Govindghat sits at about 1,800 metres on the highway to Badrinath, around 20 km beyond Joshimath, where the Lakshman Ganga pours into the Alaknanda. For generations the walk to Ghangaria began at the suspension bridge here. Today a road continues across the river for about four kilometres to the village of Pulna, and most trekkers ride that stretch in a shared jeep and start walking there.
The place is all bustle in season: a large gurudwara with pilgrim lodging, hotels stacked above the river, parking lots, cloakrooms, mule owners and helicopter counters. It was badly hit by the floods of 2013 and has been rebuilt since.
What to see and do at Govindghat & Pulna
Sort out your trek logistics
This is where you leave your vehicle, deposit spare luggage, hire a porter or mule and complete any registration required for the Hemkund Sahib yatra. Doing it the evening before buys you an earlier start.
Visit the gurudwara
The riverside gurudwara is the staging post for Sikh pilgrims, with a langar and simple rooms. Visitors are welcome to sit in on prayers.
Take the jeep to Pulna
Shared jeeps shuttle between Govindghat and Pulna from early morning for a small fixed fare. At Pulna there are tea stalls, mule stands and the first stone steps of the trail.
How to get to Govindghat & Pulna
- From Joshimath: about 20 km, roughly an hour by taxi, shared jeep or any bus bound for Badrinath.
- From Rishikesh or Haridwar: about 270–295 km and a full day on the road. Most people break the journey at Joshimath, Pipalkoti or Rudraprayag. See getting here.
- From Badrinath: about 25 km back down the same highway.
Practical tips
- Aim to start walking from Pulna by 8 am at the latest; entry onto the trail may be stopped in the early afternoon so that nobody is caught out after dark.
- Withdraw cash in Joshimath. Do not count on finding a working ATM here.
- Traffic on the narrow stretch between Joshimath and Govindghat has at times been regulated in convoys. Ask about timings the day before.
- Mule and porter rates are fixed by the local authorities and displayed at the stands — pay at the counter where one exists and keep the slip.
Best treks & tours for Govindghat & Pulna
These packages are the easiest way to see Govindghat & Pulna with a guide, transport and lodging sorted:
Private guided trek from US$498 Rishikesh: 5-Day Valley of Flowers Trek with Private Guide
The most complete Valley of Flowers package we found on GetYourGuide: five days from Rishikesh with a private guide, the drive up the pilgrim highway, the walk in to Ghangaria and a day among the flowers. The listing is new and has no reviews yet, so read the day-by-day plan and what is included before you book.
- The drive up the Alaknanda past Devprayag and Joshimath
- Trek from Govindghat to Ghangaria with a private guide
- A full day inside the Valley of Flowers National Park
Guided tour from US$590 Haridwar: Valley of Flowers Guided 3-Day Tour
A fast guided trip from Haridwar that follows the classic road to Govindghat and on to the valley. Three days is a very tight schedule for a route that involves around ten hours of driving each way plus the trek, so check the itinerary carefully and keep a spare day in hand. No reviews yet.
- Pick-up in Haridwar, convenient for the railway station
- The road via Rishikesh, Devprayag, Rudraprayag and Joshimath to Govindghat
- A guided visit to the Valley of Flowers
Guided pilgrimage tour from US$830 From Delhi: Chardham Yatra with Transport and Tour Guide
The full Char Dham circuit of Uttarakhand in ten days. The Badrinath leg uses the same highway as the Valley of Flowers trek, passing Joshimath and Govindghat, so it suits pilgrims who would like to see where the trail to Hemkund Sahib and the valley begins. No reviews yet.
- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath
- Transport and a tour guide throughout
- Passes Joshimath and Govindghat on the Badrinath road
