- Dehradun, Uttarakhand
- Open 24/7, 365 Days
- 4.9/5 (228 Google Reviews)
- 5000+ Happy Customers
Dehradun to Bhimtal Taxi Service
Quick answer: Bhimtal is about 305 km from Dehradun and takes 7 to 8 hours: plains to Haldwani, then a 22 km climb that is gentler than the one to Nainital. It is the largest lake in Kumaon, with an island in the middle and an aquarium on it, and it has what Nainital has lost — room. Sattal is 8 km, Naukuchiatal 4 km, Nainital 22 km up the hill when you want it. Fares depend on vehicle and whether you need a one-way drop or a round trip — the table below is live from our rate desk. Call 7830211223 to confirm.
How much does a Dehradun to Bhimtal taxi cost?
Private cab fares for the Dehradun to Bhimtal route. Every rate below is for the whole vehicle, not per seat.
| Vehicle | Seats | One-way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Dzire / Etios Sedan | 4 + driver | ₹5,499 | ₹7,499 |
| Maruti Ertiga SUV | 6 + driver | ₹6,499 | ₹8,499 |
| Toyota Innova SUV | 7 + driver | ₹7,999 | ₹11,499 |
Included: vehicle, fuel and driver allowance. Extra: tolls, state permits, parking, and on hill routes any night halt charge. Fares are confirmed on call before pickup — nothing is added afterwards.
Why people are choosing Bhimtal over Nainital
Nainital on a long weekend is a queue: for the Mall, for parking, for the boat. Bhimtal is 22 km lower and 20 years behind, in the good sense. The lake is bigger, the shore is open, the hotels have gardens, and you can walk the whole circuit in an hour without stepping into traffic. When you want Nainital, it is half an hour up the road.
The drive is the Nainital drive minus the last climb: Haridwar, Najibabad, Kashipur, Haldwani, then up from Kathgodam and left at Bhowali junction instead of right. That saves half an hour on the road and rather more on arrival.
The road
- Haridwar → Najibabad → Kashipur — 200 km of plains, breakfast at Najibabad
- Haldwani, Kathgodam (280 km) — the foothills
- Kathgodam → Bhimtal — 22 km, a gentle climb
- 5 am start reaches the lake for a late lunch
At the lake
- The island and its aquarium, by boat
- Bhimeshwar temple on the shore, from the Pandavas' time by legend
- Boating and the lakeside walk
- Hidimba Parvat and the Karkotaka temple walk above
The other lakes
- Naukuchiatal — 4 km, nine corners, paragliding
- Sattal — 8 km, seven linked lakes in oak forest, birds
- Nainital — 22 km up
- Kainchi Dham — 25 km via Bhowali
Booking shape
- Two or three nights with day trips in the same cab
- Corbett on the way in or out — Ramnagar is a 35 km detour from Kashipur
- One-way drop if you are returning by train from Kathgodam
- Sedan is fine; Innova for four or more
Season
All year. March to June and September to November are the settled months; October and November give the clearest water and the emptiest shore. Winter is cold and bright, with snow on the peaks above but rarely at the lake. Monsoon is green and quiet and the road is fine; we allow an extra half hour.
No hill gate, no night restriction. A late-morning departure still reaches Bhimtal by evening, though we prefer the plains before the afternoon heat in May and June.
What the Dehradun to Bhimtal fare includes — and what it doesn't
Every quote is for the whole car, confirmed on the phone before pickup. Nothing is added afterwards that was not on this list.
✓ Included
- The vehicle, the driver and fuel for the booked trip
- Driver allowance on outstation trips
- Pickup from your door, hotel, station or the airport
- Short stops on the way for tea, food or a washroom
- Flight tracking on airport pickups — a late landing is not waiting time
- Phone and WhatsApp support for the whole trip
✗ Charged at actuals
- Tolls, state entry taxes and permit fees
- Parking, where a stop needs it
- Driver's night halt on multi-day hill trips, where it applies
- Extra kilometres or hours beyond what was booked
- On a one-way drop, tolls and taxes on the car's return to base
- Entry tickets, meals and hotels — yours to choose
Full terms, including refunds and waiting time, are on the cancellation policy page.
