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Srinagar (Garhwal)

Alaknanda Riverfront & Devi Ghat, Srinagar (Garhwal)

Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttarakhand · riverfront

Open dailyEntry Fee: Free EntryOpen access, daylight hours recommended; best in the late afternoon and at sunset. There are no gates or tickets — confirm nothing is required locally.

The Alaknanda Riverfront at Srinagar is the wide, open riverbank that fronts one of the Garhwal Himalaya's most historic towns. Srinagar (spelled with the Garhwal qualifier to distinguish it from the Kashmiri city of the same name) sits at roughly 560 metres on the left bank of the Alaknanda, about 104 km up National Highway 7 from Rishikesh. It served as the capital of the Garhwal Kingdom after King Ajay Pal unified the region in the early sixteenth century, and today it is a busy university town — home to Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University — where students, pilgrims bound for Badrinath and Kedarnath, and local families all gravitate to the water's edge in the cool of the evening.

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Where to Eat Nearby

  • ✦Pure-veg bhojanalayas around the Srinagar main bazaar and bus-stand area — simple North Indian thalis, dal, sabzi and rice; confirm the kitchen is fully vegetarian before ordering.
  • ✦University-bazaar sweet shops and snack stalls near HNB Garhwal University — hot jalebi, samosa, kachori and chai; a reliable pure-veg option is easy to find here, but ask to be sure.
  • ✦Chhole-bhature and aloo-puri counters in the old market — hearty vegetarian breakfasts popular with students and pilgrims; verify pure-veg locally as the town is mixed.
  • ✦Dhaba stops along the NH-7 pilgrim route toward Rudraprayag — many serve pure-veg thalis for Char Dham travellers; always confirm the pure-veg claim before eating.

About

The Alaknanda Riverfront at Srinagar is the wide, open riverbank that fronts one of the Garhwal Himalaya's most historic towns. Srinagar (spelled with the Garhwal qualifier to distinguish it from the Kashmiri city of the same name) sits at roughly 560 metres on the left bank of the Alaknanda, about 104 km up National Highway 7 from Rishikesh.

  • It served as the capital of the Garhwal Kingdom after King Ajay Pal unified the region in the early sixteenth century, and today it is a busy university town — home to Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University — where students, pilgrims bound for Badrinath and Kedarnath, and local families all gravitate to the water's edge in the cool of the evening.
  • Unlike the tightly stepped, ritual-dense ghats of Haridwar or Rishikesh, Srinagar's riverfront is broad, flat and comparatively uncrowded.
  • The Alaknanda slows and spreads here into a generous channel, leaving sandy and pebbled shallows where children paddle and elders sit on the warm stone.
  • The stretch locally referred to as Devi Ghat is a modest riverside landing rather than a grand bathing complex — a place for quiet darshan of the river, a few moments of stillness, and the everyday rhythm of a hill town facing its lifeline.
  • Downstream lies the much-revered Dhari Devi shrine and, further along, Srinagar's hydro barrage; the town reach itself remains an easy, walkable promenade. The experience is essentially contemplative.
  • Come at golden hour, when the ridgelines opposite catch the last light and the river surface goes glassy, throwing back reflections of the terraced slopes.
  • It is one of the finest free, unticketed river viewpoints on the pilgrim road to the high Himalaya, and it pairs naturally with a stroll through the old bazaar and a visit to the nearby Kamleshwar Mahadev temple, one of the town's principal shrines.

A note for travellers

Srinagar is a mixed hill town, not a designated holy-vegetarian town like Rishikesh or Haridwar. For pure-vegetarian meals, the university bazaar and the main market have simple, dependable bhojanalayas and sweet shops serving thalis, chhole-bhature, aloo-puri and hot jalebi — always confirm a kitchen is fully pure-veg before ordering, as the town is not uniformly vegetarian. Carry your own water, respect the current (the Alaknanda runs fast and cold, and deep bathing is unsafe), and keep the sandy banks litter-free.

Timings & Entry Fee

Entry FeeFree Entry

Verified: August 2026

Location & How to Reach

Address

Left bank of the Alaknanda, below the main bazaar, Srinagar (Garhwal), Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttarakhand, 246174

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How to Reach: On the left bank of the Alaknanda, below Srinagar's main bazaar in Pauri Garhwal district. Srinagar (Garhwal) is about 104 km from Rishikesh via NH-7 (roughly 3.5 to 4 hours by shared jeep or bus toward Rudraprayag/Badrinath). The nearest railhead is Rishikesh (~104 km) and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun (~130 km). From the Srinagar bus stand the riverfront is a short 5 to 10 minute walk or a brief auto-rickshaw ride down toward the water.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this Srinagar in Kashmir or in Uttarakhand?

This is Srinagar in Garhwal, Uttarakhand — a historic hill town on the Alaknanda river in Pauri Garhwal district, about 104 km up the pilgrim road from Rishikesh. It shares its name with the far larger city in Kashmir but is a completely different place: it was the capital of the old Garhwal Kingdom and is today a university town.

Is there an entry fee for the Alaknanda riverfront and Devi Ghat?

No. The riverbank and ghats fronting Srinagar are open public space with no ticket or entry fee. It is one of the finest free river viewpoints on the road to Badrinath and Kedarnath. There are no formal gates or hours — just visit in daylight, and confirm locally if you are unsure.

Is it safe to bathe in the Alaknanda here?

Treat the river with caution. The Alaknanda runs fast, cold and deep in places, and there are no lifeguards. Paddling in the shallow, sandy margins is common, but deep bathing or swimming is unsafe — especially during and just after the monsoon (July to September), when the river is in spate. Keep children close and stay well back from strong current.

When is the best time to visit the Srinagar riverfront?

October to April gives clear Himalayan skies and gentle sun. The most rewarding time of day is golden hour into sunset, when the water turns glassy and mirrors the terraced ridges opposite — ideal for photography and a quiet evening stroll. Avoid the monsoon months, when the river is high and the banks muddy.

What else can I combine with a visit here?

Pair the riverfront with a walk through Srinagar's old bazaar and a stop at the nearby Kamleshwar Mahadev temple, one of the town's principal shrines. Srinagar also makes a natural overnight halt on the Char Dham route toward Rudraprayag, Dhari Devi, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Where can I find pure-vegetarian food near the riverfront?

Srinagar is a mixed hill town, not a holy-vegetarian town like Rishikesh or Haridwar, so choose carefully. The main bazaar, the bus-stand area and the university market have simple bhojanalayas and sweet shops serving pure-veg thalis, chhole-bhature, aloo-puri, samosa and hot jalebi. Always confirm a kitchen is fully vegetarian before ordering, as not every outlet in town is pure-veg.

Categories

Nature & OutdoorsHeritage & Culture

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Alaknanda Riverfront & Devi Ghat, Srinagar (Garhwal), Srinagar (Garhwal) — TasteYatra