The largest ashram in Rishikesh
Founded in 1942 and home to over 1,000 rooms on the banks of the Ganges, run by the Swami Shukdevanand Trust, a non-profit religious organization registered in 1962.
← Retreats
Destination retreat · Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
Best India Yoga Retreat from Los Angeles
India Yoga Retreat: Rishikesh on the Ganges, Planned from LA
Sunset aarti, Himalayan foothills, and the town where yoga was written down.
About the retreat
Rishikesh sits on the Ganges in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand, and it is where most serious India yoga retreat searches end up. The retreat center we verified there is Parmarth Niketan, founded in 1942 by Pujya Swami Shukdevanandji Maharaj and led since 1986 by Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj. With more than 1,000 rooms, it is the largest ashram in Rishikesh, and it states that it welcomes visitors with no discrimination on the basis of race, nationality, religion, caste or creed.
Getting there from Los Angeles is the real planning problem, and it is worth being honest about it. Air India's own Los Angeles to Delhi page lists the city pair at roughly 7,950 miles (12,800 km), which puts it among the longest routes out of LAX; budget a full travel day either way and check current schedules yourself, because nonstop availability on this route has changed repeatedly. Once you land, the ashram's own festival travel page gives the ground leg: fly on to Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun), about 45 minutes from the ashram, or take a train from Delhi to Haridwar Junction, roughly an hour away by taxi. The ashram quotes a Delhi taxi at about Rs 5,500 for a small car.
One more piece of admin before you book anything: US citizens apply for an Indian e-Tourist Visa online, available in 30-day, one-year, and five-year multiple-entry forms, with a minimum of four days' lead time before arrival and up to 120 days in advance for the longer validities. Parmarth Niketan does not publish room rates or course fees on its website; you submit a reservation or course enquiry and they respond with pricing. The ashram also warns publicly that it never requests payment for accommodations via phone or WhatsApp, which is a useful scam filter.
Retreat highlights
What This India Yoga Retreat in Rishikesh Actually Offers
Nightly Ganga Aarti at sunset
The ashram's river ghat hosts a sunset fire ceremony attended by hundreds of visitors each evening. Times shift with the season. Room charges include attendance at the ashram's daily programs and prayers.
Daily yoga classes, not just retreat weeks
Vinyasa, Hatha, and Yoga Nidra classes run daily alongside morning prayers and meditation, so a stay outside a formal course still has a practice schedule.
Structured courses from a week to a month
The Parmarth School of Yoga publishes dated programs including a 7-day Naada Yoga with Vedic Mantra Chanting course, a 7-day Vedantic Path to Self Realization, a 13-day Foundation Yoga course, and a 27-day 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training.
Intensive camps beyond asana
The ashram runs intensive camps in yoga, meditation, pranayama, stress management, Reiki, and Ayurveda, plus regular cultural and spiritual programs.
Sattvic vegetarian meals on the course plan
Course programs include freshly prepared vegetarian sattvic meals and filtered water alongside accommodation at the ashram.
The International Yoga Festival
Parmarth Niketan hosts the annual International Yoga Festival; the next edition is scheduled for March 9 to 15, 2027, with accommodation available from March 7. Registration covers meals, hot drinks, classes, lectures, and performances, with over 70 hours of yoga classes and 12+ hours of programming a day.
A short transfer from a domestic airport
Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun) is about 45 minutes away with taxis on hand; the ashram quotes roughly Rs 1,300 for a small car and Rs 2,000 for an Inova van from either the airport or Haridwar Junction.
Reception hours and check-in rules are published
Reception runs 8am to 8pm, check-in is 8am to 9pm, and checkout is requested before 11am. Guest guidelines are published before booking.
Open to all backgrounds
The ashram states it welcomes visitors regardless of race, nationality, religion, caste, or creed, which matters if you are traveling from LA without a Hindu practice background.
Cost & what's included
Included
- Accommodation at Parmarth Niketan Ashram
- Freshly prepared vegetarian sattvic meals
- Daily yoga instruction
- Daily fire ritual participation
- Filtered water
- Mantra chanting instruction
- Spiritual discourses and satsang
- Ceremonial gatherings at the Ganges River
Ready for Rishikesh?
We don't run this retreat — click through to Parmarth Niketan for current course dates and pricing.
View dates & book →Questions? Get in touch.