How to Reach Auli from Nainital

Nainital to Auli distance is about 275 km by road – through the Kumaon hills via Bhowali, Ranikhet, Dwarahat, Chaukhutia and Adibadri to Karnaprayag, then NH-7 via Chamoli to Joshimath and 14–16 km up to Auli. Plan on roughly 9–10 hours of mountain driving. This is the direct hill route between Kumaon and Garhwal, so you do not need to go down to Haridwar or Rishikesh.

The road distance from Nainital to Auli is about 275 km. Allow 9–10 hours, more after rain or landslides.

• Route: Nainital – Bhowali – Ranikhet – Dwarahat – Chaukhutia – Adibadri – Karnaprayag – Chamoli – Joshimath – Auli.
• Taxi: the easiest option; start early so you reach Joshimath before dark.
• Break the journey: Ranikhet or Karnaprayag are good overnight stops if you want two easier days.
• Bus: there is no direct bus. You would need to change at Ranikhet or Karnaprayag, so a taxi saves a lot of time.

Last stretch: Joshimath to Auli is 14–16 km up a mountain road (40–60 minutes by taxi or shared jeep). The Joshimath–Auli ropeway has been closed since January 2023, so the road is the only way up.

There is no railway near Auli. The nearest railhead to Nainital is Kathgodam (KGM), about 35 km below Nainital, but from the Kumaon side the whole journey to Auli is still by road.

The nearest working railway station to Auli itself is Yog Nagari Rishikesh; the Rishikesh–Karnaprayag railway was still under construction as of October 2026.

Pantnagar Airport (PGH), about 70 km from Nainital, is the closest airport to Nainital. For Auli, Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (DED) is the usual airport, about 280–290 km from Auli. From Nainital, driving is far quicker than flying.