Haldwani and its railway station, Kathgodam, are the usual gateway to Munsiyari — here's the route from there.
Haldwani — and Kathgodam, its railway station — is where most rail and road journeys to Munsiyari effectively begin, since it's the nearest major town with a railhead. There isn't just one road in from here, though — depending on road conditions, the season, and whether you want to stop anywhere en route, you'll end up choosing between three real options, all a long day of driving (roughly 7–11 hours) rather than a single straight highway.
Haldwani → Kathgodam → Bhimtal → Bhowali → Khairna → Almora → Chitai → Barechina → Dhaulchina → Sheraghat → Udiyari Bend → Thal → Birthi Falls → Kalamuni Top → Munsiyari. This is the route most shared taxis run, at roughly 285–290 km — it skips Bageshwar town itself, cutting fairly directly through changing terrain of forest, ridgelines, and river valleys rather than a single straight highway.
Haldwani → Kathgodam → Bhimtal → Almora → Bageshwar → Thal → Birthi Falls → Kalamuni Top → Munsiyari — a little longer, at around 290–300 km, since it swings through Bageshwar town before rejoining the same road at Thal. It's worth taking if you want a proper stop partway (Bageshwar has the Bagnath Temple and better food options than the smaller villages on the direct route), or if there's a road issue on the more direct Someshwar–Dhaulchina stretch.
The longest of the three — Haldwani → Almora → Bageshwar (or Someshwar) → Pithoragarh → Thal → Birthi Falls → Kalamuni Top → Munsiyari, or from Pithoragarh via the Jauljibi–Madkot road — adding up to somewhere over 330–350 km. It only really makes sense if you're combining the trip with a stop in Pithoragarh itself, or continuing on toward Dharchula, Om Parvat, or Adi Kailash before looping back to Munsiyari.
Shared taxis and jeeps run the Route 1 (via Thal) option regularly and tend to be more reliable than the limited local bus service — it's the default most drivers will offer you. A private cab for the full route is commonly quoted somewhere in the ₹4,000–6,000 range, though fares shift with fuel prices, season, and which of the three routes you take — worth confirming a current rate before you book rather than going by an old quote.
If 7–8 hours in one stretch isn't appealing, Almora or Kausani are common overnight stops roughly midway, letting you split the drive across two easier days.
Once you're on the Haldwani–Munsiyari road, message us on WhatsApp and we can help with directions for the last stretch into Sarmoli.