Dev Bhoomi – Land of the Gods

Uttarakhand Destinations

Uttarakhand offers the widest range of travel experiences in India — ancient pilgrimage cities on the Ganga, colonial hill stations above the clouds, high-altitude Himalayan treks, wildlife sanctuaries and sacred alpine lakes. This is the complete destination guide to the Land of the Gods.

Complete Uttarakhand Destination Guide

Garhwal Hills

The western division of Uttarakhand, Garhwal is home to the Char Dham pilgrimage, the Ganga's spiritual cities and the Garhwal Himalaya's most famous hill stations.

  • Mussoorie — Queen of Hill Stations. 2,000m. Lal Tibba, Mall Road, Kempty Falls. 285 km from Delhi.
  • Rishikesh — Yoga Capital of the World + Adventure Capital of India. 356m. Ganga Aarti, rafting, bungee jumping, Beatles Ashram. 239 km from Delhi.
  • Haridwar — Gateway to the Gods. 314m. Har Ki Pauri, Ganga Aarti, Kumbh Mela. 215 km from Delhi.
  • Dehradun — Capital of Uttarakhand. Doon Valley. Forest Research Institute, Robber's Cave, Sahastradhara. 300 km from Delhi.
  • Dhanaulti — 2,286m. Eco-Park, cedar forests, snow. 24 km from Mussoorie. Perfect winter and summer escape.
  • Tehri Lake — Asia's largest man-made lake. Water sports, boating, camping. 78 km from Rishikesh.
  • Lansdowne — 1,706m. Quiet Garhwal Rifles cantonment hill town. Oak forests, Bhulla Lake. 257 km from Delhi.
  • Chakrata — 2,118m. Hidden Jaunsar hill station. Tiger Falls, Deoban, old-growth deodar forests. 88 km from Dehradun.
  • Kanatal — 2,600m. A tiny village near Surkanda Devi. Apple orchards, cedar forests, Chamba. 38 km from Mussoorie.
  • New Tehri — 1,525m. Planned hill city above Tehri Lake. Panoramic views of dam and reservoir. 78 km from Rishikesh.

Kumaon Hills

Eastern Uttarakhand's Kumaon division has India's most celebrated hill stations, the finest Himalayan viewpoints and the gateway to the Milam Glacier and Kailash Mansarovar.

  • Nainital — Jewel of Kumaon. 2,084m. Naini Lake, Naina Devi temple, Mall Road, ropeway. 300 km from Delhi.
  • Mukteshwar — 2,286m. Apple and pear orchards, Mukteshwar Mahadev, Chauli Ki Jali. 50 km from Nainital.
  • Ranikhet — Queen's Meadow. 1,829m. Kumaon Rifles, colonial golf course, Chaubatia fruit orchards. 50 km from Nainital.
  • Almora — 1,638m. Cultural heart of Kumaon. Kasar Devi, Crank's Ridge, copper crafts, Chitai Golu temple. 350 km from Delhi.
  • Kausani — Gandhi's Switzerland of India. 1,890m. 300-km Himalayan sunrise panorama. Anasakti Ashram. 430 km from Delhi.
  • Binsar — 2,412m. Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. Zero Point viewpoint — Kedarnath to Nanda Devi in one panorama. 33 km from Almora.
  • Munsiyari — 2,298m. Gateway to Johar Valley and Milam Glacier. Panchachuli peaks view. 616 km from Delhi.
  • Chaukori — 2,010m. Himalayan tea gardens. Patal Bhuvaneshwar cave temple. Sunrise Nanda Devi views. 460 km from Delhi.
  • Pithoragarh — 1,814m. Mini Kashmir. Sor Valley. Gateway to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Dhwaj temple. 490 km from Delhi.
  • Bageshwar — Saryu river confluence. Bagnath temple. Trek base for Pindari and Kafni Glacier. 480 km from Delhi.

Adventure & Trek Bases

Uttarakhand is India's premier trekking state, with routes from easy 2-day winter trails to advanced 10-day glacier expeditions.

  • Auli — 2,519m. India's best ski resort. Nanda Devi view from ski slopes. Asia's highest gondola. 280 km from Rishikesh.
  • Chopta — 2,680m. "Uttarakhand's Switzerland." Tungnath (3,680m, world's highest Shiva temple) + Chandrashila (4,130m) trek.
  • Dayara Bugyal — 3,408m. Vast alpine meadow. Skiing in winter. Easy 2-day trek from Barsu village.
  • Har Ki Dun — 3,566m. Valley of the Gods. Ancient Har Ki Dun village, Svarga Rohini peaks. Govind National Park.
  • Valley of Flowers — UNESCO World Heritage Site. 87 endemic Himalayan flowers. August is bloom season. Trek from Ghangaria.
  • Nag Tibba — 3,022m. Best first Himalayan overnight trek. 65 km from Rishikesh. 2-day trail from Panthwari village.
  • Roopkund — 5,029m. Mystery skeleton lake. 8-day advanced trek. Trishul and Nanda Ghunti views.
  • Pangarchulla — 4,590m. Advanced peak climb near Auli. 5-day trek with summit attempt.
  • Kedarkantha — 3,810m. India's most popular winter summit trek. Snow-covered trail from Sankri. 4-day trek.
  • Brahmatal — 3,738m. Frozen lake trek in winter. Trishul, Nanda Ghunti and Mt. Kamet views. 5-day trek.

