21 most beautiful places in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is also known as Devbhoomi because of its old spiritual values. It is a place full of the most popular tourist attractions like landscape season meadows, lakhs. This state has two parts, Garhwal and Kumaon which are fully equipped with wildlife, adventure, tourism and sightseeing.

It has numerous trekking places, Mountain climbing and water rafting. All the parts of Uttarakhand remain cold or pleasant all around the year. In the winter season, there is acute cold and heavy snowfall, particularly in the remote and mountain areas which is the main attraction for tourists.

Uttarakhand the paradise of India gives an unforgettable experience

Gangotri – The Holy Place

Gangatori is the holy town of Hindu pilgrims situated on the bank of the Bhagirathi river near Shivaling Peak of the Himalayas in the Uttarakhand state of India which originates from the holy river Ganga.

This is a very cold place with heavy snowfall in the winter season and has an elevation of about 3420 meters in the Greater Himalayan peaks. Gangotri is one of the holy Char Dham of Hindus.

It is supposed that Bhagirath Shila is one of the holy rocks of the worship of King Bhagirath to the God Lord Shiva. The Gangatori temple is closed to the public w.e.f Diwali each year and opened again on Akshaya Tritiya and in this time the idol of the goddess is placed in Mukhba village.

The main three basins of pilgrims bathe is located near the river the water of which is supposed to be very sacred and taken by the pilgrims for their own use in spiritual rituals and distribute to their loved ones.

These Basins were dedicated to the main Gods of Hindus Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Gangotri overflows with Hindu devotees during the yatra who visits to worship in the temple and visit other holy places in Gangotri and near it.

Places of Attraction near Gangotri:

Bhojbara
Bhaironghati
Gangotri Temple
Gangnani
Jalmagna Shivlinga
Bhaironghati
Dharali
Harsil
Surya Kund
Gangotri Glacier
Kedar Tal
Gaumukh Tapovan Trek
Gangotri National Park
Vishwanath Temple

Airport near Gangotri: Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport to this village and is located about 250 km. from this place.

Railway Station near Gangotri: Rishikesh Railway Station has located about 240 km. away from this village.

The Ideal Time to Visit Gangotri: May to October during the Char Dham yatra when a large number of devotees visit Gangotri.

2. River Rafting

The most popular place for river rafting is Rishikesh because it contains several stretches and grades in the River Ganga. Here the rafting starting and endpoints are Kaudilaya and Laxman Jhula respectively which takes about 7 to 8 hours.

The first point from Marine Drive to Kaufilaya takes about 8 to 9 hours. The second point is from Marine Drive to Shivpuri takes about 2 to 3 hours. The last point is fromBhrampuri to Rishikesh. The season time for rafting in Rishikesh is March and September to December.

Airport near Rishikesh: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun is the nearest airport to reach Rishikesh;

Railway Station near Rishikesh: Virbhadra is about 2 km., and Rishikesh railway station is about 3 km. Haridwar Junction is about 19 km. from Rishikesh.

The ideal time to visit Rishikesh: is March to May (summer) and October to February (winter).

3. Uttarakashi – Devbhoomi – Uttarakhand

Devbhoomi means the place of gods. In Uttarakhand spirituality is spread all over because it is believed to be the land of Gods. Several Hindu temples are situated even in remote areas.

The main religious mela is known as Kumbh which comes once in twelve years and is held in Haridwar. It also contains char Dham yatra which is the ultimate dream of any Hindu. Har ki Pauri is also one of the major attractions for tourists.

Places to visit in Devbhoomi:

Badrinath
Mussoorie
Nainital
Rishikesh
Haridwar
Jim Corbett National Park
Auli

4. Varanasi

Varanasi, also known by the name of Banaras is a very old and holy city situated at the bank of the river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh State in the northern part of India.

According to historians, the Aryans were first settled in the middle of the river Ganga Valley and therefore the Aryan philosophy was spread all over this region.

This is the most famous place for great spiritual learning and consists of globally famous Universities and other educational institutes like Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, and Banaras Hindu University.

This city was the capital of Kasi at the time of Buddha and was a commercial and industrial hub and was known for its silk fabric, ivory articles, perfumes and muslin. This city is famous for its spiritual culture and has a large number of temples and ghats.

In the early times, this city was famous for its Chagas (the cheaters) where the pandits looted the people in the name of religious ceremonies.

This city is also famous as the religious city of India. Every Hindu has the desire to at least once visit this city for religious purposes apart from their tourist visit. This city is very ordinary and not aware of the modern culture of nightclubs, bars and dances.

