Kuari Pass from Delhi — itinerary, permits, gear & budget

1,981 mRoadhead

Getting there from Delhi

New for 2026

The Delhi–Dehradun Expressway opened on 14 April 2026: 210 km of access-controlled highway that cuts Delhi→Dehradun to roughly 2.5 hours and Delhi→Rishikesh to roughly 3.5 hours by car. Every itinerary here is re-timed around it — most Uttarakhand roadheads are now a comfortable single day from Delhi instead of an overnight ordeal.

Your gateway is Rishikesh / Haridwar. From there it is 250 km and 9–10 hours of hill road to Joshimath (1,981 m), which is where the walking starts.

Car / cab (expressway spur) approx 3.5 hrs

Expressway plus the Rishikesh spur. The single best way to reach a Garhwal roadhead in one day.

Indicative cost · ₹3,000–5,000 one-way cab

Train to Haridwar 4.5–6 hrs

Frequent services; Haridwar → Rishikesh is another 45–60 min by road.

Indicative cost · ₹300–1,500 depending on class

Volvo / AC bus 6–7 hrs

ISBT Kashmiri Gate → Rishikesh, frequent overnight departures.

Indicative cost · ₹500–1,300

Shared cabs and buses run Rishikesh / Haridwar → Joshimath in the morning. A private cab is the reliable option and splits well across four people.

Outline guide

This one is a planning outline, not the full day-by-day treatment yet — the numbers, permits and seasons below are researched and usable, but the detailed route notes are still being written. Get on the list to know when it goes deep.

2,531 mTiming

When to go

Best window: December – March for snow; April – June and September – November for clear views.

When not to go

July – August (monsoon).

Not technical, but not a walk in the park either — 34 km with sustained climbs to a 12,516 ft pass.

3,081 mPaperwork

Permits, fees and budget

Forest / Nanda Devi Biosphere buffer entry Charged per person

Where · Joshimath forest office or operator

Confirm current requirements — rules in the Nanda Devi buffer zone change.

Self-organised₹9,000–14,000

With an operator₹9,000–16,000

Joshimath-to-Joshimath, before Delhi travel.

3,814 mSummit

Know before you go

Joshimath has had subsidence problems; check the current state of the town and its road before booking accommodation there.
Winter and clear-view seasons are opposites here — decide which trek you actually want.

Why this one is worth your leave days

The single best close-up view of Nanda Devi on any accessible trek
Gulling, Khullara and Tali Top campsites in open meadow
Walked by Lord Curzon in 1905 — hence Curzon's Trail
Auli and its cable car are 40 minutes from the roadhead

Check before you book

Costs, permit fees and transport timings are researched estimates for the 2026 season and move around. Treat them as planning ranges, not quotes, and re-check permits and road status before you book.

Last updated 2026-08-18