Getting from Dehradun to Bhimtal: taxi, bus or train
An honest look at the alternatives, because the right answer is not always a taxi.
| Option | Time | Door to door | Luggage | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private taxi | 7–8 hours, leaving when you choose | Yes | Whatever fits the car | Families, groups, luggage, odd hours, and anyone who wants to stop on the way |
| Bus | UTC buses from Dehradun ISBT to Haldwani and Nainital, typically 8–10 hours with stops. | |||
| Train | Kathgodam is the railhead for the Nainital hills; there are overnight trains from Dehradun, then a taxi uphill from Kathgodam. Check the current timetable. | |||
On hill routes the taxi's real advantage is control: you decide the start time, the stops and the pace, and the same driver is there for the return.
Which car to book for Dehradun to Bhimtal
Count the suitcases before you count the people — luggage decides the car more often than passengers do.
| Car | Best for | Our take on this route |
|---|---|---|
| Swift Dzire / sedan | Up to 3 adults, light bags | Fine on tarmac hill roads; low on ground clearance for the last rough kilometres and tight on luggage for a multi-day trip. |
| Maruti Ertiga | Family of 4–5 | The usual pick for hill routes: more room, higher stance, still economical on fuel. |
| Toyota Innova / Crysta | 5–6 adults with luggage | The car for long hill days — comfortable over 7–8 hours, and the one to book for elderly passengers or a Char Dham-style multi-day run. |
| Tempo Traveller / Urbania | Groups of 9–17 | For pilgrim and family groups. Ask us about the road: on some upper stretches a 12-seater is the sensible limit. |
Good to know about Bhimtal
Bhimtal is a quieter Kumaon lake town about 22 km beyond Nainital via Bhowali — a calmer base than Nainital, with a larger lake and a small island at its centre.
- The lake is bigger and less crowded than Naini lake, with a central island aquarium — good for a slower, family stay.
- It is the natural base for the lake cluster: Naukuchiatal, Sattal and Mukteshwar are all short hops away.
- Kathgodam, the nearest railhead, is about 24 km; the road runs via Haldwani and Bhowali.
- A sedan handles it, but an Innova is more comfortable over the long plains-plus-hill day from Dehradun.
How to book a Dehradun to Bhimtal taxi
Call or WhatsApp 7830211223 with the date, pickup time and address (or flight / train number), the drop point, and how many people and bags.
We confirm the car, one-way or round trip, and everything included, on the same call. What we say is what you pay.
You get the driver's name and number before the trip. The driver calls ahead and is at the door at the booked time.
Cancellation: more than 24 hours before pickup, the trip cost minus 15% is refunded; within 24 hours, no refund; if we cannot provide the car, full refund.
Dehradun to Bhimtal taxi — questions people ask
How far is Bhimtal from Dehradun?
About 305 km by road and 7 to 8 hours, via Haridwar, Najibabad, Kashipur and Haldwani, then 22 km up from Kathgodam.
Is Bhimtal better than Nainital?
Quieter, bigger lake, easier parking, gardens instead of a mall. Nainital is 22 km up the road for the day you want it. Many families now stay at Bhimtal and visit Nainital rather than the other way round.
Can we see Sattal and Naukuchiatal in the same trip?
Easily. Naukuchiatal is 4 km and Sattal 8 km from Bhimtal. A morning covers both, with the same driver.
Can we combine Bhimtal with Jim Corbett?
Yes. Ramnagar is a 35 km detour from Kashipur on the way. A night or two at Corbett then on to Bhimtal is a natural plan.
Is there a train option for the return?
Kathgodam, 22 km below Bhimtal, has trains to Delhi and Dehradun. A one-way drop to Bhimtal and a train back is a common shape; we can also drop you at Kathgodam station on the return.
Related Kumaon lake routes