The speciality of this city

Langda or Malda Mangoes
Silk Cloths
Wooden Handicrafts
Carpets and Brass Ware
Gold Jewellery
Thater Bazar
Temple Bazar
Gyan Vapi
Vishwanath Gali

The main points of attraction are:

Banaras Ghats
River Ganges
Chunar Fort
Ramnagar Fort
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Sarnath
Chaumsathi Ghat
Manikarnika Ghat
Man Mandir Ghat
Archaeological Museum

Nearest International Airport: Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Babatpur Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Nearest Railway Station: Varanasi Junction (BSB), Kashi (KEI), Manduadih (MUV).

Famous Markets & Malls: Thatheri Bazar, Godowlia Market, Vishwanath Lane, Rajan Silk Market, Golghar, Gyanvapi, Dal Mandi Market, Lahurabir, Chowk and Urban Hatt, IP Sigra Mall, IP Vijaya Mall, JHV Mall, Vinayak Plaza, PDR Mall.

Famous Street Food: Chena Dahi Vada, Kachori Sabji, Chooda Matar, Baati Chokha, Tamatar Chaat, Dahi Chutney Golgappe, Banarasi Thandai and Lassi, Banarsi Paan.

The ideal time to visit: is April to June and October to March.

5. Flower Valley

Himalayan wildlife and national sanctuaries are some of the best attractions in Uttarakhand. The main precious gems in Uttarakhand are Valley of Flowers National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jim Corbett National Park, the home of tigers conservation, Rajaji National Park, for Bengal Tigers, hyenas, elephants, Sloth Beer and birds. Waterfalls are the perfect point for kicking pictures.

Places to visit near Flower Valley:

Gorson Bugyal
Malaria
Pandukeshwar
Govindghat
Niti Valley
Joshimath
Badrinath
Mana Village

6. Mussoorie

Mussoorie also known as the queen of hills is one of the most desired hill stations in North India. It is heaven for travellers and honeymooners. On one side stunning views of Dehradun and on the other side snow-capped Himalayan peaks.

This is a muse of romanticism, a loner’s wonderland, and a nature lover’s heaven. This place is also popular with trekkers, It also has some prestigious educational institutes, Stately Hostels, Cosy Cafe, Old Taverns, Bustling Markets, Estates, Churches, Himalayan Views, and Mall Road.

The main places of attraction in Mussoorie:

Malsi Deer Park
Tapkeshwar Temple
Mindrolling Monastery
Rajaji National Park
Buddha Temple
Sahastradhara Road
Dehradun Zoo
Mossi Park
Bhadraj Temple
Soham Heritage and Art Centre
Paltan Bazar
Shikhar Fall
Doon Valley
Company Garden Bhatta Falls
Happy Valley
Kempty Falls

Airport near Mussoorie: Jolly Grant Airport is directly about 60 km. from Mussoorie and is connected with the Delhi and Mumbai airports.

Railway Station near Mussoorie: Dehradun railway station is about 35 km. from Mussoorie.

The ideal time to visit: is March to June. December to February.

7. Nainital

Nainital its name is inspired famous Naini Lakh is situated in the Nainital District of Kumaon in Uttarakhand. The height of this hill station is about 1940 meters from the Kumaon foothills in the outer Himalayas.

Its peak is surrounded by the Nainital Peak in the North, Ayarpatha Peak in the South and the Nainital Peak in the North which is the highest peak of about 8578 feet (2.61 km) high.

It is believed that Nainital Lake is the creation of three sages namely Pulaha, Atri and Pulastya who was thirsty and could not find water anywhere in Nainital. To overcome this problem, they dug a large hole till it is filled with water.

The main attractions of Nainital are:

Naini Debi Temple
Nainital Lake
Governor’s House
Naini or China Peak
Pt. G. B. Panth High AltitudeZoo
Tiffin Topor Dorothy’s Seat

Airport near Nainital: Pantnagar airport about 70 km. from Nainital connected with direct flights to New Delhi.

Railway Station near Nainital: Kathgodam railway station is about 24 km. distance of Nainital.

The ideal time to visit Nainital: is March to June (summer) and October to February (winter).

8. Rishikesh

Rishikesh the word represents the locks or heir of a sage and is famous for its spiritual values. This town is a part of Dehradun in Uttarakhand. Rishikesh is about 25 km. from Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun and about 90 km. from Mussoorie. This place is the hub of Yoga, Pilgrimage, Adventure, and Sports.

It is located near the River Ganga in the ground hills of the Shivalik range in Northern India. This place is the top destination for rafting and kayaking. This is a very small town in comparison to its popularity due to meditation and yoga.

It also keeps the attraction of rock climbing, camping, backpacking, hiking, kayaking, and bungee jumping. This area includes three districts namely Swargashram, Rishikesh, and Mungiki-Reti with unique hills.

