Haridwar to Badrinath by road — distance, route, and travel guide

Haridwar to Badrinath is approximately 320 km by road. The drive takes 10 to 12 hours without an overnight stop, though most travellers break the journey into two days.

Non-stop driving is rare on this route. Factor in one or two meal breaks, a fuel stop at Joshimath, and the inevitable slow section near any active BRO (Border Roads Organisation) construction zone. The road beyond Rishikesh is mountain terrain the entire way — single-lane or narrow two-lane for most of the distance.

For a comfortable trip, plan an overnight halt at Rudraprayag (roughly 165 km from Haridwar) or Joshimath (about 275 km from Haridwar). Staying at Joshimath also helps with acclimatisation — Badrinath sits at 3,133 m elevation, and Joshimath at roughly 1,875 m gives your body time to adjust.

Some experienced drivers who know the road do it in one long day, but only if they leave Haridwar by 4 AM.

The entire route follows NH-7 (formerly NH-58) along the Ganga and then Alaknanda river valleys. Here is a segment-by-segment breakdown with approximate distances.

Haridwar to Rishikesh — 24 km, about 45 minutes

A wide, well-maintained highway through the plains. The road is four-lane for most of this stretch. You leave the crowded temple town and cross into Rishikesh, the last major city before the mountains.

Rishikesh to Devprayag — 75 km, about 2.5 hours

The mountain road begins here. The Char Dham All Weather Road project has widened and improved large sections of this stretch. You follow the Ganga upstream through Byasi and the forested corridor. Devprayag is where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers merge to form the Ganga — a confluence worth a brief stop.

Devprayag to Srinagar (Garhwal) — 35 km, about 1 hour

A relatively smooth section running along the Alaknanda. Srinagar is a valley town with a wide river bed — the largest town between Rishikesh and Rudraprayag. Good place for a quick tea stop. Not to be confused with Srinagar in Kashmir.

Srinagar to Rudraprayag — 34 km, about 1 hour

You continue along the Alaknanda valley. The road narrows in places and hugs the hillside. Rudraprayag sits at the confluence of the Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers. This is the most popular overnight halt point.

Rudraprayag to Karanprayag — 33 km, about 45 minutes

A winding road along the Alaknanda. Karanprayag is the confluence of the Pindar and Alaknanda rivers and the junction point for routes heading towards Gwaldam and Kumaon.

Karanprayag to Nandprayag to Chamoli — 31 km, about 1 hour

You pass through Nandprayag (Nandakini-Alaknanda confluence) and reach Chamoli town. The road continues to climb gradually.

Chamoli to Pipalkoti to Joshimath — about 45 km, 1.5 to 2 hours

This is the most landslide-prone section of the route, particularly around the Lambagad area. The road gains significant altitude as you approach Joshimath. Pipalkoti (about 20 km before Joshimath) is a common rest stop.

Joshimath to Badrinath — 44 km, 1.5 to 2 hours

The final stretch runs at high altitude along the Alaknanda gorge, passing Vishnuprayag, Govindghat (trailhead for Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib), and Hanumanchatti before reaching Badrinath. This section can be snow-affected in early May and late October. Traffic is one-way at several points.

The Char Dham All Weather Road project is an ongoing effort to widen and improve the entire Rishikesh-to-Badrinath corridor. As of 2026, several sections are still under construction. Here is what to expect:

Rishikesh to Devprayag: Mostly improved. Many sections are widened. Still some active construction zones with short delays.

Devprayag to Rudraprayag: Mixed. The road narrows and runs close to the Alaknanda riverbank. Prone to rockfall during monsoon.

Rudraprayag to Chamoli: Narrow mountain road with blind curves. Some stretches have loose gravel shoulders.

Chamoli to Joshimath (Lambagad area): The most challenging section. Active landslide zones, especially July through August. Road closures here can last 2 to 24 hours.

Joshimath to Badrinath: High-altitude road maintained by BRO. Snow clearance happens in late April or early May to open the route for the season.

Tip: Leave Haridwar no later than 5 AM if you plan to reach Badrinath in one day. Mountain sections slow dramatically after noon when return traffic builds near Rudraprayag. Starting early also gives you a buffer for any road closure.

Fuel availability is a real concern on this route. The last petrol pump before Badrinath is at Joshimath, roughly 44 km before your destination. There is no fuel station in Badrinath town.

