Joshimath

Joshimath is a city in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India, a major tourist destination and a pilgrimage site at an altitude of that serves as a gateway to the Hindu pilgrimage town of Badrinath.

Understand
Joshimath, in the Garhwal Himalayas, is also known as Jyotirmath. It is on route from Haridwar and Rishikesh to the Hindu sacred shrine of Badrinath. It is also the junction for people visiting Auli, one of the best skiing spots in India.

Get in
The drive from the valley is very scenic and runs along the Ganges and its tributaries.

By bus
The bus service operated by Uttarakhand Transport Corporation, a Government company starts from Tapovan, a town in the outskirts of the city. Online bookings for this has not been started for this route yet but you can purchase bus passes to avail all government buses in Uttrakhand at the official website. Private buses can be booked at the counters in bus stands eventhough some companies allow online bookings through travel booking websites like Redbus and MakeMyTrip.

Buses leave from Rishikesh (₹580/550 gov/pvt) at 5–5:30AM but you should be the 30 min before, seats are limited, or from Haridwar at 4:30AM. The last bus leaves by around 7AM. The journey takes 8 to 11 hours depending on the condition of the road and where you start.

Do

 * Cable car ride to Auli
 * Day Hike to Gorson meadows
 * Trek to Kuari Pass and Curzon Trail
 * Trek to Nanda Devi National Park

There are some trekking companies in town in case you need further information.

Go next

 * Auli – One of India's best ski resorts, just south.
 * Badrinath – 50 km north, a Hindu holy town and a nagar panchayat with the most important of the four Char Dham Yatra Hindu pilgrim centers.
 * Ghangaria – South of Badrinath, it's the gateway to the Hemkunt pilgrimage site and the Valley of Flowers.
 * Kedarnath – Relatively close, considering you are already in this area. It is one of the four Char Dham Yatra Hindu pilgrim centers, at 3,400 m, which you need to hike at least 16 km to.