Overview
Badrinath (3,133 m, Chamoli district) is accessible entirely by road via NH-58 from Rishikesh. All distances below are road distances — mountain roads are slow, winding and take significantly longer per km than plains roads. Factor 1 hr per 40–50 km on mountain roads above Rishikesh.
| From | Distance | Travel Time | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshimath | 50 km | 1.5 hrs | NH-58 direct |
| Govindghat | 17 km | 30 min | NH-58 direct |
| Chamoli | 95 km | 2.5 hrs | NH-58 via Joshimath |
| Rishikesh | 295 km | 7–8 hrs | NH-58 all the way |
| Haridwar | 320 km | 8–9 hrs | Via Rishikesh + NH-58 |
| Dehradun | 330 km | 8–9 hrs | Via Rishikesh + NH-58 |
| Jolly Grant Airport | 330 km | 8–9 hrs | Via Rishikesh + NH-58 |
| Delhi | ~510 km | 13–15 hrs | NH-334 + NH-58 |
| Noida/Gurgaon | ~530 km | 14–16 hrs | Via Delhi + NH-58 |
| Agra | ~650 km | 16–18 hrs | Via Delhi + NH-58 |
| Chandigarh | ~480 km | 11–13 hrs | Via Haridwar + NH-58 |
| Lucknow | ~620 km | 14–16 hrs | Via Haridwar + NH-58 |
| Mumbai | ~1,700 km | 28–32 hrs | By road (not recommended — fly to Dehradun) |
| Bengaluru | ~2,400 km | 40+ hrs | By road (not recommended — fly to Dehradun) |
| Kedarnath (temple) | ~250 km road | 5–7 hrs | Via Rudraprayag |
| Kedarnath (aerial) | ~40 km | — | Straight line over mountains |
| Gangotri | ~340 km | 8–10 hrs | Via Rishikesh + Uttarkashi |
| Yamunotri | ~400 km | 10–12 hrs | Via Rishikesh + Barkot |
Planning
Distance from Joshimath — your overnight base:
Joshimath at 50 km is the key staging point for Badrinath. It is the last town with reliable ATMs (SBI, HDFC), restaurants, pharmacies and quality hotels before Badrinath. The 50 km Joshimath → Badrinath road takes 1.5 hours on the well-maintained NH-58. Key stops on this 50 km leg:
- 12 km: Vishnuprayag — confluence of Dhauliganga and Alaknanda. The road enters a dramatic gorge section here.
- 13 km: Pandukeshwar — winter seat of Badrinath deity. Yogadhyan Badri temple here.
- 25 km: Govindghat — base for Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib treks.
- 29 km: Pulna — parking area and start of Valley of Flowers trail.
- 50 km: Badrinath — temple, Tapt Kund, Mana Village.
Distances within Badrinath town:
Badrinath is a very small town — most things are walkable from the temple in under 15 minutes. Tapt Kund: 100 m (steps). Bus stand / parking: 200 m. Brahma Kapal: 800 m (10 min walk). Mana Village: 3 km (auto-rickshaw ₹150–₹200 or 30 min walk on an unpaved road). Satopanth trek start: 6 km beyond Mana Village.
Char Dham distances — planning all four:
Most Char Dham pilgrims do all four shrines in sequence from Haridwar:
- Haridwar → Yamunotri (220 km via Barkot): Day 1–2
- Yamunotri → Gangotri (220 km via Uttarkashi): Day 3–4
- Gangotri → Kedarnath (250 km via Rishikesh–Rudraprayag): Day 5–7
- Kedarnath → Badrinath (250 km via Rudraprayag–Chamoli): Day 8–10
- Badrinath → Haridwar (320 km): Day 11–12
- Total: 10–14 days, 1,260 km circuit
Travel Tips
- Mountain road speeds — don't rely on km for time estimates: Above Rishikesh, the NH-58 averages 35–50 km/hr due to sharp bends, single-lane sections and pilgrim traffic. 100 km on NH-58 typically takes 2.5–3 hours, not 1.5 hours as on plains highways. Build in extra time — always.
- Distance from Rudraprayag to Badrinath (135 km, 3.5–4.5 hrs): If returning from Kedarnath (which involves Sonprayag → Rudraprayag), the Rudraprayag → Badrinath leg takes 3.5–4.5 hours. Budget a half-day for this transfer in Char Dham plans.
- Last petrol before Badrinath — Chamoli (95 km from Badrinath): If self-driving, fill up at Chamoli petrol pump. No reliable petrol available at Joshimath, Govindghat or Badrinath.
Accommodation
- Joshimath (50 km, recommended): Best hotels for Badrinath base. See hotels guide.
- Chamoli / Gopeshwar (95 km): District HQ, mid-range hotels (₹800–₹2,500). Good option for travellers doing Char Dham who need an intermediate stop.
- Rudraprayag (135 km): Budget to mid-range hotels (₹600–₹2,000). Junction for Kedarnath road.
FAQs
- What is the distance from Delhi to Badrinath?
- ~510 km by road via NH-334 + NH-58. Travel time: 13–15 hrs (not as single drive). Recommended: overnight train to Haridwar/Rishikesh + road to Joshimath + Badrinath next morning. See Delhi to Badrinath guide.
- What is the distance from Joshimath to Badrinath?
- 50 km via NH-58, 1.5 hours. Joshimath (1,890 m) → Vishnuprayag → Pandukeshwar → Govindghat → Badrinath (3,133 m). Best to depart Joshimath by 5:00 AM to reach Badrinath before the main morning crowd.
- How far is Badrinath from Kedarnath?
- ~250 km by road via Rudraprayag (5–7 hrs). No direct road. Aerial distance: ~40 km. Char Dham sequence visits Kedarnath before Badrinath — Rudraprayag is the junction point.