Road/Traffic Conditions in Uttarakhand

Thanks Mosederbaer,

As far as i know there are three routes we can opt to go to badrinath -

First - main rishikesh highway
Second - rishikesh - narendernagar - tehri dam - dont know further
third suggested by Mosederbaer

which is the shortest and more scenic.

Hope not bothering you.

Not at all buddy. The second option is not viable (via Narendranagar). Its like taking the unnecessary long route. The main one is via Rishikesh and other two are Delhi-kotdwar-Khirsu then joining N.H.58 at Srinagar, Delhi-Kathgodam-Ranikhet-Gwaldam and then join N.H.58 at Karnaprayag. In fact, from Ranikhet, there are two roads to Karnaprayag. First one is via Gwaldam as I mentioned earlier and the second one is Ranikhet-Dwarahat-Chaukhutia and join N.H.58 at Karnaprayag. Hope I am right? Waiting for the expert's comments.

I am not sure about the shortest one but the people prefer to take the Route via Rishikesh. The route via Khirshu is also good with less traffic. Its scenic too.

If you have already done N.H.58 (the Rishikesh walla) then its my suggestion to try a different route to have a different kind of experience.

Yeah Mosederbaer,

Which one do you prefer.

Khirsu route is only 5 km longer than Rishikesh route.

There is a road from Buwakhal/Khirsu to Shrinagar via Bughani, but what would be the point of taking it? If one has to go to Shrinagar from Buwakhal, it's much shorter and faster via Pauri town (NH 119).
From Khirsu one heads direct to Khankra via Kherakhal, then the difference is only 5 km compared to Rishikesh route.

The 2nd one makes no sense, as pointed out by moseder.

What makes you think the shortest is the most scenic?
Shortest - via Rishikesh.
Most scenic - via Khirsu/Kherakhal.

If the idea is to approach from Ramnagar
a) then it's shorter to go Bhatronjkhan-Chaukhutiya-Karnprayag, i.e. no need to enter Ranikhet.
b) If one wants to go via Ranikhet, then the next obvious option is indeed via Dwarahat as described.
c) Via Ranikhet/Gwaldam would be a fantastic drive but a very long and roundabout way to get to Karnprayag.

GMaps has the wrong name (and not for the first time) - the point/village where the Tanda and Swar roads meet is called Manpur Uttari.

I've used the Swar road years ago, it's condition then was not great. Good to hear it's better now.

The major views start once you cross seharphatak DW. I must save myself and as a disclaimer say that they you must have seen better while driving . Try to visit when the weather is absolutely clear, you will see one of the longest chain of peaks.

Sirji, when we reached srinagar from Rudraprayag on 8th of this month, we found two roads on the left side (after crossing three petrol pumps, one by one). We enquired a policeman there and he told us that the second road is to khirsu via pauri and from that route it will be 50 km and the first road is directly to Khirsu and that road we took and the distance I noticed on the car's trip meter and it was 32 km. So are you talking about that second road which we did not follow? I think here I am doing a mistake because I am not calculating the distance between Buwakhal and Khirsu. Please correct me!!

Please forgive me due to me bad memory but here I will support Jitu. I can not remember the other names except Sitla, when I took the road from Bhowali to Almora (via sitla, bypassing Mukteshwar) in March 2007 then I got one of the best views of Himalaya (long chain mentioned by jitu) in Kumaon region. I was having only a simple still camera at that time so can not prove myself right at this moment but it was really amazing and worth to remember for the lifetime.

Dw, I did not mention that route because I was not aware about the road condition but whenever I used to visit Manila, Bhikyasen and we used to stand at the bridge made on Ramganga at Jainal then my friend who is from Kumaon used to tell me that after crossing the bridge the road on the left is heading to Chaukhutia and then onwards to Karnaprayag. But I never had luck to cover this route.

Thanks jitu/Mosederbaer/Dilliwala,

I as well have heard that from Khirsu a road goes to rudraprayag and is just 45 km. Secondly what would you suggest i sud move by bijnore - lansdowne route to Khirsu or rishikesh-sringar-khirsu-rudraprayag route.

I feel like khirsu would be an ideal halt in between.

One more would like to know - if there is any route from khirsu to paithani - pungaon - karanprayag in existance. If there is any then feel it will be a shortest one

Any views are good enough for me. I'm easy that way.



Right, you're talking about getting from Khirsu to Shrinagar (or reverse). In that case the first road you mention is the right one to take. But if you want to get from Buwakhal to Shrinagar, that would be longer. However to go from Buwakhal to Khankra, via Khirsu is obviously shorter.



Firstly, you don't need to go via Lansdowne, but nothing stopping you making the detour just to see the place. Secondly, if you want to go via Khirsu, there really is no point coming via Rishikesh and then doing a zig and a zag between Shrinagar and Rudraprayag.

Read my post here:
Bageshwar Munsyari on October

Thanks, Then suggest dilliwala what you recommend as i want to cover khirshu, what route you would recommend as i am coming from delhi.

Hmm, I thought between moseder and myself we'd already outlined the concerned route. Ok, you want it spelled out?

Delhi-Meerut-Bijnor-Najibabad-Kotdwara-Dugadda (divert here to Lansdowne if you wish)-Gumkhal-Satpuli-Buwakhal-Khirsu-Kherakhal-Khankra. Here you join NH 58 to Rudraprayag and beyond.

Note: Get yourself the Nest & Wings map of Uttarakhand, it'll be useful (even though Khirsu-Khankra road is not shown). Available at major bookshops for Rs. 70 only.

Thanks Dilliwala,

Last question - from satputli, sud i stick to NH119 or some other road as map is showing two roads. one via pathisain and one via pauri. WHich is the best time saving road.