Route to Badrinath at a glance
RishikeshStart at dawn
Devprayag≈ 70 km
Rudraprayag≈ 140 km
Karnaprayag≈ 170 km
Joshimath≈ 250 km
Badrinath≈ 295 km
Most pilgrims break the journey for a night in Rudraprayag, Pipalkoti or Joshimath.
Badrinath by bus
From RishikeshEarly morning buses
Time11-12 hrs
Uttarakhand Roadways and GMOU buses run from Rishikesh and Haridwar to Badrinath during the yatra season. Many reach Joshimath on day one and Badrinath the next morning.
- Book a day ahead in May and June.
Badrinath by train
Rishikesh (Yog Nagari)≈ 295 km
Haridwar≈ 320 km
Take a train to Haridwar or Rishikesh, then continue by bus or taxi.
- Plan to reach Rishikesh the evening before you set off.
Badrinath by air
Jolly Grant≈ 315 km
Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport. In season, private helicopter packages fly pilgrims from Dehradun to Badrinath; book only through authorised operators.
- Beware of fake helicopter booking websites.
Badrinath by car or taxi
From Delhi≈ 525 km · 2 days
The Char Dham highway is wide and mostly good, but long. Taxis from Rishikesh or Haridwar are easy to hire for the round trip.
- Avoid night driving in the mountains.
- Keep fuel topped up after Joshimath.
