Uttarakhand – Simple Heaven
Uttarakhand - located at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain ranges. It is largely a hilly State, having international boundaries with China (Tibet) in the north and Nepal in the east. On its north-west lies Himachal Pradesh, while on the south is Uttar Pradesh. The state is divided into two regions: Garhwal and Kumaon. Each of these offers plenty of opportunities for tourism, sightseeing, adventure and wildlife. It is rich in natural resources especially water and forests with many glaciers, rivers, dense forests and snow-covered mountains’ peaks. CharDhams - The four most sacred and revered Hindu temples of Badrinath,Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are nestled in the mighty mountains. It’s truly God’s Land (Dev Bhoomi). It is sanctified with a rare bio-diversity, inter-alia, 175 rare species of aromatic & medicinal plants. It has almost all major climatic zones, making it amenable to a variety of commercial opportunities in horticulture, floriculture and agriculture. It has a vast tourism potential in adventure, leisure, and eco-tourism.
Adventure Tourism
For adventure tourism seekers, Uttarakhand offers some implausible trekking, mountain climbing, and white-water rafting opportunities. The Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is one of the best trekking destinations in India, with the famous treks in Uttarakhand are Auden’s Col, Kalindi Khal, Nag Tibba, BedniBugyal, Valley of Flowers, ChoptaChandrashila and many more.
Uttarakhand is also known for Skiing, with Auli being one of the top skiing destinations in India.Mountaineers can scale the mountain peaks in the Garhwal Himalayas in both the Garhwal &Kumaon region, with the most climbed mountain peaks being Hathi Parbat, Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba, Kedar Dome and Bandarpoonch. For Paragliding you can visit Mukteshwar, Bhimtal, Mussoorie and Pithoragarh.
River Rafting Adventure in Uttarakhand
Rishikesh is the most popular destination for river rafting in Uttarakhand. It is a famous river rafting destination in Uttarakhand since it offers various stretches and grades on the River Ganga. Both amateur and advanced rafting enthusiasts can enjoy river rafting in Rishikesh. There are four river rafting grades in Rishikesh: Grade I, Grade II, Grade III and Grade IV. The peak season for river rafting in Rishikesh is March, but it can also be enjoyed from mid-September to early December, as after that the water starts turning extremely cold.
River Rafting Adventure in Uttarakhand
Rishikesh is the most popular destination for river rafting in Uttarakhand. It is a famous river rafting destination in Uttarakhand since it offers various stretches and grades on the River Ganga. Both amateur and advanced rafting enthusiasts can enjoy river rafting in Rishikesh. There are four river rafting grades in Rishikesh: Grade I, Grade II, Grade III and Grade IV. The peak season for river rafting in Rishikesh is March, but it can also be enjoyed from mid-September to early December, as after that the water starts turning extremely cold.
Exotic Himalayan wildlife & other animals
Uttarakhand, located in the lap of the Himalayas, has some of the best high altitude wildlife parks and national sanctuaries in India. In these wildlife hotspots, you get to see rare and exotic Himalayan wildlife, which is not usually seen in other parts of the country. The state is also home to the third largest population of Royal Bengal Tigers in India. There are rare flora & fauna species like snow leopards and Brahma Kamal.
The state’s Valley of Flowers National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to more than 500 species of flowering plants which come to life in the monsoon season (June-September). The Brahma Kamal flower, which is found only in the Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, can be seen in the Valley of Flowers National Park. It is a rare flower species which also finds a mention in several epics of Hinduism.
Jim Corbett National Park - India’s oldest national park and the largest tiger reserve in the country, is one of the best wildlife destinations to spot the Royal Bengal Tiger, besides other wildlife. Other things which make it a top wildlife holiday destination are bird watching, fishing and sightseeing.
Rajaji National Park - with its Royal Bengal Tigers, striped hyenas, Asiatic Elephants, Sloth Bear and a large number of bird species, is second wildlife destination in Uttarakhand.
Naina Devi National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can see exotic Himalayan wildlife like snow leopard, Himalayan Thar, musk deer and birds. However, the Valley of Flowers National Park deserves a special mention, as it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to almost 350 species of flowers. Red fox and musk deer are two of the exotic animals found here.
Capital: Dehradun, Location: North India
Best time to visit
March to April and September to October are considered
as the best time to visit Uttarakhand.
Why visit Uttarakhand?
You have many reasons to visit Uttarakhand such as
religious tourism, pilgrimage, adventure wildlife and much more.
Top 10 Most Visited Tourist Destinations of Uttarakhand
- Rishikesh : Internationally known as the Yoga capital, spiritual, religious and adventurous tourism hub, Rishikesh is one of the top visited places in Uttarakhand in the Himalayas and is visited by domestic and international tourists every year.
- Nainital : Nainital is one of the top 10 most visited tourist destinations of Uttarakhand not just for its charming Naini Lake, but other sightseeing opportunities & a rich colonial heritage.
- Mussoorie : What makes Mussoorie counted among the top 10 most visited tourist destinations of Uttarakhand is Kempty Falls, temples, boating,Cable Car Ride & Mall Road.
- Corbett National Park : Visit Corbett National Park, the oldest national park in India as well as the largest tiger reserve. It’s one of the best places to spot the Royal Bengal Tiger in India.
- Valley of Flowers : Valley of Flowers is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to more than 350 species of flowers. Red fox and musk deer are some of the exotic animals found.
- Auli : Auli is one of the top skiing destinations in India & the world & most visited destinations in Uttarakhand by skiing enthusiasts. Tourists can also enjoy camping & sightseeing.
- Kedarnath Dham : Kedarnath Dham is one of the most visited tourist pilgrimage destinations of Uttarakhand. Situated at 3,584 meters, it’s one of the 12 Jyotirlingas & most important among PanchKedars.
- Haridwar : Har Ki Pauri is one of the most sacred ghats in Haridwar which is said to contain the foot imprints of Lord Vishnu. The evening Ganga Aarti is a major attraction.
- Chopta - Tungnath : Chopta is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Uttarakhand for its Tungnath Temple, the highest Shiva Temple in the world. Sightseeing, camping & trekking are also popular.
- Chakrata : Chakrata finds a place among the most visited tourist attractions of Uttarakhand because of its spectacular views, Tiger Falls, ambience and a picnic spot.