Tranquil resort with spa, yoga, riverside dining, and mountain views
Singthali, near Pebble Beach, Byasi, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand 249192, India Get directions
"Located near the traditional birthplace of yoga, this resort pairs location-based experiences — such as visits to the Beatles Ashram or rafting the Ganges — with a focused wellness program and Ayurvedic treatments, offering both exploration of a lesser-known area and a deeply rooted approach to wellbeing." - Travel + Leisure Editors Travel + Leisure Editors Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Set the sceneTectonic forces set the scene 50 million years ago, when the Indian and Eurasian plates collided, giving rise to what we now know as the Himalayas. And what a scene it is, of forest, hills, river, and distant snow-capped peaks. What’s the backstory?Rishikesh has been prime Hindu pilgrimage territory for centuries, and is familiar to Westerners wishing to follow in the footsteps of the Beatles, who came here in a blaze of publicity in 1968. Still, this is not a part of India that tends to be at the top of many travelers’ lists, though it should be. This thoughtfully designed hotel, with its rooms peppered across a steep hillside, all facing the Ganges and incorporating local materials and design touches, will do much to help the cause. What can we expect in our room?A view of the river and the sheer hillside, which is not too shabby for starters. Otherwise, a generously proportioned, well-appointed, entirely spotless space with floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors that open onto a little terrace where macaque monkeys are eager to make your acquaintance. How about the food and drink?A revelation. The state of Uttarakhand has its own distinctive twist—pulse-heavy and coarsely textured, not zingy and saucy—that is little known elsewhere in India, let alone in the world. Taj Rishikesh provides the perfect introduction to these flavors, both at its main restaurant, Rock Flour, and at its smaller Riverside restaurant, which specializes in what it calls "Gangetic and provincial Himalayan" dishes. If familiarity is needed, by way of pizza or pasta or Punjabi butter chicken, all that is available elsewhere in the hotel too. What’s the crowd like?A mixture of well-heeled Westerners whose backpacking days are behind them and well-heeled Indians who may have bypassed the backpacking phase altogether. A significant proportion of guests are likely here to take advantage of the Jiva Spa—the largest of Taj’s signature spas, administering the treatments that have made the brand beloved. Anything to say about the service?What it may, at certain moments during our stay, have lacked in polish, it more than made up for in warmth, enthusiasm, and kindness. We suspect the wrinkles will have been ironed out by now. What’s the neighborhood scene like?The neighborhood scenery, you mean. Despite its name, the hotel is in fact some distance from Rishikesh, or any other town that might have a neighborhood scene to speak of. Instead, it is surrounded by magnificent forest and steep hills, bisected by the Ganges, which, at this point early in its course, flows fast and cold and pure. Anything else to add?Do explore Rishikesh. It's no longer the blissed-out sanctuary the Beatles wished it to be, if it ever was, but has its own curious aura of slightly frantic holiness. Also spend time in Devprayag, the town at the confluence of three rivers and the starting point of the mighty Ganges. Anything you’d change?The hotel offers daily meditation and yoga classes, and guests are invited to attend Ganga Aarti, a moving ceremony that honors the river every day at sunset. Sung prayers are traditionally accompanied by a harmonium; however, the accompaniment comes not from that ancient and wonderful instrument but Bluetooth-enabled portable speakers, which rather kiboshes the romance and grandeur of it all. Is it worth it?You might say it is a bargain, actually, considering its remote location, its high level of comfort, the excellence of its kitchens and spa, and the absence of anything else even vaguely like it for many a hilly mile in any direction." - Steve King
"And now, in addition to no-fuss accommodations catering to die-hard yogis, there are new upmarket lodgings, including the Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand and the Roseate Ganges Rishikesh, both ultra-luxe, nature-filled retreats along the Ganges." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"Located in Rishīkesh, 18 miles from Himalayan Yog Ashram, Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa Uttarakhand has accommodations with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a fitness center and a garden. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, room service and a 24-hour front desk, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The resort has a terrace and a sauna. The resort has a playground. Patanjali International Yoga Foundation is 19 miles from Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa Uttarakhand, while Laxman Jhula is 19 miles from the property. Dehradun Airport is 30 miles away." - My Boutique Hotel (en)
"We do love a good independent one-off boutique hotel, but we’re not above acknowledging when one of the big hospitality chains is doing extraordinary work. That’s very much the case with India’s massive Taj group at the moment, and Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand is yet another stunning new opening — this one at a bend in the Ganges river in the foothills of the Himalayas, offering astounding views of the river and the mountains in every direction." - Tablet Hotels
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