Hill stations in Uttrakhand

Devbhoomi Uttarakhand was formed in the year 2000 after being separated from the large state of Uttar Pradesh. Be it rich Indian culture, history, and natural beauty Uttarakhand has it all. It is divided into two regions-Garhwal and Kumaon. Dehradun is its capital. The state of Uttarakhand is known for its Hindu pilgrimage sites. 

Visit the major centre for yoga study-Rishikesh. Visit this destination as it holds some magnificent places that truly need to be visited. It holds several sacred places too like- Haridwar, Uttarkashi, Devprayag, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

1. Nainital

Nainital is one of the loved destinations in Uttarakhand. It is situated at an elevation of 1938m above sea level. It is renowned for holding the Naina Devi temple, and the Nainital Lake that lies amidst a forested valley. The other attractions that it holds are- Raj Bhavan, Naini Lake which offers boating facilities, Tiffin Top, Nainital Zoo, and Hanuman Garhi. 

Enjoy ropeway rides here. One can visit Nainital throughout the year. Pantnagar airport is the nearest airport which is around 65kms away. Kathgodam Railway station is the nearest railway station that is around 34 km away from Nainital. 

2. Mussoorie

Mussoorie is one of the loved hill stations. With an expanse of commanding snow ranges to its northeast and beautiful Doon Valley and Shivalik ranges to the South, Mussoorie is the superb destination to spend a vacation. Explore some mind-blowing places in Mussoorie like- Kempty Falls, Landour Clock Tower, Lal Tibba, Gun Hills, Library Point, Sir George Everest House, and Cloud's End. 

Enjoy paragliding around Mussoorie Lake and indulge in boating in Lake Mist and indulge in trekking. Do not miss visiting nearby places that are truly worth visiting- Rajaji National Park, Benog Wildlife Sanctuary, and Benog Hill with Jwala Ji temple. Plan a visit in the months between September to June. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun which is around 54 km away. The nearest railhead is the Dehradun railway station which is 33 km away from Mussoorie. 

3. Auli

Auli is one of the top Uttarakhand hill stations. It is renowned for winter sports. Indulge in snowboarding and skiing. It lies adjacent to the shrine of Badrinath. It offers pretty panoramic views of some high Himalayan peaks- Nanda Devi, Kamet, Mana Parvat, and Dunagiri. Auli is truly a great place to witness the snow hill station in Uttarakhand state. Explore some beautiful places in Auli like- Auli artificial lake, Ski resort, Auli ropeway and Gurso Bugyal. Do not miss to visit nearby places like- Badrinath, Joshimath, Chattra Kund Lake, Chenab Lake, Nanda Devi Peak, Trishul Peak, and Vishnuprayag. Adventure junkies can indulge in camping, skiing, cable car rides. 

Visit this fantabulous place in any season. One can visit throughout the year. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport which is at a distance of 279 km away from Auli. The nearest railway station is the Rishikesh railway station which is around 250kms away from Auli. 

4. Dhanaulti

Dhanaylti is truly a beautiful hill destination to spend a surreal vacation. The serene hill town is nestled beautifully amid the lofty Himalayas and truly offers a range of opportunities to visitors. Visit the major attractions of this land- Surkanda Devi temple, Dashavatar Temple, Deogarh Fort, Eco-Parks of Amber nad Dhara, Barehipani, Joranda Falls, and Aloo Khet. Enjoy trekking, valley crossing and skywalking here in Dhanaulti. Add some nearby places to your Dhanaulti tour itinerary- Tehri, Kanatal, Dehradun and Mussoorie. Plan a trip to Dhanaulti in the months between September to June. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport which is around 85kms away. Dehradun railway station which is almost 60 km away is the nearest railway station to Dhanaulti. 

5. Lansdowne

Lansdowne is one such place that is away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Spend some time amidst nature and serenity. Visit the famous war memorial museum- Darwan Singh Sanghralaya and the pristine Bhullatal Lake. Enjoy camping, nature walks and Tip N Top Hiking here in Lansdowne. One can visit Lansdowne throughout the year. Rishikesh railway station is the nearest one to Lansdowne. 

6. Chopta

The Switzerland of India- Chopta is one such place that you cannot afford to miss while you are on a trip to Uttarakhand. Tungnath trek is one of the famous treks here that is all covered with thick and soft snow throughout and is a must-try. One gets spellbound by the views that this trek offers. Visit some beautiful places in Chopta like- Kartik Swami temple, Koteshwar Mahadev, and Tungnath temple. Indulge in some trekking and camping activities to make your trip much more memorable. The most perfect time to visit this land is between the months of March to June. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant airport which is located in Dehradun and is around 226 km away from Chopta. The nearest railway station is in Rishikesh which is around 209 km away. 

7. Kausani

Kausani is one of the loved hill destinations in Uttarakhand. It truly offers the alluring views of the Bandarpoonch, Trishul, and Panchachuli peaks. The major attractions here are the Anashakti Ashram, Lakshmi Ashram, Sumitranandan Pant Museum, Kausani Tea Estate, and Rudradhari Caves and Falls. Visit the nearby places that are truly worth visiting- Gwaldam, Pinnath, Baijnath temple, Bageshwar, and Binsar. Trekkers can go for short treks and hikes from Kausani. The most perfect time to explore Kausani is between April to June and between September to December. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport which is around 170kms away from Kausani. Kathgodam railway station is the nearest station just 135kms away from Kausani. 

