Narayan Ashram Dharchula is a spiritual and socio-educational centre at 2,734 metres in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district, 14 to 17 km above Tawaghat. Narayan Swami founded it in 1936. For decades it was a halt on the old Kailash Manasarovar pilgrim path. You can drive up now, but the last stretch from Tawaghat is rough and the weather decides how long it takes, so build the trip around a night in Dharchula and keep a spare day.
Quick answer: Narayan Ashram is 14 to 17 km from Tawaghat (the two district figures) and roughly 33 to 36 km from Dharchula, at 2,734 m. Go between April and June, or late September to November. Stay at the ashram guest house or KMVN’s Tourist Rest House, and book before you leave Dharchula.
| Detail | Information |
| Location | Near Sosa village, Chaudans valley (also spelt Chaudas), Dharchula tehsil, Pithoragarh |
| Narayan Ashram altitude | 2,734 m (about 8,970 ft), per the Pithoragarh district administration |
| Founded | 26 March 1936, by Narayan Swami |
| From Tawaghat | 14 km (district’s Narayan Ashram page); 17 km on the district’s excursions page |
| From Dharchula | Roughly 33 to 36 km via Tawaghat |
| From Pithoragarh | 116 km by road (district); 129 km (Kumaon division) |
| Nearest airport | Naini Saini, Pithoragarh, 100 km (district figure) |
| Railheads | Tanakpur, 280 km (Kumaon division); Kathgodam, 350 km (district) |
According to a Daily Excelsior feature, Narayan Swami came from a well-off family in Karnataka and completed the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 1935. He stayed on, and work began from a small hut on 26 March 1936.
The late Kushal Singh Hyanki donated the first plot of land, and Swamiji later bought more from Sosa villagers. In those years the nearest motor road was about two weeks’ walk away, so pilgrims and building material came up on foot.
Before the 1962 India-China war, Kailash pilgrims rested here and received blankets, jaggery and sattu. Batches passed through again once the yatra reopened in 1981.
The Pithoragarh district administration calls it a spiritual cum socio-educational centre, with a school for local children and youth training programmes.
Every route runs through Dharchula, 94 km from Pithoragarh by the district’s count. From there the road follows the Kali river 19 km to Tawaghat (Kumaon division figure).
From Tawaghat a hill road climbs through the Chaudans valley to the ashram gate. The district’s Narayan Ashram page says 14 km; its excursions page says 17 km. Add the 19 km from Dharchula and the drive is roughly 33 to 36 km.
Hire a local jeep in Dharchula for this part. Some Tripadvisor reviewers took 4 to 7 hours from Dharchula on a damaged stretch, so ask drivers about the road the evening before.
The district page gives 116 km by road but also calls the ashram “136 km north of Pithoragarh”; the Kumaon division says 129 km. Plan for about 130 km of mountain road via Dharchula.
Naini Saini Airport in Pithoragarh, 100 km away, has Alliance Air flights to Delhi and Dehradun; check the schedule. Pantnagar Airport means a much longer drive.
Tanakpur is the nearest railhead at 280 km (Kumaon division). Kathgodam, 350 km away, has more trains from Delhi. Travellers report buses from Delhi to Dharchula; check Uttarakhand Transport Corporation timings.
Traveller reports describe the Shri Annapurna guest house as simple rooms and dormitory beds for about 40 to 50 people, with shared bathrooms and vegetarian meals. Charges are not published, so ask when you book.
KMVN lists two room types here: Four Bed FRP Huts and Double Bed Deluxe. Book on the KMVN portal, which shows the rate for your dates, or call the property on 7534001723. Pets are not allowed.
Four rules from KMVN’s reservation policy matter before you pay:
Rates can change without notice. Refunds depend on how early you cancel:
| Cancelled before check-in | Refund |
| 15 days or more | 90% |
| 10 to 14 days | 75% |
| 5 to 9 days | 50% |
| Less than 5 days | None |
The best window is April to June. Late September to November is the second choice.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
| Spring | April to May | Rhododendrons in bloom, cold nights |
| Early summer | June | Wildflowers |
| Monsoon | July to mid-September | Landslide risk on the Dharchula road |
| Autumn | Late September to November | Monsoon over, nights turning cold |
| Winter | December to March | Heavy snow can shut access |
The Kumaon division lists the ashram as open round the year, but visitors report closures in heavy snow. Phone ahead in winter.
Anyone going on to Gunji, Adi Kailash or Om Parvat needs an Inner Line Permit from the SDM office in Dharchula. No official page says whether the ashram road needs one, so ask there and carry original photo ID.
The Ministry of External Affairs scheduled the 2026 Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from June to August, with 10 batches of 50 yatris on the Lipulekh route. Expect busier roads and rooms around Dharchula in yatra months.
Check out: Adi Kailash Yatra Package
In September 2026, Narayan Ashram held a 4.9/5 rating from 15 Tripadvisor reviews. Reviewers praise the quiet and the caretakers. Their complaints are the narrow, bumpy road and basic dormitory rooms.
A night in Dharchula before the climb makes the trip easier for older travellers.
Narayan Swami, who came from Karnataka, founded it on 26 March 1936 after completing the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.
2,734 metres, or about 8,970 feet.
Roughly 33 to 36 km. Dharchula to Tawaghat is 19 km, and official pages give 14 km or 17 km from Tawaghat to the ashram.
The district gives 116 km by road; the Kumaon division says 129 km. Plan for about 130 km via Dharchula.
Motorable to the gate, but narrow and rough after Tawaghat. Check its condition in Dharchula before driving up.
Yes, at the ashram guest house or KMVN TRH Narayan Ashram. Book before you travel.
KMVN shows the rate for your dates on its booking portal. Extra beds are ₹200 a night and children over 5 pay 20% extra. No entry fee for the ashram appears on official sources.
April to June, then late September to November.
Gunji and Adi Kailash need an Inner Line Permit. For the ashram road, confirm with SDM Dharchula.
Yes, with a night in Dharchula first and warm clothes.
Narayan Ashram Dharchula is worth the rough road if you want quiet and a piece of Kumaon’s pilgrimage history more than sightseeing. Go between April and June, stay a night, and carry your KMVN receipt and ID. Check the road and permit rule in Dharchula the day before.
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