Since 1956, the sale of meat, fish, and eggs has been banned in Rishikesh. In 2004, the Supreme Court upheld the ban on eggs. Traditional food in Rishkesh is Garhwali cuisine with common dishes including daal, gahat, and phaanu. Lentils, legumes, millet, barley, buckwheat, and vegetables are the primary ingredients. Only select spices are used. Mustard oil is the common cooking oil. Restaurant thali and street vendors selling samosas and chaat are common.

Rishikesh, also spelt as Hrishikesh, is a municipal corporation and tehsil of Dehradun district of the Indian state Uttarakhand. It is situated on the right bank of the Ganges river and is a pilgrimage town for Hindus, with ancient sages and saints meditating there in search of higher knowledge.

In February 1968, the Beatles visited Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh, attracted by his transcendental meditation. The Beatles composed numerous songs during their time at the ashram, many of which appear on the band's self-titled double album, also known as the "White Album". Western fans arrived seeking similar experiences, resulting in new yoga and meditation centers that fueled Rishikesh's nickname as the "Yoga Capital of the World".