Rishikesh can be said to be the gateway of Char Dham which consists of four famous temples on the hill i. e Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri which are in the heart of every Hindu. The main attraction in Rishikesh is Triveni Ghat, the biggest Bath Ghat in Rishikesh. LakshmanJhula, made from a big iron suspension bridge about 4.5 km. from Rishikesh.

Ram Jhula is the Suspension bridge-like Lakshman Jhula between Sivananda Ashram and Swarg Ashram. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is about 30 km. from Rishikesh. Parmarth Nike Tan is situated in the Swargashram area and is famous for International Yoga Festival.

Sivananda Ashram also known as Devine Life Society is situated near Ram Jhula. This ashram is created by Swami Sivananda who gave most of his life here about 30 years.

Bharat Mandir is one of the oldest temples in Rishikesh and is located in the centre of Rishikesh. Gita Bhawan is mainly dedicated to Lord Krishna and is full of Bhawan Krishna pictures telling about his life, work, and valuable guan given to Arjun during the battle of Mahabharata.

Places to visit in Rishikesh are:

Beatles Ashram
Tara Manzil Temple
Swarg Ashram
Rishikesh Main Market
Bhootnath Temple
Iscon Temple
Rishikund
Marine Drive
Astha Path
Chandreshwar Mahadev Temple

Airport near Rishikesh: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun is the nearest airport to reach Rishikesh;

Railway Station near Rishikesh: Virbhadra is about 2 km., and Rishikesh railway station is about 3 km. Haridwar Junction is about 19 km. from Rishikesh.

The ideal time to visit Rishikesh: is March to May (summer) and October to February (winter).

9. Haridwar

Haridwar is situated in the northwestern part of Uttarakhand state in north India, is also called Hardwar, the gateway to the god. It falls on the north side of the Himalayan foothills and lies along the Ganga River.

Haridwar is a place of deep spirituality and worship with several Ghats and Mandir (Temples). This is one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus in India. Its name originated from Kapila the saga who once lived there and also the name Hari is also the name of Vishnu one of the main deities of Hinduism.

Har-ki-Pauri is the main symbol of pilgrimage in Haridwar which is the most famous ghat for taking bath before worship and is also called the holy bath. The lakhs of people visit Har-ki-Pauri for taking a holy bath.

The largest Mela in the world called Kumbh Mela is held once every 12 years and lakhs of the naga saga and a large number of people visiting Haridwar at this event is also the pride of Haridwar. The Ardh Kumbh is organized hereafter every six years. The Kanwar mela is also organized here every year.

The five Pilgrimages (Panch Tirth) situated in Haridwar are Gangadwars (Har Ki Pauri), Kankhal, Kushwart (Ghat), Bilwa Tirtha (Mansa Devi Temple), and Neel Parvat (Chandi Devi), This city is as old as the ancient Vedic times and consists several institutes giving traditional knowledge of religion and wellness.

We can also learn meditation, Ayurveda, and yoga here in different ashrams and training centres. Haridwar is the oldest city and the Municipality of Uttarakhand is also situated in the Haridwar district.

Because of the religious destination, it has several sightseeing locations like temples and ashrams which are the main attraction of Haridwar and are available in and around the Haridwar.

The main destinations for devotees are Mansa Devi Temple and Chandi Devi Temple. Kankhal is also one of the towns near Haridwar that are known for its religious significance.

The main attraction in Haridwar are:

Har Ki Pauri
Shantikunj
Mansa Devi Temple
Chandni Devi Temple
Ma Ananamayi Ashram
Chilla Range
Bharat Mata Mandir
Maya Devi Temple
Bikeshwar Mahadev Temple
Sri Santosh Puri Ashram
Bholagiri Ashram
Gau Ghat
Pawan Dham
Bhimgoda Tank
Sati Kund
Vishnu Ghat

Airport near Haridwar: Jolly Grant Airport at about 35 km. from Haridwar and well connected to Delhi airports with daily flights.

Railway Station near Haridwar: Haridwar Junction is the main railway station in Haridwar connected with Dehradun and Rishikesh.

The ideal time to visit: is March to June and for enjoying snowfall between December to February.

10. Almora

Almora is a big town and the administrative headquarter of Almora district consisting of about one lakh five thousand population. This town has a municipal board and cantonment area and is part of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. This town is situated in the north part of the Kumaon Hills of the Himalayas and is about 365 km. away from Delhi.

The Almora is blessed with very pleasant weather all around the year and therefore is one of the main tourist attractions for visitors all around the world.

This town is created by King Kalyan Chand in the year 1568 and found its name in Bhilmora. This town is well equipped with a large number of species of plants and is very rich in green beauty and a clean climate.

