A retreat built on roots that go deep,
and peaks worth climbing
Upper Tapovan, Rishikesh • Operations since October 2025
Meet the founder, certified yoga instructors, and the people who make Roots & Peaks one of Tapovan's most trusted boutique wellness retreats — from day one.
From a vision to a Himalayan home
Our Founder
"I wanted to create a place where people could arrive tired and leave transformed — not entertained."
Before Roots & Peaks, Abhishek Gupta spent years building and leading technology ventures, operating in fast-paced, high-growth environments where scale and efficiency were everything. But over time, he began to see what was often missing — spaces that allowed people to slow down, reset, and reconnect with themselves. What started as a personal search for balance gradually evolved into a deeper calling: to create a place where the precision of his professional journey could meet the stillness of the mountains.
Roots & Peaks is the vision of Abhishek Gupta, who set out to build something Tapovan was missing: a boutique property that took wellness seriously without taking the warmth out of hospitality. Abhishek chose Upper Tapovan deliberately — elevated above the bustle of the lower ghats, minutes from the sacred Ganga, surrounded by the stillness that only the Himalayas can offer.
The property opened in October 2025 with a clear intention: small groups, certified teachers, authentic Ayurvedic therapies, and sattvic food. Every decision — from the design of the yoga shala to the sourcing of ingredients at Café Hamsa — reflects the same conviction: that genuine rest and transformation require the right conditions, not just a nice room.
Abhishek personally oversees operations, guest experience, and the ongoing development of Roots & Peaks' retreat programmes. His belief is that a boutique retreat should feel like staying with someone who cares deeply — because it is.
Small by Design
Limited rooms and intimate group sizes ensure every guest receives personal attention — not a number on a booking sheet.
Certified Always
Every yoga instructor at Roots & Peaks holds a formal, internationally recognised certification. No exceptions.
Upper Tapovan's Quiet
We chose our location for its elevation, its silence, and its proximity to the Ganga — not for convenience or footfall.
Sattvic at Heart
Café Hamsa's menu, the retreat schedules, the daily rhythm — all designed around the yogic principle of clarity and lightness.
Certified yoga instructors
trained in authentic traditions
Our Teaching Team
Each instructor at Roots & Peaks holds a formal Yoga Alliance-registered or nationally recognised qualification. Their credentials, training lineages, and registration details are listed in full below.
Yoga Instructor · Ashtanga & Vinyasa Flow
International Standard
Uttarakhand, India
Rishikesh Yogashala · Regd. 102/2015
Arun Maan
200-Hr Ashtanga Vinyasa & Vinyasa Flow TTC · Yoga Alliance USA
Arun Maan completed an intensive teacher training programme at the Rishikesh Vinyasa Yoga School, one of Rishikesh's most respected Yoga Alliance-registered institutions. His training followed the international standards of Yoga Alliance USA, covering Ashtanga Vinyasa, Vinyasa Flow, anatomy, philosophy, and teaching methodology. Arun brings disciplined, dynamic energy to his classes while ensuring that each student moves safely and with awareness.
Certification Details
Yoga Instructor · Hatha Yoga
Somadrita Neog
6-Month Hatha Yoga Course · Yog Upasana, Rishikesh
Somadrita Neog is a certified Hatha Yoga practitioner recognised by Yog Upasana in Rishikesh, a nationally registered yoga institution. Her qualification covers both the theoretical and practical requirements of traditional yoga training, including asana practice, pranayama, philosophy, and Sanskrit nomenclature. Somadrita's teaching approach is grounded, methodical, and particularly welcoming for students new to Hatha practice.
Certification Details
Yoga Instructor · Traditional Hatha Yoga · RYT 200
Aditya Lekhwar
RYT 200 · 200-Hr Traditional Indian Hatha Yoga TTC · Yoga Alliance
Aditya Lekhwar is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) certified by Rishikesh Yogashala, a Yoga Alliance-registered school. His training focused on the authentic foundations of Traditional Indian Hatha Yoga under the guidance of Director Marnie Prasad (E-RYT 500, YACEP) — one of the highest credential levels in the Yoga Alliance system. Aditya's sessions blend classical alignment principles with a deep reverence for the traditional texts and philosophy that underpin the practice.
