How to Reach Dehradun/Rishikesh

The starting point of the journey to the Valley of Flowers  is in the major transit centres of Uttarakhand, Dehradun or Rishikesh. Both cities make an excellent starting point and it’s possible to choose between the two depending on your preference of transport. Both the cities are well connected with Delhi and you have a smooth and easy trip from the plains to the mountains. If you are travelling from Delhi than you can easily reach Dehradun or Rishikesh by air, train, or bus.

By road: An overnight Volvo Bus from Delhi is the most convenient mode to reach Dehradun. The price of an Overnight Volvo Bus from Delhi is approximately ₹500 to ₹1000, whereas ordinary Bus rate is slightly lower, that is from ₹300 to ₹700. Road trip is approximately 4:50-6:50 hours, depending on traffic and weather. . You can directly book your bus tickets from: https://www.redbus.in/bus-tickets/delhi-to-dehradun

https://www.makemytrip.com/bus/search/Delhi/Dehradun/

By Train: Other than bus, there are regular trains too for both Dehradun and Rishikesh which travel overnight to New Delhi. Train Tickets are readily available for booking in IRCTC Official Booking Portal: https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search

By Air: If you are flying to Dehradun from Delhi than you will land at Jolly Grant Airport which is nearer to Rishikesh than the central area of Dehradun so coordinate with the  TSS  team to pick you up from Rishikesh.

The airport is actually closer to Rishikesh than to the centre of Dehradun, therefore it is  strongly recommended that you make a prior coordination with the TSS team, so they can pick you from Rishikesh.

How to Reach Ghangaria:

It is important to understand that no direct bus or taxi goes all the way to Ghangaria. To avoid confusion, your journey from Dehradun or Rishikesh  to Ghangaria must be broken down into three steps:

Step 1: Dehradun/Rishikesh to Joshimath or Govindghat 

Your first major target is to reach Joshimath or Govindghat. Your transport options include:

• Local & Roadways Buses: Buses are available from Dehradun and Rishikesh to Joshimath or Govindghat, usually departing early in the morning between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM. The fare is approximately ₹700 to ₹800 per person.
• Shared Taxis: You can also opt for shared taxis (like Sumos), which cost around ₹1,000 per person. They also operate in between 6a.m. to 7a.m.
• Booking a Private Cab: If somehow you are arriving late in the morning or you want to stop and travel to Joshimath you can also book a private taxi. Usually the cost of Sumo/ Bolero Ertiga for One way drop to Joshimath is around 8000 INR.
• Driving Yourself: If you are traveling in your own vehicle, public parking spaces are safely available at Joshimath and Pipalkoti where you can park your car.
• Trekking Agency Transport: If you have booked a package with a trekking company, they often provide pickup and drop services. For instance, Searching Soul offers this service from Dehradun or Rishikesh for an extra charge of ₹2,000 per person both way. 

Step 2: Joshimath/Govindghat to Poolna

From Joshimath to Govindghat is around 25km and it takes around 1 Hour. Once you reach Govindghat, your long-distance road journey officially ends. However, before you start walking, you must cross the final motorable stretch. You need to take a local shared taxi from Govindghat to Poolna, which is the official trailhead of the trek. This is a short 4 km drive and costs ₹100 per person. If you have booked through a trekking agency, always double-check if this specific local cab transfer from Govindghat to Poolna is included in your package cost. The Searching Souls Covers all the Transportation cost if you have opted for Rishikesh to Rishikesh Package.

Step 3: Poolna to Ghangaria (10km Trek)

Once you drop off at the Poolna taxi stand, the road terminates completely.  From Poolna, your trek officially begins with a 10 km continuous uphill ascent to reach Ghangaria. This trek takes roughly 4 to 6 hours depending on your physical fitness level. Ghangaria will serve as your base camp, from where you will make day-trips to the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib. From Ghangaria to Valley of Flowers is 4km and Hemkund Sahib is around 6km.

So what are you waiting for disconnect your phone, pack your favorite rain jacket, and trust the road. The mountains have a way of sorting out the rest.