NIM Beach — Ganga Rafting Finish (Tapovan, Muni ki Reti)
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand · riverfront
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
NIM Beach is the broad, gently shelving stretch of pale sand on the Ganga's right (west) bank in Tapovan, just above Lakshman Jhula in the Muni ki Reti area of Rishikesh. Its unusual name is purely local shorthand: the sandbank sits beside the district office of the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), and rafting guides adopted "NIM Beach" as the universal call-sign for the takeout point. For anyone who has floated the Ganga through Rishikesh, this is the moment the adventure ends — the raft noses onto the sand, paddles are stacked, and the river's roar fades into the quiet of the sandbank. Because almost every commercial run in Rishikesh finishes here, NIM Beach has become one of the most recognisable riverside landmarks in the town, even though it is simply a public beach with no ticket gate.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Pure-veg organic cafes around Tapovan and Lakshman Jhula – wholesome bowls, salads and fresh juices in this vegetarian, alcohol-free town; ask for eggless bakes and confirm seasonal timings on arrival.
- ✦Little Buddha Cafe, Lakshman Jhula – a long-running vegetarian multi-cuisine cafe with Ganga views; as everywhere in Rishikesh, strictly vegetarian and alcohol-free.
- ✦Devraj Coffee Corner / German Bakery, Lakshman Jhula – a popular vegetarian bakery-cafe overlooking the river for coffee, cakes and light meals; hedge on seasonal hours.
- ✦Tapovan cafes near the main market – numerous pure-vegetarian and satvik eateries serve thalis, parathas and juices; all Rishikesh food is vegetarian, so choose whichever looks freshest and busiest.
About
NIM Beach is the broad, gently shelving stretch of pale sand on the Ganga's right (west) bank in Tapovan, just above Lakshman Jhula in the Muni ki Reti area of Rishikesh.
- Its unusual name is purely local shorthand: the sandbank sits beside the district office of the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), and rafting guides adopted "NIM Beach" as the universal call-sign for the takeout point.
- For anyone who has floated the Ganga through Rishikesh, this is the moment the adventure ends — the raft noses onto the sand, paddles are stacked, and the river's roar fades into the quiet of the sandbank.
- Because almost every commercial run in Rishikesh finishes here, NIM Beach has become one of the most recognisable riverside landmarks in the town, even though it is simply a public beach with no ticket gate.
- The rafting runs that come ashore at NIM Beach are graded by distance and difficulty.
- The gentle Brahmapuri stretch (roughly 9–10 km) is the family and first-timer favourite; the classic Shivpuri run (about 16 km) is the most popular, threading famous rapids nicknamed the Golf Course, Roller Coaster and Club House; longer Marine Drive (~26 km) and Kaudiyala (~36 km) sections draw stronger paddlers.
- All are run by licensed operators using certified life jackets, helmets and trained river guides, and all funnel down to this single beach.
- Rafting on the Ganga here is strictly seasonal — the season runs roughly mid-September to the end of June, and the district administration suspends operations during the monsoon (July–August) and whenever the river is in high spate, so the beach is quietest and safest in the cooler, clearer months.
- Beyond the rafting, NIM Beach is simply a lovely place to sit by the river.
- The sand is soft, the current-cooled air is welcome after a Rishikesh afternoon, and the forested Himalayan foothills rise straight from the far bank.
- Families picnic, photographers catch the low golden light, and yoga students from the Tapovan ashrams wander down at dusk.
- A word of caution the river itself demands: the Ganga is powerful, cold and deep in the main channel, with strong undertows — wade only at the shallow margins, never swim out, and keep a close eye on children.
- Rishikesh is a holy town that is vegetarian and alcohol-free by law, so every eatery you will find here serves pure-vegetarian food and no liquor.
- There is no proper food service on the sand itself, so carry your own water, and please carry out every scrap of litter — this is a sacred river.
- A short walk up into Tapovan and Lakshman Jhula puts you among the town's well-loved vegetarian and organic cafes for a post-raft meal, chai or fresh juice.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
NIM Beach, Ganga right bank, off Haridwar–Rishikesh–Badrinath Road, Tapovan (Jonk), Muni ki Reti, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249192
How to Reach: Tapovan (Jonk), on the Ganga's right bank off the Haridwar–Rishikesh–Badrinath Road, near the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering office and just above Lakshman Jhula. From Rishikesh railway station an auto-rickshaw costs about ₹150–250 and takes 25–35 minutes; from the Tapovan and Lakshman Jhula market a short auto ride or a 10–15 minute downhill walk brings you to the sand. There is no metro. Most visitors arrive naturally at the end of a booked rafting run.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NIM Beach in Rishikesh?
NIM Beach is a broad sandy stretch on the Ganga's right (west) bank in Tapovan, near Muni ki Reti, and it is the takeout point where almost all of Rishikesh's white-water rafting runs come ashore. The name is local shorthand — the beach sits beside the district office of the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), which rafting guides adopted as the finish-point call-sign. It is a free, open public riverbank, not a ticketed attraction.
Is there an entry fee for NIM Beach?
No. NIM Beach itself is a free, open public riverbank with no admission ticket. You only pay if you book a rafting run — rafting is a separate paid activity run by licensed operators, and prices vary by the distance of the run (Brahmapuri, Shivpuri, Marine Drive and so on). Confirm current rafting rates directly with a licensed operator.
How do I reach NIM Beach?
It is in Tapovan (Jonk), off the Haridwar–Rishikesh–Badrinath Road on the Ganga's right bank, near the NIM office just above Lakshman Jhula. From Rishikesh railway station an auto-rickshaw costs roughly ₹150–250 and takes 25–35 minutes; from the Tapovan or Lakshman Jhula market it is a short auto ride or a 10–15 minute walk down to the sand. There is no metro. Most people simply arrive here at the end of a booked rafting trip.
Which rafting runs finish at NIM Beach and when is the season?
The gentle Brahmapuri run (about 9–10 km, good for families and first-timers) and the classic Shivpuri run (about 16 km, the most popular, with rapids nicknamed Golf Course and Roller Coaster) both finish here, as do the longer Marine Drive and Kaudiyala sections. The Ganga rafting season runs roughly mid-September to the end of June; operations are suspended during the monsoon (July–August) and whenever the river is in high spate, so plan for the cooler, clearer months.
Is it safe to swim at NIM Beach?
Be very careful. The Ganga here is powerful, cold and deep in the main channel with strong undertows. It is fine to sit on the sand and wade only at the shallow margins, but do not swim out into the current and keep a close watch on children. Rafting is always done with certified life jackets, helmets and trained guides — never enter the river without proper equipment and supervision.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near NIM Beach?
All of Rishikesh is vegetarian and alcohol-free by law, so every option nearby is pure-vegetarian. There is no food service on the sand itself, so carry water. A short walk up into Tapovan and Lakshman Jhula brings you to well-loved cafes such as Little Buddha Cafe and the German Bakery / Devraj Coffee Corner for wholesome meals, bakes, chai and fresh juices — confirm seasonal timings locally.
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