Joshimath: Badrinath Base, Auli Ropeway & Taxi Guide

Where Joshimath is

Joshimath sits in the Alaknanda valley in Chamoli district, at the meeting point of the roads to Badrinath, Auli and Hemkund Sahib. A joshimath taxi from Dehradun is how most travellers reach the town. From Dehradun it is about 286 km and around 8-8.5 hours by road, and the whole drive runs up the Alaknanda valley: through Rishikesh, Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag, then on through Karnaprayag and Chamoli to Joshimath. It is a long valley drive, and it is the road that every Badrinath pilgrim and every Auli skier takes.

The town is the last big town before Badrinath, and it shows. There are hotels, dhabas, fuel pumps and mechanics in the town, and it is where most Badrinath pilgrims spend the night before the last leg. Stay here for Badrinath darshan, for a day trip to Auli, or as you pass through the valley on the way to Badrinath or Hemkund Sahib.

Leave Dehradun by 5 am. The Chamoli to Joshimath stretch is done before the afternoon traffic controls, and you reach the town by evening with time to eat and sleep properly. That matters, because day two starts early.

Narsingh temple and the town

The Narsingh temple in Joshimath is one of the most important temples in the region, and it is the reason the town has its name. The temple is dedicated to Narsingh, the man-lion form of Vishnu, and it is one of the 108 Divya Desams. In winter, when Badrinath closes, the idol of Badrinath is brought here and worshipped at the Narsingh temple, so Joshimath becomes the winter seat of Badrinath.

The temple is in the old part of the town, and it is a quiet place outside the yatra season. Go here in the morning, and do the rest of the town afterwards. Joshimath town itself is small, and it is easy to walk around.

Tapovan, a short drive from the town, is known for its hot springs. The springs are simple pools, and they are a good stop on a day when you are not travelling.

Badrinath: 45 km on, gate-controlled in season

Badrinath is the reason most people come to Joshimath. The temple town is 45 km on from Joshimath, and the road to it is gate-controlled in the yatra season. A vehicle is allowed through the gates only at set times, so a day trip to Badrinath needs a plan for the gates.

The plan that works is simple. Sleep in Joshimath, leave early in the morning, do darshan at Badrinath by the afternoon, and return to Joshimath for the night. A day trip is comfortable, and you do not need a hotel in Badrinath.

Badrinath's opening and closing dates change every year, and the temple is open roughly from late April or early May until about November. The dates are announced only after the previous winter, so ask us on WhatsApp first and book after you know them. A traveller who arrives in winter needs to know that Badrinath is closed and that the idol is at Joshimath.

Auli: about 15 km by road or the ropeway from town

Auli is the ski resort above Joshimath, and it is the second reason people come to the town. From Auli, the ropeway runs down to Joshimath, and the drive is a short hill road. In winter, the resort is a skiing resort. In summer, Auli is a meadow with views of Nanda Devi. For the onward trip to the slopes, see our Dehradun to Auli taxi service.

Auli sits at about 2,800 metres, and it is a ski resort in winter and a meadow in summer. December to February is the skiing season, and the slopes are in the meadow when the snow comes. The ski season is short, and it depends on snow. Without snow, the resort is still worth a visit for the views, but it is not a skiing trip. The 4 km long ropeway, which was the longest in India on 5 March 2023, has been reported closed since January 2023, and the road is therefore the only way to get to Auli.

The sound plan is a day trip from Joshimath: up to Auli in the morning, a day on the slopes or the meadow, and back to Joshimath by the evening. The ropeway from Joshimath to Auli is one of the longest in India, and it is the way to go when the road is closed or the crowds are heavy.

Govindghat, Hemkund Sahib and the Valley of Flowers

Govindghat is 22 km from Joshimath, and it is the roadhead for two of the most famous treks in Uttarakhand, Hemkund Sahib and the Valley of Flowers. Govindghat is reached from Joshimath only by road, and there is no other way to get there. From Govindghat, the walk is 18 km and 1,670 metres of climbing to Hemkund Sahib, and it takes about five or six hours. The Valley of Flowers is a different trek, along a different valley.

These are treks, not drives, and they need their own plan. The trek from Govindghat to Ghangaria is 10 km and takes about four or five hours, and the trek from Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib is 6 km and takes about three hours. The walk on the day you reach the Valley of Flowers is a 3-4 km walk and takes an hour or two. The treks are long and steep, and they are not suitable for very young children, elderly people or anyone with breathing trouble.

The drive from Dehradun

Leave Dehradun by 5 am. The drive is around 8-8.5 hours, and the Chamoli to Joshimath stretch is done before the afternoon traffic sets in, so you reach Joshimath with daylight to spare.

In the monsoon, the Alaknanda valley road can be slow, and landslides can hold it for hours. In winter, the passes near Badrinath can be closed, and the drive is long in the dark.

The car matters on this route, because it is a long valley drive with a hill climb at the end. A Sedan is fine for two people with light bags. An Innova or Crysta is the car for four or more, for elderly passengers, and for anyone who wants the most comfortable ride over around 8-8.5 hours. For a group of nine or more, a Tempo Traveller can be arranged, but ask us about the road first.

Which car and what the taxi costs

The Joshimath fares are live from the Joshimath route page. A one-way private Sedan from Dehradun to Joshimath costs ₹8,099, an Ertiga ₹9,099 and an Innova ₹11,099, all for the whole car. Round trips cost ₹11,699, ₹13,099 and ₹15,899. Those figures are the Dehradun-Joshimath leg, and they cover the drive to the town. Badrinath, Auli and Govindghat runs from Joshimath are confirmed on call with the trip, because they depend on how many days you stay and which places you add.

Two or three people travelling light will find a Sedan does the Dehradun to Joshimath run well, and it keeps the fare lowest. A family of four or five usually picks the Ertiga for this valley climb: it has more legroom, more space for bags, and a higher stance for the hill road. The Innova is the car for five or six people, for elderly passengers, and for anyone who wants the most comfortable ride over an 8-8.5-hour drive. On this valley climb, what you pack settles the car choice more than how many of you travel. A three- or four-day trip means luggage for three or four days, plus warm layers for 2,800 metres at Auli, and a car that is too small at Dehradun is a problem you cannot fix in the Alaknanda valley.

Keep one car for the whole Joshimath trip instead of booking a one-way drop. Joshimath needs the same car and driver for the arrival, the Badrinath run, the Auli day and the return, and that only works if the car stays with you.

Best time to visit and how to book

The best months for Joshimath depend on why you are going. For Badrinath, the season runs roughly from late April or early May to November. For Auli skiing, the season is December to February. For a quieter trip, September and October are the months to choose.

To book, call or WhatsApp 7830211223 with your dates, how many people are travelling, how many nights you want in Joshimath, and whether you want Badrinath, Auli or Govindghat added. The booking desk will confirm the vehicle, the fare and the plan before you pay anything, and will tell you clear whether your dates work for the gates and the season. Book at least a week ahead in the yatra season. Book your Dehradun to Joshimath taxi with us and the high Himalaya is part of the same trip.