Joshimath itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Joshimath

1. 01

   Day 1: Temples and the old town

   Start with the Narsingh Temple in the morning, then walk to the Shankaracharya Math. Take a break for lunch and rest. In the late afternoon visit the Kalpavriksha tree, where pilgrims are reported to gather in the evening. If you are continuing to Badrinath or Govindghat the next day, keep the afternoon free and sleep early.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Narsingh Temple	About 45 minutes to an hour	Easy	Morning; April to June and September to November for easy travel
   Kalpavriksha Tree	About 30 minutes; longer in the evening	Easy	Late afternoon or evening for the gathering of pilgrims

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 02

2 days in Joshimath

1. 01

   Day 1: Town temples

   Visit the Narsingh Temple, the Shankaracharya Math and the Kalpavriksha tree at an easy pace, with a rest at midday. Stay for the evening at the tree if you like.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Narsingh Temple	About 45 minutes to an hour	Easy	Morning; April to June and September to November for easy travel
   Kalpavriksha Tree	About 30 minutes; longer in the evening	Easy	Late afternoon or evening for the gathering of pilgrims

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: Valley drive

   Drive to Vishnuprayag for a short stop, then to the Tapovan hot springs. Return to town for lunch. Decide on the day, with local advice, whether to go on to Auli or to Govindghat.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Vishnuprayag	20 to 30 minutes	Moderate	Clear weather in spring and autumn; avoid monsoon
   Tapovan Hot Springs	Half a day including the drive	Easy	Autumn and spring; avoid heavy rain and snow

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Vishnuprayag: The confluence is in a gorge at about 1,372 m, so the viewing point may involve a short descent, and I could not verify steps or railings. If the approach looks steep or wet, enjoy the view from the road and keep to the barriers.

Plan 03

3 days in Joshimath

1. 01

   Day 1: Town temples

   The Narsingh Temple, Shankaracharya Math and Kalpavriksha tree, with long rests.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Narsingh Temple	About 45 minutes to an hour	Easy	Morning; April to June and September to November for easy travel
   Kalpavriksha Tree	About 30 minutes; longer in the evening	Easy	Late afternoon or evening for the gathering of pilgrims

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: Tapovan and Bhavishya Badri

   Drive to Tapovan hot springs. If you are fit, continue to Saldhar and walk to Bhavishya Badri; otherwise return after the springs and take an easy afternoon.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Bhavishya Badri	Most of a day	Demanding	Late spring and autumn in clear weather; avoid monsoon and snow
   Tapovan Hot Springs	Half a day including the drive	Easy	Autumn and spring; avoid heavy rain and snow

   Pace: Bhavishya Badri involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Bhavishya Badri: The final approach is a trek of roughly 3 to 6 km depending on the starting point, at about 2,744 m, with uneven forest ground. It is a poor choice for anyone with knee, heart or breathing issues. Check the trail locally and consider a guide.

3. 03

   Day 3: Kalpeshwar or Vishnuprayag

   Make a day trip to Kalpeshwar in the Urgam valley with an experienced driver, or keep it short with a stop at Vishnuprayag and an easy afternoon.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Vishnuprayag	20 to 30 minutes	Moderate	Clear weather in spring and autumn; avoid monsoon

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Vishnuprayag: The confluence is in a gorge at about 1,372 m, so the viewing point may involve a short descent, and I could not verify steps or railings. If the approach looks steep or wet, enjoy the view from the road and keep to the barriers.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Joshimath trip for parents and children

• Keep the first day light. At about 1,875 m most people feel fine, but breathlessness and tiredness are common if you arrive after a long drive.
• Break the drive from Rishikesh with a night on the way, such as Srinagar or Rudraprayag, rather than going straight through.
• Ask your hotel about steps and whether cars can reach the door. Many guesthouses in the old town are up stairs.
• Check the condition of the highway and the weather before travelling, particularly from July to September when landslides are frequent.
• Check whether your accommodation is in an area affected by the subsidence, and ask for the latest advice from the local authorities.
• Carry warm layers, even in summer, because evenings are cool and it can be cold after rain.

Joshimath with elderly parents: the full guide →