How to Reach Tungnath from Rishikesh: Distance, Bus & Route Guide

The short answer: Rishikesh to Tungnath is about 200 km by road to Chopta, the last point a vehicle can reach, followed by a 3.5 km trek to the temple. The drive takes 7–8 hours and the walk up around two, so most people ride or drive to Chopta on day one and trek on day two.

ऋषिकेश से तुंगनाथ की दूरी सड़क से चोपता तक लगभग 200 किमी है, और चोपता से मंदिर तक 3.5 किमी पैदल ट्रेक है।

Tungnath is the highest Shiva temple in the world, and reaching it from Rishikesh happens in two very different stages: a full day of riding or driving to Chopta, followed by a trek that has nothing to do with wheels at all. Most of the confusion about "how to reach Tungnath" comes from people not realising these are two separate journeys with entirely different planning needs.

Rishikesh to Tungnath distance, leg by leg

Road distances are rounded and vary by a few kilometres depending on where in Rishikesh you start and on ongoing highway realignment. Elevation goes from about 340 m in Rishikesh to 2,680 m at Chopta, 3,680 m at Tungnath and roughly 4,000 m at Chandrashila.

Stage one: Rishikesh to Chopta

About 200 km, and the road runs Rishikesh → Devprayag → Rudraprayag → Ukhimath → Chopta. By bike or car this is a 7–8 hour day, almost all of it on maintained mountain road. The final 25–30 km climbing into Chopta through dense deodar forest is the best stretch of the drive, and genuinely one of the more scenic short stretches of road in this part of Garhwal.

By bike: good tarmac the whole way, no permits needed. If you're coming from out of town, you can rent a bike in Rishikesh — a Royal Enfield or Himalayan is the comfortable choice for this road — and our route guide for riding to Chopta covers road conditions, fuel stops and which bike to take. Current daily rates are on our bike rental price list.

By car or taxi: the same route, typically 7–8 hours depending on stops. Shared taxis and private cabs both run this route from Rishikesh, and it can also be broken into two days with an overnight in Rudraprayag or Srinagar if you'd rather not do it in one go — a reasonable option if you're travelling with family or simply prefer a more relaxed pace.

Rishikesh to Tungnath by bus: timings and fare

There is no direct bus from Rishikesh to Chopta or Tungnath. The practical route is a bus to Ukhimath (or to Gopeshwar, which passes through Chopta on the other side), then a shared jeep or local taxi for the last stretch.

• Where from: GMOU and Uttarakhand Roadways buses leave from the Rishikesh bus stand near the Haridwar–Rishikesh road (not from Tapovan or Laxman Jhula).
• When: hill buses leave early — mostly between about 4:30 and 7:00 am. Miss the morning departures and you'll usually have to wait until the next day, because buses don't start mountain runs late in the day.
• How long: 8–9 hours to Ukhimath, then roughly an hour to Chopta.
• Fare: roughly ₹400–500 per person to Ukhimath, plus around ₹100–200 a seat for a shared jeep to Chopta (a private taxi for that last leg costs more). Fares are revised from time to time, so confirm at the counter.
• Tickets: bought at the bus stand counter, or from the conductor once aboard. Arrive 30 minutes early in peak season (May–June and October).

The bus is the cheapest way to reach Tungnath, but it's also the slowest and the least flexible — you're tied to one morning departure each way, and shared jeeps out of Chopta thin out by late afternoon. If you're short on time or travelling as two, a scooty or bike for three days often works out about the same as two return bus tickets plus jeeps, and lets you stop at Devprayag and Deoria Tal on the way.

Taxi from Rishikesh to Chopta

A private one-way taxi to Chopta generally runs in the region of ₹5,000–8,000 depending on vehicle size and season, and a round trip with the driver waiting overnight costs more. Shared taxis to Ukhimath or Rudraprayag leave from the same area as the buses and are faster, but you'll still need a jeep for the final leg.

Stage two: Chopta to Tungnath, on foot

There is no road to Tungnath. From Chopta, at 2,680 m, it's a 3.5 km walk on a paved path to the temple at 3,680 m — steep in places, but manageable for anyone who walks regularly, and busy enough in season that you're rarely walking alone. Most people take around two hours up, with the path well-marked and impossible to lose even without a guide.

If you have the legs for it, another 1.5 km beyond the temple takes you to Chandrashila summit at roughly 4,000 m, for a 360-degree view that includes Nanda Devi, Trishul and Chaukhamba — genuinely one of the best mountain panoramas reachable on a short trek anywhere in Uttarakhand. It's worth starting before dawn if you want the summit at sunrise, when the light on the peaks is at its best and the crowds are thinnest.

Ponies are available at Chopta for those who'd rather not walk the trek themselves, though the path is popular enough with pilgrims and trekkers of all fitness levels that most people who can walk at all choose to.

