Between the 7th and the 11th centuries, the Katyuri Kings ruled Joshimath. The capital of the Katyuri Kings was Katyuri, which is now known as Baijnath Valley in Kumaon. They used to practise Buddhism but eventually switched to Hinduism, identifying as Brahmins and continuing the same tradition.
How To Reach
JOSHIMATH
Joshimath is well connected by roads to major destinations of Uttarakhand. Buses and taxis to Joshimath are easily available from major destinations like Rishikesh, Pauri, Srinagar etc. The nearest big city to Joshimath is Rishikesh. Distance from Joshimath to Rishikesh is 250km.
If you are traveling from Delhi, there are convenient transportation options available to reach Joshimath. Buses and taxis can be found at ISBT Kashmiri Gate in Delhi, providing transportation to Haridwar and Rishikesh. From Haridwar and Rishikesh, you can avail yourself of buses and taxi services that will take you to Joshimath. The distance between Delhi and Joshimath is approximately 493 kilometers.
If you prefer to travel through plane, nearest airport is Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun. The airport is approximately 290km away from Joshimath. Pre-book and shared taxi services are available at airport for Joshimath.
If you are travelling from train, nearest railway station is Rishikesh station which is 250km away. From Rishikesh, regular bus and taxi services to Joshimath are available on this route.
You have two choices for getting to Joshimath from Rishikesh by road or by chopper-
- Travel from Rishikesh to Joshimath via bus or taxi. Around 270 kilometres separate Rishikesh and Joshimath, and the drive takes 8 to 9 hours.
- Along the way, cities like Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, and Karnaprayag provide picturesque vistas of the Ganges River and the Himalayas.
During the trip season, helicopter services are offered from the helipad at Rishikesh to Joshimath. For a quicker and more convenient journey, you can reserve a helicopter ticket in advance.