Petrol Pumps on the Chardham Routes: Where They Are and Where They Aren't
Running out of fuel at 3,000 metres at seven in the evening is a genuinely serious situation, and it’s entirely avoidable. There are four places on the Chardham roads where riders get caught, and they’re the same four every season.
Here’s every fuel stop we’d rely on, and the gaps between them.
Verify locally. Pumps open, close, and run dry — particularly the smaller ones during peak yatra season when demand outstrips resupply. Treat this as a planning document, not a guarantee. Ask at your hotel each evening what’s working tomorrow.
The Four Gaps That Catch People
If you remember nothing else:
| Gap | Fill at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Joshimath → Badrinath | Joshimath | Nothing dependable above it. The classic mistake |
| Uttarkashi → Gangotri | Uttarkashi | Last reliable pump. Harsil is intermittent |
| Barkot → Janki Chatti | Barkot | Nothing above it |
| Guptkashi → Sonprayag | Guptkashi | Small pump, runs dry in season |
Every one of these is the last town before the road narrows and climbs. The rule: when a town starts to feel like the last real town, it is. Fill there.
Rishikesh to Kedarnath
| Location | From Rishikesh | Reliability |
|---|---|---|
| Rishikesh | 0 km | Reliable. Fill before leaving |
| Devprayag | ~70 km | Reliable |
| Srinagar Garhwal | ~105 km | Best-stocked on the route |
| Rudraprayag | ~140 km | Reliable |
| Guptkashi | ~190 km | Smaller — can run dry in peak season |
| Sonprayag | ~215 km | Do not plan around this |
Longest gap: Rudraprayag to Guptkashi, about 50 km. Comfortable on any bike. The one to watch: Guptkashi. Leave with a full tank. Kedarnath route guide →
Rishikesh to Badrinath
| Location | From Rishikesh | Reliability |
|---|---|---|
| Rishikesh | 0 km | Fill before leaving |
| Devprayag | ~70 km | Reliable |
| Srinagar Garhwal | ~105 km | Reliable |
| Rudraprayag | ~140 km | Reliable |
| Karnaprayag | ~180 km | Reliable |
| Chamoli | ~215 km | Smaller |
| Joshimath | ~250 km | Reliable. The last one. Fill here |
| Badrinath | ~295 km | Do not plan around this |
This is the one people get wrong. Joshimath → Badrinath → Joshimath is only 90 km, so a full tank there is ample. The problem is arriving at Joshimath low, in the dark, after the pump has closed. Badrinath route guide →
Rishikesh to Gangotri
| Location | From Rishikesh | Reliability |
|---|---|---|
| Rishikesh | 0 km | Fill before leaving |
| Chamba | ~60 km | Reliable |
| Dharasu | ~120 km | Reliable |
| Uttarkashi | ~150 km | The last dependable pump. Fill here |
| Harsil | ~225 km | Intermittent — do not rely on it |
| Gangotri | ~250 km | Do not plan around this |
Longest gap: Uttarkashi to Gangotri and back, about 200 km. A 15-litre Himalayan 411 covers it on one tank. An 11-litre Guerrilla 450 is cutting it fine, which is one of the reasons we don’t send it up there. Gangotri route guide →
Rishikesh to Yamunotri
| Location | From Rishikesh | Reliability |
|---|---|---|
| Rishikesh | 0 km | Fill before leaving |
| Dehradun | ~45 km | Reliable |
| Mussoorie | ~80 km | Reliable |
| Nainbagh | ~130 km | Smaller |
| Barkot | ~180 km | Last dependable. Fill here |
| Janki Chatti | ~225 km | Do not plan around this |
How Much Range Do You Actually Need?
| Bike | Tank | Hill mileage | Realistic range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter 350 | 13 L | ~34 kmpl | ~440 km |
| Classic 350 | 13 L | ~33 kmpl | ~430 km |
| Himalayan 411 | 15 L | ~30 kmpl | ~450 km |
| Guerrilla 450 | 11 L | ~30 kmpl | ~330 km |
| Himalayan 450 | 17 L | ~28 kmpl | ~475 km |
| Activa 125 | 5.3 L | ~50 kmpl | ~265 km |
Every gap on the four routes is comfortably inside the range of a Himalayan. The two bikes with a genuine range constraint are the Guerrilla and the Activa — which is a large part of why neither goes north of Devprayag on our recommendation. Full fleet →
Practical Rules
Fill at three-quarters empty, not at reserve. In the mountains the next pump is a decision you make an hour in advance, not when the light comes on.
Fill in the morning. Small-town pumps close early and can be out of stock by evening in yatra season.
Carry cash. Card machines fail on patchy networks. The smaller pumps sometimes only take cash regardless.
Ask locally each evening. Your hotel knows what’s working tomorrow better than any list, including this one.
A jerry can is only necessary out of state. For Spiti and Ladakh, carry one. Within Uttarakhand, with a Himalayan, you don’t need one — you need to fill at the right town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a petrol pump at Badrinath?
Is there fuel at Gangotri or Harsil?
Do I need to carry extra fuel for the Chardham?
Which bike has the best range?
Can I do the Chardham on a Guerrilla 450?
Do pumps accept cards?
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