Devbhoomi‘, Uttarakhand is an important state, situated in North India with lots of tourist attractions. If you are interested in learning about North India, then you may consider to check tourist places in North India. In this post, I will talk about best places to visit in Uttarakhand and provide you with information that you will require, if you are planning your trip to Uttarakhand. The scenic beauty, simple lifestyle and holy environment allures tourist to visit this place. The pure and holy water of river Ganga, snow capped mountain range, small & beautiful hilly villages and picturesque sights makes this place special and different from rest of the world. Earlier it was a part of Uttar Pradesh but on 9th November, 2000 it was carved out of the Himalayan range of Uttar Pradesh. This place is paradise for nature lovers. The diversity of this place makes it a complete tourist destination. The famous ‘chhota chaar dham‘ (Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri) drives lakhs of devotees and tourist everyday to Uttarakhand. This place has variety of things in stock for people of diverse interest. If you love adventure then Jim Corbet and Auli are the places to visit. For nature lovers Queen of Hills: Mussoorie, Lake city Nainital, Dehradun, Ranikhet etc are there to explore. In short if you are visiting Uttarakhand then you will gain a bundle of joyful experience for the lifetime. Lets plan the trip to Uttarakhand by looking at the list of best places to visit in Uttarakhand.

Mussoorie

places to visit in Uttarakhand

Mussoorie : Best places to visit in Uttarakhand

Queen of Hills‘, Mussoorie is one of the most popular hill station and honeymoon destination of India. At a height of 2005 meters, Mussoorie is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas. Its scenic beauty and refreshing environment attracts the tourist to visit this place again and again. The panoramic view of Shivalik range, Doon valley, varied flora and fauna makes it a perfect holiday destination.

How to Reach Mussoorie

By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant airport which is at a distance of 54 kms. from the airport taxi service and bus service are available to reach Mussoorie.
By Train: Dehradun is the nearest railway staion for Mussoorie, which is approximately 36 kms away. Busses are frequently running for Mussoorie from the Dehradun Railway Station. You can also hire a taxi to reach Mussoorie, it takes approx 1 hr to reach the destination.
By Road: The nearest bus stand is Dehradun which just besides the Dehradun railway station. so after reaching here many options like local bus, taxi or sharing taxi are there to reach Mussoorie within an hour.

Places to Visit in Mussoorie

We visited Mussoorie in monsoon and here is our enthralling documentary of top places to visit in Mussoorie, with mesmerizing images.

Nainital

Places to visit in Uttarakhand : Nainital

Places to visit in Uttarakhand : Nainital

Nainital is small charismatic hill station of Uttarakhand and is also a famous honeymoon destination of India. Breathtaking views and beauty of the lakes makes it an ideal holiday destination. The romantic climate attracts newly wedded couples to opt this place for honeymoon. There is mythological story behind the name of Nainital. It is said that during Lord Shiva’s Tandava, Devi Sati’s eye (naini or naina) were fallen here. At the same place Naina devi temple was built and Goddess Sati is worshipped in this temple. Nainital is also among “64 shakti peeth“. The scenic beauty of the place is absolutely stunning. Mountains, green valleys and lakes makes this place perfect for a family holiday.

How to Reach Nainital

By Air: The nearest  airport is Patnagar, which is approximately 65 kms away from main Nainital. Bus and taxi services are available at airport to reach Nainital.
By Train: Kathgodam railway station is at a distance of 34 kms,  it is the nearest railway station to Nainital. Buses run frequently from the station  to Nainital. One can also hire a taxi to reach the destination.
By Road: Nainital is very well connected by road from major nearby city. There are direct buses running for Nainital. So reaching Nainital by bus is the convenient option.

Places to visit in Nainital

Here is list of top places to visit in Nainital, with images, click on the image to see the full size with description. Check out our Nainital lake shikara ride.

Dehradun

Places to visit in uttarakhand

Dehradun : Places to visit in Uttarakhand

The capital city of Dehradun is small yet serene hill station of Uttarakhand. This city is a gateway to Mussoorie. The scenic beauty & picturesque view of this place is very eye-catching. It is also one of the oldest city in India. Dehradun is surrounded by Shivalik hills, river Yamuna & river Ganga, and it is also the house of famous doon school along-with some world class education hub. Peaks of mountains, crystal clear flow of water, highland streams makes this place a great weekend destination for the people of North India.

How to reach Dehradun

By Air: The nearest  airport is Jolly Grant, which is in Dehradun city.

By Train : Reaching Dehradun by train is very comfortable as this place has its own railway station.

By Road : Dehradun is very well connected by road and it is accessible from major cities like Delhi, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. There are direct buses running for Dehradun. 

Places to visit in Dehradun

Here is list of top places to visit in Dehradun, with images, click on the image to see the full size with description.

