Uttarakhand Tourism - Uttaranchal Kumaon Garhwal Travel Guide

Uttaranchal Tourism

2012-02-02T04:30:00.000-08:00

I am back here again after long time; I describe about many beautiful places of Uttaranchal in my previous posts. Today I want to explain something about Uttaranchal tourism and Uttranchal state.

Uttaranchal made 27th state of Republic of India on 9th November 2000 after a long struggle by uttaranchali people. Uttaranchal, now Uttarakhand situated in northern part of India covered by Himachal Pradesh in north-west, Uttar Pradesh in south and has international borders with Nepal & China.

The state today have 13 districts, Almora, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Haridwar, Champawat, Nainital, Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, and Rudraprayag . The capital of Uttarakhand is “Dehradun” and High Court is in Nainital.

Uttaranchal Tourism Map

The population of this state is around 7 million and the land area is 55,845 sq km. which is almost 88% hilly and 12% is ground. The state has very good natural resources like water, forests, rivers, glaciers and mountain peaks which attracts to tourists. Tourism is the main source of income for this state and its developing to tourism industry day by day. Due to good water resources, the state has good capacity to generate high mega watts electricity. "Tehri Dam" is the major power project of Uttaranchal.

Harsil Tourism Guide

2012-02-02T04:08:00.000-08:00

Harsil is a well known village and acantonment area located in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. It is situated atan altitude of 7,860 ft. This village is known for apple and Deodar trees inabundance. This place is named Harshil after Lord Vishnu. It is believed thatLord Vishnu has meditated here on a stone that is called as “shila” in Hindi. Harsiltourism will be fantastic for you. A Lakshmi-Narayan Temple is the majorattraction and sacred place of this region. There are so many wonderful touristspots in this village. Dharali is one of the chief attractions which is an exquisitehamlet. You can reach this place by a car.

Mukhwas Village mustalso be visited if you are on Harsil tourism adventure. You just need to drive1 km to reach this place. It is best known for its Gangotri Temple.Take out time to explore the next enchanting tourists sport named as Seven Lake.It is a charming combination of several natural lakes. It has Indian name asSat Tal . Another enchanting spot in Harsil is the Wilson Cottage that wasbuilt by the Englishman Wilson in the year 1864. He married a local Pahari girlnamed Gulabi. This cottage has an apple orchard. The walls of this cottage aremade up of wooden logs and blocks of stone placed alternatively.

Harsil is well connected by road. There areso many camping facilities available in and around the village. You have to bevery sure about the taxi or any other transportation that you book to reachthis place. This tiny little village holds breathtaking and bewitching naturalbeauty. You will have a nice view of the surroundings from the height of 7,860 ft(2,620 mtrs.) from sea level. You can also explore the Gangotri National Parkwhen you are on Harsil trip. This national park is located at a distance of 30km from Harsil.

Harsil village is situated in the mountaindistrict of Uttarkashi which is a wonderful sylvan hamlet. It is well known forscenic landscapes as well as delicious apples. An apple a day keeps the doctoraway. Well, sayings apart but you must explore this village at least once. Thisplace will relax you in every possible way. You will be free from the citycrowd and it will be only peace around you. Make your plan very efficiently andcarefully.

Chopta Tourism

2012-01-19T01:23:00.000-08:00

In the last few years, the Chopta is really getting popularday by day as an important tourist destination. Chopta Tourism is a beautifulexperience for sure. Chopta is located in the Rudraprayag district ofUttarakhand state and it is also known as "Mini Switzerland". Whenyou are standing on the land of Chopta, you arestanding at an altitude of 2600 meters above sea level. This place providesmarvelous views of the Himalayas. It is alsoreferred as the initiation point for trekking to the popular Tungnath Mandir. Youwill admire its rich as well as varied flora and fauna. You will notice that deodartrees and Rhododendron trees are in abundance here.

When you are searching about Chopta Tourism, it is importantfor you to search on how to reach this place. Well, this place is well connectedby roads. Lovable spots of Uttaranchal can be seen here. It is just perfect forthe nature lovers and trekkers. For sure, Chopta is an offbeat destination fortourists. The most famous and enchanting excursions are the Tungnath Mandir andChandrashila Peak. Tungnath Mandir is devoted to LordShiva and situated at a distance of 3.5 km. You will find dense forest of Kedarnath Wild Life Sanctuary which isfull of alpine and temperate trees. Major attractions of Chopta Tourism also include41 prominent peaks including Meru-Sumeru, Chaukhamba, Ganesh parwat, Bandarpoonch, Trisuli, Neel kanth, and Nanda Devi to name a few.

You can identify more than 551 species of birds plus 121species of big size mammals in Chopta. It looks beautiful with Atrimuni falland gentle alpine grassland slops. You can not miss on watching the Grass landpatches (Bugyal/ Meadows) and the small streams, and rivulets. Do not forget tovisit the Deoria Tal which is perched at an elevation of 2438 meters above sealevel. This lake holds pristine water which is responsible for creating amagical world.

Gopeshwar is another wonderful tourist attraction as far asChopta tourism is concerned. You need to drive about 39 km to reach this place.You will love to come to this place again and again. It is advised to drive alittle more to the Kanchula Korak Musk Deer Sanctuary. It is just 7 km awayfrom Chopta. It is quite popular for breeding musk deer’s. Last but not the least interesting place to visit inChopta is the Ukhimath located at a distance of 31kms. This place is known asthe winter seat of Lord Kedarnath. Chopta tourist destination is just awesome.

Pauri Garhwal

2011-12-31T03:34:00.000-08:00

Pauri Garhwal is a charming district situated in Uttarakhandstate of India.This district is annulated by Haridwar, Tehri Garhwal, Dehradun, Rudraprayag, Almora,Chamoli, and Nainital districts from its three sides. This district has verycold climate in winters and quite pleasant in summers. Even in rainy season,the climate is full of greeneries and very cool. This place is named asnature’s paradise which is why it attracts so many tourists towards itsmagnificence and charm. The key elements are the beautiful valleys and the snowclad mountain peaks. Pauri Garhwal tourism is highly attractive and it will beincomplete without visiting the ancient temples.

Pauri Garhwal has so many interesting places to visit andhave fun. The Danda Nagraja Mandir is the very first place to explore. It is aholy shrine situated in the Banelsyun Patti, in the lap of mountains. Even thepopular Kauthig festival is celebrated here on a very grand scale annually on13^th and 14^th April. The legend says that Lord Krishna camehere in the form of a snake for the first time. After the wishes get fulfilled,the devotees tie bells in the temple premises. There are thousands of bellsthere.

The chief temples of this place include the Kandoliya Devta,Kyunkaleshwar Mahadev, Laxmi Narayan, and Hanuman mandir. There are severalpicnic spots too for great family time. These spots are surrounded by the Deodarforests. You should visit this place at least once. Tara Kund is anotherwonderful picturesque spot located amidst the lofty mountains. It is a smalllake which is adorned by an ancient temple. Next you can visit the KyunkaleshwarMahadev 8^th century temple which is devoted to Lord Shiva. It ispresent in the suburbs. You need enough time to prospect all these places withcomfort.

Doodhatoli is another wonderful attraction of Pauri Garhwaltourism which is located an altitude of 3100 m. It is covered with dense mixedforest. You will get a panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges. The naturalbeauty is offered by the Khirsu Mountains covered withsnow. The central Himalayas are viewed here.It is situated at a distance of 19 km from Pauri at an altitude of 1,700 meter.You have to get good knowledge of every destination that is present here. Takeout time for every place and spot. You deserve the best. This tourismexperience will be relaxing.

Panch Kedar Yatra

2011-11-30T23:15:00.001-08:00

Tungnath Temple Uttarakhand

As per the historical legend, the Pandavas searched for theblessings of Lord Shiva in order to expiate their sins after their victory inthe battle of Mahabharata. Lord Shiva repeatedly eluded Pandavas and while fleeingfrom them he took refuge at Kedarnath as a Bull. When Lord Vishnu was beingfollowed, he suddenly dived into the ground and left his hump behind on thesurface. At this shrine the conical protrusion is being highly worshipped inthe form idol. Now, I will tell you that Garhwal state of Uttaranchal is theproud owner of these Panch Kedar (5 Kedars) shrines that are named as Kedarnath,Tungnath, Rudranath, Madmaheshwar, and Kalpanath.

