Best Route to Rishikesh?

[Slice]

Hi everyone,

Me and some friends are planning to drive upto and beyond Rishikesh, for a weekend(3 day) trip, and since none of us are very familiar with the area, i need some valuable inputs from you seasoned travelers out there, especially because time is a luxury for us here..


Questions:
1) If we leave Delhi (South Delhi) early in the morning, say 5am, how long would it take for us to reach Rishikesh (Shivpuri)? what time do you guys suggest to start from Delhi?
2) Best Route in terms of Road conditions (that a hatchback can tolerate), time saving aspect, safety and availability of facilities?
3) Not very expensive hotels to stay beyond Rishikesh (not asking about rafting beach camps, but normal hotels with a ganges- facing view if possible), budget is about 500-1000 rupees/night.
4) Scenic areas to see on the road beyond Rishikesh towards Harsil. Also how long would it take to drive from Rishikesh to Devprayag/Rudraprayag/Harsil and how is the road? i am looking forward to see Harsil, if possible.
5) Any short treks that can be done in a few hours in the area?
6) Weather conditions in the area this time of the year, something that we should worry?
7) Best route and time to start from Rishikesh to Delhi on the 3rd day?

Thanks in Advance for your inputs!

[hiambuj]

Shekhar,
My answers in bold :

1) If we leave Delhi (South Delhi) early in the morning, say 5am, how long would it take for us to reach Rishikesh (Shivpuri)? what time do you guys suggest to start from Delhi?
5 AM is ok to start. 4 AM would be even better. You may then take NH 58 throughout to avoid traffic. You should be able to reach Rishikesh between 9-10 AM, with one break. Another 30 mins for Shivpuri.

2) Best Route in terms of Road conditions (that a hatchback can tolerate), time saving aspect, safety and availability of facilities?
With such early start, NH 58 would be just fine. Need not to even take By-pass in Meerut & Muzaffarnagar !! The route is : Delhi - Mohan Nagar - Ghaziabad - Muradnagar - Modinagar - Meerut - Muzaffarnagar - Roorkee - Haridwar - Rishikesh

3) Not very expensive hotels to stay beyond Rishikesh (not asking about rafting beach camps, but normal hotels with a ganges- facing view if possible), budget is about 500-1000 rupees/night.
Never stayed at Rishikesh in hotel, can't comment

4) Scenic areas to see on the road beyond Rishikesh towards Harsil. Also how long would it take to drive from Rishikesh to Devprayag/Rudraprayag/Harsil and how is the road? i am looking forward to see Harsil, if possible.
Harshil is on different route & Devprayag/Rudraprayag is on different route.

5) Any short treks that can be done in a few hours in the area?
Not taken any short trek in this area

6) Weather conditions in the area this time of the year, something that we should worry?
Rains cause landslides !! This area is landslide prone. Your itinerary can go haywire

7) Best route and time to start from Rishikesh to Delhi on the 3rd day?
What time you need to reach Delhi ?

[sachinontop]

Slice,
You have already got the perfect replies from the expert of that area!

Still my 2 cents...
Start from Delhi at 4AM sharp. That'll take care of everything! No traffic, perfect weather, less time to reach destination.

There is one more route via Ganga canal after Muradnagar. But it's better to avoid it in dark. So, continue on NH58 and with an early start you'd reach Haridwar by 9AM with easy driving.
Rishikesh is another 1 hour from there.

Neelkanth Mahadev near Rishikesh is one place which I want to visit in my next trip!
It also offers exciting trekking opportunities. The trekking route from Rishikesh to Neelkanth Mahadev surely enchants the adventurous tourists! You can google for it.

[Slice]

Amit and Sachin, Thank you so much for you replies.

Starting at 4am should not be a problem, thats a good suggestion.

Amit, On the third day, we plan to return to Delhi by evening, around 5-6pm, when do you suggest we should start from Rishikesh?

Also about Harsil.. Which route should be taken to Harshil? how long does it take from Rishikesh to get there and how are the roads?

Thanks for your help.

[hiambuj]

Originally Posted by sachinontop

There is one more route via Ganga canal after Muradnagar. But it's better to avoid it in dark.

Precise reason why I didn;t suggest the route !!

[lifeisjourney]

Originally Posted by Slice

Hi everyone,

Me and some friends are planning to drive upto and beyond Rishikesh, for a weekend(3 day) trip, and since none of us are very familiar with the area, i need some valuable inputs from you seasoned travelers out there, especially because time is a luxury for us here..


Questions:

3) Not very expensive hotels to stay beyond Rishikesh (not asking about rafting beach camps, but normal hotels with a ganges- facing view if possible), budget is about 500-1000 rupees/night.


!

Hotel Gangour Near Triveni Ghat. When I was There in Dec teriff was 450-650 it, varies as per season but its better in term of that its near Triveni Ghat where you can be the Part of Evening Aarti.

Last year I did the same
Day 1: Visit Risikesh,
Explore Risikesh - Laxman Jula-Ram Jula- and Other Places in Rishikesh.
Evening at Triveni Ghat (may be its crowed these days).

Day 2+3
Rishikesh - Narendranagar - Chamba - Kanatal (79Km)
Nearby Areas :
Surkanda Devi temple (5 kms away),
Adventure and wildlife spots such as the Kaudiya Forest (3 kms),
Rani Chauri Forest (22 kms),
Dandachali Forest (21 kms) and Batwaldar Forest (10 kms),
The Tehri Dam (33 kms),
Hill stations like Dhanaulti (12 kms) and Mussorie (37 kms)

[thedrsunil]

Originally Posted by sachinontop

Slice,
There is one more route via Ganga canal after Muradnagar.

I tried this route on my weekend trip to cheetal. Actually it is just 4 km shorter then the NH (upto cheetal). It is narrow and have lots of potholes so I always avoid it.

And why not to drive Haridwar to Rishikesh via Raja Ji National Park. It is very scenic route along with a big canal and if you are lucky enough, you can spot some cheetals, leopards or may be elephants.

[sachinontop]

@thedrsunil: The Ganga Canal Route might be equivalent in terms of distance, but time taken on this route is pretty less, if you are travelling in peak daylight! The famous traffic jams of Modinagar, Meerut & Muzzafarnagar are a big hurdle on otherwise ok NH-58.

Early starts from Delhi (in any direction) always help!

[bunty1608]

Originally Posted by thedrsunil

I tried this route on my weekend trip to cheetal. Actually it is just 4 km shorter then the NH (upto cheetal). It is narrow and have lots of potholes so I always avoid it.

And why not to drive Haridwar to Rishikesh via Raja Ji National Park. It is very scenic route along with a big canal and if you are lucky enough, you can spot some cheetals, leopards or may be elephants.

Hey doc can you please detail me about his route because I have to start from Jaipur and no matter how early I start am always stuck with maddening traffic. I always take the N.H. route though some one had suggested me another route from Ghaziabad, but I always have stuck to the N.H. route because the suggestion came from a person who has never in his life driven his car beyond municipal boundaries of city, so I cannot take his advise as authentic.

[sandeep9868]

It also offers exciting trekking opportunities. The trekking route from Rishikesh to Neelkanth Mahadev surely enchants the adventurous tourists! You can google for it.

+1.

Apart from that my suggestions are:

1. Safari into Rajaji National Park.
2. Visit Pauri, very scenic place.