Adi Kailash Stay: Where to Stay on the Route

Facts checked November 2026.

Finding a bed is one of the first things families ask about when they plan Adi Kailash. The route runs from Dharchula up the Vyas valley to Gunji, then up the Kuti valley to Kuti and Jyolingkong, close to the China border. Stays here are simple, and planning ahead matters. This guide explains where pilgrims sleep at each stop, what to expect at altitude, and what the 2026 season looked like.

Where do pilgrims stay on the Adi Kailash route?

The route has two kinds of stay. At Dharchula, the base town, there is a government tourist rest house run by Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), the state tourism body for the Kumaon region. Higher up, in the Vyas valley villages, most pilgrims stay in homestays run by local families.

In April 2025, agency reports quoted the Dharchula SDM as saying that most pilgrims were expected to stay in homestays in Gunji, Napalchu and Kuti villages. The Ministry of Tourism’s adventure tourism page for Gunji also says travellers can find meals and lodging in the village.

The table below follows the route lines KMVN publishes for its Dharchula to Dharchula Adi Kailash and Om Parvat package. KMVN names only the Dharchula night; the other night halts are our reading of where each day’s drive ends.

KMVN lists this package as 4 nights and 5 days, but its page skips “Day 2” and shows “Day 5” twice, so the day numbers above are kept general. Night halts vary by organiser: our own Dharchula package, for example, keeps all three upper nights at Gunji or Napalchu and does not stop at Budhi. Ask for the final night-by-night plan before you book.

What is the KMVN tourist rest house at Dharchula like?

KMVN’s official website lists TRH Dharchula as its rest house in the town. KMVN describes Dharchula as a town about 90 km from the district headquarters at Pithoragarh, and says it can be reached all year.

• Room types listed: Double Bed Deluxe and Double Bed Super Deluxe, each for 2 guests, on EP plan (room only; confirm meals with the TRH).
• Facilities listed: bathroom, free parking, internet, telephone and television.
• Rules listed: pets are not allowed.
• Booking: online through kmvn.in, or through the TRH and KMVN head office contact details on the site.

KMVN’s hotel list does not show any rest house higher up at Budhi, Gunji, Nabi, Kuti or Jyolingkong. So, beyond Dharchula, plan on village homestays. For more on the town itself, read our Dharchula guide.

What are homestays in the Vyas valley villages like?

Homestays are rooms in local family houses, and the family usually cooks for guests. They are the main stay option in the upper villages. Because Gunji, Napalchu and Kuti are where most pilgrims sleep, rooms there can fill up on busy days, so fix your nights early.

Here is what is documented about each village stop:

• Budhi: a village on the road between Dharchula and Gunji. KMVN’s plan uses it as the night halt on the way back down.
• Gunji: about 3,200 to 3,500 m (sources differ), where the Kuthi Yankti and Kalapani rivers meet. The Ministry of Tourism says meals and lodging are available here. It is the main halt for both Om Parvat and Adi Kailash days. See our Gunji village guide.
• Napalchu and Nabi: small villages close to Gunji. The 2025 agency reports name Napalchu as a homestay village. We could not find an official list of stays in Nabi, so ask locally.
• Kuti: the village closest to Jyolingkong on the road up the Kuti valley. Homestays here put you nearest the temple, but at a higher altitude than Gunji.
• Jyolingkong: the temple and Parvati Kund area. It is a darshan point, not a night halt in KMVN’s plan.

We do not name or rate individual homestays. Standards change from year to year. Ask your organiser which village you will sleep in each night.

What facilities should you expect at altitude?

Gunji and Kuti are high, cold border villages, and many families move down to the lower valley for winter. Nights can be cold even in the open months. Plan with these points in mind:

• Rooms are basic. Facilities vary from house to house. Toilets may be shared and hot water may come by the bucket, so ask in advance.
• Food is simple. Homestays usually serve dal, rice, roti and vegetables. Carry dry snacks for the road.
• Power and phones may be patchy. Carry a power bank and a torch. Tell your family you may be out of touch for a day or two.
• Cash helps. Do not count on cards or ATMs above Dharchula.
• Health first. Gunji is about 3,200 to 3,500 m and the temple is about 14,500 ft (about 4,420 m). Go slowly, drink water and tell your group at once if you feel a headache, breathlessness or vomiting. Reported: for 2025, officials planned ambulances at Pangla, Kuti and Adi Kailash; ask what is in place in your season.