Kedarnath is the very first Kedar situated at the head ortip of the river Mandakini, is surely one of the holiest pilgrimages forHindus. It is a very ancient temple which has been renovated several times overthe centuries. The lingam present at this shrine is surely pyramidal and is alsoregarded as one amongst the 12 Jyotirlingas around India. It is located at an altitudeof 3,581 meters.

The second shrine in Panch Kedar is the Tungnath which ispresent at the crest of the hill at the height of 3,886 meters. It is thehighest temple across India.As per the legend it is believed that the arm of Lord Shiva is present here. Moreover,it is also said that Ravana from the Legendary Ramayana performed penance herein order to propitiate Shiva. It is exactly situated in Chamoli district ofUttarakhand. There are two different stories attached to this temple. Some saythat the Pandavas built this temple to please Shiva and to get salvationwhereas some people say it was built by Adi Shankaracharya.

Rudranath is the third Pancha Kedar where the face of Lord Shivais worshipped in the name of Neelkanth. It is situated amid thick forest at analtitude of 2286 meters. This beautiful temple offers a magnificent and elegantview of Hathi Parvat, Trishul, Nanda Ghunti and Nanda Devi. The divine river Baitaraniflows behind the temple. There are so many holy Kunds (Tanks) present nearRudranath temple such as Suryakund, Tarakund, Chandrakund, and several more.

Madhyamaheshwar is the fourth Panch kedar where it isbelieved that the stomach of Lord Shiva emerged. It is situated at an altitude of 3,289meters above sea level. It is almost 25 km away from northeast of Guptakashi. Youwill glad to know that the trek from Kalimath to this temple is well distinguishedwith the wild and unparalleled scenic beauty.

Kalpeshwar is the fifth Kedar which is located in theUrgam valley at a height of 2,134 meters. Here we worship the head and thelocks (hair) of Lord Shiva. It is the best place for sages to meditate. It isbelieved that Rishi Durvasa meditated at this temple under the wish-fulfillingtree Kalpavriksha.

Panch Badri Yatra Guide

2011-11-04T04:51:00.000-07:00

Adi Badri Temple

It is true that we have Badrinath temple as the main andbiggest pilgrimage of Lord Vishnu as we call Lord Badrinath. Still, there are 4other smaller Badri temples devoted to Lord Vishnu. Lord Badrinath isworshipped under 5 different names. These 5 holy places are collectively calledas the Panch Badri. These areimperatives and holy places for Hindus. Thousands of devotees visit this place everyyear. Badri Vishal is the chief shrine of Lord Badrinath. The complete infoabout the Panch Badri of Uttarakhand is given below. You will get good help toknow more about these 5 Badris. Badrinath's four auxiliary Badri places otherthan the main one include BhavishyaBadri, Yogdhyan Badri, Vridha Badri, and Adi Badri.

The main Badri place is also known as the Badri Vishal which is constructed aswell as renovated by Shankaracharya while he did his pilgrimage to Badrinath aswell as Kedamath temple. He did this after instituting ‘Jyotirdham’ inJoshimath approximately in the 8th century. You will also see a 'Tapt Kund'here having hot water which has to be mixed with cold water prior you take abath.

Next place we have the popular Bhavishya Badri which is situated at an altitude of 2744 meter. Itis situated at a distance of 19 km from an alternative seat of our LordBadrinath. It has been built in case Badrinath shrine disappears in future, itwill be the alternative. God Narsingh’s image is worshiped and preserved here.The devotees have to travel or we can say trek over 6 kilometers of distance toreach the Bhavishya Badri.

Panch Badri third shrine is Yogdhyan Badri which is situated at an altitude of 1920 meter. Itis located at a distance of 23 kilometer short of the main Badrinath shrine atPandukeshwar. It is believed that King Pandu meditated here at this place afterhis victory over the Kaurvas. After his meditation he left the place for hisheavenly abode.

The fourth Badri out of Panch Badri is named as Vridha Badri which is beautifullysituated at a height of 1380 meter. Well, this is the very first holy place ofLord Badrinath. It is situated in the Animath place. It is a wonderful place toview and worship. It has ultimate peace in the morning time.

Well, the fifth Panch Badri is Adi-Badri and it is located about 19 kilometer far from Karanprayaglocated on Chaukuthia-Ranikhet road. Here you will see a group of 16 templeswhich were created and beautifully built back in the Gupta age.

These are the Panch Badri temples of Uttarakhand. I will come back soon with Panch Kedar, the 5 Kedar temples in Uttarakhand.

Panch Prayag Uttarakhand

2011-10-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

Dev Prayag Uttarakhand

Panch Prayag Uttarakhand is a mind blowing expression in the ethos of Hindu religion and this term is certainly utilized to connote the five holy river confluences present in the Garhwal Himalayas. What is the meaning of prayag? It means the "confluence" of rivers. Thus, the five Prayags of Uttarakhand are Vishnu Prayag, Nand Prayag, Karn prayag, Rudra Prayag and Dev Prayag. Well, all these prayags flow in descending sequence in terms of their occurrence. People gather at these places during Ram Navami, Makara Sankranthi, Basant Panchmi and Uttarayani festival to have a holy dip.

Vishnu Prayag is the confluence of the rivers Dhauliganga and Alaknanda at left and right respectively. The legend says that the sage Narada offered his worship to Lord Vishnu at this prayag. You should visit the octagonal shaped temple which is present near the confluence and was built in the year 1889. This temple is well credited to Maharani of Indore named as Ahalyabai.

Nandprayag (Nand Prayag) is the next confluence in the line of Panch Prayag in Uttarakhand. The Nandakini River wonderfully meets the Alaknanda River at this confluence in the Garhwal Himalayas. As per the ancient tale, a noble ad kind King named as Nanda performed Yagnya which means fire-sacrifice in English and got the blessings of Lord. This is the reason that this confluence has been named after him. There are several more tales attached to it.

Karna Prayag is the third prayag to visit located at the confluence of Alaknanda and Pindar rivers. The Pindar River originates from popular Pindar glacier which present below the Nanda Devi hill range. As per the Mahabharata epic, Karna did great penance at this place and after that he earned the protective gear or Kavacha (armour) and the Kundals (ear rings) from Sun God that offered him with indestructible powers. Therefore, this prayag got its name from Karna.

Rudra Prayag is the next one for you. It is the confluence of the rivers Alaknanda and the Mandakini and it has been given this name after Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is also popular as Lord Rudra. One legend narrates that Rudra performed Tandava here which is a vigorous dance and is the source of the cycle of 3 things that are the creation, preservation and dissolution. He also played his musical instrument named as the Rudra Veena.

Dev Prayag is situated at the confluence of Alakananda River and the Bhagirathi River. It is the very initial prayag out of the Panch prayag Uttarakhand when you are on your way to Badrinath temple. You will see the Ganges River beyond this confluence.

Rajaji National Park

2011-09-12T22:25:00.000-07:00

There is no need to introduce the famous Rajaji National Park. It is an introduction in itself. This park is distinct because of its rich bio diversity and pristine environmental beauty. Without any doubt, it is a paradise for all the wildlife enthusiast and nature lovers. This park is blessed with rich wildlife including animals such as Ghorals, Deers, Leopards, Tigers and Elephants. Several people are not aware of the fact that the 3 sanctuaries of Uttaranchal Shivaliks-Rajaji, Motichur and Chila were amalgamated into a bigger protected region for animals in the year 1983 which is now known as Rajaji National Park.

The Rajaji National Park is spread over an area of over 820.42 sq km and it is also the North Western Limit of Asian elephants. It is a wonderful ecosystem which represents the vegetation of various distinct zones as well as forest types such as Sal forests, board leaved mixed forests, grassy and scrubland. This park contains over 23 different species of mammals as well as 315 species of birds. You will have a breathtaking experience here. It is beautifully located along the foothills and hills of Himalayan Shivalik ranges in Uttarakhand. You should think about visiting this park once in your lifetime.

