Srinagar (Garhwal) Travel Guide
Alaknanda valley's largest town — HNB Garhwal University, ancient Kamleshwar temple and a road junction between Badrinath and Kedarnath.
- Altitude
- 560 m
- Best season
- Year round
- From Dehradun
- ~110 km
- Category
- University Town
Why visit Srinagar (Garhwal)
- Largest town in the Garhwal hills, offering full city amenities — banks, hospitals, shopping, restaurants — at the gateway to the Char Dham pilgrimage routes.
- Home to Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (HNB Garhwal University), a central university that brings academic energy and a young population to the town.
- The Kamleshwar temple, one of the important Shiva shrines of Garhwal, sits above the town with commanding views of the Alaknanda valley and surrounding peaks.
- Strategically located on the Alaknanda river where the valley widens — Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary are all accessible within 2–4 hours.
- A genuine Garhwali town rather than a tourist resort, offering authentic local market experiences, regional cuisine, and a sense of real mountain-town life.
- The riverside setting on the broad Alaknanda, with alluvial flats used for agriculture, is unusually open and scenic compared to the narrow gorge towns upstream and downstream.
Srinagar in Garhwal (not to be confused with the J&K capital) is the largest town in the Alaknanda valley and home to Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University — the only central university in the Garhwal Himalaya. At 560 m, it is warmer and greener than the hill stations above, with a busy market, decent hospital facilities and the ancient Kamleshwar Mahadev temple on the riverbank.
The town sits at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Kedarganga rivers and is a logical overnight stop on the Char Dham route — about midway between Haridwar and Badrinath by road. A short detour from the highway, it has more character than the roadside dhabas most pilgrims stop at.
Explore around
Places near Srinagar (Garhwal)
Panch Prayag confluence; Kedarnath route junction
Devprayag70 kmOrigin of the Ganga; another Panch Prayag
Khirsu42 kmQuiet Pauri Garhwal hill station with apple orchards and Himalayan views
Pauri95 kmDistrict HQ; panoramic views of Himalayan range
Famous for wood furniture and handicrafts; Chandrabadni temple nearby
Powerful Shakti temple on the Alaknanda; especially sacred at dusk
What to do
Activities at Srinagar (Garhwal)
Kamleshwar Temple Visit
The ancient Kamleshwar Mahadev temple above Srinagar town is one of the important Shiva shrines of the Garhwal region, believed to be the site where Raja Vikramaditya received his celestial weapons. The climb to the temple takes 20–30 minutes and rewards with fine views of the Alaknanda valley.
Alaknanda Riverside Walk
The ghats and riverside areas of Srinagar offer a peaceful early-morning walk. The wide alluvial plain at this section of the valley gives an unusual open sky compared to the narrow gorge character of the upper river. Fishing in the Alaknanda is popular among locals.
University Area & Chauras Campus
HNB Garhwal University's beautiful Chauras campus (5 km from town) is set in a forested hillside. Visitors interested in Garhwali culture, the university museum, or simply the campus atmosphere are welcome during working hours.
Market Exploration
Srinagar's main bazaar is the largest market town between Rishikesh and Joshimath. Shops sell everything from mountaineering gear and trekking supplies to local Garhwali textiles, spices, and religious items. Excellent for stocking up before heading into the Char Dham valleys.
Dhari Devi Temple
Located 15 km from Srinagar on the Badrinath highway, Dhari Devi temple sits on a rock in the Alaknanda. The goddess is believed to change form from girl to woman to old woman through the day. The temple was controversially relocated to accommodate rising reservoir waters from the Srinagar hydropower project.
Before you go
Srinagar (Garhwal) travel tips
- Srinagar Garhwal (in Uttarakhand) is frequently confused with Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir. Always specify "Srinagar, Uttarakhand" when booking transport or accommodation.
- The town is at a lower elevation (540 m) than most Garhwal destinations and can be hot and humid May–June. Carry light summer clothing if visiting then.
- Srinagar has the best medical facilities between Rishikesh and Joshimath — the base hospital here is the reference point for emergencies in the Char Dham valleys.
- Fuel up and withdraw cash here before heading toward Badrinath; ATMs and petrol stations become fewer and less reliable beyond Chamoli.
- The Alaknanda can flood severely during monsoon (July–August); stay away from the riverbanks during heavy rain periods.
