Uttarakhand
Photos: Satbir 4 (Public domain) · © Lennon Rodgers, 2006 (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Tylersundance (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Himalayan state of Garhwal and Kumaon: the Char Dham shrines, Haridwar-Rishikesh on the Ganga, colonial hill stations like Mussoorie and Nainital, Corbett tigers and alpine meadows such as the Valley of Flowers.
Plan by season and altitude: the Char Dham and high valleys work from late April to early November (avoid peak monsoon), hill stations are good most of the year, and winter brings snow at Auli, Chopta and Munsiyari. Haridwar-Rishikesh and Dehradun are the gateways for Garhwal; Kathgodam-Haldwani and Ramnagar for Kumaon and Corbett.
Highlights: Char Dham Yatra: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath · Evening Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar · Yoga, ashrams and river rafting in Rishikesh · Jeep safaris in Corbett Tiger Reserve · Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib · Tungnath and the Chandrashila summit from Chopta · Hill stations: Mussoorie, Nainital, Almora, Kausani · Panchachuli views and glacier treks from Munsiyari · Skiing and Nanda Devi views at Auli
When to go
Green best · blue good · red avoid · this month outlinedDestinations
Towns, valleys and cities worth the trip, with how they rate this month.
Dehradun
Capital city in the Doon valley and gateway to Mussoorie: Forest Research Institute, Robber's Cave, Sahastradhara and Mindrolling Monastery.
Rishikesh
Yoga capital on the Ganga at the foot of the Himalaya: ashrams, the Triveni Ghat aarti, the Beatles Ashram and white-water rafting.
Nainital
Kumaon's lake town: the crescent-shaped Naini Lake ringed by seven hills, Naina Devi Temple, Mall Road, Snow View ropeway and day trips to Bhimtal and Kainchi Dham.
Almora
Cultural capital of Kumaon on a 5 km saddle-shaped ridge: old Chand-era bazaars, bal mithai, Kasar Devi, Jageshwar temples and Binsar nearby.
Mussoorie
Classic hill station on a 15 km horseshoe ridge above Dehradun: Mall Road, Gun Hill, Landour, Kempty Falls and the winterline sunsets.
Gangotri
Char Dham shrine of the Ganga on the Bhagirathi in Uttarkashi district, start of the Gaumukh-Tapovan trek to the glacier source.
Auli
India's best-known ski slopes at about 2,800 m above Joshimath, with Nanda Devi views, Gorson Bugyal meadows and the start of the Kuari Pass trail.
Haridwar
Ancient temple city where the Ganga enters the plains: Har Ki Pauri and its evening aarti, hilltop Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi temples, and Kumbh Mela host.
Ramnagar
India's first national park (1936) and its best-known tiger reserve: jeep and canter safaris from Ramnagar, forest rest houses at Dhikala, and the Kosi river.
Kedarnath
Char Dham shrine and highest Jyotirlinga at about 3,580 m: the stone Kedarnath Temple below Kedar Dome, reached by a 16 km trek from Gaurikund or by helicopter.
Badrinath
Char Dham shrine of Vishnu at about 3,100 m on the Alaknanda between the Nar and Narayan ranges, with Tapt Kund hot springs and Mana village nearby.
Chopta
Meadow hamlet at about 2,600 m on the Ukhimath-Gopeshwar road and base for the short trek to Tungnath, the highest Shiva temple, and Chandrashila summit.
Kausani
Pine-clad ridge village famous for sunrise views of Trishul, Nanda Devi and Panchachuli, Gandhi's Anasakti Ashram and tea gardens.
Munsiari
Remote Johar valley town facing the five Panchachuli peaks: Khaliya Top meadow walk and the gateway to Milam and Ralam glacier treks.
Yamunotri
First shrine of the Char Dham: Yamunotri Temple near the Yamuna's glacial source, reached by a 5-6 km trek from Janki Chatti, with the Surya Kund hot spring.
Ghangaria
UNESCO World Heritage alpine valley above Ghangaria with over 600 flowering species, best in July-September; trek from Govindghat via Ghangaria.
Top sights
Hemkund Sahib
High-altitude Sikh gurdwara beside Hemkund lake above Ghangaria, linked with Guru Gobind Singh.
Lakshman Jhula
Historic 1939 suspension bridge over the Ganga, now closed to the public; a new glass-deck bridge (Bajrang Setu) is being built beside it.
Forest Research Institute
Grand colonial-era campus in Dehradun with forestry museums; a familiar film location.
Har Ki Pauri
Haridwar's main ghat on the Ganga, famous for the evening aarti with towering lamps and floating diyas.
Beatles Ashram
Former Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram where The Beatles stayed in 1968, now a forest-department site full of murals and meditation domes.
Kasar Devi Temple
Ancient hilltop temple on Kasar Devi ridge near Almora, visited by Swami Vivekananda.