The Rajaji National park is easily and comfortably accessible from several directions by air, rail and road. You can easily access the bus services and the overnight trains from Delhi and Lucknow to reach Dehradun and Haridwar. Chilla is situated at a distance of 8 km from Haridwar railway station and it is also further well linked to major metropolitan cities. Moreover, Chilla is situated at a distance of 14 km from Rishikesh via Canal Road and 38 km from the Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun. The Jolly Grant airport offers 50 minutes daily flight from Delhi. This airport is located at a distance of just few kilometers from the Northern boundary of the Park.

The Rajaji National Park takes great pride in offering its guests with a tranquil and peaceful heaven. You will be glad to know that GMVN provides you with a Tourist Rest House having executive rooms, dormitory facilities, deluxe services and AC facility. It also offers 6 Gujjar Huts along with 10 Forest Rest Houses in the park. Here the visitors can enjoy the extreme beauty in the nature’s lap. There are numerous hotels and restaurants available around the park. You will get the best accommodation here.

Hemkunt Sahib Yatra

2011-08-09T04:18:00.000-07:00

The Hemkunt Sahib Yatra is one amongst the holiest pilgrimages across India. It is generally believed that Sikh Guru Gobind Singh had meditated here in the Lokpal Lake where in the Hemkunt Sahib is presently situated. This yatra is very important for the devotees. This lake is the major and focal point in the Hemkunt Sahib tour. Do you know why? It is believed that water of this lake has the ability to help the person regain health and also offers healing effects. As you know that this trip consists of long route so it is important for you to make appropriate preparations and take the help of some travel experts and professionals.

On an additional note, you have to be physically fit or you should be able to take up the long journey which begins from Gobind Ghat. From this place, the trekking starts and further constitutes of several passes. While you are on your route you will go through several breathtaking natural beauties which are just amazing. I would like to tell you that the trek is highly arduous but still it is enjoyable and fulfilling. Once you will reach the Ghangharia point then, you will be just 5 km away from Hemkunt Sahib. If you are planning to go on Hemkunt Sahib Yatra then you should also prepare and be ready for its weather conditions.

Since this place generally experience wet and cold seasons, so the pilgrims are recommended to visit this place around the month of June to the month of September in order to take merit of the fair and nice climate. You should wear hiking and rain resistant boots for protecting your feet. Once you will complete the Hemkunt Sahib Yatra, you will be standing at a height of more than 4000 meters above the sea level. You should not miss getting a dip in the Lokpal Lake. The water of this lake is crystal-clear and relaxed you. It has historical significance.

Your whole experience will be completed when you will meditate at the nearby Lakshman Temple. It actually became the sanctuary of Lakshman. There are certain rules and regulations that you should follow while you enter into the temple. You must consult a tour operator if you wish to plan a comfortable and a safe trip to Hemkund Sahib! Till now you must have got the whole idea of the Hemkunt sahib Yatra. Think over it!

Khirsu Tourism

2011-07-01T01:31:00.000-07:00

Mountain View From Khirsu

I just wish to highlight a pleasant and awesome trip to Khirsu which is a small hilly hamlet near Pauri in the Garhwal district. You will not get to know about this place in much context on the internet or anywhere else. You must think of getting rest from your work and then drive down to Lansdowne as well as Khirsu. Do not you think you should? My family loved this place in all possible ways and enjoyed the trip here. In few hours you can reach this place with ease. It is not really hectic at all friends and it is assured.

You can view the surrounding places like Tip in Top, Army ground, Bhula Lake and Army Museum and you will surely love the drive. You should never visit their in rainy season because you may get stuck in between the way because of landslides. This place is completely isolated from the rest of the world and has forests around. See its scenic Mother Nature beauty early in the morning at over 4 or 5 AM. It is situated at an altitude of over 1700mts above sea level. It is a quaint place having deodar trees, apple orchards, and oak tress around it.

It definitely owns panoramic views of the Himalayan range to its name. It is true that the Khirsu is not so much in name amongst the tourists and travelers but is its definitely gaining popularity now. Close to this place you will be able to see the ancient temple which is devoted to Ghandiyal Devi and this temple definitely adds the quietude of the place. There are several species of birds that can be viewed here. It is perfectly an immaculate destination which is always at its edge to impress its visitors because of its flamboyant looks and that are maintained throughout the year.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun which is at the distance of 145 kms. Khirsu is well connected with Dehradun and other major cities of Uttarakhand by road.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Kotdwara which is around 115 kms from Khirsu. The Khirsu hill station is well connected with Kotdwara railway station by road.

By Road: Khirsu is well connected with all the major cities of Uttarakhand by road. Buses and taxis are easily available for this place from Pauri.

Chaukori Pithoragarh

2011-06-14T01:19:00.000-07:00

Well, Chaukori is tiny but very beautiful hill station in the Pithoragarh district which is located along the lofty peaks, of the western Himalayan Range situated in the Kumaon Division of Uttarakhand in India. Tibet is located towards its north and Terai is located towards its south. The eastern boundary of the Chaukori is having the Mahakali River which also acts as the Indo-Nepal international border. Chaukori is actually a small hamlet which is perched at over an astonishing elevation of 2,010mts and that also above sea level. It affords to provide you with invigorating as well as splendid views of the beauty and charm of the nature.

Chaukori place is very popular for its wonderful tea gardens that were established by the British company. It is actually considered as heaven on earth by the travelers in Kumaon. Its virgin charming is unaffected by the crowd and pollution. The Himalayas are beautifully viewed from this small little hamlet. The benign peaks of the Panchachuli, Nanda Kot, Trishul, Chaukhanba and Nanda Devi are distinctly and separately visible from his small place. It holds one of the best hidden jewels because it is one of them it self. You are obviously free to discover novice places and paths in the near by areas.

You will admire breathing in the salubrious fresh mountain air and listening to the chirping of the birds. You will never wish to go back to the crowded cities with horrible horns. Chaukori place is well renowned for its ravishing and lovely sunsets and sunrise. The night environment has some special touch because it becomes a mysterious world at that time. It is very rich in its flora and fauna. Its dense forest includes oak trees, rhododendron and pine trees. They are also interspersed with the orchards and cornfields.

I must say that Chaukori is a perfect travelling spot for you who are seeking for a hideaway to go away from the busy city life. You will be able to rejuvenate your soul and then communicate with the nature and visit temples such as Jayanti Temple, Kapileshwar Mahadev cave temple, Kamaksha Temple, Kedar temple, and several more to name.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport is Pant Nagar. The distance is around 200 kms between Chaukori and Pant Nagar Airport. Taxis are available to Chaukori from here.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, which is around 180 kms far from Chaukori. Local buses and taxis are easily available for Chaukori from here.

By Road: Chaukori is well connected with major cities of north India by motor roads. Roadways buses are available from Delhi Anand Vihar ISBT to Pithoragarh and Almora.

Trekking in Uttarakhand - An awesome experience

2011-01-16T07:46:00.000-08:00

Uttarakhand is a beautiful place that is completely conferred with nature and its charm. This location holds Bihar in the East, Delhi in West, Madhya Pradesh in the South corner and Nepal in the North corner. Mostly people come to this place for adventurous sports like Trekking. The trekking routes of this place are spellbinding and enthralling. The potentialities of trekking, river rafting, skiing, and mountaineering are limitless. The trekkers and tourists have special interest and excitement in Kumaon and Garhwal areas. Uttarakhand is a paradise on earth. It is like a perfect treat for the trekking partisans.

The famous and most preferred trekking places in Uttarakhand are Chopta Chandrashila Trek present in the Garhwal Himalayas, Dodital Trek which is an elegant lake having crystal clean water stream, and Bedni Bugyal Trek which is one amongst the largest bugyals available in Uttarakhand. The other trekking places include Roopkund Kuari Pass Trek which is a frozen lake of Almora and is situated on remote area and high altitude and Valley of Flowers Trek which is completely hustling with vibrant, lively and charming flowers. This flower valley is the biggest accumulation of wild flower species.

