Uttarakhand Joshimath

Joshimath is a popular hill station and a famous centre for pilgrimage at a height of 1,890mts above sea level in Chamoli district of Garhwal division in Uttarakhand. In ancient scriptures Joshimath is described as Kartikeyapura as it has been named after Kartikeya, the God of Katyuri kings. Joshimath is one of the four maths or monasteries established in the 8th century by Adi Guru Sri Shankaracharya. The rivers Alkananda and Dhauliganga meet at the confluence of Vishnuprayag located just below Joshimath. Joshimath is the base for trekking to the famous Valley of Flowers. The best time to visit Joshimath and for the trek is from mid July till end-August. Among the important attractions of Joshimath includes a temple dedicated to Narashima, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Some other temples are dedicated to Hanuman, Gaurishankar, Ganesha, and Naudevi and Surya.

Some important questions arise when we choose a destination.

Most important places to Visit in Joshimath / Sightseeing places in Joshimath.

Which all places I can visit along with Joshimath?

Tour Itineries along with Joshimath.

Best time to visit Joshimath.

How to reach Joshimath?

Most important places to Visit in Joshimath / Sightseeing places in Joshimath.

Kalpavriksha

Kalpavriksha is the oldest tree of India is related to AdiShankaracharyawith an age of more than 1200 years. The great 8th century explorer AdiShankaracharya used to meditate in the shades of this comely tree and the cave where he lived is also situated here. The circumference of this mulberry tree is 21.5mts. This historic tree is now only able to bear flowers and not fruits, but the leaves are still young and fresh. Millions of people visit Badrinath every year unknowingly that the tree they pass through has same age as the Badrinath temple.

Narsingh Temple

This is an ancient temple dedicated to NasringhDevta at Joshimath which is the home of ShriBadrinathji in winters. The statue of God Narsingh is shrinking day by day and it is said that the day when it will fall, the route to Badrinath will get closed permanently by a major land slide. Narsingh is one of the several avatars of Lord Vishnu.

Auli

Auli is the most popular skiing and paragliding spot of Uttarakhand situated at an elevation of 3050mts above sea level. Auli affords astounding and celestial views of the enchanting snow laden Himalayan range. Asia highest and longest cable car is situated in Auli connecting it with Joshimath. Auli will be hosting SAF winter games in 2010.

Nanda Devi National Park

The Nanda Devi National Park is a renowned tourist spot situated at a distance of around 24 km from Joshimath. This park was declared as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the year 1988.

Which all places I can visit along with Joshimath?

Tour Itineries along with Joshimath.

Dehradun - Haridwar - Rishikesh - Auli - Joshimath - Auli - Corbett - Haridwar - Dehradun

Delhi-Haridwar-Rishikesh- Rudraprayag -Kedarnath- Rudraprayag -Badrinath-Joshimath-Rishikesh-Haridwar-Delhi

Haridwar - Joshimath - Gaurikund - Kedarnath - Sonprayag

Dehradun - Haridwar - Auli (3 nights) - Joshimath - Kausani (1 night) - Mukteshwar (1 night) - Bhimtal (1 night) - Nainital (1 night)

Delhi – Haridwar – Rudraprayag – Joshimath – Rishikesh – Haridwar - Delh

Delhi - Haridwar - SyanaChatti -Uttarkashi - Rudraprayag - Kedarnath -Rudraprayag - Joshimath - Badrinath -Govindghat - Delhi

Haridwar-Joshimath-Ghangaria-Hemkund Sahib-Valley of flowers -Rudraprayag-Rishikesh-Delhi

Best time to visit Joshimath.

The climate in the Joshimath region is generally cold all year through. Even the summers remain mildly cold. It is therefore mandatory for those travelling to the place to carry an assortment of heavy clothing. Still, there are better seasons to visit Joshimath. Generally, heavy rains are expected in the monsoon season when extensive showers fall throughout the days. In winter, mostly between December and February, the place becomes extremely chilly, with occasions of snowfall. The temperatures in Joshimath during this period can be as low as 0 degree Celsius and barely go above 8 degrees Celsius.

During the summer months, i.e. between the months of April and June, the temperatures in Joshimath are generally mild and can rise to as high as 34 degrees Celsius.

However, it is important to note that certain attractions, such as some specific species of flowers, may only thrive during the colder periods, e.g. winter. These issues may be of great importance to botanists, for instance. Therefore, depending on the main reason to visiting, different people may visit throughout the year. However, if the temperatures are anything to go by, then the summer months constitute the best season to tour Joshimath. The absence of rains and fair travels make it easy to travel, trek, sight seeing, camping, etc. thus make the tour worthwhile.

How to reach Joshimath?

Joshimath by Air

The Jolly Grant Airport, also known as Dehradun, is the closest one to Joshimath. It is 250 kms from Joshimath. Jolly Grant Airport receives several daily flights from Delhi, the capital city, which inturn receives several daily flights from international destinations. From here, you can either hire a taxi (a non A/C sedan) at a cost of about Rs 3000 or travel by train. This is the best and most comfortable option for a road trip. The journey takes about 6 hours.

Joshimath by Train

Trains are cheap, costing about Rs 120. They are also comfortable to travel in. There are trains that connect to Joshimath from Ahamadabad, Delhi, Rishikesh, etc. Also, you can travel from Delhi to Joshimath by train. Trains are the most used means of transport here, so it is important to book in advance. You can then travel by road, taking a Haridwar to Joshimath bus.

Joshimath by Road

As is seen in the online Joshimath map of road networks, there are several roads that link Joshimath to many destinations. Depending on how much money you have, and which one on the list of hotels in Joshimath you are booked, you can take a bus from anywhere to Joshimath. There is a Haridwar to Joshimath bus service. You could also take a Delhi to Joshimath bus, or take a taxi/bus from Rishikesh to Joshimath.