Tehri Dam
Large hydroelectric dam on the Bhagirathi near New Tehri, completed in the early 2000s, with a reservoir popular with visitors.
Tungnath Temple
Highest of the Panch Kedar and one of the highest Shiva temples, a 3.5 km climb above Chopta on the way to Chandrashila.
Nature and outdoors
Bhimtal Lake
Lake near Nainital with an island aquarium cafe reached by boat.
Jim Corbett National Park
India's first national park and a leading tiger reserve; jeep and canter safaris in eight zones from Ramnagar.
Rajaji National Park
Tiger and elephant reserve in the Shivalik hills between Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun.
Valley of Flowers National Park
UNESCO-listed alpine valley of over 600 flowering species above Ghangaria; open 1 June - 31 October, best July-September.
Asan Barrage
Man-made lake about 43 km from Dehradun, home to over 50 species of waterbirds in winter.
High Altitude Zoo, Nainital
Govind Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoo on Sher-ka-Danda hill at about 2,100 m, with Himalayan species.
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
Forest sanctuary near Almora with old British estates, Himalayan views and rich birdlife.
Benog Wildlife Sanctuary
Forest sanctuary about 15 km from Mussoorie with over 200 bird species, including the Himalayan monal and red-billed blue magpie.
Things to do
Maayaa International Healing School
Maayaa offers sound healing, reiki, chakra healing, numerology, Tarot reading, physic counselling, aromatherapy, Kundalini meditation, dowsing, chakra balancing. Also these residential courses: sound healing teacher training course, meditation teacher training course, aromatherap
Chakra Ayurvedic Wellness
Panchakarma, Ayurveda, Physiotherapy, Yoga & Ayurveda retreat.
Divine School of Ayurveda
Panchakarma, sound healing, astrology or Jyotishshastra, Ayurveda nutrition, yoga & Ayurveda retreat.
Pankaj Music School
Extremely professional artist Pankaj teaches sitar, harmonium, tabla and bansuri in different styles in a slow-paced, yet intensive way.
Yoga and Music Festival
Free concerts of live classical Indian music and free yoga classes with local top yoga teachers.
Karans sports club
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun
cricket stadium in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Cambridge Book Depot
The oldest book shop in the area, the well-read and the owner of the shop is genial and helpful.
Where to eat
Sakley's Restaurant and Pastry Shop
Mall Road institution since 1944 known for pastries, apple pie and lemon cheesecake as well as full meals.
Machan Restaurant
Mall Road restaurant for North Indian, Mughlai and Chinese food: kebabs, biryanis and dim sum.
Boat House Club Restaurant
Restaurant of the British-era Nainital Boat House Club on the edge of the lake.
Embassy Restaurant
Long-running Mall Road restaurant serving Indian, Chinese and Continental dishes.
Chandni Chowk Nainital
Vegetarian Mall Road eatery for Delhi-style chaat, gol gappe and North and South Indian dishes.
Purohit Restaurant
Vegetarian North Indian restaurant on the Mall known for its Gujarati thali.
Cafe Chica
Cafe in Mallital for continental food: croissants, crepes, salads and apple crumble.
Chotiwala Rishikesh
Famous vegetarian thali restaurant at Swargashram, near Ram Jhula.
Shopping
Food to try
- Aloo gutuk: Kumaoni potatoes fried with local spices
- Bhatt ki churkani: Soupy curry of black soybeans (bhatt), eaten with rice
- Chains: Roasted, ground whole urad cooked into a thick soup
- Dubka: Lentil paste curry with hill spices like jakhiya, cooked in an iron wok
- Kaapa: Green curry of spinach paste
- Jholi: Curd-based curry
- Bal mithai: Brown roasted-khoya fudge coated with white sugar balls; Almora's signature sweet
- Singori: Garhwali sweet, served around Garhi Cantonment in Dehradun
- Kandalee ka saag: Garhwali leafy greens served with rice
- Buransh juice: Sweet-tangy drink made from red rhododendron flowers
Festivals
- Kumbh Mela and Ardh Kumbh, Haridwar: Kumbh every 12 years and Ardh Kumbh every 6 years at Haridwar
- Kanwar Mela: Months: 7; Description: Lakhs of Shiva devotees carry Ganga water from Haridwar in the month of Sawan; roads and hotels are packed
- International Yoga Festival, Rishikesh: Annual festival organised by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board
- Nanda Devi Raj Jat: Pilgrimage trek in honour of goddess Nanda Devi held about once every twelve years
- Harela: Garhwal and Kumaon festival marking the arrival of the monsoon
- Phool Dei: Seasonal spring festival
- Uttarayani: Kumaoni seasonal festival
- Char Dham temple opening and closing: Months: 4 · 5 · 10 · 11; Description: Kapat opening ceremonies around Akshaya Tritiya (19-23 April 2026) and closing around Diwali-Bhai Dooj (expected 10-13 November 2026)