Uttarakhand: Haridwar --> Rishikesh --> Auli

Blog No: 20--->

Day 1. Delhi-->Haridwar-->Rishikesh
• Reach Delhi Airport. Go to terminal 3 and take a direct bus to the Kashmiri Gate bus stand.
• After reaching Kashmiri gate enquire for the direct bus for Haridwar or Rishikesh which can be AC/Non-AC at your convenience.
• To Reach Haridwar it will take around 6 hours and from there Rishikesh would take around 1 and a half hours.
• So, if you are reaching in the afternoon at Haridwar attend the Ganga aarti in the evening then head towards Rishikesh via bus.
• Book a Zostel (www.zostel.com) as they allow you to stay in their common room for the night. It’s a big common room with beds and blankets. You also get a locker to keep your bags. It also has a kitchen upstairs with a big space so you can have your dinner there. The taste is good. 
Expenses: - Delhi Airport --> Kashmiri Gate: Rs 45/- (Bus)
                    Kashmiri Gate--> Haridwar: Rs 250 - Rs300 (AC Bus)
                    Haridwar --> Rishikesh: Rs 50/- (Bus)
                    Rishikesh --> Zostel: Rs 200/- (Night Auto)

Day 2. Rishikesh-->Haridwar
• Hire a scooty in the morning for 24 hours and head towards Haridwar if you didn't attend Aarti. Reach there by afternoon and start exploring Haridwar. Reach 1 hour prior to the aarti so that you get a proper place to sit and see the whole view. After the aarti, you can go for shopping and gorge on some street foods. Head back to Rishikesh.
Expenses: - Zostel stay (350 x 3 nights): Rs 1050/- (Dorm Stay)
                   Scooty (375 x 2 nights): Rs 750/-
                   Petrol: Rs 250/-

Day 3. Rishikesh
• Wake up at 4:00 AM and go to Kunjapuri sunrise point which is 25 km up. Zostel can book a four-wheeler as it is very cold to go on the bike in the morning.
• After returning, book for bungee jumping (www.jumpinheights.com) online or you can book directly from their office if the slot is available. You can either take your scooter or jumpin heights have bus service from Jumping point to Rishikesh and vice versa but, they charge extra for this.  Return by afternoon and the rest of the day you can explore.
• If you want peace and calm, in the evening you can go to Beatles Ashram or Triveni Ghat for aarti.
Expenses: - Kunjapuri Sunrise point: Rs 300 per person
                    Bungee Jumping: Rs 3550/-

Day 4. Rishikesh
• Early morning trek to Neer Garh waterfall and enjoy bathing in chilled water. The view is just amazing.
• Come back to Zostel and book for river rafting (9 km, 18 km, and 24 km). I would recommend 18kms as it includes grade 4 which is very adventures and fun. Evening you can visit Triveni Ghat for aarti, shopping, and food.
Expenses: - Rafting: Rs 500/- (18kms)

Day 5. Rishikesh-->Joshimath-->Auli (270 Kms)
• Early Morning around 5 take an Auto to Rishikesh bus stand and take the direct bus to Joshimath. If there is no direct bus to Joshimath, take a bus to Karnaprayag and from there you can take another bus to Joshimath. It will take around 11 to 12 hours to reach Joshimath as the roads are very narrow or due to traffic. From there take a sharing vehicle to Auli which will take around 45 mins to reach Auli.
• Prefer camping in Auli under the sky. It will be freezing cold, but the experience is worth.
Expenses: - Rishikesh --> Joshimath: Rs 350
                   Joshimath --> Auli: Rs 150 – Rs 200/- per person (private 500 – 600)
                   Auli camping (750 x 2 nights): Rs 1500 (Including Breakfast)

Day 6. Auli
• Trek the mountains in Auli to reach the top. The path is incredible as all the side is covered by snow and as you reach on the top you can explore a big jungle as well as you can see Mt. Nanda Devi, Trishul Peak, and the other Himalayas range. The view from the top is marvelous and breathtaking.
• Come by evening and camp under the stars. If you don't want to trek you can use ropeway to reach on the top. (500 Rs - 1500 Rs).  I prefer trek as the feeling is different when you walk in the snow.

Day 7. Auli-->Rishikesh-->Delhi
• There is a direct government bus at 5:00 AM in the morning from Auli to Rishikesh. You will reach by afternoon. Freshen up at Zostel as they allow you to wait in their common room and take some rest or go to Ganga Ghats and sit peacefully. Board a sleeper/pushback bus from Rishikesh to Delhi in the night so that you can have proper sleep as your body needs rest.
Expenses: - Auli --> Rishikesh: Rs 400/-
                   Rishikesh --> Delhi: Rs 350 (Sleeper bus)

Day 8. Delhi
• Reach Delhi early morning and explore Delhi. Visit Chandni Chowk and Rajiv chowk to taste the best snacks and food. Also, visit lotus temple it very peaceful inside. You can take the metro from one place to another as the connectivity is great. After that take a train or flight to your home town.
Expenses: - Delhi Metro and uber bike: Rs 200/- total.

Flight (Return)	6000
Stay at Zostel in Rishikesh (350 x 3 nights)	1050
Bus, Auto, bike, petrol and other transport	3300
Auli Camping	1500
Bungee Jumping (Jump, video)	4450
Rafting	500
Food and other miscellaneous	2000
Total	18800/-

I took the train from one side and flight from the other side, so it cost me around 3500. The cost might look higher but if you include adventure activities its very reasonable. The above prices are bargained wherever it was possible. Please do bargain when you hire an auto, scooty, rafting, camping in Auli and wherever it is possible. The whole trip cost me around 15000/-

I will write about my experiences of Rishikesh, Auli, bungee jumping and how I travel in another blogs.

Suggestions and edit are always welcomed. If you need in-depth details of the trip (contact and customization in the itinerary) you can connect with me on:

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asitchaurasia@gmail.com

Thank you :)