How to reach Lohajung

From the airport

Pantnagar Airport (PGH), in Udham Singh Nagar district, is the practical choice. It has a small number of flights, mainly from Delhi, and lies about 35 km from Kathgodam. A pre-booked taxi from the terminal covers the 250 km or so to Lohajung, through Haldwani and Kathgodam, in 8 to 10 hours. After a landing later than mid-morning, a night near Kathgodam and an early start the next day work better.

Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport (DED) has far more flights from across India. It is about 20 km from Rishikesh and roughly 270 km, 9 to 11 hours, from Lohajung by the Karnaprayag road. Taxis can be hired at the terminal; without one, go to Rishikesh first for a bus or shared jeep to Karnaprayag. Pithoragarh's Naini Saini Airport (NNS) is about 205 km away by road, but has only a handful of small-aircraft flights.

From the railway station

Kathgodam (KGM) is the railhead for the Kumaon approach to Lohajung. The overnight Ranikhet Express leaves Delhi Junction (Old Delhi) late in the evening and reaches Kathgodam at about 5 am, in time for an early start. The morning Shatabdi from New Delhi arrives around midday, which leaves too little daylight for the drive, so spend that night near the station and set off early the next day.

For the Rishikesh approach, the nearest stations are Yog Nagari Rishikesh (YNRK) and Haridwar (HW), which has far more trains; they are about 255 km and 275 km respectively from Lohajung by road, 9 to 12 hours. The new Rishikesh to Karnaprayag railway is still being built, with completion now targeted for December 2029, so trains go no further than Rishikesh. Check current train times before you book.

By road

Lohajung sits high above Debal in the Pindar valley of Chamoli district. There are two ways up, and each takes a full day. One is from Kathgodam in Kumaon: about 215 to 235 km depending on the road taken, usually 7 to 9 hours with stops.

• Kathgodam to Almora: about 85 to 90 km through Bhowali and Khairna, 2.5 to 3 hours.
• Almora to Kausani: about 52 km through Someshwar, 1.5 to 2 hours.
• Kausani to Gwaldam: about 40 km, down to Garur and Baijnath and up again to Gwaldam on the border of Kumaon and Garhwal, about 1.5 hours.
• Gwaldam to Debal: about 22 km down into the Pindar valley, about 1 hour.
• Debal to Lohajung: about 23 km, climbing past Mundoli, 1 to 1.5 hours.

From Rishikesh, follow the Badrinath highway through Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag to Karnaprayag, about 172 km and 6 to 7 hours. There the road turns up the Pindar valley to Tharali (about 46 km), then on to Debal and Mundoli: about 250 to 260 km in all, 9 to 11 hours. Neither route crosses a high pass, and Lohajung is reached by road through the winter, when it is the base for Brahmatal treks.

By bus

A direct bus leaves Rishikesh ISBT for Lohajung at about 5 am, but take it only if you have to. A direct bus from Delhi's Anand Vihar ISBT also runs to Lohajung, but it takes about 20 hours and is not advised. Buses from Anand Vihar to Kathgodam or Haldwani take about 8 to 9 hours, and Volvo coaches leave at night, after 8 pm.

Local transfers

Without your own vehicle, shared jeeps are the way up. From Kathgodam they usually leave only in the early morning, around 7 to 8 am. If you miss them, make for Debal (also spelt Deval), about 6 hours away, and try to reach it before about 4 pm, after which transport is hard to find; a local jeep covers the last stretch to Lohajung. From Karnaprayag, jeeps run to Tharali and Debal, where you change for Lohajung. Lohajung is a very small village with guesthouses and a few basic shops, so bring cash and your trekking gear. The Roopkund and Ronti Saddle treks set off on foot from Lohajung.

Distances from major points

• Kathgodam to Lohajung - 222 km
• Rishikesh to Lohajung - 260 km
• Dehradun to Lohajung - 310 km
• Rishikesh to Karnaprayag - 172 km
• Karnaprayag to Lohajung - 88 km
• Karnaprayag to Tharali - 46 km

Safety

Keep at least one spare day at the end of your trip. From late June to mid-September, landslides can stop traffic for hours or days on both routes, particularly along the Alaknanda and Pindar rivers. In winter, mostly from late December to February, snow and ice can make the last climb from Debal slow. Avoid hill roads after dark. At about 2,300 m, Lohajung is cold at night and a big step up from the plains, so rest and drink plenty on arrival. Check the road ahead with your driver before you set off.

Travel tips

• Plan buffer time for road delays, especially in monsoon and winter.
• Start early for long drives to avoid night stretches on mountain roads.
• Keep offline maps and cash as backup in low-network zones.
• If you are continuing to high altitude areas, acclimatize and hydrate well.