Best month · Garhwal

Garhwal in October

Our favourite month. Clear skies, cold nights, golden grass on the bugyals and the best mountain views of the year from Chandrashila, Auli and Badrinath. The yatra is steady but calm, and hotels offer post-monsoon rates. Gangotri, Kedarnath and Yamunotri close around Diwali, which falls in October or November, so check the closing dates before you plan.

Weather: Rishikesh 17–31 °C; Badrinath 0–14 °C
Prices: Shoulder
Crowds: Medium
Best overall: Mar · May · Sep – Oct

Photo: Alok · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons

← September Garhwal all year November →

Where to go

Our picks for October

Photo: Alok · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons

2,700 m · Valley · Garhwal

Chopta & Tungnath

Meadows, rhododendron forest and the highest Shiva temple

Best Apr – May · Oct – Nov2–3 nights

Photo: Arpita Tripathy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons

3,300 m · Pilgrimage town · Garhwal

Badrinath & Mana

Vishnu's shrine on the Alaknanda, and the village before Tibet

Best May – Jun · Sep – Oct1–2 nights

Photo: Vaibhav 369 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons

2,800 m · Hill station · Garhwal

Auli & Joshimath

Ski slopes and meadows facing Nanda Devi, above Joshimath

Best Jan – Feb · May · Oct2–3 nights

Festivals

On in October

Festival calendar

Kedarnath kapat opening and closingOpening late April–May; closing on Bhai Dooj, late October–November (dates set by the temple calendar)Kedarnath

Trips

Trips at their best in October

Every Garhwal trip

Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons Comfort

Garhwal · 8 nights · sleeps to 3,583 m

Kedarnath, Tungnath and Badrinath by car

Private car with driver

From, per person₹54,000May · Oct

Photo: Paul Hamilton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Commons Comfort

Garhwal · 6 nights · sleeps to 3,100 m

Landour, Harsil apples and Gangotri

Private car with driver

From, per person₹52,000May – Jun · Sep – Oct

Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons Saver

Garhwal · 4 nights · sleeps to 2,700 m

Deoria Tal, Tungnath and Chandrashila

UTC and GMOU buses, shared jeeps and a shared taxi

From, per person₹11,500Apr – May · Oct – Nov

Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons Signature

Garhwal · 8 nights · sleeps to 3,583 m

Kedarnath by helicopter, Badrinath and Ananda

Private car with driver and helicopter shuttle

From, per person₹1,60,000May · Oct

Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons Signature

Garhwal · 6 nights · sleeps to 2,005 m

Taj Rishikesh and Mussoorie in comfort

Private car with driver

From, per person₹1,10,000Mar – Apr · Oct – Nov

Elsewhere in October

Other hives this month

KashmirBestBest Apr – Jun · Sep – Oct LadakhGoodBest Jun – Sep HimachalBestBest Apr – May · Oct – Nov Spiti & LahaulGoodBest Jun – Jul · Sep KumaonBestBest Mar – May · Oct – Nov NepalBestBest Mar – Apr · Oct – Nov Darjeeling & KalimpongBestBest Mar – May · Oct – Nov SikkimBestBest Mar – May · Oct – Nov BhutanBestBest Mar – Apr · Oct – Nov ArunachalBestBest Mar – Apr · Oct – Nov

Questions