8. Pauri

Pauri holds some revered temples. Its tranquil setting includes skyscraping mountains that remain covered in snow for several months. The destination offers many short hikes and some of the superb Himalayan treks including- the Binsar Mahadev trek, the Tara Kund Trek, and the Dudhatoli trek. Explore here some amazing places like- Ransi stadium, Kandoliya temple, Nagdev temple, Chukhamba viewpoint, and Kyunkaleshwar Mahadev temple. The best time to explore this destination is between November to April. Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport that is around 133 km away. Kotdwara Railway station is 101 km away from Pauri and is the nearest one. 
The best time to visit Uttarakhand

The months between March to April and September to October are considered the aptest time to explore Uttarakhand. The state has pretty good weather all through the year. Trekking, Paragliding and the Char Dham yatra are the most popular activities during the summer season here and are also the peak season in Uttarakhand. 

Things to do in Uttarakhand

The beautiful Uttarakhand is truly a land of unmatched beauty, sacred temples, abundant wildlife and umpteen adventure spots. There are several exciting things to do in Uttarakhand state that can turn one’s trip into a very memorable one. From trekking to paragliding, ropeway rides and attending the famous Ganga Aarti in Haridwar there is everything that makes one’s trip surreal. There are a lot of thrilling activities that can be enjoyed in the state. Rafting is one of them.

Enjoy Rafting in Rishikesh that is one of the amazing things to do. Some certified operators arrange safety arrangements and offer customized packages for camping and rafting at Rishikesh. Bungee jumping is yet another loved activity in Rishikesh. The bungee jumping spot is located about 20 km from the main city and proves to be the most thrilling activity.

Indulge in camping at Kaudiyala. Kaudiyala is a popular rock-climbing destination that is surrounded by dense forests. It offers white river rafting tracks and the sports are organised by the camping facilities around the place. Trekkers can trek at Kuari Pass. The alpine meadow of Kuari Pass attracts lots of trekkers and travellers. Being in proximity to the Nanda Devi biosphere, Kuari Pass is at the centre of the most remarkable regions of Garhwal and is renowned for its unique wild grandeur.

It offers various trekking opportunities. Enjoy Cliff jumping which is another exciting activity to indulge in Rishikesh. This activity is done when one is down in the river, swimming, rafting or just taking a dip. Enjoy boating in Naini Lake in Nainital. The lake is of Kidney shape and is one of the famous lakes of the Kumaon region. Bounded by Naini Peak on the North West, Tiffin Point on the South West and snow-capped peaks on the North the lake offers mesmerizing views during early morning and sunset.

Enjoy a wildlife safari at Jim Corbett National Park, set amidst the hills of the Himalayas houses a variety of flora and fauna that includes rare ones such as tigers and is a treat for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. This National Park holds around 50 species of trees, 580 bird species and 50 species of animals along with 25 reptile species It is spread over an area of more than 500 sq km that covers riverine belts, hills, lakes, streams and grasslands. Visit this park in the months between mid-October to mid-June. Indulge in the Nag Tibba trek. Nag Tibba is situated near Mussoorie. It is a very exhilarating trekking trail.

It is known as one of the superb weekend treks. Nag Tibba or Serpent's Peak, is the highest peak of the Nagtibba range with an altitude of 9915m and is home to Nag Devta. Trekking up this gorgeous hill is one of the most thrilling things to do. Enjoy paragliding, rock climbing, and rappelling in Mussoorie. Pay a visit to the Holy town of Badrinath. It is among the char Dham set in the backdrop of Neelkanth mountain peak devoted to Lord Vishnu. It is a pilgrim centre. Places between Nar and Narayan mountain ranges, Badrinath has been mentioned in several Vedas as well. Visit this holy destination between May to June and September to October. 

Attend the Ganga Aarti that takes place at the bank of the sacred river Ganga at the Har Ki Pauri Ghat in Haridwar. Several tourists and devotees from all over the world attend it. It is a ritual of light and sound where the priests perform prayers with bowls of fire and ring the temple bells. Devotees float Diyas and flowers surrounded by the chanting of the mantras and the reflection of the lights off the surface of the flowing river that is said to be blessed by the Goddess Ganga. Experience the Kedarnath trek. Nestled in the lap of mountains of the river Tons Valley Kedarnath is an astounding place that offers an easy classic trek.

It is a beautiful ridge peak that is accessible throughout the year. The trek to this peak allows one to explore the exotic flora and fauna of the protected area of Govind National Park. Visit the Valley of Flowers located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It was discovered in 1931 and is a world heritage site for its wild untamed blooms surrounded by white peaks. Visit this place in the months between May to October. Visit the Tehri Dam which is indeed a famous tourist attraction. The place offers the utmost serenity and tranquillity. So, plan a trip to Uttarakhand.