Quick answer: Tungnath has no road: you drive to Chopta and walk about 3 to 3.5 km up to the temple (the temple committee gives 3 km). By road, Chopta is about 200 to 212 km from Rishikesh, so Rishikesh to Tungnath is about 200 to 212 km plus the walk; from Haridwar add about 25 km, and from Delhi it is roughly 450 km (an unofficial figure). The nearest railhead is Rishikesh and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, about 220 to 226 km away.
This page is the route guide: road distances from each city, the two roads that reach Chopta, the towns you pass and the ways to make the trip. For where Chandrashila sits on the map and a short overview, see where Chandrashila is. Distances come from the Rudraprayag district website, the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) and the Uttarakhand tourist-care portal; where they differ, we give the range.
How far is Tungnath from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and Delhi?
Every figure below is by road to Chopta (2,679 m / 8,790 ft), the last road point. Tungnath temple (3,680 m / 12,073 ft) is a walk of about 3 to 3.5 km above it, and Chandrashila (3,962 m / 13,000 ft) about 1 km beyond the temple.
| From | To Chopta by road | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Rishikesh | About 200 to 212 km | Rudraprayag district: rail head Rishikesh "at a distance of 200 kms"; BKTC: "about 212 km from Rishikesh" by the Chamoli–Gopeshwar route |
| Haridwar | About 225 to 237 km | Worked out: the Rishikesh figures plus about 25 km between Haridwar and Rishikesh |
| Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun | About 220 to 226 km | District: about 220 km; BKTC: 223 km to Tungnath; tourist-care portal: about 226 km |
| Dehradun city | About 245 to 251 km | Worked out: the airport figure plus about 25 km from the city to Jolly Grant |
| Delhi | About 450 km | Wikipedia's figure for Chopta; the official pages give only the Rishikesh leg |
For "Rishikesh to Tungnath distance", the BKTC page gives one more number: Rishikesh railway station is 205 km from Tungnath. Read all of these as approximate. They differ by up to 12 km, partly because the BKTC's 212 km uses the longer road via Gopeshwar.
Which road goes to Chopta: via Ukhimath or via Gopeshwar?
Chopta sits on the road between Ukhimath and Gopeshwar, and both ends start from the same river road out of Rishikesh. The district places Chopta "on the Gopeshwar – Ukhimath road, about 40 kms. from Gopeshwar", and the BKTC calls it the Kund–Gopeshwar road.
- Via Rudraprayag and Ukhimath. Rishikesh → Devprayag → Srinagar → Rudraprayag (140 km from Rishikesh) → Ukhimath (41 km from Rudraprayag) → Chopta. This is the road our trek cab takes as far as Sari, the village 10 km out of Ukhimath where the district says the road ends for Deoriatal.
- Via Chamoli and Gopeshwar. Rishikesh → Rudraprayag → Chamoli → Gopeshwar → Chopta (about 40 km from Gopeshwar). This is the route the BKTC uses for its 212 km figure, and the natural way in if you are coming down from the Badrinath side.
Both routes share the first 140 km to Rudraprayag. The last ATM worth relying on for our trek is in Rudraprayag, so draw cash there whichever way you turn.
How far is Tungnath from Rudraprayag and Ukhimath?
| Stretch | Distance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rudraprayag to Ukhimath | 41 km by road | Rudraprayag district |
| Ukhimath to Sari (road head for Deoriatal) | 10 km by road | Rudraprayag district |
| Rudraprayag to Chopta via Ukhimath | About 60 km by road (approximate) | Worked out: the district's 200 km Rishikesh–Chopta less its 140 km Rishikesh–Rudraprayag |
| Chopta to Tungnath | About 3 to 3.5 km on foot | BKTC: "the short 3 km trek route" |
| Tungnath to Chandrashila | About 1 km on foot | Trekkaro trek page |
So Rudraprayag to Tungnath is about 60 km by road via Ukhimath plus the 3 to 3.5 km walk. No official page gives the Ukhimath–Chopta road distance, so we do not quote one. The district lists Ukhimath at 1,311 m; Chopta is 2,679 m, so most of the climb on that last stretch happens on the road. The walking part, with heights and gradients, is covered in our Tungnath trek distance guide.