For temperatures and the gentlest months for elders, read our Adi Kailash weather and best time guide.

Do you need a permit to stay in Gunji and Kuti?

Yes. The villages beyond Dharchula are in the inner line area, so every pilgrim needs an Inner Line Permit (ILP). The Ministry of Tourism says it is issued by the SDM at Dharchula, and lists a valid ID, a health certificate and a character certificate. Reported: in 2025, officials said each permit would be valid for four days, to prevent overcrowding. Check the current validity before you plan your nights.

Document lists differ by organiser. For its own package, KMVN asks for an ILP form, a registration form, police verification, a fitness certificate and a notarised indemnity bond on stamp paper, and says police verification is not needed if you use your passport as ID and carry the original. Our package page asks for police verification and a notarised affidavit, so check the list with whoever handles your permit. Full steps are in our Adi Kailash permit guide.

When is the stay season, and what happened in 2026?

Amar Ujala reported that the doors of the Shiva-Parvati temple at Jyolingkong closed on 5 November 2026 at 4 pm, after rituals and prayers. The priest said the temple committee and villagers close it every year because snow is likely in November, and that the administration’s yatra was still running after the closing. The doors will reopen in May. The SDM said 70,991 permits were issued between 1 May and 5 November 2026.

The village head of Kuti told Amar Ujala that several families had already begun moving down to the lower valley. This matters for stays: once families leave, homestays in the upper villages shut too. In 2025, agency reports described the yatra running in two phases, from late April to June and from mid-September to mid-November, with a break for the monsoon. If you want a room in Kuti or Gunji, aim for the open months and book early.

Planning the drive itself? Our how to reach Adi Kailash guide covers the road from the plains to Dharchula and on to Gunji.

How Yatra To Temples can help

Our Dharchula Adi Kailash and Om Parvat yatra page shows our plan: one night at Dharchula, then three nights in homestays at Gunji or Napalchu. For permit help, room changes or extra nights, ask us.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a KMVN rest house at Gunji or Kuti?

KMVN’s official hotel list does not show a rest house at Gunji, Kuti, Nabi or Budhi. Its listed TRH on this route is at Dharchula. Above Dharchula, pilgrims mostly stay in village homestays.

Can I stay overnight at Jyolingkong?

KMVN’s day plan does not include a night at Jyolingkong. Pilgrims drive up from Gunji for darshan and come back down the same day. The nearest village stay is Kuti, lower down the same valley.

Which is better for a night halt, Gunji or Kuti?

Gunji is the central halt for both the Om Parvat and Adi Kailash days, so most plans use it. Kuti is higher and closer to the temple. Gunji is lower, so it is usually the gentler choice for elders.

Are homestays safe for families and elders?

Homestays are local family homes, and they are where most pilgrims sleep on this route. Rooms are simple and nights are cold. Elders should carry their medicines and extra warm layers, and families should ask their organiser which homestays they will use.

Do I need to book stays before getting my permit?

Your permit and your stays go together, because the ILP has limited validity. Fix your night-by-night plan first, then apply for the permit at Dharchula. Ask us if you need help lining them up.

Can I stay on the route after the temple closes in November?

The temple closed on 5 November 2026, and families in the upper villages start moving down for winter. The administration’s yatra was still running just after the closing, but homestays in Kuti and Gunji shut once families leave, and they are not a safe plan in winter. Wait for the May reopening.

What should I pack for homestay nights?

Pack thermal wear, a down jacket, woollen cap, gloves, a torch, a power bank, basic medicines and some cash. A light sleeping-bag liner adds warmth. Keep your permit and ID copies in a plastic pouch.