Vashishta Gufa
A cave shrine on the Ganges along the Badrinath road, associated with Sage Vashishtha and used for meditation.
Overview
Vashishta Gufa is a quiet riverside cave shrine upriver of Rishikesh. This guide covers its legend, access and what we could not verify.
Vashishta Gufa is a cave temple on the bank of the Ganges on the Haridwar–Rishikesh–Badrinath road in the Shivpuri range, about 25 km from Rishikesh per Show Caves. It is named for Sage Vashishtha, who is said to have settled here with his wife after Goddess Ganga refused his attempt to end his life in the river. The entrance is a small building at the base of a cliff; inside, the back of the building opens into a small cave holding a Shiva lingam.
Show Caves says it has been maintained since 1930 by the Swami Purshottamanand Society, is open daily all year with no entry fee, is lit electrically and allows photography. It is wheelchair accessible according to that page. The cave is popular for meditation and can draw large groups. Visitors are expected to remove footwear and dress modestly. We found no official timings; a search snippet mentioned a mid-day closure, which is unverified.
Commons describes it as roughly 18 km from Rishikesh, so reported distances vary.
Entry fees
Entry
Free
Needs verification
Free per one secondary source; donations at the shrine are voluntary (assumed, unverified).
We only show an amount when a source backs it. Prices change, so confirm locally before you go.
Opening hours
Opening hours have not been confirmed by a reliable source yet.
Reported open daily all year; no official timings found.
One search snippet mentioned a 12–3 pm closure; unverified.
Visitor information
- Best time to visit
- October to March (unverified)
- Best time of day
- Early morning
- How long to spend
- 1–2 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Families
- Suitable for families
Good to know
- Remove footwear
- Dress modestly
- Keep quiet in the cave
Location
Vashistha Gufa, Haridwar–Rishikesh–Badrinath Road, Shivpuri Range, Uttarakhand 249192
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
Photos
Outside view of the cave shrine. Photo: Lalith Reddy L V / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entry fee for Vashishta Gufa?
Show Caves says there is no entry fee; no official source was found.
How far is it from Rishikesh?
Show Caves says 25 km on the Badrinath road; a Commons description says roughly 18 km.
Can you meditate in the cave?
The cave is popular for meditation per Show Caves; follow any rules posted at the site.
Information sources
Where the facts on this page come from, and what still needs confirming.
Information last checked 7 October 2026
Not yet confirmed
- distance from Rishikesh (18 vs 25 km)
- timings
- free entry
Not available yet
- coordinates (no sourced figure)
- official timings
- more photos
- Show Caves – Vashistha Gufa · Travel site
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