What is the nearest railway station and airport to Tungnath?
- Railway: Rishikesh. The BKTC puts Rishikesh railway station 205 km from Tungnath, and the district gives Rishikesh as the rail head for Chopta at 200 km. Haridwar Junction has more direct trains from Delhi and is the bigger station; it is about 25 km further from Chopta than Rishikesh.
- Airport: Jolly Grant, Dehradun. The district gives about 220 km to Chopta and the BKTC 223 km to Tungnath. The Haridwar district site puts the airport 37 km from Haridwar, and our trek page puts it about 45 minutes from Rishikesh.
No train or flight gets you closer than Rishikesh or Jolly Grant. Every option ends with a drive of about 200 km into the hills.
Can you reach Chopta and Tungnath by bus, taxi or your own car?
All three work. The BKTC says buses and taxis are "easily available along the route". What changes is how much of the 200-odd km you do in one go.
| Way | How it works | Points to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bus from Delhi | Government buses from ISBT Kashmere Gate to Rishikesh take about 6 to 7 hours overnight; continue by road from Rishikesh | Our trek page advises the government buses inside the ISBT; there is no direct government bus to Sari |
| Bus or shared jeep in the hills | Change at Rishikesh, Rudraprayag or Ukhimath for local services towards Chopta | We do not list timings or fares: check them on the day at the bus stand |
| Taxi from Rishikesh or Haridwar | Hire a cab for the whole run to Chopta via Rudraprayag | Plan for a full day on the road; the 185 km to Sari alone takes our cab 8 to 9 hours |
| Your own car | Same roads, either via Ukhimath or via Gopeshwar | The tourist-care portal warns of landslides on hill roads in the monsoon; keep spare time in the plan |
How do you reach Tungnath on Trekkaro's trek?
Our Chopta Chandrashila trek does not drive straight to Chopta. It starts lower, at Sari (2,012 m / 6,601 ft), and walks in via Deoriatal and Rohini Bugyal, reaching Tungnath on Day 4.
- Pickup: Jumping Heights, Tapovan, Rishikesh, at 07:00 AM on Day 1. Reach Rishikesh the evening before.
- Day 1 drive: Rishikesh to Sari, about 185 km and 8 to 9 hours, via Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag.
- Day 4: a short drive from the Baniyakund camp (2,610 m / 8,562 ft) to Chopta, then about 11 km on foot for the day to Tungnath, Chandrashila and back to camp.
- Return and cab: the Day 5 cab reaches Tapovan by about 05:00 PM. Transport is not included in the trek fee: shared cabs cost about ₹6,500 per 5–6 seat vehicle one way, paid directly to the driver and split among trekkers.
The trek fee is ₹8,250 + 5% GST = ₹8,662.50 per person.
Chopta Chandrashila trek dates and booking | Where is Chandrashila | Tungnath trek distance | Chandrashila best time
Frequently asked questions
What is the Rishikesh to Tungnath distance?
About 200 to 212 km by road from Rishikesh to Chopta, then about 3 to 3.5 km on foot to the temple. The temple committee also gives 205 km from Rishikesh railway station to Tungnath.
How far is Tungnath from Delhi?
Roughly 450 km to Chopta by road, an unofficial figure, as the official pages give only the distance from Rishikesh. Add the 3 to 3.5 km walk, and plan a night in Rishikesh or Haridwar on the way, because the hill section alone is a full day's drive.
Which is the nearest railway station to Tungnath?
Rishikesh, about 200 to 205 km away by the district and temple committee figures. Haridwar has more trains from Delhi and is about 25 km further.
How far is Ukhimath from Tungnath?
Ukhimath is 41 km from Rudraprayag on the road to Chopta, and Chopta is about 60 km from Rudraprayag on the district's figures. No official page gives the Ukhimath–Chopta stretch on its own. From Chopta you walk about 3 to 3.5 km to Tungnath.
How do you reach Tungnath from Haridwar or Dehradun?
Drive via Rishikesh and Rudraprayag to Chopta: about 225 to 237 km from Haridwar and about 245 to 251 km from Dehradun city. From Chopta the temple is a 3 to 3.5 km walk.
