Rishikesh has long been known across the world as a hub of yoga and spiritual tourism, drawing thousands of visitors every year to the Ganga, its yoga schools and its natural beauty. But the town is now catching attention for another reason: its quirky cafes and restaurants. One of them, Tulsi Restaurant, has built a reputation not only for its food but also for its remarkably unusual interiors.
Located near the Laxman Jhula area, the restaurant grabs your attention at first glance. Visitors here do not get the feel of an ordinary cafe. Its biggest highlight is that the entire decor has been put together using waste material. That is exactly why tourists from across India and abroad make it a point to stop by, look around and spend time here.
A journey that began in 2019
Suraj, who runs the restaurant, says he started it in 2019. His goal was never just to open a cafe, but to show people how things usually dismissed as useless can be put to creative use again. With that thought in mind, he set out to turn waste into something worthwhile.
Junk reborn as decor
Step inside and you spot plenty of items most people would normally throw away as scrap. Instead of traditional wooden tables, old handcarts have been put to use. Old tyres have been shaped into benches, while worn-out utensils have been given a fresh identity as part of the decor.
Old woks and pans have been transformed into eye-catching lights. Rusted kadhais have been painted and reshaped into sinks. Empty glass bottles, too, now serve as decorative pieces brightening up the walls and corners. The result is a space that feels distinctly different and creative.
Less plastic, more care for the planet
Another standout feature is that the use of plastic has been almost entirely eliminated here. In fact, you will not even find plastic water bottles on the premises. Visitors deeply appreciate this effort to protect the environment and see it as a positive step.
At a time when conversations about environmental protection and sustainable living are growing around the world, efforts like these push people to think differently. Many tourists who visit share photos and videos of the place on social media, which has gradually turned it into a popular attraction. Every corner of the restaurant seems to carry one message: with a little creative thinking, any discarded object can be reused and given a new identity.
Not just the look, the food matters too
Suraj says the focus is not limited to the interiors; the quality of the food gets just as much attention. According to him, healthy food is given priority here over junk food. Items like peanut butter and several other spreads are prepared in-house rather than bought from outside, so that customers are served fresh and better food.