In order to get there you can choose anything from airways, railways and roadways. Uttarakhand had only two airports that are the Jolly Grant Airport situated in Dehradun and the other situated at Pant Nagar, near by Nainital. The Dehradun airport offers daily flights whereas the Pant Nagar airport offers limited flights. Well, the roads are also well built and established. Uttarakhand is linked to Delhi and various other State Highways.

State buses, deluxe buses and private buses are easily available in Uttarakhand. The major railway stations are present in Kathgodam, Haridwar and Dehradun. These three railheads are linked to other Indian cities through passenger trains and super fast express trains.

Almora Travel Guide

2010-11-03T04:38:00.000-07:00

Almora is a famous place in Uttarakhand and is one amongst the 3 hill districts available in Kumaon. The rest of the 2 hill districts are Pithoragarh and Nainital. You can say that Almora is the traditional and cultural capital city of Kumaon. Moreover, this place has been given the status of “unspoilt child of mother nature”. This place is surrounded with 4 hill ranges named as Katarnal, Shayahi Devi, Kasar Devi, and Banari Devi. It is located on 3 mile long ridge in the shape of horse saddle. Katarnal holds an ancient Sun temple and the other 3 hill ranges have beautiful temples of Goddesses. Almora is situated at an altitude of 1,638 meters.

People generally visit this place for the liberation of their soul, solitude, and peace. This place is known for its health resorts. The major heath resort is Ranikhet situated at a height of 1,829 meters. Another idyllic attraction in Almora is Bajinath which is located at the banks of the local river Gomti located in the Garur Valley. This place is popular for its temples made in 13th century. You will surely admire the craftsmanship and artistic charm of these temples. The one of the chief camping areas of Almora is Bageshwar. The cultural and traditional heritage of Kumaon can be seen in the Almora museum. In the center of this city is the Nanda Devi temple.

You can reach Almora by airways, railways and bus services. The closest airport is situated at Pant Nagar in Nainital. It is situated at a distance of 125 Km far from Almora. You will get daily flights in summer season. Well, the closest railway station is Kathgodam. This station is located at a distance of 91 Km. you will easily get public and luxury deluxe buses from this place.

Dehradun Tourism

2010-09-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

Dehradun, the capital city of Uttarakhand state is surely an enlightening city which is located at an altitude of about 2,200 ft. This city is situated between 2 most religious and popular Indian rivers Ganga and Yamuna. The reference of this city goes back to 250 BC. You will find the inscriptions of great grand Ashoka emperor on the external part of Dehradun. There are over 14 edicts that have been craved upon a rock. Moreover, this site evidences that Raja Shilvarma sacrificed 3 horses here. He belonged to the Vrisheri dynasty. Another true attraction is the sculpture of a bird along with a fire altar in the center. Great writings have been scripted on this sculpture which is made up of large bricks.

Tibetan Temple Dehradun

The best time to visit this place is all 12 months of the year. Dehradun offers celestial climate and rainfall with 2073.3 mm. The most appreciated and apprized tourist places of Dehradun are Santala Devi Temple, Kalsi, The Forest Research Institute, the Malsi Deer Park, Tapovan, Tapkeshwar, Lakshman Siddh, Yamuna Hydel Scheme Dakpathar, Sahastradhara, Robbers' Cave, Chandrabani, Tibetan temple, Lachhiwala – the famous picnic spot and RajaJi National park. The RajaJi national park is the proud owner of 315 species of avifauna and 23 species of mammals.

Mussoorie is the nearest hill station from Dehradun city. Mussoorie is much famous hill station among the tourists which is just 35 kms away from the city. If you want to visit Mussoorie during your stay in Dehradun, the Uttarakhand Roadway’s local bus services available for Dehradun to Mussoorie.

Haridwar, the major holy place between Hindus and gateway for the Char Dham of Uttarakhand is also very near from Dehradun. This is just 52 kms. from the city and Uttarakhand Roadway’s local buses runs regularly between Dehradun to Haridwar.

How to Reach Dehradun

Airways: The Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest Airport which is located 25km away from Dehradun. You will get a daily flight to Delhi from this airport. The Delhi airport is for sure the closest International Airport too.

Railways: This city holds the chief rail head in the Northern Railways. Dehradun’s Railway station provides trains directly to all major metropolitan states and cities in India. Shatabdi Express, Doon Express, Mussorie Express and Dehradun-Mumbai Express are some best choices in Railways.

Roadways: The bus services from Delhi to Dehradun are regular and on time. You can also receive permits for car rentals easily. The Road distance to Dehradun from various popular Indian destinations are Mumbai (1578 km), Lucknow (582 Km), Jaipur (493 Km), Delhi (235 Km), Chennai (2365 Km), Calcutta (1562 Km) and Agra (381 Km).

Mukteshwar Tourism

2010-08-06T00:18:00.000-07:00

Mukteshwar is a small town and beautiful tourist place in Nainital district of Uttarakhand. In the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand, it is situated at the height of 2286 meters (7500 feet) from the sea level. Mukteshwar gets its name from a 350 yrs old temple of Lord Shiva, which is known “Mukteshwar Dham”, situated at the highest point in the town. You can watch snow capped mountains range of Himalaya from the temple. Mukteshwar was developed by Britishers in 1893 as educational institute (IVRI) Indian Veterinary Research Institute. Mukteshwar is an ideal destination for weekend tours from Delhi or nearby areas. Tourist can find easily best resorts and hotels there, KMVN also operate a guest house there which can be booked from Delhi also.

Mukteshwar Attractions

Mukteshwar is perfect destination for nature lovers and those who want to take some rest from busy city life. You can view nice scenery and picturesque beauty from Chauli ki Jaali. Watch the hide and seek play of mountains with clouds during the trekking tour in Kumaon hills. All the major mountain ranges like Neelkantha Parvat, Trishul Parvat, Nanda Devi, Nandaghunti and Panchuli Peaks are visible from Mukteshwar. You can enjoy the opportunities of rock climbing and rappelling at Chauli ki Jaali with the excellent view of valleys. All these things made the Mukteshwar an ideal destination for Tourism in Uttarakhand.

View of Snow Capped Mountains from Mukteshwar

How to Reach

Tourists can easily reach Mukteshwar by road, by air OR by train. The nearest airport is Pant Nagar and nearest railway station is Kathgodam which is around 65 kms from the town. You can take a taxi from here to reach the Mukteshwar. Mukteshwar is well connected with all the neighbouring towns; it’s just 51 kms away from Nainital and 42 kms from Haldwani.

The distance from Delhi to Mukteshwar is around 350 kms, which is around 7-8 hours journey if you are traveling by your own vehicle. You can reach Mukteshwar from Delhi via Hapur-Moradabad-Rudrapur-Kathgodam-Bhimtal.

Pithoragarh Tourism

2010-05-16T00:30:00.001-07:00

Pithoragarh is a small town in Uttarakhand state; it is also a district of Uttaranchal in Kumaon region. Pithoragarh situated at the height of 1851 meters in a valley. The place is also known as “Little Kashmir” of Uttarakhand. Pithoragarh is idyllic city and perfect destination for mountaineers, trekkers, adventure seekers, botanists, pilgrims as well as sightseers. This is also an important halt on the famous Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route, which is organize by Kmvnl. The land area of district covers the 8,856 square kilometers and its international border touches with both Nepal and Tibet.

Pithoragarh town is situated in valley so the place is little bit hot in summer and cool in winter from other hill stations of Uttarakhand. There are many famous Glacier and mountains in Pithoragarh like Milam, Arlam, Panchully, Dhauli and Shimpu which are very popular. Some popular mountains are Nanda Devi, Trishual, Nandakot, Panchually, Kaligangadhura, and Nagling. The whole Pithoragarh is rich by natural beauty but still some places which are significant during Pithoragarh tourism.

Prime Attraction of Pithoragarh

Bhatakot: The ideal place to see the natural beauty with sunrise and sunset. In the past it was a Christian colony. You can reach there by walking from Siltham.

Chandak: The place is around 8 kms away from the city, you can see picturesque view of Himalaya and town from here. There is a very old temple (Moshtmano temple) which is very famous in locals.

Thal Kedar: This place is around 15-16 km away from the City, small but beautiful trek for trekking lovers. The place is also famous for its Shivratri fair.

