Summers arrive and we all think of driving to the hill stations! Uttarakhand offers a whole lot of beautiful destinations to travel to and rejuvenate! It doesn’t have 2 or 3 touristy destinations but in fact too many to count! Here we have jotted down the top 15 of them that makes quite a wholesome experience. A list of 15 Best Places to Visit in Uttarakhand will surely blow your craving towards Uttarakhand.
Auli
Auli makes up a perfect winter destination with enthralling winter sports like skiing, ice skating, and many more. Places like Gurso Bugyal leaves the tourist in awe of the vast snow-covered Himalayan ranges! A land of breathtaking lakes and peaks with snowfall; it’s just magical!
Best time to visit: November – March
Key Spots: Chenab lake, Artificial lake of Auli, Nanda Devi National Park
How to reach: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, the nearest railway station is Rishikesh Railway station, Auli is 265 km from Rishikesh, buses leave early morning.
Uttarkashi
Makes it an offbeat and peaceful destination to spend away from home. It leaves you with cosy experiences and magnificent sights. Also called Shivnagri, the place will reside in your heart and never be forgotten. It’s a place filled with holy temples and a place for trek lovers.
Best time to visit: Uttarkashi welcomes people in all seasons – summers, winters, monsoons.
Key Spots: Kedar Tal (best for trekking camp), Harsil, Yamunotri
How to Reach: NH108 is the highway taken by road travellers. Buses function from major cities of Delhi, Rishikesh, and Dehradun. Taxis and cabs are also easy to find also. Nearest airport – Jolly Grant Airport, nearest railway station – Rishikesh Railway station.
Almora
If you are looking for a perfect escape from reality, come to Almora for the most astonishing experience designed on a plate for you. The lush greenery sunset points, historical sites, and temples lend a peaceful and serene feeling like none other. There’s no way anyone can say no to this wholesome experience!
Best time to Visit: March-May
Key Spots: Zero points, Lakhudiyar, Katarmal Sun Temple, Bright End Corner
How to Reach: People usually take road trips to Almora. The nearest airport is Pantnagar Airport. The nearest Railway station is Kathgodam. One can take a taxi/cab from there.
Pangoot
A surrounding hill station of Nainital and Jim Corbett, it’s a splendid home away for nature lovers! With great biodiversity, it makes your trekking and mountain biking all the more enthusiastic. Try your bird-watching experience in Pangoot, it won’t disappoint you at all! It’s also an ideal place for enjoying a campfire with family and friends under the peaceful clear skies.
Best time to Visit: October – May
Key Spots: Kilbury Bird Sanctuary, Snow view point, Eco caves
How to Reach: The nearest airport is Pantnagar. The nearest railway station is Kathgodam.
Well connected by roads too; it’s situated 15-17 km from Nainital.
Ranikhet
This incredible heartwarming beauty is the epitome of a perfect holiday destination. It’s one the most known places in Uttarakhand offering the city tourists a non-rushed and tranquil stay! It’s famous for the sport of golfing and has one of the best hill golf courses in India.
Best time to Visit: September – November
Key Spots: Upat Golf Course, Majkhali, Dwarahat
How to Reach: bus services are functional from Nanital, Kathgodam, Almora and Kasauli. The nearest airport is Pantnagar while the railway station is that of Kathgodam.
Mukteshwar
This gorgeous town is known for camping and paragliding adventures. It’s an alluring getaway spot offering scenic landscapes, making people catch hold of their breath. The best time to arrive here is for the snow in winters when the place is absolutely majestic! In contrast to the calm and pleasant summers.
Best time to visit: March – June
Key Spots: Chauthi Jaali, Mukteshwar temple, Bhallu Gaad waterfalls
How to reach: Many bus services connect to Nanital from Delhi from where one can take a taxi. People usually take road trips to Mukteshwar to enjoy the beauty of the journey too as it’s very close to Nainital.
Kanatal
The name Kanatal itself has folklore to itself. The lake Kanatal dried up but the town’s name is kept after the lake only. The Surkanda Devi temple has a mythological root. People believe in the folklore of sati that established it. Discover the hidden gems of this town! Wake up to the chirpy birds and pleasant breezes and take a walk to discover this offbeat destination.
Best time to visit: April – June
Key Spots: Kaudia jungle, Surkanda Devi temple, Tehri Lake
How to reach: the nearest railway station is Dehradun while Jolly Grant is the nearest airport. Buses are available from Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Dehradun, etc.
Devprayag
The ‘land of God’s confluence’ has lots of tales to tell with every temple one sees and even sightseeing spots with folklores attached to it! It’s a perfect blend of Hindu pilgrimage and nature’s beauty that needs to be witnessed by every eye. The water sports lovers this one’s for you! Experience river rafting, kayaking in the most beautiful place with speechless scenes.
