How to Reach Munsiyari from Rishikesh: Route & Travel Time

Rishikesh to Munsiyari is a genuinely long haul — road distance is around 405–410 km on the shortest option, but because the route runs through hill roads for much of the way, the drive typically takes 11–14 hours rather than what the distance alone would suggest. As with the other routes into Munsiyari, the road forks once you're past Almora, into the same three options:

• Via Thal (the direct route): Rishikesh → Kotdwar/Ramnagar side roads → Almora → Thal → Birthi Falls → Kalamuni Top → Munsiyari. The shortest option, at roughly 395–410 km and 11–13 hours.
• Via Bageshwar: Rishikesh → Almora → Bageshwar → Thal → Birthi Falls → Kalamuni Top → Munsiyari — a little longer, around 410–425 km and 12–14 hours, with Bageshwar town as a natural stop partway.
• Via Pithoragarh: The longest of the three, continuing further east through Pithoragarh before the final stretch — roughly 440–460 km and 13–15 hours. Worth it mainly if you're combining the trip with Pithoragarh, Dharchula, Om Parvat, or Adi Kailash.

Given the length of any of these drives, most travellers split the journey into two days rather than attempt it in one push.

Getting there

Private taxis cover the full route, though fares vary widely by season and vehicle type — get a current quote rather than relying on an old one. A more comfortable option for some travellers is to break the journey with a bus or shared taxi to Bageshwar or Almora first, then a shorter local taxi on to Munsiyari the next day.

By air

There's no direct flight route between Rishikesh and Munsiyari — Rishikesh's nearest airport is Jolly Grant (Dehradun), and Munsiyari's is Pantnagar, so flying still leaves a substantial road journey at the Munsiyari end either way. For most travellers, driving the whole way — or taking a train to Kathgodam and a taxi from there — works out more practical than flying.

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