Sivananda Ashram, on the west bank of the Ganges between Ram Jhula and the main town, is the original institutional centre of yoga in Rishikesh. It was founded in 1936 by Swami Sivananda, whose synthesis of Hatha yoga, Raja yoga, and Vedanta philosophy became one of the most widely taught yoga lineages in the world. The ashram remains an active community and residential spiritual centre.
Visitors can attend the morning and evening prayer ceremonies, take guided tours of the compound, and use the ashram library. The riverside setting is serene, with the ashram gardens extending to the Ganges bank. The famous yellow "Temple of Lord Sivananda" on the river is the main visual landmark. Long-stay residential programmes are available for serious practitioners; day visitors are generally welcome at the public events.