Best time to visit: March-May (technically, it welcome us in all seasons)
Key Spots: Teen Dhara, Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers, Dashrathshila
How to reach: well connected via roads to major Uttarakhand cities. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant and the nearest railway station is Rishikesh.
Chakrata
Not heard of this name? This underrated diamond is away from all the hustle-bustle of tourism or the city, giving us just what we need – silence and adventure! Camping, bird-watching, watching sunsets, rock climbing, water sports, waterfall rappelling — it has it all! Rightly said, underrated is the best in every possible way!
Best time to visit: March – June
Key Spots: Tiger Hills, Kimona Falls, Deoban Forest
How to reach: road trip from Delhi to Chakrata is 7-8 hours of the smooth and scenic drive. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant and the nearest railway station is Dehradun.
Pithoragarh
The place which is also called “Little Kashmir” raises the bar of expectations and when one visits the place they know the place does justice to the tile given! It has tremendous historical significance too. Get to know the culture and traditions of the native villages. The people here are nice and friendly. Visiting this place in autumn and spring is immensely pleasant and refreshing!
Best time to visit: October – November, March- April
Key Spots: Pithoragarh Fort, Dhwaj temple, Namik Glacier
How to reach: Nearest airport Pantnagar while the railway station is Tanakpur around 137 km. NH125 connects the town to the country.
Lansdowne
Feels foreign? Nope, it’s completely Indian. Just named after the viceroy but formerly called Kaludanda. One of the cleanest and fresh hill stations out there. Rarely picked by tourists as the crowd goes to Nanital, Dehradun and more. This place is therefore unexplored by many! Bhulla lake, one of the most important sites paying tribute to the Garhwal Rifles Indian Army. Trekking, jungle safari, nature walk – experience this place as you want it!
Best time to visit: October – March
Key Spots: Bhulla Lake, Kalagarh Tiger reserve, Bhim Pakora
How to reach: the nearest railway station is Kotdwar, 40 km at a distance while the airport is Jolly Grant. The best way to reach is through the road with the route depending on your departure location.
Gangotri
It owes its importance as a pilgrimage to the river Ganga. Gangotri is the place where Shiv descended Ganga from his ‘kesh’. Not only a site of holy pilgrimages, but it also has abundant picturesque spots like Kalindi Khal, Maneri and like. It’s a highly touristy location.
Best time to visit: April-June, September-October
Key Spots: Gangotri Temple, Jalmagna Shivling, Dodi Tal
How to reach: the nearest railway station is Rishikesh and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant. Taxi and bus services available from various Uttarakhand cities easily.
Jim Corbett
For all the wildlife lovers, this is a dreamy location. Catching the sights of wildlife in a jungle safari, taking long nature walks, enjoying river rafting, camping and rappelling — it’s an all in one enthralling package! With significant biodiversity, this oldest national park is as good as the cherry on the top. One at least needs 3 days to explore the region and take full advantage of their time here!
Best time to visit: November – February (winters)
Key Spots: Corbett Waterfalls, Kosi river
How to reach: Nearest airport Pantnagar while the railway station is Jim Corbett or Ramnagar is 5 km away. Many buses commute from Delhi to Corbett daily.
Pataal Bhubaneshwar
The word Pataal itself suggests the mystery of the place. The caves of this pilgrimage reside in itself a plethora of gods and goddesses. They were discovered in Treta Yug as believed by many. For reaching the temple, one goes through the narrow shaped tunnels/caves. There are many ashrams and places for meditation.
Best time to visit: April – June
Key Spots: Caves, Heat Kalika temple, Pataal Bhubhneshwar temple
How to reach: the nearest railway station is Tanakpur that is well connected to major cities while the nearest airport is Pantnagar with good road connectivity from all directions.
Dhanaulti
A place people stop by when taking long trips to Uttarakhand but Dhanaulti itself can be a gorgeous destination for a weekend getaway! Famous for its natural beauty, serene and beautiful sights it also offers the adventurers to venture in — in the Dhanaulti Adventure Park. It is an awestruck and unmatched blessing to the eyes.
Best time to visit: March – June
Key Spots: Chanderi Town, Deogarh Fort, Dhanaulti eco-park
How to reach: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant. The nearest railway station is Dehradun or Rishikesh. Usually, people opt for private taxis to commute. It’s well connected by roads and is on the Chamba – Mussoorie way.
Uttarakhand makes us fall in love so deeply that we couldn’t even think it was possible! It’s waiting with open arms to bless us afresh.
In the world of concrete jungles, we have forgotten how nature feels like! Travel to Uttarakhand and find out!
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