Travel Guide: Easy One Day Kunjapuri Sunrise Trek in Rishikesh, 2026

There are many trekking routes in and out of Rishikesh city along the Ganges, all trekking routes are very popular among domestic and international travelers.

As I am tour operator based in Upper Tapovan in Rishikesh and I receive  many query from first time inbound travelers about best easy one day trekking activity in Rishikesh, and I advise them Kunjapuri Sunrise Trek in Rishikesh without taking any time, and try to convince travelers strongly, explaining them if you really want to spot and experience something exclusively here for for this trek.

Why Kunjapuri Sunrise Trek ?

First of this  trekking activity is just 32 km away from Rishikesh and  offers mix of religious , adventure and spiritual experience such as  goddess temple blessing,  distance view snow laden Himalayan peaks, best sunrise point of Rishikesh.

The scenic trekking trail from easy to moderate difficulty,  Himalayan village lifestyle and culture, local farming visit and the biggest and most scenic waterfall of Rishikesh that is Neer waterfall. Non of adventure activities like Kujapuri Sunrise Trek in Rishikesh.

I also let them know about that this trek is popular among first time travelers. So many adventure lovers from India and abroad go to catch mountain sunrise from the top of the temple complex, surprisingly , there are few tourists,  choose to do trekking which is most beautiful part of this activity.

I do not know why ? maybe they do not have time or cost. I simple say to you that this activity is for every one, there is no age bound , 10 – 70 years person ( international travelers )  easily can beat this trail.

Why it is easy? because, it is one way up by private transport,  32 km road distance from Rishikesh to reach there, usually it takes 1 hours up to top of Kunjapuri’ s temple.  So, you have to wake early to reach sunrise point in time, generally in summer season in between 4:00 am to 4:30am  and in winter season in between 5:00 am to 5:30 am.

Only  9 km down hill trek via Badhera village,  Dharkot village, Neer village and Neergarh or Neer Waterfall.  But you must know that some point the trail become moderate challenging and  tricky, so needs maneuvering of leg strength to negotiate with tricky path.

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Spotting Himalayan Peaks

Kunjapuri Temple top offer a clear view of upper range of snow laden peaks of the Himalaya, the best time is to see the clear peak view  before sunrise and especially between October–April or after rainy season, the following peaks are visible everyday;

Chaukhamba (one of the most visible and easily seen peaks)
Bandarpoonch
Swargarohini
Gangotri Group
Neelkanth (visible in favorable weather)
Nanda Devi peak more than 7600 meter also visible on clear morning
Few parts of the Kedarnath Range also be visible.

In addition , travelers also enjoy panoramic views of:

Rishikesh
Haridwar
The Doon Valley
The Ganges winding through the plains.

My Advise to all travelers to Kunjapuri Sunrise Trek 

For sure mountain views, you have to arrive at temple top of Kunjapuri  30–60 minutes before sunrise, when clarity of sky is typically at its best and the peaks are brimming in the first sunlight.

How to reach Kunjapuri Temple from Rishikesh

If you are not interested in trekking activity then only take driver and go, mostly local drivers know route to reach there and  than if your driver is not local then you must confirm sunrise time and route with locals, because many cases they do not have exact idea when to go and how to go there.

Therefore , I did some homework for you here, this guide takes you easily to the temple site, Here is address:  it is located  Agrakhal area on the Rishikesh–Gangotri National Highway of  32 km road trip from Rishikesh, one can reach up to this Hindolakhal.

• Travel from Rishikesh with a 45–60 minute road trip
• Start at Tapovan, or down town and drive through Bhadarakali Temple on Gangotri Highway , Narendra Nagar and Ananda in the Himalayas, and you reach at T point , called Hindolakhad and take right turn and keep right and drive for 5 km more and you arrive at the base of the temple.
• Once you arrive at base and take flight of 320 stairs to touch the temple top.

My Experience:  During Kunjapuri Sunrise Trek

I am very adventurous and conscious travelers, that is reason I have been working in travel sector since 2026,  by the way, If I go , I starts in early morning around 5 am  from Tapovan in private transport, and sit in front the seat because sometime I feel sick due to motion sickness problem.

From Rishikesh up to Hindolakhal Bend road is zig-zag but manageable , but last 5 km is single road and very windy, so, I hardly manage this 5 km stretch up to the base of the temple site.

When I arrive at foot hill of the temple, I start climbing , the  cement paved steps are even in measurement, so good  but very steep, so I  beath consciously  to avoid immediate  exhaustion, and easily reach there.I always want to visit first temple to take blessing of goddess if opens.

When first light starts enveloping the horizon, for me is unmissable experience, one thing which little bit make me feel down, noise of chattering people while watching sunrise, but if there is  pin drop silence then sunrise more meaningful.

If the temple is closed, then later after sunrise I go to visit the temple. There is always a queue to go inside that takes me around 15 minutes. The temple’s top floor is always cold during winter season and nobody is allow to wear shoes in the entire temple complex. Here, I advise you to wear extra-thick socks while visiting Kunjapuri Temple during the winter time.

After my personal prayer inside, for deeper  realization,  i spend more time,  watching the peaks, hearing the chirping birds, ringing bells, and beating drums by drummers.

When the sun goes up in  high sky,  there is  terrace area, for looking towards Ganges valley , appears Haridwar and Rishikesh city, and westwards horizon the lush green Doon Valley. Amazing moment, amazing morning.

Finally, while descending down, saying hello to Pawar Ji (Owner of the Coffee Shop), just a few steps down from the temple. The sky is changing colors in far horizon and the rolling hills are misty, just feeling grateful.

Now, beating  rails through jungles, rugged paths, green landscapes, distant views of the holy Ganga, lush green valleys, and fresh air mixed with vegetation, smelling like breathing herbal air.

Looking over Badera village, passing through Dharkot village, cattle herders’ houses, towards Neer village. After Dharkot village, the trails keep changing every single step sometime  tricky and moderately challenging, but with raw beauty and a rugged experience never let you down.

When I am about to reach Neer village, a fresh water stream appears on the way. Later, the same stream makes the biggest waterfall in Rishikesh. The path becomes easy but tricky because I have to walk along the small, narrow irrigation water channel, so keep walking carefully because at some places the foot slips.

When I reach just above the waterfall, wow, the path becomes more tricky than ever before, with uneven trails, but everybody can manage because this 100 mt stretch is going to reveal the most majestic creation of nature, the waterfall and its natural pool. It provides enough space to swim. WOW, a must-visit place in Rishikesh.

I do highly recommend taking the route of Neer Waterfall because it is short, fresh, has amazing landscapes, and is more fun, and the other route to get back to Rishikesh is the Kunjapuri–Tapovan Trail. It is longer than the first route. It is via the secret waterfall. It is more challenging, rugged, more wild, more offbeat, and about 3 km more in distance than the first route.

So, after refreshing in the crystal-clear pool of Neer Waterfall, I keep trekking down, following the waterfall, and finally my feet lands on  the link road. From this place, you can get back to Rishikesh by private or sharing transport, but I always go by walk that is only  2 km to touch the main highway.

Immediately when I touch the highway, I choose the path which takes me on the bank of the Ganges in 5 minutes. There, 2 Sanyasis are living in a Kutiya (Hermitage), so there i would like to have some conversation,  spiritual kind of stuff and keep following the downstream trail along the Ganges, passing  Nim Beach area , and continue walking till the Laxman Jhula hanging bridge to conclude this wonderful adventure activity.