Rivers & Lakes

  • Rishikesh (Rafting) — Best white-water rafting in India. Grade II–V on the Ganga. Season: September–June.
  • Tehri Lake — Asia's largest reservoir. Jet-skiing, kayaking, bungee, zip-line. 78 km from Rishikesh.
  • Nainital Lake — The iconic Kumaon lake. Boating, lakeside Mall Road. Boat rentals ₹100–₂₀₀.
  • Sattal — Seven interconnected lakes. 23 km from Nainital. Kayaking, birdwatching. Rare butterflies.
  • Bhimtal — 22 km from Nainital. Larger and quieter than Naini Lake. Island in the middle. Trout fishing.
  • Deoria Tal — 2,438m. Forest camping lake. Reflection of Chaukhamba peaks at dawn. Trek from Sari village.
  • Hemkund Sahib Lake — 4,329m. Sacred Sikh pilgrimage lake. Trekked alongside Valley of Flowers route.
  • Dodital — 3,310m. Pristine forest lake. Golden mahseer fish. 5-day trek from Uttarkashi.
  • Kedar Tal — 4,425m. Glacial lake near Gangotri. Thalaysagar peak reflection. Advanced 5-day trek.
  • Vasuki Tal — 4,135m. Sacred lake 6 km from Kedarnath. Short day trek from the temple.

How to Reach Uttarakhand

Main entry points: Delhi (240–630 km). Nearest airports: Dehradun/Jolly Grant (DED), Pantnagar (PGH). Main train stations: Haridwar, Dehradun, Kathgodam (for Kumaon), Kotdwar. See individual destination guides for specific directions.

Budget, Hotels & Travel Tips
  • Best overall season: October–November for the clearest skies and post-monsoon freshness. February–March for snow on the higher peaks and the yoga festival season in Rishikesh. Summer (April–June) for maximum accessibility and full Char Dham Yatra. Winter (December–January) for ski season (Auli) and snow experiences (Kedarkantha, Brahmatal, Dhanaulti).
  • Garhwal vs Kumaon: Most first-time visitors focus on Garhwal (Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Haridwar, Char Dham). Kumaon (Nainital, Ranikhet, Munsiyari, Binsar) rewards repeat visitors and those seeking quieter, less-visited destinations. Both regions deserve at least one dedicated trip each.
  • Altitude acclimatisation: Uttarakhand's high-altitude destinations (Munsiyari 2,298m, Auli 2,519m, trekking destinations 3,000–5,000m) require acclimatisation. Ascend gradually — spend a night at a mid-altitude point (Rishikesh, Haridwar, Nainital) before ascending to higher destinations.
FAQs
What are the best places to visit in Uttarakhand?
The top Uttarakhand destinations for first-time visitors: Rishikesh (yoga, rafting, Ganga Aarti), Mussoorie (hill station, Mall Road, Kempty Falls), Haridwar (Har Ki Pauri Ganga Aarti, holy city), Nainital (Naini Lake, Kumaon hills), Auli (skiing, Nanda Devi views) and Chopta + Tungnath (highest Shiva temple, best short Himalayan trek). The Char Dham pilgrimage (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath) is the most significant cultural journey Uttarakhand offers.
Which is better — Garhwal or Kumaon?
Both Garhwal and Kumaon are excellent and complementary. Garhwal has the spiritual pilgrimage cities (Rishikesh, Haridwar, Char Dham) and the most famous hill station (Mussoorie). Kumaon has the classic lake-based hill stations (Nainital, Bhimtal, Sattal), the best Himalayan viewpoints at moderate altitudes (Kausani, Binsar, Munsiyari) and a quieter, less commercially developed character. Most visitors start with Garhwal (Rishikesh + Mussoorie + Haridwar) and discover Kumaon on subsequent trips.

Plan Your Uttarakhand Trip

UK Hill covers all of Uttarakhand's destinations — from Rishikesh to Munsiyari, Mussoorie to Kedarkantha. Let us build your perfect itinerary.

Plan My Uttarakhand Trip