Route library · Weekend · Mountains
Delhi to Bageshwar & Baijnath
Bageshwar is a Kumaon temple town at the meeting point of the Saryu and Gomti rivers, at the head of the road to the Pindari glacier country. Twenty-odd kilometres away at Baijnath, a group of twelfth-century Katyuri temples stands on the Gomti. It is a quiet, valley-floor side of Kumaon that few weekend riders see, on roads that are good but long.
Send to WhatsApp Download GPX Plan this trip Notes verified September 2026 · something changed?
At a glance
- Round trip
- About 900–980 km
- Riding time
- About 10–11 hours each way
- Nights
- Two nights — the day rides are long, and the valley is worth an unhurried day
- Start point
- Delhi (via Kathgodam and Almora)
- Highest point
- About 1,800 m on the ridge road near Almora; Bageshwar itself is about 1,000 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Long days; good hill roads with steady climbs and descents.
- Surface
- Sealed road all the way
- Best season
- October to June. Clear post-monsoon skies in October–November; the monsoon brings landslide delays.
The ride
Delhi → Kathgodam → Almora → Bageshwar. Beyond Almora the road drops into the Saryu valley; Bageshwar sits low and warm compared with the ridge towns above it.
Walk down to the Bagnath temple at the confluence, and take a short ride to Baijnath to see its group of ancient stone temples on the river. The annual Uttarayani fair at Makar Sankranti in January fills the riverbed with stalls and crowds. From Bageshwar the road continues toward Kapkot and the Pindari valley.
Day by day
Delhi to Bageshwar
Delhi → Kathgodam → Almora → Bageshwar (10–11 hours). It is a long day; start before sunrise and stop for a proper lunch at Almora.
The confluence and Baijnath
Walk the Bagnath temple and the Saryu ghats in the morning, then ride out to Baijnath for the old temple group.
Bageshwar to Delhi
Back over the ridge to Almora and down to Kathgodam. Another long day — leave early.
Fuel & services
- Fuel is easy to Kathgodam. Fill up there or at Almora before the Bageshwar leg.
- Bageshwar has pumps in town; smaller pumps elsewhere in the valley may be dry late in the day.
- Bageshwar and Baijnath have simple guesthouses and hotels; book ahead during the January Uttarayani fair.
Road & conditions
Sealed throughout. The plains stretch to Kathgodam is fast but truck-heavy; from Almora the road to Bageshwar is a good hill road through the Saryu valley. The distance makes this a long haul — plan early starts. Rain can cause small slips in July–September, and the fair days in January make the town congested.
Bike, fuel & getting help
- Suggested bike
- Fine on a well-maintained 150–200cc commuter.
- Fuel gap
- Longest dry stretch is short — a normal tank covers it with margin.
- Spare fuel
- None needed for this route.
- Emergency & logistics
- District hospitals within an hour or so; full mobile coverage; mechanics in every town. A short, low-stakes ride.
Best time to ride
October to June is generally good. October–November gives the clearest air; March–April brings green slopes and mild days. Winter is cold in the valley and colder on the ridge. The monsoon can cause landslide delays.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: a warm layer for the higher ridge sections, comfortable shoes for the temple steps, and rain gear from June to September.
Ride this with a group
Want to ride Bageshwar with a briefed group? Send an enquiry, or check the rides page for the next outing.