Top 10 Tourist Places in Uttarakhand

  

uttrakahnd's famous step fields

  Uttarakhand, a northern Indian state bordered by Nepal and Tibet, and shadowed by towering Himalayan peaks, is full of natural beauty. It's divided into two regions—Garhwal in the west, and Kumaon in the east. Ancient holy Hindu places, mountains, forests and valleys, and a lot of trekking options are some of the attractions that make travel to Uttarakhand worthwhile. Uttarakhand is also an excellent place to get off from your regular city hustle-bustle and experience fresh air and tranquillity.

Check out these top 10 tourist places in Uttarakhand. -

10. Jim Corbett National Park-

Jim Corbett National Park is a national park in India located in the Nainital district of Kumaon region in Uttarakhand state. it was the first national park of India, which was established in 1936 during pre-independence era. It was named Corbett National Park after the hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett, who had played a leading role in its establishment. The park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative.

Corbett National Park have 520.8 km2 area of hills, riverine belts, marshy depressions, grasslands and a large lake. The elevation ranges from 1,300 to 4,000 ft (400 to 1,220 m). Winter nights are cold but the days are bright and sunny. It rains from July to September. The park has sub-Himalayan belt geographical and ecological characteristics. The forest mainly consists of sal, haldu, peepal, rohini and mango trees. Forest covers almost 73% of the park, while 10% of the area consists of grasslands. It houses around 110 tree species, 50 species of mammals, 580 bird species and 25 reptile species.

jungle safari at park

An ecotourism destination, the park contains 488 different species of plants and a diverse variety of fauna. The increase in tourist activities, among other problems, continues to present a serious challenge to the park's ecological balance. it is one of India's most popular national parks. It has dense forest and an array of wildlife, although tiger sightings aren't as common as some other places in India. The park can be explored by jeep or elephant safaris, which take place daily in the early mornings and afternoons. The Dhikala zone of the park is the most panoramic, with stunning valley views. It offers the best chance of animal sightings (which are unfortunately sometimes disappointing). If you're lucky, you might spot wild elephants. 

Nearest Airport- Pantnagar

Nearest Railway Station- Ramnagar (12Km)

Nearest Bus Station-Ramnagar

 

9.  Nainital -

Nainital "The city of lake" is a charming hill station located at the foothills of the Kumaon hill ranges in Uttarakhand. Located in north India close to Delhi, it is the most visited hill station in North India. Nainital is a perfect weekend holiday destination from Delhi and the nearby places.

Nainital has a pleasant climate throughout the year, thus making it a popular hill station for families, couples and even solo travellers. It is easily accessible from nearby major cities by road and is ideal for a 2-day visit. The Naina Lake is the centre of Nainital with Mall Road on one side, Thandi Sadak on the other side, and the bus stand opposite it. 

it was founded by the Britishers due to its resemblance to the Cumbrian Lake District, Nainital has many elegant colonial structures that amplify the beauty of this place. There are some small hill towns near Nainital like Pangot, Ranikhet, Almora, which remain comparatively unexplored. Nainital also has some small trekking trails.

view of Himalaya from Nainital

Whether you want to go boating in the beautiful Naini Lake, taste Garhwali and Kumauni dishes, shop for mementoes, or take a ropeway ride to Snow View Point for snow laden Himalaya ranges and try the famous Bal Mithai from the local sweet shops. Nainital is sure to leave an imprint on you.

Nearest Airport- Pantnagar

Nearest Railway Station- Kathgodam

Nearest Bus Station-Nainital (6 hours from Delhi)

 

8. Mussoorie- 

 

Mussoorie, also known as Queen of the Hills, is among the most popular hill stations of India.  A Britisher, Captain Frederick Young, accompanied by an official named FJ Shore, laid the foundation for this grand hill station in 1827 and after finding this ridge offering great views and a salubrious climate.

 

It is a captivating paradise for leisure seeking travellers and honeymooners, it is a perfect summer resort. it is located on a 15-km-long horseshoe ridge with the grand Himalayas as a backdrop, Mussoorie spreads across at a height of 2,000 m above sea level. From this vantage point, it offers scenic views of Himalayas peaks in Western Garhwal.

Many famous personalities have made Mussoorie their home – most notable being authors Ruskin Bond and Bill Aitken. Filmstar Victor Banerjee resides in Mussoorie while deceased filmstar Tom Alter was born and brought up here. In the 1960s filmstar Prem Nath had his house here while the son of Dev Anand studied in Woodstock school. Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni are frequent visitors to this hill resort. The best time to visit Mussoorie is during summers, as it offers relief from the scorching summer heat. However, if you are looking for a secluded holiday, come here during winters to witness the snowfall. Additionally, it is very close to Delhi and neighbouring places so it makes it very accessible and a weekend destination.

kempty fall near mussoorie

Nearest Airport- Jollygrant (Dehradun)

Nearest Railway Station- Dehradun

Nearest Bus Station-Dehradun (5 hours from Delhi)

 

7.  Munsiyari-

it is situated in the easternmost hill district of Uttarakhand, Pithoragarh, bordering Tibet and Nepal known as the 'Little Kashmir', the region is a heaven for the nature lovers and the adventurous souls. You will have a breath-taking views of Himalayan peaks, Nanda Devi, Trishul and Punchchuli from here. Munsyari is the centre as well as the gateway to the Johar region of inner Himalayas. Munsyari is the base for the trekkers to Milam, Namik, Ralam Glaciers and Nanda Devi Peak.