The outer area of Almora has natural wildlife with the existence of Langur, Leopard, Goral, Kakar, Black Bear, etc. The Almora is very rich in education and has big universities like Kumaun University, Soban Singh Jeena University, and Uttarakhand Residential University with a balanced number of schools for all levels of students.

Places of attraction in Almora:

Bright End Corner
Kasar Devi Temple
Zero Point
Jageshwar Temple
Chitai Golu Devta Temple
Katarmal Sun Temple
Deer Park
Martola
Lakhudiyar
Nanda Devi Temple
Simtola
Govind Ballabh Pant Public Museum
Kalimath
Dwarahat Villag

The ideal time to visit: is March to May and September to December.

Mussoorie
Corbett National Park
Valley of flowers
Auli, Chakrata
Chopta
Haridwar
Kedarnath Dham

Airport near Almora: Pantnagar Airport has located about 115 km. from Almora.

Railway Station near Almora: Kathgodam has situated about 80 km. from Almora.

The ideal time to visit: is March to June and for enjoying snowfall between December to February.

11. Dhanaulti

Dhanaulti is one of the most famous hill stations in the Garhwal Himalayan range in Uttarakhand state of the Northern part of India. This hill station is situated in the tehsil of Tehri district and is only 25 km away from Mussoorie hill station. This is a very small town of Uttarakhand consisting of a total population of 1,050 people and the official language of this town is Hindi and Garhwali.

The climate of Dhanaulti always remains either pleasant from 21 to 26 degrees Celsius in summer and between 6 to -2 degrees Celsius in winter. This place is visited by a large number of tourists all around the year because it is very near to Delhi and other big states in north India.

The tall trees and lush green grounds add beauty and attraction to this place apart from its eye-catching hills and pleasant weather. This Place attracts tourists because it provides the activities like a campfire, tented camps, and adventure sports and so it has an edge over Mussoorie.

Places to visit in Dhanaulti:

Dhanaulti Adventure Park
Dhanaulti Eco Park
Surkanda Devi Temple
Adventure sports in and around it
Kanatal
The Dam and Lake
Aaloo Khet
Kaudia Forest
Chamba
New Tehri
Deogarh Fort
Potato Farm
Dashavatar Temple
Apple Orchard Resort
Camp Thangdhar

International Airport Near Dhanaulti: Jolly Grand International Airport, Dehradun Airport.

Railway Station Near Dhanaulti: Dehradun Railway Station (61 km), Rishikesh Railway Station (84 km).

Famous Markets and Malls in Dhanaulti: Laxman Jhula Market, Garhi Cantt, Moti Bazar, Paltan Bazar, Tibetan Market, Upper Road, Sister Bazaar, Library Bazar, and Dhanauli Market.

Famous Food of Dhanaulti: Dum Aloo, Pulao, Cream Butter Tea, Fried Momos, Chicken Cury.

The Ideal Times to Visit Dhanaulti: April to June and November to February.

12. Ranikhet

Ranikhet is the most beautiful hill station situated in the Almora district of Uttarakhand state in the northern part of India and is famous for its Himalayan views. This is the place of the Hindu goddess Durga believed to be still in the Jhula Devi Temple.

This is the most important place for defence purposes because of Military Hospital, Naga Regiment, and Kumaon Regiment (KRC) which are cared for and controlled by the Indian Army.

It is a small town with a total population of about 19,000 people who generally speak Kumaoni, Hindi, and Sanskrit. The climate of Ranikhet is very cool as it is at an elevation of 1870 meters from the ground area.

The western and eastern sides of this place are generally higher than other parts and consist of dense forest over it. The weather in this town generally remains moderate in the summer season and very cold in the winter from December to February.

This is the home of dense forests especially pine, rhododendron, oak, and deodar forests and therefore the different kinds of fauna like Rhesus Monkey, Pine Martens, Leopard, hole, Rabbits Langur, Deer, and Sambar are found here.

The people of this town are largely dependent on their income from the cantonment town, tourism and the main commodities like sweet meat, hosiery and jam manufactured here.

Places of attraction in Ranikhet:

Haidakhan Temple
Chaubatia Gardens
Jhula Devi Temple
Majkhali
Upat Golf Course
Mankameshwar Temple
Bhalu Dam
Dwarahat
Tarikhet Village
Ashiyana Park
Dunagiri Temple
Ram Mandir
Upat Kalika Temple
Chaubatia Orchards

International Airport Near Ranikhet: Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi).

Railway Station Near Ranikhet: Lal Kuan Junction/LKU (22 km), Haldwani Railway Station/HDW (6km).