What the temple and summit are actually like

Tungnath is small and simple compared to the grander Chardham temples — stone-built, ancient, and set into a genuinely dramatic position on the ridge, with rhododendron forest below and open alpine meadow above. The atmosphere is quieter and less crowded than Kedarnath even in peak season, partly because the trek is shorter and partly because it doesn't carry the same mandatory-registration pilgrimage weight. Chandrashila, beyond it, is pure summit view — no structure, just the 360-degree panorama and, on a clear morning, one of the better sunrise spots in the state.

What you don't need

Unlike the Chardham shrines, Tungnath needs no registration, no Inner Line Permit, and no medical certificate — just a small entry fee for the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, which covers Chopta. This is a genuine part of why it's one of the easiest big Himalayan trips to decide on with only a few weeks' notice, and it's the reason we recommend it as a first Himalayan ride for people who haven't done one of these trips before.

Fitness and altitude

The trek itself is short enough that fitness demands are modest compared with Kedarnath's 16 km climb — most reasonably active people manage the 3.5 km to Tungnath without much difficulty. Chandrashila, being steeper and higher, asks more, but you're only at real altitude for a couple of hours total and sleeping at 2,680 m in Chopta the rest of the time, so altitude sickness is uncommon on this trip. Still, go at your own pace on the final stretch above Tungnath rather than trying to match a faster group.

Where to stay

Camps or basic guesthouses in the Chopta meadow — simple, cold at night regardless of season, and directly under genuinely dark skies with almost no light pollution, which makes for excellent stargazing if the weather cooperates. Book ahead in peak weekends; Chopta is a popular short trip and accommodation is limited compared with the bigger yatra towns. Ukhimath and Sari village (for Deoria Tal) have more options if Chopta is full.

Timing it as a weekend trip

Rishikesh to Chopta, the Tungnath and Chandrashila trek, and back — this comfortably fits a long weekend: ride up on day one, trek and return to Chopta on day two, ride back on day three. If you have a fourth day, Deoria Tal near Sari village is worth adding — a high lake that reflects the Chaukhamba range at dawn, and a genuinely peaceful night if you camp beside it.

We run this as a guided three-to-four-day tour with the bike, permits (where relevant), backup vehicle and a leader who knows the route — see the Chopta & Tungnath bike tour. If you'd rather ride it yourself, our rental route guide covers what you need to know, and our weekend bike trips roundup has other short-trip options if you're comparing this against alternatives. Back in Rishikesh with a spare day? A half-day of river rafting on the Ganga fits neatly before or after the ride.

Best time to go

April to June for clear weather and flowering rhododendron, September to November for the sharpest mountain views of the year. Chopta is one of the few high-altitude spots near Rishikesh that's also rideable through winter — December to March turns the Tungnath walk into a snow trek, which is spectacular in its own right if the road stays open. The road above Ukhimath usually stays open through light snow, but heavy falls can close it for a few days at a time, and by peak winter it sometimes stops short of Chopta at Duggalbitta, with the last stretch covered on foot. We check conditions before every winter departure and will always tell you honestly if the road isn't cooperating.

The temple itself closes for winter, usually around Diwali (late October or early November), when the idol moves to Makkumath for worship until it returns in late April or May. The trek stays open, so a winter visit means the view and the snow, not darshan.

Frequently asked questions

What is the distance from Rishikesh to Tungnath?

About 200 km by road from Rishikesh to Chopta, then a 3.5 km trek from Chopta to Tungnath temple — roughly 204 km in total. Chandrashila summit is a further 1.5 km above the temple.

How long does it take to reach Tungnath from Rishikesh?

The drive to Chopta takes 7–8 hours by bike or car, and 9–10 hours by bus with the jeep connection. The trek to the temple takes around two hours, so plan the trip as at least two days, with an overnight in Chopta.

Is there a direct bus from Rishikesh to Tungnath?

No. Take an early-morning GMOU or Uttarakhand Roadways bus from the Rishikesh bus stand to Ukhimath (roughly ₹400–500), then a shared jeep or taxi to Chopta. Buses leave between about 4:30 and 7:00 am.

How far is Tungnath from Chopta?

3.5 km on a paved, well-marked path, climbing from 2,680 m to 3,680 m. Most people take around two hours up and a little over an hour down.

Can I ride a bike from Rishikesh to Tungnath?

Yes, as far as Chopta — the road is tarmac the whole way and needs no permit. From Chopta the last 3.5 km is on foot. We rent Royal Enfields, Himalayans and scooties in Rishikesh with papers valid across Uttarakhand.

Is Tungnath open in winter?

The temple closes around Diwali and reopens in late April or May; during winter the deity is worshipped at Makkumath. The trek itself stays open and becomes a snow walk, subject to the road to Chopta being clear.