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Route · Garhwal
The Alaknanda road: about 295 km from Rishikesh to Badrinath through Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Chamoli and Joshimath. Buses do it in one long day of 10–11 hours; by car most travellers break the journey at Joshimath or Pipalkoti.
Photo: Arpita Tripathy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsEvery way to go
| How | Time | Cost, indicative 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| UTC or GMOU bus | 10–11 h | ₹600–950 |
| Shared jeep, Joshimath to Badrinath | 1.5–2 h | ₹200–350 a seat |
| Private car | 10–12 h, better over 2 days | ₹9,000–12,000 one way |
Buses leave Rishikesh between about 4 am and 6 am and reach Badrinath by late afternoon. Book a seat a day ahead in May and June. Sit on the left side for the river and to stay away from the cliff drops on the right. If you miss the direct bus, take one to Joshimath and a shared jeep for the last 45 km.
From Joshimath's taxi stand, shared jeeps leave when full for Badrinath, passing Vishnuprayag and Govindghat. They run mainly in the morning; afternoon departures thin out. This is the easiest way to combine Badrinath with Auli or the Valley of Flowers.
A car lets you stop at the five prayags, the river confluences of the Alaknanda, and sleep at Joshimath or Pipalkoti halfway. In peak season, traffic is sometimes held at checkposts above Joshimath; start early.
At each end
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Where the Ganga leaves the hills and the yatra begins
Photo: Arpita Tripathy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Vishnu's shrine on the Alaknanda, and the village before Tibet
Questions
About 10–11 hours by bus and 10–12 hours by car without long stops. Most car travellers break the trip at Joshimath, Pipalkoti or Srinagar.
The road above Joshimath is closed in practice from late November to April, when Badrinath is snowbound and the temple is shut. Lower Joshimath and Auli stay reachable. Check current status before you travel.
About ₹600–950 on UTC and GMOU buses, depending on the bus. Shared jeeps from Joshimath add ₹200–350.
Yes. Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag and Nandprayag are on the main road, and Vishnuprayag is just above Joshimath. A private car makes stops easy.
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