A step-by-step guide on how to get to Khirsu from Rishikseh, for those looking for a peaceful village escape.
Khirsu is a small hill station in the Gharwal District of Uttarakhand, India. Boasting spectacular Himalayan views and easy walks, it offers a great escape from the more popular (and busy) hill stations elsewhere in the state. Though it is eventually hit with domestic visitors in the high season of May – July, in April it was completely silent and incredibly peaceful.
Sunrise over Khirsu
And a sunset over Khirsu, for good measure. Convinced yet?
The village is an excellent alternative to the hustle and bustle (and heat) of Rishikesh. If you have your own car, the journey can be made in one, day. If you use public transport, it can take up to two days to get to Rishikesh from Khirsu. Check the guide below to find out how to get to Khirsu from Rishikesh by public transportation.
How to get to Khirsu from Rishikesh
Getting from Rishikesh to Srinagar, Uttarakhand
Not to be confused with its Kashmiri cousin, Srinagar in Uttarakand is a lively university town and transport hub for several nearby hill stations and villages. It takes roughly 4 hours to get from Rishikesh to Srinagar by bus.
To get to Srinagar, head to the main bus station in Rishikesh town.
There are several buses, most leaving in the morning. The last bus leaves at 3 in the afternoon, but it’s best to catch an earlier bus. If you leave early, you might be able to do the journey in one day.
A ticket to Srinagar from Rishikesh costs 150 Rs per person. Make sure to clarify that you want to go to Srinagar in Uttarakhand, and not Srinagar in Kashmir (luckily not possible in one day). If there are no buses going from the wide open government bus station, try the private bus stand next door.
A view of Srinagar from my hotel room
Where to stay in Srinagar, Uttarakhand
Srinagar is centered around a bazaar, where the bus will drop you off. It’s likely you’ll have to stay here for the night.
There is a GMVN Guest House near the bus station, which offers slightly overpriced, if spacious, rooms. There are many other hotels and guest houses on the same street, charging roughly 700 Rs for a double/triple room.
Getting from Srinagar to Khirsu
There is only one bus from Srinagar to Khirsu, and it leaves around 8 in the morning from the Pauri bus stand at the beginning of town. The bus stand is 2 minutes from the GMVN Guest House. The bus takes 1.5 hours and costs 50 Rs per person.
If you missed the bus, never fear! You can still make it to Khirsu on the same day.
There are buses and shared Jeeps to Pauri, a town roughly 1 hour away from Srinagar. From Pauri, shared Jeeps go to Khirsu throughout the day. A bus from Srinagar to Pauri costs 40 Rs per person, and a shared Jeep from Pauri to Khirsu costs 50 Rs per person.
Epic Himalayan views from the GVMN Guest House in Khirsu
Where to stay in Khirsu, Uttarakhand
Although a steady trickle of tourists make it to Khirsu in high season, it’s nowhere near as busy and the more popular hill stations of Uttarakhand. As a result, the village has only four guest houses.
Of the 4, the GMVN Guest House has the best location, with panoramic Himalayan views on clear days. The other guest houses are slightly cheaper and have nicer rooms, but the view makes up for the shortcomings of the GMVN Guest House. Food is available on demand at the GVMN Guest House, though cheaper options are available from small “restaurants” in the village if you’re willing to eat early in the evening.
The GVMN Guest House in Khirsu
Rooftop views of the GVMN Guest House
There you have it, a quick guide on how to get to Khirsu from Rishikesh. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments.
I want to take route from Delhi to Khirsu via Roorki & Hardwar, Rishikesh upto Srinagar. How are the roads from Srinagar to Khirsu? Are they narrow, steep or comfortable to self drive?
It helped a lot. Thanks