What is not so good about Joshimath?

Tough terrains, with inhospitable climate in winters

What is famous about Joshimath?

One of the safest places with almost negligible crimes. The locals are very honest and friendly.

Joshimath Tourism (2025) - Uttarakhand > Top Places, Travel Guide

Joshimath Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1-2 days

Best Time: April to November Read More

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"Spiritual base for treks and sacred journeys"

Joshimath Tourism

Joshimath, also known as Jyotirmath, is a hill town perched at the height of 6150 feet in Chamoli district of Gharwal region of Uttarakhand. Joshimath serves as an important religious centre for Hindu pilgrims and lies in the proximity to one of the four 'maths' founded by Adi Guru Shri Shankaracharya in the 8th century. This 'math' dedicated to the holy text of Hindus called Atharva Veda.

Overlooking the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Dhauliganga at Vishnu Prayag, Joshimath is also the winter home of Lord Badri as the idol is shifted from Badrinath to Joshimath during winters.

Nestled amid the lap of the snow-capped Himalayas, Joshimath is also known as the 'gateway for trekking' with treks Valley of Flowers Trek located is close to Joshimath. Joshimath is also a popular gateway for many places of religious importance.

Ropeway

Ghangaria

Nanda Devi National Park

Tapovan

Narsingh Temple

Kalpavriksha

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Joshimath Travel Packages

Compare quotes from upto 3 travel agents for free

10 Days / 9 Nights

Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath Yatra from Delhi

Haridwar(1N) → Uttarkashi(2N) → Guptkashi(1N) → Kedarnath(1N) → Rudraprayag(1N) → Badrinath(1N) → Joshimath(1N) → Rishikesh(1N)

$703/person

9 Days / 8 Nights

10 Days Group Trek Tour to Valley of Flowers & ...

Delhi(2N) → Rishikesh(1N) → Joshimath(1N) → Ghangaria(3N) → Srinagar(1N)

$473/person

5 Days / 4 Nights

Badrinath and Joshimath Yatra from Haridwar

Joshimath(1N) → Badrinath(2N) → Rudraprayag(1N)

$187/person

8 Days / 7 Nights

Kedarnath Badrinath Tour Package from Delhi

Haridwar(1N) → Guptakashi(1N) → Kedarnath(1N) → Rudraprayag(1N) → Badrinath(1N) → Joshimath(1N) → Rishikesh(1N)

$ 348

21% off

$272/person

3 Days / 2 Nights

Auli Budget Package

Haridwar(0N) → Joshimath(2N)

$111/person

3 Days / 2 Nights

Joshimath Tour Package From Haridwar

Haridwar(0N) → Joshimath(2N)

$99/person

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Adventure Activities in Joshimath

Joshimath has some exciting adventure activities to offer its visitors. Asia’s longest cable car - the Gondola - offers a scenic ride from Auli to Joshimath. There are also many camps organized in and around Joshimath which have a plethora of different activities to choose from. These include trekking along the beautiful Himalayan mountain paths, cycling routes, rock and rope climbing activities, campouts as well as river rafting.

Legend

Joshimath or Jyotirmath is a holy monastery, and one of the four cardinal institutions set up by the great Indian philosopher Sri Adi Shankara, who is believed to have contributed immensely to the underlying thoughts and principles of Hinduism, and who is credited with the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. According to Adi Shankara, Joshimath is in charge of the Atharvaveda, or ‘the procedures of everyday life'.It is believed that Adi Shankara himself placed the deity of Lord Narasimha in the famous Narasimha temple here.The temple is also one of the 108 Divya Desams in the country, which are Vishnu temples worshipped by the Alvar clan of Tamil poets.

Suggested Itinerary for Joshimath

Joshimath is a place packed with nature's beauty in abundance with a spiritual aura about it. Mostly known for its ancient temples, begin your one day at Joshimath with an early rise and a mindless walk amid nature. After a hot breakfast at the hotel, your first stop should be Narsingh Temple, one of the famous temples in the town. Kalpavrikshan and Gari Bhavani temple should be next on the list. Break for lunch at any nearby restaurant and move on either to Hemkund Sahib or you can go to Tapovan. Nanda Devi National Park is also situated in the area. However, you will need almost a full day to explore its rich flora and fauna. Other than that the place is like a beautiful piece of art that will continue to enchant you.

