Joshimath is a city in Uttarakhand.
Get in
Joshimath is situated in the nest of Himalaya on route from Haridwar to the Hindu sacred shrine of Badrinath. It is also the junction point for people visiting Auli, one of the best skiing spots in India.
You can get to Joshimath from Haridwar by bus or hiring a taxi. The drive is very scenic and runs along the Ganges and its tributaries. The buses are mostly privately run and generally in poor condition, though the drivers are experts and can be trusted. They leave from "Yatra Bus stand" in Haridwar in the morning, starting at 4:30. The last bus leaves by around 7 AM. The journey is long, takes about 11 hours depending on the number of stops your bus is making on the trip. The fare is something around ₹350 per person one way. You can also take a taxi, that will be more comfortable, charge about ₹3500 and take about 8-9 hours.
One can also take buses/taxi from Rishikesh, which also falls on the way from Haridwar also. Reaching Haridwar from Delhi information can be found on the Haridwar page.
Get around
See
- 1 Bhavishya Kedar Temple. As per local belief, present-day Kedarnath will disappear along with Badrinath and re-appear in Bhavishya Kedar temple at Joshimath. This temple has small shivling
- Narsinh Temple. This is an ancient temple of Lord Vishnu in Narsinh Avtar and the main temple of Joshimath. It has an idol of Lord Narsinh, which is considered established by Shankaracharya
- 2 Shanakaracharya Math. This is the Math established by Adi Shankaracharya in North India. It has a temple of Badrinarayan and Rajrajeshwari Devi, and a sacred cave where Adi Shankaracharya supposedly undertook tapasya.
- Tapovan, Rajpur Road. According to legend, Guru Dronacharya did penance here. It has natural hot springs and a nice view of the river Dhauliganga.
- Interpretation Center of Bio-Cultural Diversity. The center showcases the bio-cultural diversity of the Nanda Devi National Park region. It's located at the village Lata, 25 kilometers upstream along the Dhouli Ganga river on Niti-Malari highway. It has a museum as well as a souvenir shop.
Do
There are plenty of options such as:
a) Cable car ride to Auli.
b) Day Hike to Gorson meadows
c) Trek to Kuari Pass and Curzon Trail
d) Trek to Nanda Devi National Park
1 Nanda Devi National Park Trek (Nanda Devi Trek), Village Lata (25 Km from Joshimath on Niti Malari road), ☏ 91 8006872193, ✉[email protected]. 6 AM to 8 PM. In collaboration with the Nanda Devi Institute of Adventure Sports a community-led interpretative trek has been designed to visit the Nanda Devi National Park. The trek takes you to the boundaries of the core zone of the Nanda Devi National Park, a World Heritage Site for natural diversity. You will be camping at a clifftop campsite at Kanook and at Lata Kharak, below the treeline. The trek also provides the opportunity to visit Saini Kharak, at the top of the riverine Rishi gorge which is considered to be amongst the most difficult canyons in the world to negotiate. However you won't be doing any climbing but will approach from the much gentler Lata-Kharak side. On day four you will reach the highest trek elevation of 13400 ft at Jhindidhar. From Jhindidhar you will slowly negotiate the rocky patch until Himtoli and continue your downhill descent until the village of Tolma where you will stay under a home stay arrangement. The trek is conducted under strict environmental norms on responsible tourism lines. 