Dharchula: The place is around 96 km away from Pithoragarh at the bank of Kali River. If you want to see Nepal from Pithoragarh, you have to must visit to Dharchula. The Nepal is just other side of the river from Dharchula. It is also an important camp in Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

Apart from these, Pithoragarh also has some more attractions like Gangolihat, Didihat, Jhulaghat, Munsiyari and Chaukori. You can also enjoy your Pithoragarh tour by visiting these places. How to reach Pithoragarh? That is the big question for travelers but I can let you know how you can reach Pithoragarh.

How to Reach Pithoragarh

By Train: The nearest railway station for Pithoragarh is Kathgodam and Tanakpur, which is around 151 kms away after that you have to take Taxi or Bus to reach Pithoragarh.

By Air: The nearest operational airport is Pant Nagar, however a small airport Naini Saini is also very close to Pithoragarh but it’s not in working condition.

By Road: Pithoragarh is well connected by road with all major cities of Uttarakhand. The direct bus services are available to New Delhi to Pithoragarh.

Chakrata Tourism Uttarakhand

2010-02-27T01:28:00.000-08:00

Chakrata, the previous name was Jaunsar Bawar is situated at the elevation of 5500-6500 feet from the sea level in Dehradun district, the capital of Uttarakhand state. Chakrata is 92 km away from Dehradun and 73 km from Mussoorie in the Garhwal region of state between the Yamuna and Tons River. It was originally a cantonment of British Indian Army. The main population is Jaunsari tribes, thats why it was known Jaunsar Bawar in earlier. Chakrata is a keen beautiful hill station between rhododendron and oak trees and a better option to enjoy Uttarakhand tourism apart from crowded hill station like Mussoorie and Nainital.

The place is ideal destination for those who wants to take some rest from their fast and busy life. You will definitely get relieved and quickly revitalized among the powerful presence of natural beauty. Chakrata is ideal place for adventure lovers, nature lovers, couples and family vacation.

Local Attraction of Chakrata

Tigar Fall: This is the popular attraction of Chakrata. The beautiful and highest water fall of Uttarakhand falling from 312 feet, visitors can be reached here by easy trek between the rhododendron and oak trees forest with enjoying of natural beauty of Uttaranchal.

Chilmiri Neck: This is the area where Garhwal Rifles Mess and quarters are situated. It leaves unforgettable impact on travelers due to its scenic view of dense forests. This is the ideal spot for watching natural beauty, watching birds of different colours and panoramic view of Himalayan peaks.

By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun after that you have to take bus or taxi to reach there.

By Train: The nearest railway is also Dehradun and bus and taxies are available here. If you are coming from New Delhi you can take Jan Shatabdi Express (2055) from Delhi to Dehradun.

By Road: The place is well connected by road with Dehradun and Mussoorie. So you can reach Chakrata via Dehradun and Mussoorie by your personal vehicle or taxi. It is around 92 km from Dehradun and approximately 335 km from Delhi by road.

Tehri Garhwal

2009-12-13T07:39:00.000-08:00

Tehri Garhwal is one of the major district of Uttarakhand state. The administrative headquarters of Uttarakhand Govt. is in New Tehri. Tehri is situated on outer ranges of mid Himalayas, which is surrounded by the districts Uttarkashi from the north side, Rudraprayag from the east, Pauri Garhwal from the south and Dehradun from the west. Tehri is also an historical place in Garhwal’s history; it was merged into the Indian Union in 1947 by the ruler Maharaja Manabendra Shah.

New Tehri – the new built and well planned city due to reason of Tehri Dam is situated at the height of 1550 meters and 16 kms away from old tehri. In fact, the New Tehri is considered to be Asia's most comprehensive and successful rehabilitation programme due to submerged of Old Tehri into Tehri Dam water. The new town is well developed as a lovely hill resort.

It can be a wonderful tour for a week of Tehri Garhwal to discover Uttaranchal’s major cities like Mussoorie, Dhanaulti and New Tehri. I was also enjoyed this tour in the summer season and I took some beautiful images of these cities during my Uttaranchal Tourism (some pictures are posting below). If you are leaving Delhi to discover Tehri Garhwal, there is 8-9 hours journey from Delhi to Mussoorie.

Dhanulti Eco Park - Tehri Dam Tehri Garhwal

Mussoorie: - Mussoorie is most famous hill station of Uttaranchal, it is also known as “Queen of Hills”. You can stay here 2-3 days and can be discover the prime locations like Gun Hill, Kempty Falls, Mussoorie Lake, and Mall Road. You can enjoy the ropeway ride from Mussoorie to Gun hill and if you are interested in shopping move towards the Mall Road, there is large number of shops. After Mussoorie, you can move to Dhanaulti, which is around 30 kms away from here at Mussoorie – Chamba Road.

Dhanaulti: - It is also an ideal destination for tourism in Garhwal. You can stay here 2-3 days and can enjoy the trekking tours; you can also enjoy the camping tour in Dhanaulti. Dhanaulti is not much famous hill station but it is very peaceful place far away from market place and population. During your stay, you can visit Dhanaulti Eco Park, developed for eco-tourism by Uttaranchal Govt. Surkanda Devi Temple, just 6-7 kms away from here situated at Kaddukhal village. You can also visit to Chamba, around 30 kms away from Dhanaulti the oldest market place. After that you can move to New Tehri.

Tehri Dam – After leaving the Dhanaulti you can reach New Tehri via Chamba. There is large numbers of hotels and lodges are available to stay. You can stay 1-2 days here and can visit Tehri Dam and Tehri Lake. The Tehri Dam is made on Bhagirathi and Bhilangana rivers, which is world’s largest and most controversial hydroelectric project. It was under construction since 1978 and completed in December 2002. Finally the Old Tehri town and other 72 villages submerged into the reservoir (it’s made by Tehri Dam).

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun. You can take buses and taxies from here to Mussoorie.

By Train: The nearest railway station is also Dehradun. Jan Shatabdi Express (2055) runs between Delhi to Dehradun regularly. You can also take buses and taxis from here to Mussoorie.

By Road: Mussoorie is well connected by road with all major cities. The distance is around 280 kms. from Delhi and direct buses are available for Delhi to Mussoorie. But if want to go Dhanaulti directly, you have to go Dehradun first and you can take taxi or bus from there to Dhanaulti.

Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2010

2009-09-28T05:28:00.000-07:00

Uttaranchal (Uttarakhand) is also known as “Dev Bhoomi” means “Land of Gods”. Haridwar is the main pilgrimages city of Uttarakhand state. On every twelve year “Maha Kumbh Mela” organize in Haridwar. The next Kumbh Mela 2010 will be organizing soon in Haridwar, Kumbh Mela 2010 will be start from January 14, 2010 and end on April 28, 2010. Uttaranchal Govt. is ready to organize this event.

Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering fair not only in India but also all over the world for religious purpose. According to astrologers, the 'Kumbh Fair' takes place when the planet Jupiter enters Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries. Along with Maha Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, the Ardh Kumbh Mela organizes on every 4th year at Ujjain, Nasik and Allahabad then Maha Kumbh held on 12th year, the site of the observance rotating between these four pilgrimage places. According to Hindu mythology, some drops of Amrit fell down on these four places during the battle between Devtas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) for Amrita Kalasha (pot of nectar of immortality), which was recovered from Samudramanthan (the churning of the primordial sea). So, to commemorate this holy event of the Amrita Kalasha, the Kumbh Mela is celebrated at these four places.

The last Ardh Kumbh Mela was hosted at Allahabad during January-February 2007 and the next Kumbh Mela is going to celebrate in Haridwar during January 2010 to April 2010. Millions of people will be come from all over the world for a holy dip, during Kumbh Mela. Hotels and Guest houses will be full in Haridwar during this fair, so if you are going to plan in Kumbh Mela 2010 you must have to book hotel room in advance. There are lots of cheap hotels, luxury hotels, budget hotels and guest houses are available to stay in Haridwar.