Getting there
How to reach Srinagar (Garhwal)
On NH-7 between Rishikesh (105 km, ~3.5 hrs) and Badrinath. Frequent buses from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, and Pauri. The town is a major bus interchange for Char Dham routes.
Rishikesh (105 km) is the nearest railhead with connections to Delhi (Haridwar, 125 km, has the best connectivity including Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi trains).
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (145 km, ~4.5 hrs) is the nearest airport.
Where to stay in Srinagar (Garhwal)
- Srinagar has the widest range of accommodation in the Garhwal hills outside Rishikesh — budget lodges, mid-range hotels, and a few business hotels are all available.
- The GMVN Tourist Rest House offers reliable and centrally located accommodation.
- Several hotels near the bus stand cater to Char Dham pilgrims with early departure options and pilgrim-package meals.
Food & dining
- The largest concentration of restaurants in the Garhwal hills is in Srinagar — you can find proper sit-down restaurants serving Garhwali thalis, North Indian food, South Indian breakfasts, and even basic Chinese options.
- Mithai shops in the bazaar produce fresh sweets including bal mithai (a Kumaoni chocolate-brown fudge that has crossed into Garhwal) and local burfi varieties.
- Roadside chai stalls and parathas are the standard quick breakfast before early-morning departures for Badrinath or Kedarnath.
Background
History of Srinagar (Garhwal)
Srinagar Garhwal was the historic capital of the Garhwal Kingdom for nearly 300 years, from the reign of King Ajaypal (who unified the 52 Garhwal chieftainships in the early 15th century) until the devastating Gurkha conquest of 1803. The city was a seat of art, architecture, and Sanskrit learning, and its destruction by the Gurkha army was one of the most traumatic episodes in Garhwali history. Much of the old city's heritage was razed or looted.
After the British expelled the Gurkhas in 1815, the western part of Garhwal was retained as British Garhwal while the eastern portion was returned to the surviving Garhwal royal family as the princely state of Tehri Garhwal. Srinagar fell in the British zone and became an important administrative centre for the hill region. HNB Garhwal University, established in 1973 and awarded central university status in 2009, is the most significant modern institution the town has produced.
The 2013 Uttarakhand floods caused severe destruction in Srinagar when the Alaknanda rose catastrophically. Large sections of the town, including the famous Kamleshwar temple area, were damaged. The disaster reinforced concerns about rapid and unplanned construction on the floodplains of the Alaknanda and the ecological vulnerability of the entire river valley system.
Plan your trip
Suggested Srinagar (Garhwal) itinerary
- Day 1Arrive from Rishikesh. Settle in. Kamleshwar temple visit in afternoon (30 min climb). Riverside evening walk on Alaknanda ghats. Dinner at a proper restaurant — take advantage of Srinagar's better food options before heading deeper into the hills. Overnight.
- Day 2Morning: Dhari Devi temple (15 km). Return for lunch. Afternoon: bazaar walk and stocking up for higher valley travel. Evening departure toward Rudraprayag, Gopeshwar, or Badrinath as per onward itinerary.
Common questions
Srinagar (Garhwal) FAQ
- Is Srinagar Garhwal the same as Srinagar in J&K?
- No. These are two completely different cities. Srinagar, Uttarakhand is a small city in the Garhwal Himalayas on the Alaknanda river. Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir is the summer capital of J&K, 900+ km to the northwest. Always specify "Srinagar, Uttarakhand" to avoid booking and routing errors.
- Is it worth staying overnight in Srinagar Garhwal?
- Yes, especially if your Char Dham journey starts or ends here. It is the best-serviced town in inner Garhwal and a strategic break point between Rishikesh and Badrinath/Kedarnath. An overnight stop gives time for the Kamleshwar temple and Dhari Devi.
- Which districts does Srinagar Garhwal serve as a gateway to?
- Srinagar sits at the junction of roads to Pauri Garhwal (south), Chamoli (north toward Badrinath), and Rudraprayag (east toward Kedarnath). It is a true crossroads of the Garhwal pilgrimage network.
- What is HNB Garhwal University known for?
- HNB Garhwal University is a central university known for its research in Himalayan studies, geology, environmental science, and Garhwali literature. Its status as a central university (since 2009) has attracted students from across India to this hill town.
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