Gangotri Location: How to Reach Gangotri

Scenic view of Gangotri Temple by the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand

Located within the district of Uttarkashi and connected with a network of numerous strongly built roads, Gangotri Dham is one of the most easily reachable Chardham Yatra destinations in Uttarakhand. This Dham is located at a distance of 300 km from Dehradun, 250 km from Rishikesh and 105 km from Uttarkashi. Here is the best route for you to visit and how you can reach the temple in the most convenient and hassle-free manner:

By Road

Reaching Gangotri Dham via a road journey is an easy task and the entire journey will drop you off right near the entrance of the temple. These roads are also well connected to some of the major cities as well as the minor nearby towns and cities. No matter which part of India you are planning on making this trip from you will first of all be reaching till Haridwar / Rishikesh of the Gateway to Chardham. Here is a brief route map of Gangotri from different places in India:

Haridwar to Gangotri Temple Route Map

Total Distance: 310 km | Total Time: 12 to 14 hours

Haridwar ── 25 Km/1 Hr ── Rishikesh ── 60 Km/2 Hrs ── Chamba ── 80 Km/3 Hrs ── Dharasu Band ── 27 Km/1 Hr ── Uttarkashi ── 80 Km/3 Hrs ── Harsil ── 25 Km/1 Hr ── Gangotri Temple

From Chennai: Chennai – Delhi – Haridwar – Rishikesh – Chamba – Dharasu – Harsil – Dharali – Gangotri
From Nainital: Nainital – Kashipur – Rishikesh – New Tehri – Uttarkashi – Gangnani – Harsil – Dharali – Gangotri
From Mussoorie: Mussoorie – Landour – Dharasu – Uttarkashi – Gangnani – Dharali – Gangotri

[Note: Remember that Travelling on the hills shuts down by sundown.]

By Train

The closest railhead for Gangotri Dham is situated at a distance of 249 kms in Rishikesh. People from various parts of India especially from south, can choose the option of either hiring a taxi/cab or a bus service heading for Gangotri. This option of travelling is chosen by a large number of tourists arriving primarily from the southern end. However this railhead is not connected via other fast trains whereas Kotdwar, on the other hand, caters a very few number of trains.

By Air

If you are planning to visit Gangotri Dham from far away then you can take a flight to Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun. This airport is situated at a distance of 279 km which takes almost 8 hours to cover. There are several taxis and cabs available right outside the airport which you can hire and make your way to Gangotri easily. You also have the option of choosing luxury buses services heading for Gangotri.

By Helicopter

Most people choose to travel to Gangotri via helicopter service, especially if traveling with someone who cannot complete the Yatra journey on foot. This option is ideal for those seeking a luxurious, comfortable, and time-efficient journey.

Your journey will commence from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun
After approximately one hour of flight time, you'll arrive at Harsil helipad
You'll be transferred by cab to the temple where you'll receive priority Darshan
After spending a few hours at the temple, you'll return to Harsil helipad for your flight back to Dehradun, concluding your journey

Facilities Available En Route

Apart from the obvious and ever-present natural beauty the paths leading up to the main entrance of the temple is lined with various shops, tea stalls, restaurants, hotels, lodges etc. there are shops offering various puja Samagris and other relevant options for the pilgrims to offer inside the temple. The routes leading up to the main temple are narrow but well-built and should definitely be avoided during monsoon months. Also some parts of the roads are broken and driving up these hills requires expert driving skills.

Gangotri to Kedarnath Route Map

Total Distance: 414 km (drive) + 16 km (trek) | Total Time: 16 hours (drive) + 6â€“8 hours (trek)

**Gangotri** ── 25 Km/1 Hr ── **Harsil** ── 80 Km/3 Hr ── **Uttarkashi** ── 27 Km/1 Hr ── **Dharasu Band** ── 92 Km/3 Hr ── **Tehri** ── 90 Km/3 Hr ── **Srinagar** ── 33 Km/1 Hr ── **Rudraprayag** ── 10 Km/20 min ── **Tilwara** ── 35 Km/2 Hr ── **Guptkashi** ── 15 Km/1 Hr ── **Phata** ── 16 Km/1 Hr ── **Sonprayag** ── 6 Km/30 min ── **Gaurikund** ── (116 Km / 4-8 Hrs Trek) ── **Kedarnath Temple**

Step-by-Step Route Breakdown

Segment	Distance	Time	Mode	Highlights
Gangotri → Harsil	25 km	1 hour	Drive	Bhagirathi River views, pine forests, apple orchard
Harsil → Uttarkashi	80 km	3 hours	Drive	Visit Vishwanath Temple
Uttarkashi → Dharasu Band	27 km	1 hour	Drive	Scenic mountain roads
Dharasu Band → Tehri	92 km	3 hours	Drive	Tehri Lake and dam views
Tehri → Srinagar	90 km	3 hours	Drive	Alaknanda River valleys
Srinagar → Rudraprayag	33 km	1 hour	Drive	Confluence of Alaknanda & Mandakini rivers
Rudraprayag → Tilwara	10 km	20 minutes	Drive	Short drive through hills
Tilwara → Guptkashi	35 km	2 hours	Drive	Ancient Vishwanath Temple
Guptkashi → Phata	15 km	1 hour	Drive	Major hotel & helipad area
Guptkashi → Sonprayag	16 km	1 hour	Drive	Last motorable point before Gaurikund
Sonprayag → Gaurikund	6 km	30 minutes	Drive	Shared jeeps only; trek starts here
Gaurikund → Kedarnath Temple	16 km	6-8 hours	Trek	Steep trail, ponies/palkis/Helicopter available

Key Highlights

Road Conditions: Mountain roads are narrow and landslide-prone (avoid monsoon: July–September).
Permits: Registration is mandatory – complete your registration before starting your Yatra for Kedarnath Temple.
Trek Preparation: Wear comfortable shoes and carry rainwear. Book ponies/helicopter in advance at Gaurikund.
Health: Acclimatize to avoid altitude sickness; carry basic medicines.