Markets and Malls in Ranikhet: Shitlakhet Market, Ranikhet Market, Sadar Bazar, Chamarkhan Market, Sadra Market, Kosi Market, Patli Market, Machhor Market, Dhari Market and Tani Market.

Best Food Of Ranikhet: Gahat Ke Parathe, Aalu Ka Jhol, Bhang Ki Chutney, Phaanu, Kafuli, Chainsoo, Baadi, Aalu Gutook, Sisunak Saag, Rus Thhatwani, Kumaoni Taita, Arsa, Singodi, Jhangora Ki Kheer and Dubuk.

The Ideal Time To Visit Ranikhet: are March to July (Summer) and September to February (Winter).

13. Bhimtal

The name of Bhimtal was inspired by the famous character and the symbol of strength Bhem one of the five pandavs of the epic Mahabharata. This city is known for its aesthetic beauty due to its scenic hills and is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand state in the northern part of India with an altitude of about 1,375 meters above sea level.

This is a small town of Uttarakhand that consists of a total population of about 7,800 people who mainly depend for their livelihood on tourism and small shops and traditional handicraft business.

This place has an ancient history because its existence is before Nainital and Haldwani. Generally, tourists visit Bhimtal during summer to see the sights scenes and other places of attractions of this town but in winter this town is very cold.

The best point of attraction of this town is Bhimtal Lake and also due to the religious destination because a large number of old temples are located here out of which one of the oldest temples is of Lord Shiva.

Bhimtal is one of the deeply sacred places for staying or camping and a large number of lakhs are located near this town nearly 6 km. away famous in the name of Sattal which is full of natural beauty, pure and transparent water in the lakes, and a variety of beautiful birds. Several unique goods may be purchased by the tourists like carpets, Garhwali paintings, wood crafts, jewellery, statues, and candles.

Places of attraction in Bhimtal:

Hidimba Parvat
Nal Damyanti Tal
Garg Parvat
Bhimtal Aquarium
Bhimtal Lake
Bhimeshwar Mahadev Temple
Butterfly Research Centre
Karkotaka temple
Victoria Dam
Nal Damyanti Tal
Pines Old Cemetery
Naukuchiatal

Airport near Bhimtal: Pant Nagar Airport is about 57 km. from Bhimtal.

Railway Station near Bhimtal: Kathgodam is the nearest railway station located about 30 km. away from this town and about 275 km. from Delhi.

The ideal time to visit Bhimtal: is March to June in summer and November to February in winter.

14. Kausani

Kausani is located in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand state in the northern part of India. This is a small village and hill station and is known for scenic splendour and beautiful panoramic view of Himalayan peaks viz. Panchchuli Mahatma Gandhi, Trisul, and Nanda Devi.

This is also called Switzerland of India because of its similarity in landscapes. Its total population is about 2,500 people and its elevation is bout 1,900 meters.

Most of the male population in this village serve the Indian army and the rest of the people depend on the routine village source of income like agriculture and its connected activities, tourism, and small-town business.

This place is also famous for the Anashakti Ashram where Mahatma Gandhi lived for some days and wrote some words on Anashakti Yog.

It is the favourite place for backpackers and writers and is also given the status of a quaint hill station. It is a place of magical change of colours on top of the mountains all around the Kausani which is one of the points of attraction for tourists.

Kausani is a place surrounded by lush green forests which are full of babbling creeks, serenity, and chirping birds. This place is a heaven of birds consisting of about 52 various species of birds like barbet, woodpeckers, robin, forktail, and a parakeet. Visitors to Kausani can easily find these birds near the Tea Estate of this village.

Though the whole area of Kumaon Hills is famous for its beauty and the huge mountains there is no other place in the Himalayas range that can compete with the beauty of Kausani.

Places of attraction in Kausani:

Pinakeshwar
Pant Museum
Pindari Glacier
Sindardunga and Kafni Glaciers
Baijnath
Chaukori
Lakshmi Ashram
Anasakti Ashram
Stargate Observatory
Kausani Tea Estate
Rudradhari Waterfall
Rudradhari Temple
Kumaon Vistas

Airport near Kausani: Dehradun Airport (158 km), Indira Gandhi International Airport (270 km).

Railway Station near Kausani: Kathgodam Railway Station (135 km) is well connected with big cities like Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkata.

The ideal time to visit Kausani: is March to Mid May (summer) and October to February (winter).

15. Badrinath

Badrinath is the most famous holy place of Hindus situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state in the northern part of India. It is famous for its temple known as Badrinath temple which is one of the Char Dham pilgrimages of Hindus. This place is very famous among travellers and Hindus because of the hill station, climate, and holy Badrinath temple.

