Anand Mahindra is quite vocal about his favourite tourist spots, cities, hidden gems and restaurants. Recently, he got nostalgic about his filmmaking days in Rishikesh and the Chotiwala Restaurant, where he used to eat back in the day. Here’s what he said.
Anand Mahindra Remembers His Filmmaking Days In Rishikesh
Rishikesh…
These pictures take me straight back to my filmmaking days
Chotiwala restaurant was practically my canteen while I was making my thesis film.
And I’d head up into the hills behind Swargashram to film the sadhu, Bankhandi Baba.Haven’t been back for a while. But Rishikesh seems to be getting quite a makeover! New riverfront walkways, spruced-up public spaces.
A welcome facelift for a town where nature has always done most of the decorating.
But I just hope that, amid all the changes, Rishikesh holds on to its soul.
Time to go back and see for myself…
#SundayWanderer
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) October 18, 2026
Anand Mahindra, an Indian billionaire and the Chairman of the Mahindra Group, shared his memories of Rishikesh on social media and talked about how the city is changing. He got nostalgic about his days as a student when he worked on a thesis film in the holy city. The iconic Chotiwala Restaurant was practically his canteen. The restaurant with a live mascot has been operating since 1958, and still attracts hundreds of people every day. It offers a purely vegetarian menu featuring thalis, South Indian food, lassi and more.
In his post on X, Anand Mahindra also mentioned that he still remembers heading up to the hills behind Swargashram to film the sadhus, including Bankhandi Baba. The chairman wrote that he had not visited Rishikesh in a while, but the place seemed to be getting quite a “makeover”. There are new riverfront walkways, spruced-up public spaces and a “welcome facelift for a town where nature has always done most of the decorating,” he wrote.
Also Read: Anand Mahindra Praises Kota’s Chambal Riverfront; Says, “Good Grief, It’s Real!”
Holy City To A Global Hub For Adventure
It’s true that Rishikesh has changed a lot over the years. The city, which was once considered a quiet and holy town, is now a well-known global hub for adventure and wellness. Decades ago, sages and older pilgrims came here to meditate by the River Ganga. But today, it is packed with young travellers, modern cafes and busy markets.
Anand Mahindra ended his post by wishing, “I just hope that, amid all the changes, Rishikesh holds on to its soul.” And honestly, we wish the same. He also wrote, “Time to go back and see for myself.”
Netizens also reminisced about their Rishikesh holidays in the comments section. One user wrote, “Some places seem to hold a special piece of our soul,” while another commented, “Chotiwala as your canteen is the most Rishikesh flex possible. No Michelin star beats that.”
Also Read: Bajrang Setu In Rishikesh To Introduce Entry Fee For Tourists; Here’s What You’ll Pay
Have you ever visited Rishikesh? Do you also agree with Anand Mahindra that the city has changed a lot?
Cover Image Courtesy: @anandmahindra/X
FAQs
What is Rishikesh known for?
Rishikesh is known for its River Ganga, yoga, wellness and adventure activities.
Why is Chotiwala Restaurant famous in Rishikesh?
Chotiwala Restaurant is known for its vegetarian food, long-standing legacy, and the iconic live mascot.
What can you do in Rishikesh?
You can visit temples, explore the riverfront, try adventure activities, attend yoga sessions, and enjoy local food.