A fairly big Himalayan township at an altitude of 2298 mtrs. with a population of nearly 1,00,000. Inhabited by the Shanka nomadic tribes from time immemorial, it lies in the trade route to Tibet. Now it is a developed township.

khaliya top

The newly developed skiing locations are Khaliya Top 7 kms. from Munsyari and Betuli Dhar is 5 kms. away.

 

Nearest Airport- Nainisain 

Nearest Railway Station- Tanakpur

Nearest Bus Station-Pithoragarh

 

6. Haridwar-

It is one of the holiest places in India. Haridwar, or the ‘gateway to gods’, is located at the bank of Ganga, the sacred of all Indian rivers, from here it enters into the Indo-Gangetic plains. It is located at the foothills of the Himalayas, Haridwar is a city of temples and ashrams. 

Haridwar is one of the four holy Indian cities that host the Kumbh Mela, a religeous gathering of millions of Hindu devotees every 12 years. The Ardh Kumbh is organised here every six years. It also hosts the Kanwar mela every year during the month of Sawan in the rainy season. Here at Haridwar it has ‘Panch Tirth’ or the five pilgrimages located within the periphery of it, these are Gangadwara (Har Ki Pauri), Kushwart (Ghat), Kankhal, Bilwa Tirtha (Mansa Devi Temple) and Neel Parvat (Chandi Devi). Haridwar also being denoted as the gateway to the Char Dham of Uttarakhand.  If you want to know more and experience the ancient methods of Aryuveda healing, there are many certified Ayurvedic clinics in Haridwar that you can visit. Some of the Ashrams are Shantikunj , Ma Anandamayi Ashram, Sapta Rishi Ashram. There are many Ashrams also offer sessions in Ayurveda, meditation and yoga. 

mesmerizing view of evening aarti

Every morning and evening, you can witness the blissful aarti of river Ganga at the ghats (stepped banks of a river) which attracts devotees and tourists. The evening ritual is more famous, cause of mesmeric sights to see the river being acclaimed with loud and rhythmic Vaidik chants and tall lamps, their lights lightening up the darkening waters. It is a remarkable sight as thousands of small diyas (earthen lamps) are set afloat on the river. 

Nearest Airport- Jollygrant (45km)

Nearest Railway Station- Haridwar

Nearest Bus Station-Haridwar is well connected with other cities.

 

5.  Valley of Flower-

There are not much places in India that consist such a breath-taking charisma as the Valley of Flowers. It Covers a wide stretch of 87.50 square km. This incredible destination is situated at a height of 3,658 meters above sea level.  

The Valley of Flowers was accidentally found by the British climber duo- Frank. S. Smythe and RL. Holdsworth. This valley is now a zone of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. The views at the Valley of flowers seems like straight out of heaven. It houses even exotic waterfalls, wonderful glaciers, and lush forests in route to the valley.  The valley is filled with Exotic flowers (over 600 species) like orchids, poppies, primulas, marigold, daisies and anemones are an eye-catching spectacle. 

himalayan monal 

The valley is also home to such rare and amazing wildlife species like the gray langur, the flying squirrel, the Himalayan weasel, and black bear, the red fox, the lime butterfly, the snow leopard and Himalayan monal, to name a few. Due to its incomparable beauty and sheer grace, the region has been declared a UNESCO world heritage. One of the best places to visit in Uttarakhand, the site is must-visit destination in the state. The flowers here can be best viewed between the months of May and October, a time when the area turns into a botanical wonderland although maximum abundance of flowers is during July to September.

Nearest Airport- Jollygrant (150km)

Nearest Railway Station- Rishikesh

Nearest Bus Station- Joshimath is well connected with other cities.

4. Auli –

 

It is one of the best skiing destinations of India, any visit to Uttarakhand is totally incomplete without visiting Auli. It is situated at a height of 2,519 to 3,050 meters above sea level. Generally, Auli is a “Bugyal” which literally means as a Himalayan meadow. 

skiing in auli

During winters, the place gets a lot of snow fall which results in a thick sheet of snow which provides enough scope for world-class winter sports. Auli played host to the First SAF winter games in 2011 and since then quickly attained importance in the world charts as a destination of international winter adventure games. There are some other important attractions in this small hill town are Auli Artificial Lake, Gorson Bugyal and Kauri Pass, etc., all famous for their wonderful scenic views. 

artificial lake of Auli

With wonderful weather permeating all over the town throughout the 12 months, Auli can be easily categorized as a year-round destination but if you are fond of snow-covered landscapes then it is advisable to visit Nov to Mar.  Auli also happens to be one of the best honeymoon places to visit in India in winter.

Nearest Airport- Jollygrant (150km)

Nearest Railway Station- Rishikesh

Nearest Bus Station- Joshimath is well connected with other cities.