Its elevation is about 3301 meters from sea level and located on the bank of the holy river Alaknanda. Its total population is about 2,500 people and the official language is Hindi. This town has pride due to its location between Nar and Naryane mountain range in Neelkantha peak.

This is a very cold place in winter and its hills are covered with snow due to heavy snowfall but in summer the weather is not as hot as in most parts of northern India.

A large number of tourists and Hindus visit here from all corners of the world throughout the year, particularly during the snowfalls season and for worship in the Badrinath temple when the kapat of the temple is opened.

Places to visit in Badrinath:

1. Badrinath Temple

2. Pandukeshwar

3. Tara Kund

4. Chairman Paduka

5. Mana Village

6. Yog Dhyan Badri Temple

7. Mata Murti Temple

8. Neekkhantha Peak

9. Bheem Pul

10. Ganesha Cave

11. Vasudhara Falls

12. Ask a Puri

13. Saraswati River

Airport near Badrinath: Jolly Grant Airport is situated in Dehradun about 318 kilometres from Badrinath.

Railway Station near Badrinath: Rishikesh Railway Station is about 295 kilometres from Badrinath.

Best time to visit Badrinath: April to June (summer) and October to March (winter)

16. Auli

Auli is one of the most famous hill stations located in the Garhwal Himalayan mountains of Chamoli district in the Uttarakhand state of the northern part of India.

The other name of Auli has also been identified as Auli Bugyal the meaning of which is Meadow and its elevation is about 2,810 meters above the sea. Auli is famous for its flower species which are in very large numbers and number one in the world.

These flowers are at their full swim between June to October every year. Auli was developed as the top destination for hiking and skiing activities which is the main point of attraction among tourists from all over the world.

This place has a very attractive view of the Himalayas peaks and the coniferous and oak forests are located all around this beautiful tourist destination Auli. The state government organizes winter sports competitions in Auli with the help of the Uttarakhand Tourism Department to promote skiing in this town and also to attract international tourists to visit this place.

Auli provides its visitors with a large number of attractions like Meadows, Adventures, romantic vistas, skiing, Himalayan Views, a very long cable car ridings. It also gives the feel of a European village due to its wooden huts and snow-covered peaks.

Auli is becoming the first point of attraction for honeymooners, adventure lovers, peace seekers, nature lovers, and above all skiing lovers. This place has a large number of wildflowers and trees like oaks, deodars, coniferous, and pine forests.

This place has another tourist attraction by way of its ropeway which is the highest and longest in Asia. The world’s highest manmade lake is another point of tourist attraction in Auli.

Places of attraction in Auli:

Trishul Peak
Hanuman Ghat
Nanda Devi National Park
Artificial Lake
Chenab Lake
Gurso Bugyal
Chattarkund
Vasundhara Falls
Gopeshwar
Malari
Hemkund Sahib
Joshimath
Auli Ropeway
Auli Ski Resort
Saildhar Tapowan
Rudraprayag
Nandaprayag
Narsingh Temple

Airport near Auli: Jolly Grant Airport (287 km) is the nearest airport to Auli well connected with other internationals in the country.

Railway Station near Auli: Rishikesh Railway Station (265 km). Haridwar Railway Station (274 km).

The Ideal Time to Visit Auli: All around the year particularly for show skiing during November to March and May to November for visiting the other tourist places due to pleasant weather.

17. Binsar

Binsar was the favourite place and capital town of Chand Kings who dominated the Kumaon region for a long time from the 7th to 18th century.

This place consists of about 210 species of birds and was developed in 1988 to save and conserve the shrinking broad-leaf oak forest in the Himalayan region. This town is located about 34 km. from Almora city in Uttarakhand state of the northern part of India.

This is one of the most scenic locations in the Kumaon hills located at a height of about 2,425 meters and is the sleepy and picturesque hamlet. It gives very attractive views of the Himalayan peaks like Trishul, Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba, Shivling, and Panchachuli.

It is believed that the name of this city was derived from the holy Hindu temple Bineshwar Mahadev Temple supposed to be dedicated to God Mahadeva or Lord Shiva. This place is full of a variety of wildlife and consists of a large number of Mountain goats, leopards, Barking deer, wild boars, porcupines, Himalayan palm civets, and macaques.

This place is also the home of birds, especially in the spring season. Some varieties of birds like jays, tits, sibias, thrushes, nuthatches, and warblers are found all around the year.

This is attached to the Jhandi hills and is a famous place for nature lovers. Uttarakhand Tourism is continuously keeping eye on this place for tourism development to attract tourists at this place and promote tourism in Uttarakhand.

