is a non-competitive, deeply spiritual event rather than a commercial expo: the emphasis falls on practice, study and community in the sacred Himalayan setting where the Ganga finally leaves the mountains for the plains.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Parmarth Niketan ashram bhojanालय (dining hall) – simple sattvic vegetarian meals, typically no onion or garlic, served to registered festival participants; confirm access at reception.
- ✦Chotiwala Restaurant, Swargashram – a long-running pure-vegetarian thali and North Indian institution a short walk from the ashram (there are two adjacent Chotiwala outlets; both are vegetarian).
- ✦Cafes around Ram Jhula and Laxman Jhula – numerous pure-vegetarian cafes serving thalis, South Indian dishes and healthy bowls; Rishikesh is an entirely vegetarian, alcohol-free town, so options are plentiful. Verify current standards locally.
- ✦A pure-vegetarian cafe near Laxman Jhula – river views for a lighter meal; ask for eggless bakes and verify current standards locally.
About
The International Yoga Festival is one of the world's largest and most respected annual yoga gatherings, hosted since 1999 by the Parmarth Niketan ashram on the western bank of the Ganga at Swargashram, Rishikesh — the town widely known as the yoga capital of the world.
- Held over roughly one week each March, the festival draws well over 1,500 participants from as many as 80 countries, transforming the riverside ashram into a temporary global village of mats, mudras and mantra.
- It is a non-competitive, deeply spiritual event rather than a commercial expo: the emphasis falls on practice, study and community in the sacred Himalayan setting where the Ganga finally leaves the mountains for the plains.
- The daily schedule is famously intensive and begins before dawn.
- From around 4:00 AM practitioners move through successive sessions of asana (postures), pranayama (breathwork), meditation and yoga philosophy, taught in parallel tracks by teachers representing many lineages — Hatha, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Kundalini, Vinyasa, Yin and more — alongside kirtan (devotional chanting), satsang (spiritual discourse) and workshops on Ayurveda and sound healing.
- The programme runs from early morning until night, and a single day may offer dozens of classes across multiple halls and open-air platforms overlooking the river.
- The festival has long attracted internationally known teachers and spiritual figures, and its non-sectarian spirit welcomes complete beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.
- A highlight for every visitor, festival participant or not, is the nightly Ganga Aarti performed on the ashram's ghat at dusk, when lamps, chanting and the gathered assembly send flames and flowers onto the darkening river.
- Parmarth Niketan is one of the largest ashrams in Rishikesh, and its riverfront steps become the emotional heart of the week.
- For food, the setting could not be more suitable for vegetarian travellers: Rishikesh is a holy town that is vegetarian and alcohol-free by law, and the festival itself serves simple sattvic ashram meals — typically no onion or garlic — to registered participants.
- Beyond the ashram, the lanes of Swargashram and Laxman Jhula are lined with pure-vegetarian cafes and thali kitchens, so eating well and eating clean is effortless throughout the festival.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Main Market Road, near Ram Jhula, P.O. Swargashram, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249304
How to Reach: Parmarth Niketan sits beside Ram Jhula in Swargashram, on the west bank of the Ganga. From Rishikesh's main bus stand or Rishikesh (Yog Nagari) railway station, an auto-rickshaw to Ram Jhula parking costs about ₹100–150 (15–20 minutes); from the parking you walk a few minutes across or along the river to the ashram. From Haridwar Junction (about 25 km) a taxi costs roughly ₹700–900 (50–60 minutes). The nearest airport is Dehradun (Jolly Grant), about 20 km away.
More places in Rishikesh
- Triveni Ghat & Ganga AartiRishikesh's largest and holiest bathing ghat, where the nightly Maha Aarti of lamps, conch and chanting draws thousands to the Ganga's edge.
- Neelkanth Mahadev TempleA revered hilltop Shiva shrine about 32 km from Rishikesh, marking the spot where Shiva is said to have held the churning-ocean poison in his blue throat — set amid forested Garhwal peaks at ~1,330 m.
- Lakshman JhulaRishikesh's most iconic iron suspension footbridge over the Ganga, completed in 1929 and named for Lakshman — ringed by riverside temples and ashrams. The historic deck is currently closed for safety; the views from the banks remain unmissable.
- Ram JhulaA broad 1986 iron suspension bridge over the Ganga linking Sivananda Ashram with Swarg Ashram — the spine of Rishikesh's densest cluster of ashrams, temples and riverside aarti.
- Parmarth Niketan AshramRishikesh's largest ashram in Swarg Ashram — 1,000-plus rooms, a nightly riverside Ganga aarti and a towering meditating-Shiva murti at the water's edge.
- Kunjapuri Devi TempleA hilltop Shakti Peeth at ~1,676 m near Rishikesh, revered for its Himalayan sunrise panorama of Gangotri, Swargarohini and Chaukhamba over the Doon Valley.
- Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)The abandoned Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram where the Beatles stayed in 1968 — now a forest-department heritage site of moss-green meditation domes covered in psychedelic murals and graffiti.
- Bharat MandirRishikesh's oldest temple — a shrine to Vishnu as Hrishikesh Narayan, traditionally re-consecrated by Adi Shankaracharya in 789 CE, tucked in the old-town lanes near Triveni Ghat.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the International Yoga Festival held in Rishikesh?
It is held annually over roughly one week in March at the Parmarth Niketan ashram in Swargashram, Rishikesh. The 2026 edition is reported to run from 9 to 15 March. Because the exact dates shift slightly each year, confirm them on the official festival programme before planning travel.
Where does the International Yoga Festival take place?
The festival is hosted at Parmarth Niketan, one of the largest ashrams in Rishikesh, on the west bank of the Ganga beside Ram Jhula in the Swargashram area. Sessions run across the ashram's halls and open-air platforms overlooking the river, and the daily Ganga Aarti takes place on its riverside ghat.
Is there an entry fee for the International Yoga Festival?
Attending the ashram and watching the evening Ganga Aarti is free and open to all. Participating in the festival's classes and workshops, however, requires a paid registration that usually includes accommodation and sattvic meals for the week. Fees vary by year and package, so check the official festival registration details in advance.
What happens during the festival each day?
The schedule is intensive and starts before dawn, often around 4:00 AM. Practitioners move through asana (postures), pranayama (breathwork), meditation and yoga philosophy taught in many styles — Hatha, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Kundalini, Vinyasa, Yin and more — alongside kirtan, satsang and workshops on Ayurveda and sound healing, continuing until night. The nightly Ganga Aarti is a shared highlight for everyone.
Is the festival suitable for beginners?
Yes. The International Yoga Festival is non-competitive and welcomes complete beginners as well as advanced practitioners. With dozens of parallel classes across many lineages, you can choose gentle foundational sessions or more demanding practices. The atmosphere is supportive and spiritual rather than performance-oriented.
What food is available, and is it vegetarian?
Rishikesh is a holy town that is vegetarian and alcohol-free by law, so all food here is pure vegetarian. The festival serves simple sattvic ashram meals — typically without onion or garlic — to registered participants, and the surrounding lanes of Swargashram and Laxman Jhula are full of pure-vegetarian cafes and thali kitchens for other meals.