“Dev Bhoomi” Uttarakhand is a beautiful Indian state famous for holy places, mountains, lush greenery, snow covered peaks, stunning hill stations, picturesque views, magnificent lakes. Attracting thousands of visitors each year from the country and abroad, the state offers a perfect combination of nature and adventure. There are a plethora of places to visit in Uttarakhand where you can soothe down yourself in-between natural beauty.
Offering a lifetime of memorable experiences like trekking, rafting, boating, camping, ropeway ride, paragliding, wildlife tours etc. this beautiful state is blessed with soaring Himalayan Heights, dense jungles, sacred temples and many peaceful sites. Here are some of the best tourist places in Uttarakhand which can make your vacations fun-filled and memorable in this summer.
1. Mussoorie
The “Queen of Hills”, Mussoorie is located 54 Kms away from the capital of Uttarakhand, Dehradun and it has been recognised among the top tourist places in Uttarakhand. Snow covered Himalayan peak views and the lash greenery with awesome weather attracts the Honeymooners and nature lovers.
The beauty of Mussoorie can mesmerize anyone as the summers are pleasant and winters are chilling here. You can indulge in different activities like boating on Lake Mist, camping at Nag Tibba, shopping in Mall Road. The calming nature will help wipe away all your worries and anxiety. It is one of the most attractive hill stations in Uttarakhand.
Best time to Visit: March to June and October to November
Ideal Trip duration: 3 Days
Best tourist place for: Honeymooners, Nature lovers, Couples, Family, Friends
Top Attractions: Kempty Falls, Lake Mist, Gun Hills, Camel’s back road, Mall road, Lal Tibba, Company garden etc.
Activities: Paragliding, trekking, ropeway ride etc.
How to reach:
- Nearest Railway Station– Dehradun (35 Kms Away).
- Nearest Airport– Jolly Grant International Airport and direct buses for Mussoorie from Delhi (278 Kms Away) and Some Parts of Uttar Pradesh.
2. Nainital
Located by the famous Naini Lake in the valley and surrounded by mountains, Nainital is one of the most beautiful tourist places in Uttarakhand. The city of Lakes, Nainital is a natural majesty. You can experience the best snowfall in the city and it is among the best hill stations in Uttarakhand.
The place is a popular holiday destination for nature lovers, honeymooners, family, and friends. The natural scenery gathers the attraction of one and all.
Best time to Visit: March to June
Ideal Trip duration: 2-3 Days
Best tourist place for: Couples, Friends, Colleagues, Honeymooners, Nature lovers etc.
Top Attractions: Naini Lake, Tiffin Top, Naina Peak, Eco Cave Gardens, Pt. G.B. Pant High Altitude Zoo, Gurney House, Snow View, Land’s End, Kilbury Bird Sanctuary.
Activities: Boating, Trekking, Snow View, Paragliding, trekking, Ropeway Ride.
How to reach:
- By Air- Nearest airport- Pantnagar
- By Train- Nearest railway station- Kathgodham
3. Auli
Adventure enthusiasts and mountain lovers should put these tourist places in Uttarakhand in their priority list. It is the best place to learn and enjoy skiing. It offers beautiful views of snow covered peaks as it rests at a height of 2519 to 3050 meters above sea level.
If you love thick layers of snow, winters are the best time to visit Auli. It has become an international tourist destination as First SAF winter games 2011 were hosted by this beautiful city. Best conditions for skiing are from January to the first week of March.
Best time to Visit: Anytime (November to February for Snow)
Ideal Trip duration: 3 Days
Best tourist place for: Ski Enthusiasts, Mountains Lovers, Romantic Couples, Friends.
Top Attractions: Kempty Falls, Lake Mist, Gun Hills, Camel’s back road, Mall road, Lal Tibba, Company garden etc.
Activities: Skiing, Trekking, Ropeway Ride etc.
How to reach:
- By Air- Nearest airport- Pantnagar
- By Train- Nearest railway station- Kathgodham
4. Jim Corbett National Park
Named after hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett, the Jim Corbett National Park is one of India’s most popular national parks. It was established in 1938 and it is the home to thousands of species of birds, animals, plants and trees. The center of attraction in Jim Corbett is the Royal Bengal Tigers.