Places of attraction in Binsar:

Gananath Temple
Mahadev Temple
Binsar Hill
Khali Estate
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
Jalna
Shiva Temple
Zero Point
Budden Estate
Gairar Gana Golu
Sunset Point
Koshi River
Lama meditation centre at Kasaar

Airport near Binsar: Pantnagar Airport (153 km) is the nearest airport in Binsar connected with some other international flights.

Railway Station near Binsar: Kathgodam Railway Station (120 km) is the nearest Railway station near this city and is connected with a large number of big cities.

The Ideal Time to visit Binsar: is March to Mid May in summer and October to February in winter.

18. Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary

Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Chamoli and Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state in the northern part of India and was established in the year 1972 with a total area of about 976 kilometres.

Later under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 this sanctuary was declared as Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary to give it an alternate name to protect a large number of Himalayan musk deer.

It consists of a large number of fauna like Himalayan Thar, alpine musk deer, Himalayan Griffon, Snow Leopard, Himalayan and Black bear. This is one of the richest bio-reserve sanctuaries of the world which consists of temperate forests, sub-alpine and alpine forests, alpine grasslands and high-altitude Bugyals.

The dense forests of this place include chir pine, rhododendrons, oak, birch and alpine meadows along with a large number of Himalayan plants.

This sanctuary is also known for valuable medicinal and aromatic plants and out of which about 23 species are very rare and need extra care. Some species of medicinal plants like Artemisia Maritime, Angelica Glauca, Acontur balfourii, Bergenia stracheyi and Dactylorhiza hatatirea are in danger and must be taken care of for protection.

This sanctuary is also very rich in terms of indispensable birds species like Snow Partridge, Koklass pheasant, Kaliij pheasant, west Himalayan bush warbler, grey-cheeked warbler and Rusty-flanked treecreeper. The fishes like Schizothorax sp, Gare spp, Labeo spp, Barillius spp, Balitora Brucei and Glyptothorax spp are supposed to be found in the Mandakini River.

The management and control of this wildlife sanctuary are in the hands of the Uttarakhand Forest Department through the divisional Forest Officer who is responsible for the management of this sanctuary by the approved management plan.

Their main functions inter-alia include wildlife habitat improvement, forest protection, grazing regulation and conservation. Due to all these efforts of the Uttarakhand Forest Department this wildlife sanctuary has become one of the most places of attractions for the tourists who visit this sanctuary in large numbers throughout the year.

Places of Attraction near Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary:

Kedarnath Temple
Sonprayag
Gandhi Sarovar
Shankaracharya Samadhi
Kedarnath
Joshimath
Vasuki Tal Lake
Tungnath
Chopta
Deoria Tal
Chandrashila Trek
Bhairav Nath Temple
Gopeshwar
Anusuya Devi Temple
Taurikund Temple
Gaurikund

Airport near Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary: Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport to this sanctuary located about 105 kilometres away from this place.

Railway Station near Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary: The nearest railway station to this place is Rishikesh Railway Station located about 104 kilometres away from this sanctuary.

The Ideal Time to Visit Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary: The ideal time to visit this sanctuary is between May and July and September to December.

19. Kanatal – Uttarakhand

Kanatal is located in the Tehri district of Uttarakhand state in the northern part of India and is about 80 km. from Dehradun. It is a small village that remains covered by ice due to heavy rainfall in the winter season mainly because of its elevation which is about 2,600 meters above sea level.

It is believed by the locals that Kanatal got its name from the emerald lake named Kanatal which later dried and since then this place is known as Kanatal which means a dry lake.

This is one of the best places for snowfall lovers, snow game lovers and the persons who love camping for making their tour memorial. Though this is an imaging hill station that is full of lush green surroundings, very high trees, snowfalls and very attractive high peaks still this place remains away from the eyes of the tourists and the tourist department of the state government.

The pleasant weather of Kanatal with beautiful apple orchards, colourful wildflowers and various photography destinations will bound tourists from all corners of the world to visit this place. This town is peaceful and is far away from the big town pollution, humidity and fast running life.

This place is also favourable for travellers who love adventure as they can enjoy walking in the kodia Jungle which is very dense and is very near to Kanatal. Sometimes the tourists can also view the wild animals. The most famous dam in India named the Tehri Dam is also located near this town and is one of the best choices to watch by tourists.

The most famous Hindu temple The Surkanda Devi Temple is also located near this town at about 11 km. from Kanatal. This town is gradually getting the attention of tourists with the efforts of the tourism department of the state government and the tourist agencies who are promoting visitors to this place because of its tourist activities like Hiking, Ayurveda Spa and Nature Walk. Due to the unexplored tourist destination, there is very few luxury resorts and a handful of accommodation.