Main Bathing Dates during Kumbh Mela 2010

14 January, 2010 Makar Sankranti
15 January, 2010 Mauni Aamavasya - Suryagrahan Snan
20 Jauary, 2010 Basant Panchami
30 January, 2010 Maagh Purnima
12 February, 2010 Shre Maha Shivratri Shahi Snan
15 March, 2010 Somawati Aamavasya Shahi Snan
16 March, 2010 Navsamvarambh Snan
24 March, 2010 Shree Ramnavami Snan
30 March, 2010 Chaitra Purnima (Parv Snan)
14 April, 2010 Mesha Sankranti Shahi Snan - Mukhya Snan Parv
28 April, 2010 Vaisakh Aadhimaas Purnima Snan

How to Reach Haridwar

By Air: The nearest airport is Jollygrant in Dehardun, around 35 km far from Haridwar.

By Train: It is well connected by rail to the major cities. Nearest railway station is Haridwar. Some major trains are – Delhi-Haridwar-Dehardun & Bombay-Haridwar-Dehradun.

By Road: It is well connected to all major cities by road. The state Govt. buses and private buses are available from Delhi to Haridwar. The distance is around 200 kms from Delhi.

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Valley of Flowers

2009-08-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

The Valley of flowers is amazing and beautiful place in the Chamoli district of Uttaranchal. The Valley of Flowers is known for its different kind of flowers and outstanding natural beauty. The valley of flowers has more than 500 species of flowers, its look like bed of flowers. Tourist feels the best touch of natural beauty here. Tourist can find many types of flower in the valley like Blue Poppy, Cobra Lily, Alpine and Brahma Kamal. Brahma Kamal is the state flower of Uttarakhand. The valley is spread over an 87.5 Sq. Km. area at the height of 3250 mtr. above from sea level.

The road connection for valley of flowers ends at Govindghat, 18 kms from Joshimath and around 460 kms. from Delhi. To explore the natural beauty of Valley, 16 km. journey start from here by foot along the bank of river Laxman Ganga which is also called with the name of Hem Ganga. Tourists may reach Joshimath, stay overnight there leave in morning to Govindghat (18 Kms.) and start your trekking. Tourists also stay overnight at Govindghat, but there are just few accommodation are available, so it would be better if you book in advance.

The 13 Km trek from Govindghat takes you at Ghangharia, the base camp of tour for Valley of Flowers. The valley is another 3 km. away from there, the trek is little bit tough and passes through the Pulna and Bhyundar Village. It is advisable; take some snacks or dry fruits with you as you will not find anything for eating inside the Valley of Flowers. You have to pay Rs. 50 per person for entry ticket to the valley of flowers, as the entry is restricted by tickets.

How to Reach

You may reach Joshimath or Goindghat from Delhi via Merrut, Roorkee, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Karnprayag, and Chamoli.

Uttarkashi Tourism - Uttarkashi Hotels and Uttarkashi Tour

2009-07-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

Uttarkashi is a district of Uttarakhand and also a beautiful hill station for Uttaranchal Tourism. This beautiful place is the origin of two rivers Ganga (Bhagirathi) and Yamuna and both rivers is lifeline of India. Uttarkashi have lots of things which attract to tourists like natural lakes, harming valleys, and mountains with snow-capped peaks. The place is perfect for adventures of trekking and mountaineering. Uttarkashi is most beautiful hill station among the Garhwal districts. Uttarkashi is situated at the elevation of 1158 mts on bank of River Bhagirathi (Ganga). This town is also the district headquarters.

Attractions

Govind Wildlife Sanctuary: Govind Wildlife Sanctuary was established in the year 1955 in Uttarkashi district. It is surrounded by natural beauty like thick forest, snow capped mountains, glaciers which attracts to large numbers of tourist not only from India but also from all over the world.

Stretched Area: 953 Sq. Kms.
Altitude : Bewteen 1,300 Mts. and 6,315 Mts.above the sea level
Animals:- Tahr, Wild Boar,Tiger, Snow Leopard , Chital, Bharal ,Serow,Brown and Black Bears ,Musk Deer, Brokwn Bears , & chir pheasants, Sambar, Kakar, Python, and many more.

Nachiketa Tal: Nachiketa Tal is at the distance of 29 kms. east of Uttarkashi. There is a village named Chaurangi Khal. A short walk of 3 kms from this village, you will reach at small but beautiful lake named Nachiketa Tal.

Apart from these, Uttarkashi have more tourist attractions like Dodital, Maneri, Gangnani, Sat-Tal, Dayara Bugyal, Gaumukh, Nandan-Van Tapovan, and Yamunotri.

Ganga (Bhagirathi) near Gangotri

The best time to visit Uttarkashi is April to June and September to November. During your Uttarkashi tour you can stay in GMVN tourist bungalow. Private hotels and lodge are also available in Uttarkashi.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant which is 162 kms. away from Uttarkashi.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Rishikesh around 145 kms. from Uttarkashi.

By Road: Uttarkashi is well connected by road Deharadun, Rishikesh, Haridwar and all major towns of Uttarakhand. Delhi to Uttarkshi distance is around 380 kms.

Lansdowne Uttaranchal

2009-05-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

Hi friends, I would like introduce another tourist place of Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), which name is Lansdowne. Lansdowne is situated in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttaranchal. This is not much famous hill station but it’s a beautiful place for weekend tours. This hill station is situated around 81 kms away from Pauri, at the height of 1,706 meter is famous for its peaceful environment and natural beauty.

It was founded by “Lord Lansdowne” in 1887 A.D., who was the Viceroy of India at that time, thus this place has been named Lansdowne. The Garhwal Rifles, which is the part of Indian Army also, has its command office here.

Lansdowne Uttaranchal

As I told, it’s a good place for weekend tours from near by area like Delhi. During to stay in Lansdowne, there are some good places to visit like Garhwal Rifles Regimental War Memorial, Garhwali Mess, Regimental Museum, Bhulla Tal, Tip-n-Top, Church Point, Santoshi Mata Temple, Bhairav Garhi temple and Tarkeshwar Mahadev temple. So, make sure to plan a trip to Lansdown and enjoy the natural beauty of Uttaranchal Tourism.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun, which is around 145 kms from here.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Kotdwar around 45 kms from Lansdowne.

By Road: This hill station is well connected by road with all major cities in Uttarakhand as well as with other state. The distance is around 295 kms from Delhi, 95 kms from Haridwar and 145 kms from Dehradun.

Munsyari India

2009-01-29T00:32:00.000-08:00

Munsyari

Munsyari is situated in Pithoragarh district of Uttaranchal state at a height of 11500 ft. The distance is around 120 kms from Pithoragarh. It’s not much famous tourist spot but perfect and quiet well for tourism in Uttaranchal. Once you reach there you will see a panoramic view of high peaks like Nandakot, Nandaghungti, Rambha, Shiplakot and Panchachulli. You can enjoy trekking to nearby places Khalia top 10 kms , Darkot 10 kms north of Munsyari and Birthi falls (31 kms) is a 500 metre trek from the main road leading to Munsyari. It’s a wonderful place to visit for trekking.

Munsyari India

Route: NH 24 from Delhi – Turn Left from Rampur after crossing Hapur and Moradabad – Bilaspur – Haldwani – Kathgodam – Diversion towards Berinag from Almora –Dholchina – Thal – Kalamuni - Munsyari.

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Binsar

2008-10-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

For those who are tired of the crowded hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, Manali etc, the forest dense forest BINSAR with loads of greenery and CRISP MOUNTAIN AIR to calm your mind, body and soul is the best place to go. It is indeed very, very green and 2100-2400 m in height is cool enough to keep you cool all day. Although I have been here 2-3 times before in smaller groups, this time in August, I took 12 members of the family in three cars, all belonging to different age groups - 6 months to 64 years and did not disappoint a BINSAR. In fact, it is one of our most memorable travels and the family is highly recommended for romantic couples and loners, writers and nature lovers.

