Rise early in Pune and head to Pune Airport (Lohegaon) or Pune Station for the fastest budget options: book a low-cost early flight with a quick Delhi connection (look for IndiGo/SpiceJet deals) or board an overnight express/AC sleeper that gets you north quickly. Enjoy a light breakfast at the terminal — a fresh idli or masala pav and chai — and use this calm window to confirm Dehradun onward transfers and download offline maps for Rishikesh.
If flying, you'll likely change planes in Delhi and arrive into Dehradun in the afternoon; take an economical pre-paid taxi or shared Volvo from Jolly Grant Airport to Dehradun city center and pause for a budget lunch at Kalsang or a local dhaba for thali-style North Indian food. If you arrive by train, stroll past Raja Ji Park or stop at Paltan Bazaar for low-cost snacks, pick up bottled water and warm layers, and finalize a shared cab or tempo-traveller seat to Rishikesh for the next day.
Spend a relaxed evening near Dehradun Railway Station or a budget guesthouse—sample street-side momos or chowmein and soak in the foothills' cool air while preparing luggage for the short transfer to Rishikesh. Use this time to compare bus/jeep prices for the next morning (private shared taxis from Dehradun to Rishikesh are frequent and cheap) and rest early so you can make the most of the quick last-mile journey tomorrow.
Wake early and take a shared taxi/tempo or the Uttarakhand Roadways bus from Dehradun (ISBT or Paltan Bazaar) toward Rishikesh — the 1-1.5 hour ride along NH334 is scenic and economical. Stop at Tapkeshwar Temple or the small roadside cafés near Clement Town for a warming chai and paratha before you cross into the Ganges valley, and confirm guesthouse or ashram check-in on arrival.
Arrive in Rishikesh and settle into a budget riverside guesthouse around Laxman Jhula or Ram Jhula; grab a simple dal-roti thali at a café like Pure Soul or Chotiwala for authentic, wallet-friendly fare. Spend the afternoon wandering the suspension bridges, browsing spiritual bookshops, and visiting the Beatles Ashram ruins for photos and easy walks along the Ganga promenade.
As dusk falls, join the Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat or Parmarth Niketan — sit with locals and fellow travelers to watch the lamps and chant—many guesthouses can point you to quieter vantage points. Finish the night with steaming masala chai or momos at a nearby café and a restful early night to recharge after travel, or enjoy live acoustic music at one of the bridge-area cafés if you have energy left.