Places of Attraction near Kanatal:

Kaudia Forest
Dhanaulti Eco Park
Surkanda Devi Temple
Tehri Lake
Homestays
Chamba
Rappelling
Rock Climbing
New Tehri
Mussoorie
Dhanaulti
Valley Crossing
Camping

Airport near Kanatal: The nearest airport to Kanatal is the Jolly Grant Airport located about 90 km. from this place and is well connected by road. Taxis are also easily available at the airport to visit Kanatal.

Railway Station near Kanatal: Dehradun and Rishikesh Railway Stations are the nearest railway station to visit this place and are located at about 90 and 80 km. away respectively from Kanatal.

The Ideal Time to Visit Kanatal: April to September in summer and December to March in winter is the ideal time to visit Kanatal because in summer the weather remains pleasant and in winter tourists can enjoy snowfalls.

20. Sarnath – Uttarakhand

Sarnath has situated about 10 km. from Varanasi’s northeast side close to the Varuna River in Uttar Pradesh, India. In the Deer Park of Sarnath Gautama Buddha, for the first time taught the Dharma and got enlightenment of Kondanna.

About one km. away from Singhpur, is the birthplace of Shreyansanath, the eleventh Tirthankara of Jainism and where a huge temple was built in his memory and now it is a very famous pilgrimage site. The other famous names of Sarnath are Migadaya, Mrigadava, Rishipattana and Isipatana.

Gautama Buddha gave up his family and friends after seven weeks of his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya. Sarnath is one of the most important pilgrimage places of Buddha and everyone from the Budha community has the desire to visit at least once at this place.

Some of the suttas preached by Buddha are the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, The Saccavibhanga Sutta, The Rathakara of Pacatana Sutta, The two Pasa Sutta, The Panca Sutta also known as Anattalakkhana Sutta, The Katuviya Sutta, The Samaya Suta and many more.

The main points of attraction are:

Tibetan Temple
Chaukkandi Stupa
Dhamma Stupa
Mulagandha Kuti Vihar
Sarnath Museum
Deer Park
Thai Temple

The ideal time to visit Sarnath: is October to April.

21. Rajaji National Park – Uttarakhand

Rajaji National Park is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas in the Uttrakhand state in the northern part of India and it has close excess to the big cities of this state like Dehradun and Haridwar.

It was established in the year 1983 with the merger of other wildlife sanctuaries of the state known as Rajaji sanctuaries and Chilla Motichur and spread over 820 kilometres of area. The responsibility to control and maintain this national park is with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of the Uttarakhand state.

The main purpose of this park apart from other activities is to protect the tigers and for that, it works as a tiger reserve. This National Park originated from the name of the famous Freedom Fighter C. Rajagopalachari who was also the second and last Governor-General of India and has the highest award Bharat Ratna given to civilians.

In the Indian state, Uttarakhand the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve came before this tiger reserve and therefore the Tiger Reserve in this national park become the 48th Tiger Reserve in the country. This area is known for its dense forests, scrubland, riverine vegetation, grasslands and pine forests because of its location between the Indo-Gangetic plains and the Shivalik ranges.

This is the place of a large number of Cassia fistula, Mallotus philippensis, Dalbergia sissoo, Butea onosperma, Shorea robusta, Dendrocalamus strictus and much more. This park is located in the dense green jungles which are most suitable for a large number of animals and therefore are well known for their elephants.

This park is the home of a large number of Tigers, leopards, civets, yellow-throated marten, jungle cats, sambar, chital, hog deer, nilgai, barking deer, sloth bears and wild pigs.

The other attraction of this park that is noticeable is the goral and the mountain goats. The peak is the home of the pied kingfisher, great pied hornbill and fire-tailed sunbirds. The Bengal fox and jackal mammals are also attractions of this park.

Places of Attraction near Rajaji National Park:

Rajaji Tiger Reserve
Vishnu Ghat
Yoganaga Healing
Shantikunj Gayatri Parivar
Yoga Vini
Vashistha Gufa
Shri Badrinath Temple
Ganga Aarti at Haridwar
Divya Prem Sewa
Triveni Ghat
Chandi Devi Temple
Pawan Dham
Saptrishi Ashram
Adhbut Temple
Shri Vyas Ashram
Mansa Devi Temple
Bharat Mata Mandir
The Beatles Ashram

Airport near Rajaji National Park: The nearest airport to this park is the Jolly Grant Airport located in Dehradun and is about 34 km. from this place.

Railway Station near Rajaji National Park: The nearest railway station to this park is the Haridwar Railway Station which is about 10 km. from this place.

The Ideal Time to Visit Rajaji National Park: is November 15th to August 15th because the park is closed in the rainy season.