In short
Rishikesh stands where the Ganges leaves the Himalaya. The town has become the world centre for yoga training, with dozens of ashrams and schools issuing certifications.
It gained its Western fame in 1968, when the Beatles stayed here for several weeks. The ashram they used can be visited, left to the jungle.
What it really costs
A two-hundred-hour yoga teacher training, with board and lodging, costs a fraction here of what it costs elsewhere. It is the main reason for long stays.
Outside training, life is very cheap: guesthouses at Laxman Jhula and Tapovan cost a few euros a night.
What nobody tells you
Rishikesh is a holy town: alcohol and meat are banned. That is not a recommendation but the rule, and it applies everywhere.
Rafting on the Ganges is the town's other activity, running from September to June. It closes during the monsoon, when the flow becomes dangerous.
The quality of yoga schools varies enormously. A recognised certification means checking the school's affiliation, which many people discover after paying.