The best thing to do here is to walk or relax and soak in the sight of beautiful forest, scented air and green valleys. Do not forget to take the 3 km walk from the hotel to the KMVN hilltop BINSAR. It is worth every calorie spent and the view from the watch tower at the top is breathtaking. In clear weather, the snow-capped peaks are very clearly visible. Do not forget to carry your raincoats / umbrellas and also your binoculars if you enjoy birdwatching. There are many places nearby within 2-3 hours drive like Jageshwar, Patalas Bhubneshwar but you need a complete day to visit each of them. Although Jageshwar has a very good setting in a narrow valley of deodar trees with a mountain stream and ancient temples, the money minded priests there spoil the experience, which could have been excellent in their absence. Jageshwar to go to, you can all the way to Almora and then turn left for jageshwar or alternatively you can take a semi-Kutch road, which turns left after about 1 km from the Binsar sanctuary gate and then joins the road, which goes from Seraghat to Barechhina. This road is Binsar goes through the forest and there are 2 / 3 water springs enroute which should have water if you are not too unlucky. Nice places for picnic.

How To Reach

Binsar is about 400 km from Delhi via Moradabad, Rampur, UDHAM Singh Nagar, Haldwani, Bhowali, Garampani and Almora. It is 25 km from Almora Bagheshwar on the road and 2 km after Kaparkhan Village. From Almora, there are two roads Binsar approach. One is the main Bagheshwar road and the second involves Kasar Devi temple. This road is far more picturesque and is recommended. A forest check post you at the entrance to the hill Binsar because it is a sanctuary for wildlife protected, but I wonder if there are many wild species, the birds outside. Roads are very good, indeed excellent in Almora. It would take about 10-11 hours from Delhi and 4 - 4.5 hours of Haldwani. We made a stop Haldwani night and then left for Binsar the morning so that we can maximize our stay there.

Char Dham

2008-09-10T02:35:00.000-07:00

Today, I am going to introduce “Char Dham” (four holy places) of Uttaranchal, these are Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath. These four place are situated in Garhwal himalayas of Uttarakhand state. Lakhs of tourist visits these places in every year.

Gangotri - Gangotri is an important pilgrimage center of hindus, it's the source of river Ganga. The legend about it that King Bhagirathi spent lots of years in penance of Ganga to land on the earth. Thus the river is also called Bhagirathi. Gangotri is located at the altitude of 3140 meters above from sea level. The distance is around 240 Kms from Rishikesh, it means around 480 Kms from Delhi.

Gangotri Temple Uttaranchal

Yamunotri – It's one of the pilgrimage center between “Char Dham”, the origin of Yamuna River. Yamunotri is situated at the altitude of 3235 meters above from sea level. It is situated at the opposite side of Gangotri. Yamunotri finds a special mention in the Hindu mythology. According to a legend, this secluded hilly spot was the home of an ancient sage, Asit Muni. It's 213 kms journey from Rishikesh and around 450 kms from Delhi.

Yamunotri Temple Uttaranchal

Badrinath – Badrinath is the most visited holy place of the Uttaranchal. The place is guarded by two mountains Nar and Narayan and the Neelkanth Peak provides a splendid backdrop to Badrinath Temple.Legend has it that Lord Vishnu came to the area, called ‘Badri Van’, or the berry garden, to meditate after Narad rebuked the Lord for being immersed in worldly pleasures. The Badrinath Temple is situated the bank of Alaknanda river. The distance of this place is 300 kms from Rishikesh and around 550 kms from Delhi.

Badrinath Temple Uttarakhand

Kedarnath – Kedarnath is also most visited place of Uttarakhand, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath is a majestic sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. One of the the panch Kedar Shrines, the temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century A.D., standing at the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. Kedarnath temple is situated at he altitude of 3581 meters from sea level, around 220 kms from Rishikesh and around 470 kms from Delhi.

Kedarnath Temple Uttarakhand

GMVN is a Govt. of Uttarakhand enterprise. Tourist can stay in GMVN's tourist rest houses during their char dham yaatra of Uttaranchal.

Dhanaulti

2008-07-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

Dhanaulti is not much popular but it’s really a wonderful travel destination in Uttranchal. It is just 30 Km. away from Mussorie, which is one of the major hill station of Uttaranchal. Dhanaulti is situated on Mussoorie-Chamba road at the height of 2250 meters. It comes as a pleseant surprise for the weekend traveler, where tourist can found peace & relaxation. It’s snow & hill view makes it popular tourist place.

Dhanaulti is so far from the crowd, busy market places and population. Set amidst thick virgin forests of deodars, oaks and rhododendrons have an atmosphere of perfect peace & tranquility. It is an ideal travel destination for weekend holidays.

Surkanda Devi

The temple of Surkanda Devi is situated at the top of the mountain, which is 2903 meters above from the sea level. It is just 10 Km. away from Dhanaulti & it is great religious significance. A fair is held every year on "Ganga Dussehra" (May-June) in which thousands of people participate.

Surkanda Devi Temple - Dhanaulti

Chamba

The Chamba town is 30 Km. away from Dhanaulti & at the height of 1676 meters from the sea level. You can see from here a wonderful view of Himalayas & Bhagirathi River. The Chamba-Mussoorie fruit belt is also famous for its delicious apples.

Dhanaulti-Mountains

Dhanaulti Eco Park - Uttaranchal

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, which is 82 Kms. away from here. Taxis are available from the airport.

By Train: The nearest railway station is also in Dehradun, which is 68 Kms. away from here.

By Road: It is well connected with the all parts of the country via Dehradoon. Buses & taxis are available for Dhanaulti from here.

Mussoorie - Dhanaulti - Chamba Road

Ranikhet Travel

2008-05-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

Ranikhet is a beautiful hill station in the kumaon hills of Uttaranchal (now Uttrankhand) state. The persons who love nature can visit there; Ranikhet is named according to legend, after Rani Padmini wife of Raja Sukhardev, who likes this place so much that she thought of settling down here. Ranikhet is a year-round destination that attracts tourists from all over the country and outside. Ranikhet is the paradise for nature lovers; it offers wonderful views of western Himalayas & Nanda Devi. There are some attractions nearby of this place like Jhula Devi Temple, Chaubatia, Uppat, Kallika, Bhalu dam. Nainital & Almora are the beautiful nearby places from Ranikhet.

Ranikhet Adventure Sports

Ranikhet offers some wonderful treks for trekking for adventure lovers. They can enjoy trekking to Kausani, Dunagiri and Sitalakhet.

Jhula Devi Temple

The temple is dedicated to Durga & very popular in the local. This is famous for it’s innumerable bells, tied by the devotees to get their wishes fulfilled.

Chaubatia

It is 10 Km away from Ranikhet, house the botanical gardens and a Govt. fruit research institute. On a clear morning a 300 Km wide view of the snow - clad Himalayan peaks can be seen clearly from Chaubatia. The Nanda Devi, Trishul, Nanda Ghunti and Nilkhant peaks can see very clear.

Upat and Kalika

Situated on the road to Almora, Upat has a 9 - hole golf course, while Kalika is famous for its Kali Temple and forest nursery.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport is Pant Nagar, the distance is around 120 Km. from here.

By Train: The nearest railway station is Khatgodam, the distance is around 80 Km. Tourist can take taxi or buses for Ranikhet from here.

By Road: Ranikhet is well connected by roads to all major cities of India. The distance is around 350 Km. from delhi, 50 Km. from Almorah, 59 Km. from Nainital.

Jim Corbett National Park

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Corbett Park is famous for it’s wild population of Tigers, Leopards and Elephants. It is located in the foothills of the Himalayas in the closest proximity of Ramnagar (Nainital). Corbett national park was established in 1936, as the Hailey National Park. After independence, it’s name changed to Ramganga National Park in 1952, but finally it’s changed to Jim Corbett National Park in 1957. It’s India’s first National Park, with the help of World Wildlife Fund, Project Tigers was launched in this Park in 1973 & it was one of the first tiger reserves in India.

Major Wildlife Attractions - Corbett National Park

Corbett is a haven for Tigers as well as its prey, Leopards are mostly found in the hilly areas of the park.. Some nocturnal cats found here are the Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat and Fishing Cat. The Dole or Wild Dog, though they can be seen in the southern areas of the park along with the Jackal. Elephants are main attraction of the Jim Corbett Park..

Tiger in Corbett Park

Best Time to Visit - Jim Corbett National Park

The best time to visit to Jim Corbett National Park is November 15 to June 15. The Park closed between June 16 to November 14, when the monsoons flood the river beds and cut the fragile road links.

