Shree Swaminarayan Ashram (Muni Ki Reti)
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Shree Swaminarayan Ashram sits quietly on the western bank of the Ganga at Shisham Jhadi in Muni Ki Reti — the belt of ashrams and ghats just downstream of Ram Jhula where Rishikesh gathers itself before the river spills onto the plains. Muni Ki Reti means "the sands of the sages," and the name still fits: this is a contemplative, low-rise stretch of riverbank shaded by shisham trees, far calmer than the market bustle across the footbridges. The ashram belongs to the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, a devotional Vaishnava tradition founded by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (Sahajanand Swami, 1781–1830), and it offers pilgrims a peaceful, structured counterpoint to Rishikesh's better-known Shaiva and yoga establishments — a place organised around disciplined worship, seva (service), and simple living rather than spectacle.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦The ashram's own dining hall — simple satvik bhojan (often no onion/garlic) for resident pilgrims; ask at the office about availability and timing.
- ✦Chotiwala, near Ram Jhula — a long-running pure-vegetarian thali institution about a 15-minute walk upstream; confirm the exact outlet as there are two adjacent branches.
- ✦Madras Cafe, near Ram Jhula (Muni Ki Reti) — dependable pure-vegetarian South Indian dosas, idli and thalis; hedge for seasonal hours.
- ✦Devraj Coffee Corner, by Ram Jhula on the Swarg Ashram bank — a pure-vegetarian riverside bakery-café for coffee, bakes and light meals (across the footbridge).
About
Shree Swaminarayan Ashram sits quietly on the western bank of the Ganga at Shisham Jhadi in Muni Ki Reti — the belt of ashrams and ghats just downstream of Ram Jhula where Rishikesh gathers itself before the river spills onto the plains.
- Muni Ki Reti means "the sands of the sages," and the name still fits: this is a contemplative, low-rise stretch of riverbank shaded by shisham trees, far calmer than the market bustle across the footbridges.
- The ashram belongs to the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, a devotional Vaishnava tradition founded by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (Sahajanand Swami, 1781–1830), and it offers pilgrims a peaceful, structured counterpoint to Rishikesh's better-known Shaiva and yoga establishments — a place organised around disciplined worship, seva (service), and simple living rather than spectacle.
- The daily rhythm is the heart of a visit.
- Mornings open with a yagna (a Vedic fire offering accompanied by mantra and ghee oblations), a ritual that fills the riverside courtyard with woodsmoke and chant not long after sunrise.
- Through the day the mandir keeps regular darshan hours, with the deities dressed, garlanded and offered bhog (food offering) in the Swaminarayan manner.
- The day closes at the ghat with an evening Ganga aarti — lamps circled to the river to the rhythm of bells and conch — distinguished here by a doodh-abhishek, the pouring of milk into the flowing Ganga as an offering.
- It is a smaller, gentler ceremony than the grand aartis at Parmarth Niketan or Triveni Ghat a little upstream, and many travellers prefer exactly that intimacy.
- The ashram has run since about 2001 as both a place of worship and a modest dharmshala, hosting pilgrims and travellers for quiet stays with yoga, meditation and vegetarian meals; the riverbank ghat below is its focal point for aarti and for a reflective dip or foot-wash in the cold mountain water.
- For visitors of any faith, the etiquette is the familiar temple courtesy: remove footwear, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, keep phones silent during the yagna and aarti, and ask before photographing the shrine or resident sadhus.
- On the food front there is no anxiety at all — Rishikesh is a vegetarian, alcohol-free holy town by law, and the ashram itself serves plain satvik bhojan, often cooked without onion and garlic in the Vaishnava style.
- It makes a serene half-hour pause on a Muni Ki Reti riverside walk, and an especially rewarding stop at aarti hour.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Street No. 12, Shisham Jhadi, near Ganga Kinare, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249201
How to Reach: West bank of the Ganga at Shisham Jhadi, Muni Ki Reti, about 1 km downstream of Ram Jhula. From Ram Jhula (Muni Ki Reti side) it is a 12–15 minute riverside walk or a short auto-rickshaw ride. From Rishikesh's main town / Triveni Ghat, an auto-rickshaw to Muni Ki Reti costs roughly ₹60–100 (15–20 minutes). The nearest railhead is Rishikesh station (~4 km) and Yoga Nagari Rishikesh station; Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun) is about 25 km. There is no metro in Rishikesh — auto-rickshaw or a Ganga-side walk is the standard approach.
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
Where exactly is Shree Swaminarayan Ashram in Rishikesh?
It stands on the western bank of the Ganga at Shisham Jhadi, near Ganga Kinare, in Muni Ki Reti (postal code 249201), roughly 1 km downstream of Ram Jhula. From the Muni Ki Reti side of Ram Jhula it is an easy 12–15 minute riverside walk, or a short auto-rickshaw ride from Rishikesh's main town.
Is there an entry fee to visit the Swaminarayan Ashram?
No. Like other temples and ghats in Rishikesh, darshan and attending the Ganga aarti are free. The ashram also runs as a modest dharmshala, so paid accommodation and meals are available for those who wish to stay, but simply visiting the mandir and ghat costs nothing.
What are the timings for the morning yagna and evening Ganga aarti?
The morning yagna (Vedic fire offering) is held shortly after sunrise, and the evening Ganga aarti — with its doodh-abhishek, a milk offering poured into the river — takes place around sunset at the ghat. Temple darshan generally runs from sunrise to about 8:30 PM. Exact times shift with the season, so confirm locally on the day of your visit.
What makes this ashram different from the big Rishikesh aartis?
It belongs to the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, a devotional Vaishnava tradition, so the atmosphere is quieter and more disciplined than the large Shaiva-flavoured ceremonies nearby. The evening Ganga aarti here is intimate and includes a doodh-abhishek (milk offering to the river). Travellers who find Parmarth Niketan or Triveni Ghat too crowded often prefer this gentler, smaller setting.
Is the food and the town vegetarian near the ashram?
Completely. Rishikesh is a vegetarian and alcohol-free holy town by law, so no meat, fish or alcohol is served anywhere. The ashram itself offers plain satvik meals, frequently cooked without onion and garlic in the Vaishnava style. Nearby Ram Jhula has trusted pure-vegetarian options such as Chotiwala and Madras Cafe.
What should I keep in mind when visiting?
Observe simple temple etiquette: remove your footwear, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, silence your phone during the yagna and aarti, and ask before photographing the shrine or the resident sadhus. The riverbank steps can be wet and slippery, especially near aarti time and during the monsoon, so tread carefully.
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