The park is among the best places to visit in Uttarakhand for the wildlife enthusiast, photographers and nature lovers. You can enjoy the safaris and hiking trails through the dense forest’s buffer zones throughout the year.
Best time to Visit: Throughout the year except monsoon (June to August)
Ideal Trip duration: 2 Days
Best tourist place for: Wildlife Enthusiasts, Photographers, Nature lovers.
Top Attractions: Royal Bengal Tigers, Corbett falls, Jim Corbett National Museum.
Activities: Elephant Safaris, Jeep Safaris, Elephant Ride, Hiking.
How to reach:
- By Air- Nearest airport- Jolly Grant International Airport
- By Train- Nearest railway station- Ramnagar
- By Road- The place is well connected by road and regular buses can be availed from Ramnagar and Delhi.
5. Valley of Flowers
For those who admire the beauty of nature, Valley of Flowers is one of the beautiful places to visit in Uttarakhand. It resides near Hemkund Sahib which is a holy place for the Sikh community. The place was accidentally discovered by Frank S. Smythe and RL Holdsworth, a duo of British mountaineers.
Extoic waterfalls, stunning glaciers and lush forests in route to the valley will soothe your mind and wipe away all the anxiety and tension. Valley of Flowers as the name suggests is filled with different kinds of flowers like zinnia, lilies, calendula, daisies etc.
The region has been declared a UNESCO world heritage and the beautiful site is among the best places to visit in Uttarakhand.
Best time to Visit: July to September
Ideal Trip duration: 1 Day
Best tourist place for: Families, Friends, Couples, Nature Lovers, Photographers.
Top Attractions: Variety of Flowers, Hemkund Sahib, Mountains.
Activities: Trekking, Photography.
How to reach:
- By Air- Nearest airport- Jolly Grant International Airport (149 Kms Away)
- By Train- Nearest railway station- Rishikesh
6. Rishikesh
Adventure capital Rishikesh is considered to be one of the best exotic places to visit in Uttarakhand located at the foothills of the Himalayas along the banks of river Ganga. Rishikesh is a sacred destination in Uttarakhand surrounded by mountains and lush green hills. The city is known for yoga as well as adventures thus it is suitable for both who are coming for relaxation and adventures.
It is known as the pilgrimage town and one of the holiest places of the Hindus where people across the world reach in search of peace. The city is also known as “Yoga Capital of the World”.
Best time to Visit: Anytime except Monsoons.
Ideal Trip duration: 1-2 Days
Best tourist place for: Friends, Couples, Families, Pilgrims.
Top Attractions: Ram & Laxman Jhula, Triveni Ghat, Swarg Ashram, Rajaji National Park.
Activities: River Rafting, Bungee Jumping, Mountain Biking, Trekking, Yoga, Camping, water sports.
How to reach:
- By Air- Nearest airport- Jolly Grant International Airport
- By Train- Nearest railway station- Rishikesh
7. Haridwar
One of the holiest places of Hindus, Haridwar, is famous for Kumbh Mela. The pilgrims from all around the country reach Hardiwar to visit the temples and worship. In the evening, the Ganga Aarti is a heavenly experience in which thousands of people gather and take part in.
Home to a number of temples and ashrams, Haridwar, literally translated as “Gateway to the Lord”. Hari Ki Paurhi is a famous and sacred place for pilgrims. Haridwar is a pilgrimage as well as adventure place and where one can enjoy trekking, water activities, boat ride, ropeway ride etc. Among tourist places in Uttarakhand attracts lakhs of visitors during Kumbh Mela.
Best time to Visit: October to March
Ideal Trip duration: 1-2 Days
Best tourist place for: Pilgrims, Devotee, Families.
Top Attractions: Ganga Aarti, Holy dip in the river Ganga, Temples and Ashrams.
Activities: Ropeway Ride to Chanda Devi and Mansa Devi, Boat Ride, Trekking.
How to reach:
- By Air- Nearest airport- Jolly Grant International Airport
- By Train- Nearest railway station- Haridwar
Conclusion
Uttarakhand came into existence in 2000 separated by Uttar Pradesh. As the state resides in the foot tails of the Himalaya, there are a number of tourist places in Uttarakhand. The stunning natural beauty and snowfall makes it one of the most frequent travel destinations. You can comment on your favorite places to visit in Uttarakhand or correct us if something is wrong.