How to Reach

It is well connected to all major cities of India. The distance is around 300 Km. from Delhi, 51 Km. from Ram Nagar direct buses are available from Delhi. Pantnagar at a distance of 50-kms is the nearest airport.

Haridwar Travel Information

2008-03-15T00:09:00.000-07:00

Haridwar is one of the most holy places in uttranchal, now it is Uttrakhand. Haridwar, the mean of this word is “Gateway to God”. It is situated at bank of the river Ganga. Here is lots of temples & ashrams in Haridware. “Har Ki Paudi” means “Footsteps of God” is main activity center of all type of worships like Ganga Aarti (worship of ganga river with lamps) in evening looks very beautiful. Haridwar is one of the place, where the great “Kumbh Mela” held in every 12 years along with Allahbad, Nasik, & Ujjain. Millions of people comes here for a dip into Ganga during the Kumbh Mela. Next Maha Kumbh Mela will be held in 2010 at Haridwar and Uttaranchal Govt. start preparation for Kumbh Mela 2010.

Chandi Devi Temple: It is 6 km far from haridwar city, situated at the top of Neel Parvat. This temple is situated at the other bank of river Ganga. The peoples can reach here by ropway trolley (Udan Khatola) or by foot.

Mansa Devi Temple: It is 3.5 km far from haridwar, situated at the top of Bilwa Parvat. It is also connected by ropeway trolley (Udan Khatola) or peoples can also reach here by foot. You can see a beautiful seen of haridwar city from here.

Har ki Paudi "Haridwar"

Ganga Aarti in Haridwar

Haridwar is well connected bye all major cities. The distance is around 214 km from Delhi, 24 km from Rishikesh, 55 km from Dehradun.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport is Jollygrant in Dehardun, around 35 km far from here.

By Train: It is well connected by rail to the major cities. Nearest railway station is Haridwar. Some major trains are – Delhi-Haridwar-Dehardun & Bombay-Haridwar-Dehradun.

By Road: It is well connected to all major cities by road. The regular buses run from Delhi to Haridwar.

River Rafting in Rishikesh

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Rishikesh is well known as a pilgrim town. Lots of Temples, Ashrams and Yoga centers are here. But, Now Rishikesh is also known for it's adventure. In the fast moving water of Ganga’s, your boat shows as a small toy. The boat jumps up and down in heavy waves of Ganga. Sometimes you narrow escaped to fall in heavy rapids during the river rafting. It's a different type of adventure and experience, you can't explain. The peoples come here to enjoy river rafting.

Kaudiyala

Kaudiyala is around 30 km. ahead from Rishikesh. River rafting starts from Kaudiyala. Here are many private agencies that provides facilities for river rafting. The peoples can hire professional rafter from there and can start rafting with theme. It is not necessary to know swim for rafting, life jacket available for your safety.

How to Reach

It is well connected to all major parts of India. The distance is 250 Km. from Delhi, direct buses and trains are available from here. You can reach here with in 6 to 7 hour from Delhi.

Where should stay

You can stay at Rishikesh, many private hotels are available. But if want to make your enjoy double, you can stay in camps under the opened sky. Here are lots of outdoor camping sites from Rishikesh to Kaudiyala.

Auli Travel, Skiing in Auli, Auli Travel Guide

2007-12-09T09:42:00.000-08:00

Auli is one of the most beautiful place in uttranchal. It is situated at 3050 mtr. above from the sea level and covered by snow. Auli, in district Chamoli of Uttranchal is well known for its snow grounds. When we go from Joshimath, the road reach in an open field after the long forest. This is the field, called Auli, it is always covered by snow during December to February and then start here Skiing season.

The “Valley of Flower” one of the most beautiful and famous place in the world is very near from Auli. The person who loves to flowers can visit here and they will found different types of flowers here.

Skiing in Auli

How to Reach

Auli is well connected to all major cities of India. Tourist can take bus or train for Rishikesh, from Rishikesh they can take direct buses for Joshimath. The distance is around 500 Kms. from Delhi, from Rishikesh 253 Kms., from Dehradun 295 Kms

By Air: The nearest Airport is Jolly Grant (Dehradun).

By Train: The nearest railway stations are Dehradun and Haridwar.

By Road: It is just 13 Kms away from Joshimath. The State transport buses and private buses regularly run between Joshimath, Rishikesh, Dehradun and Delhi.

GMVN Rest house and many private hotels are available for stay here. This beautiful place is for those person who really loves to nature.

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Kausani Travel Guide

2007-11-30T02:43:00.000-08:00

Kausani is situating 6075 ft above from sea level. It is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and natural beauty. A famous poet of India was born here, named Sumitra Nandan Pant. It is located in the Kumaon Region of Uttranchal state.

Best Time for Visit

Summer time would be best for visit to kausani. Snowfall during the December and January month, so who want to take enjoy of snowfall can go for travel during this period।

Kausani View

How to Reach

By Air: There is no direct way to go by air. The nearest airport is Pant Nagar, which is 180 Km far from here.

By Train: Nearest Railway station is Kathgodam, around 142 Km distance from Kausani.

By Road: Best route to go kausani by bus. It is well connected from other hill resorts like Ranikhet, Almora, Pittoragarh, Nainital etc.

So, if you are planning to Kausani travel, there are some tourist rest house and private hotels for stay.

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Nainital Travel Guide

2007-11-03T11:30:00.001-07:00

The most beautiful place among the hill stations। Naini Lake is the most attractive point of nainital. Naini means cool air and taal Means Lake. After adding these words make nainital. We can say the paradise of earth॥ The nucleus of Naini Tal's exquisite beauty is her lake which is a haven for water sports like Yachting, Kayaking,Canoeing and Boating.

Places of Interest in Nainital

Naina Peak - The most popular picnic spot in Kumaon, it commands a birds eye view of Naini Tal and the sparkling snow laden Himalayas can be seen in their towering glory from this beautiful spot। It is 5।6-kms from the town and one of the most beautiful treks। The soft cool air, the shade of the tall trees, the songs of the birds, the quaint summerhouse welcomes you. » Dorothy Seat - Also known, as "Tiffin Top"is a memorial to Mrs. Dorothy Kellet built by her husband. It commands an excellent view of the Himalayas as well as the neighbouring countryside. It is 4.3-kms from the town. One can trek or negotiate on horseback.

Snow View - It affords, as the name suggests, and undesirably beautiful and breath taking picture of the glittering snows. It is the most easily accessible hilltop, 2.42- kms from the town. One can trek or go on horse back or by cable car.

Naini Lake - Nainital

Nainital is well connected by road from all major cities of India। Around 280 km distance from delhi। The nearest railway station is kathgodam। It is around 40 km ahead from kathgodam.

Mussoorie Travel Guide

2007-11-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

Mussoorie Guide

Mussoorie is the top most hill station of Uttranchal. It is located in the Garhwal hill. It is a beautiful place for tourism; due to its immense beauty it is called queen of hill stations. Captain Young, the officers of British army was influenced by the beauty of this place and makes his residence in 1827. It is well developed for tourism, education & business.
It is well connected by road & air from the other parts of country। The height is 2500 meters from the sea level.

Mussoorie View

How to reach

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport of mussoorie, 24 km from Dehradun. The airport is besides of Rishikesh-Dehradun highway.

By Train: The nearest railway station is Dehradun, which is 34 Km from Mussoorie.

By Road: Mussoorie is well connected to all major cities of India. It is 280 Km from Delhi. Direct buses are available from all major cities.

Places for visiting in mussoorie are, Kempty falls, Lal Tibba coupled with the activities of the genre of Dehradun-Mussoorie Trekking and Gun Hill Trekking, which is the second highest place of this Hill Station.

Kempty Falls

Around 15 km from mussoorie on yamunotri road. It is the beautiful waterfall, which is the prime attraction of the queen of hill stations in India. It’s increment the beauty of mussoorie. The waterfall’s height is 4500 feet and makes noise when it fall downs.

Gun Hill

The second highest hill of that hill station. The ropeway trolley runs from mussoorie to gun hill, distance is around 450 meters. The Gun Hill offers a beautiful seen of Doon valley & Himalayan hills from ropeway trolley.