Shree Vithal Ashram (Muni Ki Reti)
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Shree Vithal Ashram is a small, well-kept spiritual retreat tucked into the Shivananda Nagar quarter of Muni Ki Reti, on the western bank of the Ganga roughly 350 metres from the Ram Jhula footbridge. Its heart is a temple dedicated to Vithal — also written Vitthal or Vithoba and revered as Panduranga — a form of Lord Vishnu (identified with Krishna) most famously worshipped at Pandharpur in Maharashtra, where the deity stands with hands resting on the hips upon a brick. To find this distinctly Maharashtrian-Vaishnava devotion transplanted to the Himalayan foothills gives the ashram a character quite different from the Shaivite and Vedanta institutions that dominate the Rishikesh riverfront, and it draws pilgrims of the Warkari and broader Vaishnava traditions who make their way north to the source-lands of the Ganga.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Madras Cafe, Ram Jhula – a long-running pure-vegetarian institution known for South Indian tiffin, the 'Himalayan health pilaf' and sattvic thalis; a couple of minutes' walk from the ashram.
- ✦Chotiwala, Ram Jhula (Swarg Ashram side) – an iconic pure-vegetarian thali house dating to the 1950s; reached by crossing the footbridge. Two Chotiwala outlets run under the same name, both vegetarian.
- ✦Sattvic ashram bhojanalayas around Shivananda Nagar – simple, inexpensive no-onion-no-garlic meals served to pilgrims; timings are fixed, so ask locally.
- ✦Riverside cafes near Ram Jhula – several pure-vegetarian spots serve chai, cheela, poha and simple thalis; confirm the menu is fully vegetarian before ordering, as offerings change.
About
Shree Vithal Ashram is a small, well-kept spiritual retreat tucked into the Shivananda Nagar quarter of Muni Ki Reti, on the western bank of the Ganga roughly 350 metres from the Ram Jhula footbridge.
- Its heart is a temple dedicated to Vithal — also written Vitthal or Vithoba and revered as Panduranga — a form of Lord Vishnu (identified with Krishna) most famously worshipped at Pandharpur in Maharashtra, where the deity stands with hands resting on the hips upon a brick.
- To find this distinctly Maharashtrian-Vaishnava devotion transplanted to the Himalayan foothills gives the ashram a character quite different from the Shaivite and Vedanta institutions that dominate the Rishikesh riverfront, and it draws pilgrims of the Warkari and broader Vaishnava traditions who make their way north to the source-lands of the Ganga.
- The temple here was consecrated on 9 April 1975, and daily worship follows the familiar rhythm of an active ashram shrine: morning and evening aarti, the offering of flowers and tulsi, and abhishekam, all conducted with the holy river directly in view.
- Because the compound faces east across the water toward the wooded ridges of the far bank, the early hours are especially serene — the light comes up over the hills, temple bells carry across the current, and the crowds that throng Ram Jhula by mid-morning have not yet gathered.
- The ashram functions as a place of contemplation and ritual rather than a hotel, and the atmosphere is calm, orderly and welcoming to respectful visitors of every background.
- Rishikesh is a holy town that is vegetarian and alcohol-free by law, and Shivananda Nagar is one of its most sattvic pockets, ringed by ashrams, bhajan halls and simple bhojanalayas.
- No meat, fish or liquor is found here, and much of the local cooking is prepared without onion or garlic in keeping with temple custom.
- For a traveller, the ashram pairs naturally with an unhurried morning: a walk across Ram Jhula, darshan at the riverside shrines, and a pure-vegetarian thali or a plate of South Indian tiffin at one of the long-running eateries clustered around the bridge.
- As with any living place of worship, remove your shoes before entering, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, keep your voice low during aarti, and ask before photographing the sanctum or the resident sadhaks.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Shivananda Nagar, Muni Ki Reti, near Ram Jhula, west bank of the Ganga, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249192
How to Reach: Shivananda Nagar, Muni Ki Reti, on the west bank near Ram Jhula. From Rishikesh (Yog Nagari) railway station it is about 3.5 km — an auto-rickshaw costs roughly ₹100–150 (15–20 minutes) to the Ram Jhula taxi stand, from where it is a short signposted walk along the riverfront lanes. Shared vikrams (tempos) run frequently from the town centre to Muni Ki Reti; the ashram is a few minutes on foot from the bridge.
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
What is Shree Vithal Ashram in Rishikesh?
It is a small, well-kept ashram in the Shivananda Nagar area of Muni Ki Reti, on the west bank of the Ganga about 350 metres from Ram Jhula. Its temple is dedicated to Vithal (Panduranga), a form of Lord Vishnu most famously worshipped at Pandharpur in Maharashtra, giving it a rare Maharashtrian-Vaishnava character among Rishikesh's riverfront ashrams. The temple was consecrated on 9 April 1975.
Is there an entry fee for Shree Vithal Ashram?
No, entry is free. Like most temples and ashram shrines in Rishikesh it is open to respectful visitors of all backgrounds with no ticket, though donations toward upkeep are welcomed. It is a place of worship and contemplation rather than a paid attraction.
How do I reach Shree Vithal Ashram from Rishikesh?
Head for Ram Jhula in Muni Ki Reti. From Rishikesh (Yog Nagari) railway station, about 3.5 km away, an auto-rickshaw costs roughly ₹100–150 and takes 15–20 minutes to the Ram Jhula taxi stand; shared vikrams also run from the town centre. From the bridge it is a short walk along the Shivananda Nagar riverfront lanes. There is no metro in Rishikesh.
What are the timings and when is the best time to visit?
The ashram is reported to be open roughly 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily, with morning and evening aarti; exact ritual timings shift with the season, so confirm locally. Early morning is the loveliest time — the shrine faces east across the Ganga, so you catch sunrise over the hills before the Ram Jhula crowds arrive. October to March offers the most comfortable weather.
Who is Vithal, and why is this temple unusual for Rishikesh?
Vithal — also called Vitthal, Vithoba or Panduranga — is a form of Vishnu, identified with Krishna, and the presiding deity of Pandharpur in Maharashtra, where the Warkari tradition venerates him. Seeing this Maharashtrian-Vaishnava devotion beside the Ganga in the Himalayan foothills is genuinely rare, as Rishikesh's ashrams are more often Shaivite or Vedantic. The result is Vedic ritual conducted with river-and-mountain views and a distinctive south-western flavour.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near Shree Vithal Ashram?
The whole area is pure vegetarian and alcohol-free by law, and much of the cooking is sattvic, often without onion or garlic. Madras Cafe near Ram Jhula is a trusted stop for South Indian tiffin and thalis, and the long-established Chotiwala across the footbridge is famous for its vegetarian thali. Simple ashram bhojanalayas around Shivananda Nagar serve inexpensive pilgrim meals at fixed hours — just confirm timings locally.