3. Rishikesh-

It is considered as Yoga capital of the world and it is one of the most sacred destinations in Uttarakhand. The swift flow of the Ganges, surrounded by lush green hills is one of the most captivating sights to witness. In the evening, the spectacular Ganga Arti at triveni ghat is truly breath-taking as this experience take you into a heavenly state which is simply incredible to realize. 

While the presence of saffron-clad monks and sadhus, the countless temple bells and sounds of the cymbals and gongs, the hymns and Vaidik chants purify Rishikesh a spiritual connotation. It is also a destination of diverse water sports, especially rafting, kayaking, and bungee jumping gives an altogether different meaning to Rishikesh. Rishikesh is also one of the best places for adventure trekking in Uttarakhand as well. The destination is suitable for both – those coming for relaxation and those coming for adventure, thus it is quite a popular site. Rishikesh is also known for its connection with the English band “The Beatles”. In February 1968, members of the legendary English rock band visited Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram (now popularly known as the Beatles Ashram) to learn meditation. 

beatles ashram

The band composed nearly 48 songs during their time at the Maharishi's ashram, many of which appear on the White Album (and a few from Abbey Road). John Lennon recorded a song titled, 'The Happy Rishikesh Song' after his visit. Several other international artists, including Mike Love of the Beach Boys, Paul Horn, Donovan and Gyp Mills, visited the site to contemplate and meditate. 

bungee jumping at Rishikesh jumping heights

There are many cafes and resorts offering you a good comfortable stay. The best time to visit Rishikesh is from May to November.

Nearest Airport- Jollygrant (20km)

Nearest Railway Station- Rishikesh

Nearest Bus Station- Rishikesh is well connected with other cities.

2. Chopta- Tungnath- Chandrashila-

It is popularly referred as the ‘mini-Switzerland’ of Uttarakhand. It is situated at an approximate altitude of 2,608 m. Chopta is a part of heaven tucked away in the Garhwal Himalayas. It is surrounded by bugyals or velvety Himalayan meadows and snow-capped peaks. Chopta is an all-year holiday destination: pleasant in summer, rain-fresh in monsoon and a snow-clad fairyland in winter. 

Chopta is also at the epicentre of the Panch Kedar – the five most sacred Shiva temples in the state. On its left are located first kedar Kedarnath and second kedar Madmaheshwar shrines and on the right, fourth kedar Rudranath and fifth kedar Kalpeshwar, and just above it, the third kedar Tungnath temple. Chopta is a birding paradise and you can see over 240 species of birds here, including native and migratory species like Himalayan monal(state bird of uttrakhand), Himalayan swiftlet, Himalayan griffon, scarlet finch, hill partridge, and so on. Nearby places like Dugalbitta, Mandal village, Makkumath and the Tungnath trek route are the best sites for watching our feathered friends. Chopta has been declared as an important bird-watching site by national and international conservation and biodiversity organisations.

Tungnath Temple

Chandrashila on the top of the peak, this simple stone temple is dedicated to Goddess Ganga. The peak, at altitude of around 4,000 m, is one of the most stunning mountains in the region and offers stunning views of several Himalayan peaks, including Nanda Devi, Bandarpunch, Chaukhamba and Kedar peak. It is considered that Chandrashila is the place where Lord Rama meditated after defeating Ravana. Another story says that Moon god or Chandra spent time here in penance. Chandrashila literally means “moon rock”. The trek to the summit is one of the most popular at Tungnath. Chandrashila peak is a steep 1.5 km trek from Tungnath temple, which is around 3.5 km away from Chopta.

Chandrashila top

Chopta is ideal for vacations all over the year but November to May are the best months to visit.

Nearest Airport- Jollygrant (220km)

Nearest Railway Station- Rishikesh

Nearest Bus Station- Ukhimath(24km) is well connected with other cities.

1.Char Dham –

Uttarakhand, also known as Devbhoomi or the Land of Gods, is consist of numerous temples and welcomes devotees all year round. Among the  religious sites and circuits that devotees visit in Uttarakhand, one of the most important is the Char Dham Yatra. This Yatra or pilgrimage consist of a tour of four holy hindu sites - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath – situated at the upper Himalayas. These high-altitude shrines remain closed for around six months every year, opening in summers (April or May) and closing with the onset of winter (October or November). It is believed among hindus  that this Yatra should be  completed in a clockwise direction. Thus, the Yatra begins from Yamunotri, proceeds towards Gangotri, onto Kedarnath, and finally ends at Badrinath. The journey can be done by road or by air (helicopter services are available from Dehradun.)

The Yamunotri temple, situated at  the source of River Yamuna (the second-most sacred Indian river after River Ganga) in Uttarkashi district, is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The district of Uttarkashi is also home to Gangotri dedicated to Goddess Ganga, the most sacred of all Indian rivers. Kedarnath is located in the Rudraprayag district  dedicated to Lord Shiva. Badrinath, home to the sacred Badrinarayan Temple, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This Yatra starts from Haridwar. There are many tour and travel agencies running a total char-dham yatra package.

Nearest Airport- Jollygrant (220km)

Nearest Railway Station- Rishikesh