Mini Gartang Gali Hike
A full riverside day on the old Kotli Bhel trail: a cliff-edge walkway above the Ganga, a suspension bridge and a hidden waterfall. Car both ways.
Overview
Locals call this the Kotli Bhel trail, an old pilgrim path along the Ganga into the foothills, walked by sadhus and seekers for generations. You follow the river the whole way, largely to yourselves. The day is named for the Mini Gartang Gali, a narrow cliffside stretch where a wooden walkway is fixed to the rock above the water. You cross the Nandi suspension bridge, walk past quiet river beaches to a hidden waterfall, and finish on Singtali beach before the car drives you home. It is a real day on your feet, about five to seven hours, moderate but walking rather than climbing.
- The old Kotli Bhel trail
- A cliff-edge walkway
- A hidden waterfall
- A quiet river beach
Your morning, stage by stage
The hike, stage by stage, in the same shape as our package itineraries: what you do, in order, with a line on each part and what is and isn't included.
- Morning · pickup Included
Meet at your hotel
We meet and greet you at your Rishikesh hotel and drive about an hour up the Badrinath highway, alongside the Ganga, to Mahadev Chatti Dhar, where the walk begins.
- The start Included
Down to Nandi Bridge
From Mahadev Chatti Dhar the trail drops to the Nandi Bridge, a scenic suspension bridge that carries you across the Ganga to the far bank.
- The river path Included
Along the Ganga
A quiet, untouched walk of about 4 km along the river, past serene Ganga beaches and away from the noise of the town.
- The highlight Included
Mini Gartang Gali & waterfall
The trail narrows to the cliffside path this hike is named for, and leads to a waterfall tucked away in the forest. The walkway is railed but exposed above the water; tell us if heights trouble you.
The stages are in order. We haven't fixed exact clock times to each: the day is built around you, so your host confirms the start time and the plan with you. BMR is timing the full route on the ground.
Your route
A full riverside day: about an hour's drive from Rishikesh to Mahadev Chatti Dhar, then on foot down to the Nandi suspension bridge, across the Ganga, and roughly 4 km along the river to the Mini Gartang Gali cliff walkway and a hidden waterfall. After tea you walk back across the bridge and on through Vijaypur village to Singtali beach, before the car takes you home. Distances are approximate; BMR confirms the exact route and timings on the ground.
- 1Rishikesh (hotel pickup)Start
- 2Mahadev Chatti Dhar (trailhead)
- 3Mini Gartang Gali & waterfallEnd
Good to know
Before you go
It is a full day on your feet
This is a real hike of roughly five to seven hours with a fair amount of walking, not a short stroll. A moderate level of fitness helps. It is walking rather than climbing, but come rested and in comfortable, sturdy shoes.
There are heights
The Mini Gartang Gali walkway is railed but exposed, fixed to the cliff above the river. If severe heights trouble you, tell us before you book.
Tell us your diet in advance
If you have any food allergies or dietary needs, let us know when you book so the tea and snacks work for you.
You can swim at the waterfall
If you plan to dip at the waterfall, bring a change of clothes and a towel. Sunscreen too, the river light is strong.
The weather
Avoid the monsoon: the planks and paths get slippery. Your host may move the day for weather.
The people
You pass a small Himalayan village. Don't photograph people without asking, and carry your plastic back out.
What's included
- Private return car transfer, with all tolls, parking and taxes
- A comfortable vehicle sized to your group (SUV, mini-bus or similar)
- An English-speaking local guide
- Tea and snacks
- Hiking poles
- A water bottle
- Your BMR host coordinating the day
Confirmed when you book.
What's not included
- Anything not listed under what's included
- Meals beyond the tea and snacks
- Personal expenses and tips
What to bring
- Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes
- A change of clothes and a towel if you plan to swim
- Sunscreen
- A light layer
- Any personal medication
- A camera or phone for the views
Walked by BMR, with a local guide
This is not a route we read about. Someone from BMR has hiked the whole way, up and back, at a normal traveller’s pace, and a local guide who grew up in these hills walks every step of it with you: leading the climb in the dark, knowing the forest turns and the villages you pass, and setting a pace that suits your group. Everything on this page, the times, the ground, the distance, comes from doing it, not from a brochure.
A local guide, the whole way
Your guide is from these hills, drives out with you, sets the pace on the trail, and knows the river and the village you pass. This is a trail you want a local on.
Car both ways, sorted
A private return transfer from your Rishikesh hotel is included, with the vehicle sized to your group. No haggling a taxi, no finding the trailhead yourself.
The honest bits, first
How long it really is, the walking, the heights on the walkway, exactly what is and isn't included. Before you book, not after.
One host, start to finish
The same BMR host stays with your booking from your first message to the drop back at your hotel.
Common questions
How long and how hard is it?
It is a full day out, roughly 5 to 7 hours, with a fair amount of walking along the river, about 4 km on the trail plus the temple and the beach. Difficulty is moderate: it is walking, not climbing, but you should be comfortable on your feet for the day.
Is it also called the Kotli Bhel trek?
Yes. Locals know this stretch of the Ganga as the Kotli Bhel trail, an old pilgrim path into the foothills. The Mini Gartang Gali is the cliffside section of it.
Is the car included?
Yes, both ways. A private return transfer from your Rishikesh hotel is included, with the vehicle sized to your group and about an hour's drive each way.
How exposed is the cliff walkway?
The Mini Gartang Gali walkway is a railed wooden path fixed to the cliff above the river. It is exposed and high, so if severe heights trouble you, tell us first.
Do I need a permit?
No. Unlike the original Gartang Gali up in Uttarkashi, this one needs no forest permit.
Can I swim at the waterfall?
Usually, conditions allowing. Bring a change of clothes and a towel. Your guide will tell you on the day whether the water is safe.
I have a dietary restriction. Is that a problem?
Not at all, just tell us when you book. Let us know any allergies or dietary needs and we will make sure the tea and snacks work for you.
When is the best time to go?
September to June. We avoid the monsoon, when the wooden planks and paths get slippery.