Here are the towns where you can refuel:

Haridwar — Multiple fuel stations from all major brands

Rishikesh — Several pumps along the main road and bypass

Devprayag — Fuel available

Srinagar (Garhwal) — Fuel available; a good mid-way fill-up point

Rudraprayag — Fuel available

Gopeshwar / Chamoli — Fuel available

Joshimath — Last reliable fuel stop before Badrinath. Fill your tank here regardless of the gauge reading.

Rule of thumb: Top up at Srinagar or Rudraprayag, and fill the tank completely at Joshimath. Do not wait to see how far your fuel will stretch.

You will not find familiar restaurant chains on this route. Meals come from roadside dhabas and small-town eateries. Most serve North Indian thali meals, paranthas, dal-chawal, and maggi noodles.

Good towns to stop for food:

Rishikesh (24 km) — Widest variety. Eat a proper meal before entering the mountains.

Devprayag (99 km) — Small town with a few dhabas near the confluence viewpoint. Good for a tea and parantha stop.

Srinagar (Garhwal) (134 km) — Being the largest valley town, it has the most dining options between Rishikesh and Rudraprayag.

Rudraprayag (168 km) — Multiple dhabas and small restaurants. This is the main meal stop for most travellers.

Karanprayag (201 km) — A few dhabas near the junction.

Pipalkoti (256 km) — The last comfortable food stop before Joshimath. Known for rajma-chawal.

Joshimath (275 km) — Several restaurants and dhabas. Eat here if you plan to push through to Badrinath without stopping.

Tip: Carry dry snacks, biscuits, and water in the vehicle. Between construction zones and unpredictable delays, you may spend hours without passing a town.

Private taxi

The most comfortable option, especially if you are travelling with family, elders, or heavy luggage.

Sedan (Swift, Etios): ₹4,500 to ₹5,500 one way

SUV / MUV (Ertiga, Innova): ₹5,500 to ₹7,000 one way

Tempo Traveller (9-12 seater): ₹9,000 to ₹12,000 one way

Pahadi Express operates dedicated taxi services on this route with drivers who know the seasonal road conditions, checkpoint schedules, and the best meal-stop dhabas. Fares from Rishikesh start at ₹4,500 for a sedan.

Government and private buses

UTC / GMOU ordinary bus: ₹500 to ₹700 per seat

Semi-deluxe or deluxe bus: ₹850 to ₹1,200 per seat

Journey time by bus is typically 12 to 14 hours due to stops.

Buses leave from Haridwar bus stand early in the morning. GMOU (Garhwal Motor Owners Union) and UTC (Uttarakhand Transport Corporation) are the main operators.

Shared jeeps

Available from Haridwar and Rishikesh to Joshimath for ₹600 to ₹1,200 per seat. From Joshimath, you can take a shared jeep to Badrinath for ₹100 to ₹200 per seat. Shared jeeps leave when full — no fixed schedule.

Start before dawn. A 4 AM to 5 AM departure from Haridwar gives you the best chance of reaching Badrinath in daylight. Mountain driving after dark is dangerous and discouraged beyond Joshimath.

Carry cash. ATMs are available at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Srinagar (Garhwal), Rudraprayag, Gopeshwar, and Joshimath. Badrinath has one or two ATMs but they frequently run out of cash during peak pilgrim season. Carry sufficient cash from Joshimath.

Check road status before leaving. BRO and Uttarakhand police post daily road status updates during the Char Dham season. A quick check can save you hours of waiting at a closed barrier.

Acclimatise at Joshimath. Badrinath is at 3,133 m. If you are coming from the plains, spending one night at Joshimath (1,875 m) reduces the risk of altitude sickness.

Avoid monsoon travel if possible. July and August see the highest landslide risk, especially in the Lambagad and Govindghat sections. If you must travel in monsoon, be prepared for long delays.

Keep the vehicle in low gear on descents. The mountain road has steep hairpin turns. Use engine braking to save your brakes.

Carry a basic medical kit and warm clothing. Even in summer, temperatures at Badrinath can drop to 5 to 10 degrees Celsius at night.

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Haridwar se Badrinath ki duri kitni hai?

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Rishikesh to Badrinath by road — distance, route, and travel guide

Badrinath travel guide — best time to visit, how to reach, and what to see

Joshimath travel guide — gateway to Badrinath and Auli

Char Dham Yatra route and planning guide