How to Reach Pipalkoti / Joshimath? Basecamp of Kuari Pass Trek
Pipalkoti and Joshimath, nestled at an altitude of 1,259m and 1875m respectively, act as the basecamps for many popular treks such as Kuari Pass, Pangarchulla Peak, Valley of Flowers, Hemkund Sahib, and Kagbhushandi Tal. Both towns are located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India.
These towns are charming stopovers where you can find good and luxury stay options along with authentic local and exotic cuisine. Joshimath is also famous for the Narsimha Temple, and the entire valley offers several iconic places to explore, including Auli, Gorson Bugyal, Tapovan, Niti Valley, and Badrinath.
Best Ways to Reach Pipalkoti / Joshimath
By Air:
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport (DED), Dehradun, located about 236 km from Pipalkoti and 285 km from Joshimath respectively. From the airport, you can easily hire a taxi (preferably pre-booked) to reach your destination. The journey usually takes 9–10 hours.
By Train:
The nearest railway stations are Kathgodam, Dehradun, and Rishikesh. From each station, you can hire a cab or get a shared taxi. However, due to better availability of shared vehicles, most travelers prefer to come via Dehradun or Rishikesh. The government is also expanding the railway line up to Karnaprayag, which will significantly reduce the road distance. The route is expected to open by 2026–27.
By Road:
Pipalkoti and Joshimath are well connected by road to major cities in Uttarakhand. Buses and taxis are available from Dehradun, Rishikesh, and Kathgodam. Government and private buses are available till around 8am. Shared taxis usually operate till about 8 AM, charging ₹1,000–1,200 per person.
After this, the only option is to book a private taxi, which generally costs around ₹8,000 for the entire cab. The most common driving route is via NH-7 (Rishikesh–Dehradun route).