Atali Ganga

Overview

About this property

Atali Ganga is an adventure resort near Rishikesh, on Badrinath Road at Milestone 30, in the valley of the upper Ganges. Its own site calls it India's first activotel by the Ganges, which means a hotel made for active holidays. The resort sits on a forested slope across the river, surrounded by reserved forest, away from the busy strip of hotels downstream.

The resort is made for people who want to move, not just rest. Its own site lists white-water rafting on the Ganga, kayaking, a high and low ropes course, wall climbing, guided nature hikes, a swimming pool, badminton, board games and a library. Yoga and therapy are also offered by appointment, so a guest can mix a hard day on the river with a quiet hour of yoga.

Atali Ganga suits active families, groups of friends and corporate groups who want adventure with a comfortable bed at night. Its own site says children aged 5 and above can join guided hikes, kayaking, the low ropes course and wall climbing, while rafting is for ages 14 to 65. It also suits couples who want a quiet hillside stay, as long as they are happy to walk up and down the slope.

If you want an active break near Rishikesh, with rafting, ropes and climbing, and cottages on a forested hillside, this is one of the best picks in the area. It is not a hotel for people who want a flat, easy resort, since the hillside layout means a lot of walking, and there are about 300 steps across the property, as the resort's own site warns.

Atali Ganga works best for guests who like to be outside. The cottages, the cafe, the pool and the activity areas are spread across the hillside, so you walk a lot, and the forest is always around you. That suits a family who wants children to try kayaking and climbing, and a group who wants a ropes course together. It also suits a wellness group, since the resort offers yoga and therapy by appointment, along with Sattvic meals on request.

At a glance

What you get here

Everything above is taken from the hotel's own website. If something is not listed here, it means we could not confirm it from the official site, so we have not written it.

Rooms

Cottages on the hillside, villas in the forest

Atali Ganga has 22 cottages set across a forested hillside across the Ganges, as its own site says. Each cottage has a patio or a balcony, and the cottages are made for couples, families and wellness groups. Reaching your cottage is part of the stay, since it means scenic walks, a bit of climbing and gentle hikes as you move higher up the slope.

The second way to stay is The Foresterie, two private villas deeper in the forest, within the same estate. Its own site says the villas have 8 rooms in total, with shared living space, more privacy, dedicated service and slower evenings in the forest. The villas are reached by SUV along a quiet forest track, and they suit families, retreats and celebrations that need space.

The cottages do not have a TV in the room, and there is no in-room dining, as the resort's own site says plainly. All meals are served at White Water Cafe, and getting around means walking the hillside, not taking a golf cart. That is part of the activotel idea, but it matters if you travel with small children or older guests.

Room types and prices change with the season, so the resort's own website will have the latest list. We do not show prices here because they change often, and we do not want to show you an old price.

When you choose between a cottage and a villa, think about your group. A cottage suits a couple or a small family who want a simple, private room on the hillside. A villa at The Foresterie suits a larger family or a group who want shared living space and more privacy, with dedicated service. The villas are reached by SUV along a forest track, which is a different arrival from the cottage walk, so ask the resort which stay suits your group best.

Food & drink

Where to eat

The place to eat at Atali Ganga is White Water Cafe. Its own site says the cafe serves home-style meals, buffet or a la carte, with views of the Ganges. The menu has authentic Indian food, international favourites and healthy options, made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, to fuel a day of adventure.

The cafe also serves Uttarakhandi Pahari food, as the resort's own site says, which means dishes from the hills of Uttarakhand. Sattvic meals for wellness groups, and special dietary meals, are offered on request, so guests with a special diet can ask in advance.

Since there is no in-room dining, all meals and snacks are served at White Water Cafe, as the resort's own site says. That makes meal times a social part of the stay, with other guests and guides around, and the river in view. For the latest menus and meal timings, the resort's own website is the right place to check.

Since all meals are at White Water Cafe, meal times are a good chance to meet other guests and guides, and to hear about the day's river conditions and activities. The cafe serves home-style meals, which suits a tired guest after rafting or climbing, and the river view from the cafe makes even a simple meal feel special.

Things to do

A full day of river and ropes

A good day at Atali Ganga starts early, with a walk on the hillside and breakfast at White Water Cafe. The morning light on the Ganges, the forest around the cottages and the quiet of the early hours make it the best time for a slow start, before the adventure activities begin.

In the daytime, the river is the main attraction. The resort's own site lists white-water rafting on the Ganga and kayaking at Kayaking Beach, along with a high and low ropes course and wall climbing. Children from age 6 can join kayaking, wall climbing, the low ropes course and guided walks, while the high ropes course is for ages 10 and up, and mountain biking is for ages 12 and up, as the resort's own site says.

