This is Part 4 of Incredible India, our state-by-state travel series. Start from Part 1: Ladakh or read the previous part, Part 3: Himachal Pradesh.
Uttarakhand, known as Devbhumi or the "Land of the Gods", is where the Ganga and Yamuna begin their journey. It combines sacred pilgrimage towns with colonial hill stations, national parks and some of India's most beautiful treks.
Why go
- Spiritual experiences at Haridwar and Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world.
- Adventure: river rafting, bungee jumping and Himalayan treks.
- Wildlife at Jim Corbett National Park, India's oldest national park.
Best time to visit
March to June and September to November are best for most of the state. The Valley of Flowers blooms from about July to September. Auli gets snow and skiing from December to February. Avoid travelling in the hills during heavy monsoon rain (July-August), when landslides are common.
Top places to see
- Rishikesh: Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat or Parmarth Niketan, Laxman Jhula area, yoga retreats and rafting.
- Haridwar: the evening Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri.
- Mussoorie: the "Queen of the Hills", Mall Road and Landour.
- Nainital: boating on Naini Lake and views from Snow View Point; nearby Bhimtal and Sattal.
- Jim Corbett National Park: jeep safaris in zones such as Bijrani, Jhirna and Dhikala, with a chance to see tigers.
- Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib: a UNESCO-listed alpine valley and a high-altitude Sikh shrine.
- Auli: skiing and views of Nanda Devi.
- Char Dham: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, open roughly from April-May to October-November.
Getting there and around
Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport serves Rishikesh and Mussoorie; Pantnagar serves the Kumaon region. Trains run to Haridwar, Dehradun, Rishikesh (Yog Nagari), Kathgodam and Ramnagar (for Corbett). Within the hills, taxis and buses connect towns; roads are winding, so plan fewer kilometres per day.
Practical tips
- Char Dham pilgrims must register online with the Uttarakhand government before travelling.
- Book Corbett safaris and forest rest houses early on the official website.
- Rishikesh and Haridwar are vegetarian and alcohol-free towns.
Sample itineraries
- 4 days: Haridwar and Rishikesh.
- 6 days: Nainital, Bhimtal and Jim Corbett.
- 7-8 days: Rishikesh, then the Valley of Flowers trek (in season).
What to eat
Try Garhwali and Kumaoni dishes such as kafuli, aloo ke gutke, bhatt ki churkani and bal mithai.
Next in Incredible India: Punjab.