Certification Details
Yoga Alliance USA
Two of our three instructors trained at Yoga Alliance-registered schools (RYS). Arun Maan (Registry ID 148225) and Aditya Lekhwar (RYS ID 156297) hold Yoga Alliance-standard 200-hour certifications, recognised internationally.
Nationally Registered Yoga Institutions
Somadrita Neog's Hatha Yoga certification from Yog Upasana (Reg. No. UK05903|2022010119) is issued under a nationally registered institution in Uttarakhand, India — the state that is home to Rishikesh, the global yoga capital.
E-RYT 500 Supervised Training
Aditya Lekhwar's training at Rishikesh Yogashala was conducted under Director Marnie Prasad, who holds an E-RYT 500 designation (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, 500-hour level) with YACEP status.
Words from guests who have stayed with us
Guest Voices
Real reviews from guests — sourced from TripAdvisor and Google. Their words, unedited.
★★★★★
Verified Stay · TripAdvisor
"One of the best places to stay in Rishikesh. Well-maintained, clean, luxurious rooms. The staff hospitality was really helpful and humble. Don't forget Café Hamsa — a cherry on the top. Will visit next time also. Thanks Roots and Peaks!"
★★★★★
Google Review
"The location in Upper Tapovan is just perfect — away from the tourist rush but close enough to everything. The yoga sessions were genuine and the instructors very knowledgeable. Café Hamsa's food is exceptional. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a peaceful Rishikesh stay."
★★★★★
Google Review
"A wonderful boutique retreat. The rooms are clean, beautifully designed, and the mountain views from the terrace are simply breathtaking. The yoga shala is well-equipped and the retreat schedule felt very thoughtfully planned. This is exactly what Rishikesh should feel like."
"We did not build Roots & Peaks to be the biggest retreat in Rishikesh.
We built it to be the one people remember."
Abhishek Gupta, Founder — Roots & Peaks
Built with intention,
from the first day
How We Got Here
Roots & Peaks is a young property — but the thought behind it is not. Here is how we got to where we are.
Pre-Launch · 2024–2025
The Vision Takes Shape
Abhishek Gupta selects the Secret Waterfall Road property in Upper Tapovan for its elevated position, proximity to the Ganga, and the quiet that so few properties in Rishikesh can genuinely offer. Months of thoughtful preparation: yoga shala design, instructor recruitment, retreat programme architecture, and kitchen setup for Café Hamsa.
October 2025
Roots & Peaks Opens
The property opens to guests with a certified teaching team in place, three structured retreat programmes (3-day, 7-day, and 14-day), Ayurvedic wellness therapies, and Café Hamsa serving sattvic, vegetarian, and multi-cuisine meals. First guests arrive from India and abroad.
Late 2025 – Present
First Reviews & Recognition
Within weeks of opening, Roots & Peaks receives its first TripAdvisor reviews with 5-star ratings. Guests highlight the quality of the rooms, the warmth of the staff, and Café Hamsa as standout experiences. Corporate wellness retreat enquiries begin arriving.
2026 & Beyond
Growing Intentionally
Retreat capacity is deliberately kept small. The focus is on deepening what already works — refining programmes, building the guest community, and ensuring every person who comes to Roots & Peaks leaves having genuinely rested and reconnected.
Why Tapovan
"Upper Tapovan is not on the tourist map.
That is exactly why we chose it."
The decision to locate Roots & Peaks in Upper Tapovan — rather than the more visited lower Tapovan or the ghats area — was intentional. Upper Tapovan sits 4 km from Lakshman Jhula, away from the noise and the commerce that has come to define parts of Rishikesh.
Here, mornings begin with birdsong, not motorbikes. The Himalayan air is genuinely clean. The Ganga is close enough to walk to. And the silence — the kind that a serious yoga practice actually requires — is not a feature. It is simply what this place is.
Ready to experience
Roots & Peaks?
Begin Here
Book a yoga retreat, plan a private stay, or simply reach out.
Our team responds within 24 hours.