In the afternoon, the swimming pool is a good place to rest after the river, and the library and board games are there for a quiet hour. Yoga and therapy by appointment are also offered, which suits a guest who wants a calm hour after a hard morning. The resort's own site also mentions a private aarti every Saturday, which is a nice evening touch if your stay covers a Saturday.

In the evening, dinner at White Water Cafe, with the river in view, is an easy end to the day. The resort's own site says the estate has a poolside venue, a Green Deck, a Mango Deck and a Main Cafe Deck for gatherings, so groups can eat together in the open air. After dinner, a walk on the hillside, with the forest sounds around you, is a good way to sleep well.

If you have a second day at Atali Ganga, try a different activity from the first day: rafting one day, and the ropes course and climbing the next, or a guided nature hike instead of the river. The resort's own site lists mountain biking as well, for ages 12 and up, so an older child or an adult can try that on the second day. A second day also lets you use the pool and the library properly, without rushing.

Amenities

Most popular amenities

These are the amenities confirmed on the hotel's own website. Anything not listed here means we could not confirm it from the official site, so we have not written it.

Location

Where it is, and what is near

Rishikesh is the yoga capital of the world, on the banks of the Ganges where the river is still green and fast. The hotels on this page are in and around Rishikesh town, near the ghats and Tapovan. From here, the bridges, the ghats and the cafes are easy to reach on foot or by a short taxi ride.

If this is your first time in Rishikesh, these are the places most people visit: Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula, the two suspension bridges over the Ganges; Triveni Ghat, where the evening aarti happens; and the Beatles Ashram, with its painted walls in the forest. Tapovan, on the upper side of town, is full of cafes, bakeries and yoga schools.

We have not written distances here on purpose. Hillside roads and bridge crossings change travel time a lot, so a fixed number would go out of date fast. Ask your driver or your hotel for the time on the day you travel.

Rishikesh is also the base for river rafting, which runs on the Ganges above the town. The rafting season usually runs from September to June, and the river is closed during the monsoon. Book rafting through a licensed operator, and always wear the life jacket they give you.

Getting here

How to reach the hotel

Most guests reach Rishikesh by road from Delhi, through Haridwar. The drive runs on the highway to Haridwar, then follows the river upstream to Rishikesh. Cheapcab runs Delhi to Rishikesh taxis, and the route pages on this site show the fare.

The nearest airport is at Dehradun, and the nearest big railway station is at Haridwar. From either one, a taxi ride takes you to Rishikesh town or Tapovan.

Keep your hotel's name and address ready on your phone, and share it with your driver before you start. Tapovan lanes and the bridge areas can be confusing for a first-time driver, and a phone address saves a lot of back-and-forth at the end of a long journey.

Best time

Best time to visit Rishikesh

The best time to visit Rishikesh is from September to November, and again from February to April. The weather is pleasant, the river is good for rafting, and you can walk around the ghats and bridges without getting tired. These are also the busiest months, so book your hotel a few weeks ahead.

December and January bring cool weather and quiet mornings. It is a good time for yoga and for slow days by the river, but pack a warm jacket for the evenings.

May and June bring hot weather in the plains, but Rishikesh stays a little cooler than Delhi because of the river and the hills. July and August bring rain, and rafting stops during the monsoon, so check before you plan adventure activities.

Good to know

Before you book

Cheapcab does not book hotels. You book a hotel on its own official website, using the button on this page. Prices, room types, check-in time and cancellation rules are all on the hotel's site, and they change with the season. Always read them there before you pay.

The photos on this page are from the hotel's official website, and the source link is given under the photo gallery. We do not use photos from booking sites or stock photo sites for hotels.

If you need a taxi to reach the hotel, or to go from Delhi to Rishikesh, you can book it from Cheapcab. The taxi fare and the hotel stay are separate. Your taxi driver will not charge you for the hotel, and the hotel will not charge you for the taxi.

One last practical tip for Rishikesh: like Haridwar, Rishikesh is strictly vegetarian, and alcohol is not served. The bridges are for walking, so cross them on foot and enjoy the river view. Carry a light jacket even in summer, as river evenings get cool, and wear comfortable shoes for the ghat steps.

Walking note: the resort's own site says the hillside layout means walking between your cottage, the cafe, the pool, the spa and the activity areas, with no golf carts and no TV in the rooms. Plan for that before you book, especially with small children or older guests.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

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Hotels are not included in the taxi fare — book them directly. Hotel photos unki official websites se li gayi hain.