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How to Reach Joshimath

How to Reach Overview

Joshimath is well connected to the rest of India only by roadways. Regular bus services ply to and fro the city of Joshimath. There is no direct flight or rail connectivity, however, to Joshimath. Some 268 km away is the Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, which is the nearest airport that connects Joshimath to the rest of India. The nearest commercial railway station accessible to Joshimath is in Rishikesh which is 251 km away from Joshimath.

How to reach Joshimath by flight

The nearest airbase to Joshimath is Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun which is located around 270 km away from the town. The airport is well connected to Delhi via regular flights. Taxis are easily available outside the airport till Joshimath.

How to reach Joshimath by road

Situated on the NH58, Joshimath is connected to its several neighbouring cities as well as other major cities in the country via a well-maintained network of roads. There are several private as well as state owned buses that ply to and fro to Joshimath from cities like Pauri, Karnaprayag, Srinagar, Chamoli, Rishikesh, Rudraprayag, Ukhimath, etc. To travel till Rishikesh, there are buses that run from ISBT Kashmiri Gate on a regular basis.

How to reach Joshimath by train

Rishikesh serves as the nearest railway station to Joshimath about 250 km away on NH-58. This railways station connects the city to several major cities of India via regular train services. You can hire a taxi or even a bus from the town of Rishikesh.

Local transport in Joshimath

Joshimath is a small town where one can feel its spirit and feel its aura by best travelling on foot. However, for travelling in and around the town, taxi or private cars are the best option. They are very convenient and comfortable considering the rocky terrain of the area. But before visiting make sure you check the weather condition prevailing in the region and avoid travelling during monsoon and winters owing to heavy rainfall and snowfall respectively.

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FAQs on Joshimath

What is the best way to reach Joshimath?

What are the places near Joshimath?

The top places near to Joshimath are Auli which is 2 km from Joshimath, Valley of flowers which is located 20 km from Joshimath, Nainital which is located 130 km from Joshimath, Badrinath which is located 22 km from Joshimath, Madhyamaheshwar which is located 34 km from Joshimath

What are the things to do in Joshimath?

The top things to do in Joshimath are Ropeway, Ghangaria, Nanda Devi National Park, Tapovan, Narsingh Temple, Kalpavriksha. You can see all the places to visit in Joshimath here

How much does a package cost for Joshimath?

The packages for Joshimath start at INR 10000 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What is the local food in Joshimath?

Joshimath serves predominantly North Indian cuisine at several dhabas and restaurants. You will also find few places offering South Indian delicacies as well. However, there are very few restaurants that serve Chinese and Continental food.
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What is the best time to visit Joshimath?

April to November is the best time to visit Joshimath. Winter season in Joshimath experiences nail-biting cold waves accompanied by heavy snowfall. Monsoon season also receives heavy rainfall and thus is not a good time to visit the town which may result in landslides. However, summers in the city are delightful being mildly cold. Therefore April to November is recommended as an ideal time to explore the natural beauty and spiritual essence of the town.

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Who should visit Joshimath?

Joshimath is one of those less explored hill stations of Uttarakhand that you will love to explore. It is for all kinds of tourists as it is not only a pilgrimage centre but also an adventure sports hub. It is a getaway to many Himalayan expeditions, trekking trails and camping. It is also a stopover for people visiting Auli. Ideal for families and couples.

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Joshimath Reviews

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Divya Sachdeva

on Tapovan 7 years ago

Tapovan is the best place for a nice and quiet weekend getaway. The place offers everything from some playful time with your family to a lot of places for having a romantic candlelight dinner with yo (Read More)ur partner. It became my go-to destination from the very first time I went there. The place offers a lot of outdoor activities like hiking, trekking, sightseeing, etc. The best part is that if you are not an outdoor person, you can just sit back and relax in the lavish resorts there and spend some quality time as well. The last advantage is that there are many religious attractions present there as well which makes it a suitable travel destination for the elderly in your family too. It’s the whole package.

Kumar Kislay

7 years ago

- Make sure you carry a camera to capture the cultural heritage and nature's beauty of the city.
- Avoid travelling the city during winters or monsoon owing to heavy snowfall and rainfall.
- Ca (Read More)rry a pair of sport shoes for there is lot of walking and trekking around the town.

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Joshimath

Joshimath Travel Essentials

"Spiritual base for treks and sacred journeys"

Joshimath Tourism

Places To Visit In Joshimath

Joshimath Travel Packages

Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath Yatra from Delhi

10 Days Group Trek Tour to Valley of Flowers & ...

Badrinath and Joshimath Yatra from Haridwar