📅Since 1958
66+ Years of Service
🌊Ganga Banks
Swargashram, Ram Jhula
🍽️Multi-Cuisine Thali
North Indian, South Indian, Garhwali
Chotiwala is not merely a restaurant recommendation - it is a Rishikesh landmark. Established on March 18, 1958, by brothers Dinesh and Shailesh Agarwal on the banks of the Ganga in Swargashram, it was for decades the most popular dining destination in the city and has become as much a part of the Rishikesh experience as the bridges and the ghats themselves. At the entrance, a man dressed with a long painted ponytail and ceremonial face paint sits in a raised chair as the Chotiwala character - visible from the street, impossible to miss, and reportedly one of the most-photographed single figures in Rishikesh. He operates from 11:30 AM to 8 PM. The restaurant is not difficult to find: it sits on the main path through Swargashram toward Parmarth Niketan, 100–200m from Ram Jhula.
The menu covers North Indian, South Indian, Bengali, Garhwali, Chinese, and international dishes - a wider range than most Rishikesh restaurants maintain. The thali is the standard order: a platter featuring dal, sabzi, paneer, rice, rotis, raita, papad, salad, and a cold drink, substantial enough for two people who haven't eaten for a while. The Veg Punjabi Thali is the most requested item. Desserts - gulabjamun, kheer, rasmalai - are specifically praised across reviews and hold up well even when the main courses receive mixed notes.
The two-Chotiwala situation - what to know
In 1995, after 37 years, the founding brothers separated. Both now run adjacent restaurants in Swargashram bearing the same Chotiwala name - and both claim to be the original. Two restaurants, side by side, same name, same history, actively competing. This is a well-documented fact confirmed across multiple independent sources. The listed phone number (+91 135 243 0070) is for the original family-managed branch. Most visitors eat at one without knowing the other exists, and many accounts make no distinction between them - so reviews for both feed into the overall reputation of the name.
Honest note on food quality
Chotiwala's reputation rests on decades of history and its position as a Rishikesh institution rather than on consistent culinary excellence. Independent reviews from the last several years are mixed - some praise the thali as great value and good food; others find quality has declined from the restaurant's peak years and suggest street food nearby is better. The gulabjamun, kheer, and desserts receive more consistent praise than the main courses. Worth going at least once for the experience and the Chotiwala character; not necessarily the best food stop in Rishikesh on its own terms.
Practical details
Address: Swarg Ashram, Swargashram, Rishikesh 249304. Phone: +91-135-2430070. Near Ram Jhula, 100–200m from the bridge toward Parmarth Niketan. Strictly vegetarian, alcohol-free. Open through the day (approximately 11 AM – 8 PM). Two adjacent Chotiwala restaurants - both are family-run branches of the original. Upstairs air-conditioned section available at higher prices. Chotiwala character at entrance 11:30 AM – 8 PM.