Rishikesh

Places to visit in Uttarakhand : Rishikesh

Rishikesh : Places to visit in Uttarakhand

Rishikesh, the gateway to Himalayas is also known as birthplace of yoga. It is a small hilly town of Uttarakhand situated in the foothill of Himalayas along the bank of river Ganga. This place is also known as “Teerth Nagri” or “Yoga Nagri“. Rishikesh is the beginning point of CharDham Yatra (Gangotri, Yumnotri, Kedarnath & Badrinath). The place is blessed with beautiful scenic views and flowing water of pious river Ganga. Serene natural beauty and captivating views makes this place a perfect holiday destination. People visit here for spirituality, adventure & yoga, which makes this place so unique. Rishikesh is an ideal place for adventure lovers, white river rafting of Rishikesh is immensely popular throughout India. Activities like Camping, Hiking, Bungee jumping, Giant swing, Cliff jumping, trekking, rock climbing etc are the major things to do in Rishikesh. Rishikesh has so many adventure activities that often it is also termed as “the adventure capital of India

How to reach Rishikesh

By air : One can reach Rishikesh by boarding a flight upto Jolly Grant airport, Dehradun. Upon arriving at Dehradun, buses and private taxis are easily available for Rishikesh.
By Road : Rishikesh is well connected by road network and it is easily accessible via Delhi, Haridwar, Dehradun and other important cities.
By train : There are very few trains to Rishikesh but the nearest town Haridwar has a good network of trains. One can board a train for Haridwar and after that hire taxi, auto rikshaw or bus to reach Rishikesh, which is approximately 25 kilometers away.

Places to visit in Rishikesh

Here is list of top places to visit in Rishikesh, with images, click on the image to see the full size with description.

Haridwar

Haridwar : Places to visit in Uttarakhand

Haridwar : Places to visit in Uttarakhand

One of the most sacred pilgrimage, Haridwar is a small city of Uttarakhand where holy river Ganga enters to plain area. Haridwar is also known as “Gateway to God”. This city is situated in the bank of river Ganga. This holy city is surrounded by thick green forests, view of mountains and flowing water of river Ganga. The enchanting sound of crystal clear flowing water of river Ganga creates a magical effect. Haridwar is a popular holy place, and it is frequented by devotees from different corners of the world, throughout the year.

How to reach Haridwar

By Air : The nearest airport is Jolly Grant airport which is 35 kilometers away from Haridwar.
By Road : One can easily reach Haridwar via bus or private Cab, bus services for Haridwar is available from all the major cities.
By Train : The most convenient way to reach Haridwar, is by train. Direct trains to Haridwar is available from major railway stations of India.

Places to visit in Haridwar

Here is list of top places to visit in Haridwar, with images, click on the image to see the full size with description.

Lansdowne

Lansdowne : Places to visit in Uttarakhand

Lansdowne : Places to visit in Uttarakhand

Lansdowne, the quietest hill station is one of the most popular tourist destination of Uttarakhand as well as of India. It is a small cantonement hill station since British Raj. This place is named after Lord Lansdowne. If you are in a mood to relax then this place is perfect for you. The beautiful views of Himalayas & the beauty of green valleys makes this place a perfect summer trip. Lansdowne is also famous as a honeymoon destination. A perfect place for newly wedded couples to romance in the lap of nature. Sunset at the valleys of Lansdowne is absolutely breathtaking. It is less crowded, quiet and comparatively undiscovered hill station of Garhwal region. Lansdowne is very well maintained and clean because of the Garhwal rifles cantonment of Indian army. Watching the beauty of old British colonial architecture is a good experience. Trekking, bird-watching, boating, paddling are some of the best things to do here. If you are residing in Delhi or NCR then this place is an ideal weekend getaway for you.

How to reach Lansdowne

By air : Jolly grant airport is the nearest airport to lansdowne which is at the distance of 144km. So I would not suggest you to opt this.
By road : Lansdowne is 250 kilometers from Delhi & NCR and it will take approximately 7 to 8 hrs drive to reach Lansdowne.
By train : Kotdwar is the nearest railway station for Lansdowne, which is at a distance of 25 kms. Frequent busses are running for Lansdowne and taxi service is also there to reach the destination.

Places to visit in Lansdowne

Here is list of top places to visit in Lansdowne, with images, click on the image to see the full size with description.

Kausani

Kausani : Places to visit in Uttarakhand

Kausani : Places to visit in Uttarakhand

Kausani, also known as Valna is small and popular hill station of Uttarakhand. It is located at a height of 1990 mts above the sea level and is part of Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand. The romantic weather makes this an ideal honeymoon destination. Kausani is situated on the banks of rive Kosi and river Gomti. Rashtrapita Mahatma Gandhi was so much impressed with the climate and serenity of this place that he called this place “Switzerland of India“. It is an all-weather destination, but better to avoid monsoons as during rains the region gets slippery. An amazing 380 kms stretch of the Himalayas makes Kausani special and unique hill station of Uttarakhand. Lush green valleys, stunning snow peaked Himalayan view, Quiet valleys, bubbling creeks, chirping of bird and rich flora & Fauna of this place will make you fall in love. Nanda Devi, Trishul and Panchchula are the peaks which are clearly visible from here. The sunrise and sunset of kausani is very beutiful so if you are in Kausani then witness the beauty of nature and get a lifetime experience. Kausani is a perfect place for those who want a break from a busy life of the cities and are in the mood to spend a quiet vacation in natures lap. The famous hindi poet Sumitranandan pant was born here. The beauty of nature is very well described in his writings.

How to reach Kausani

By air: The nearest airport is Patnagar airport which is at a distance of 162 kms from Kausani. After reaching here taxi can be hired for Kausani.
By train: Kathgodam railway station is the nearest railway for Kausani, it is at a distance of 132 kms from kausani. From station buses and taxis are available.
By road: From Delhi-NCR it takes 8-10 hrs drive to reach Kasauni. No direct bus service is available for Kausani.

Places to visit in Kausani

Here is list of top places to visit in Kausani, with images, click on the image to see the full size with description.

Ranikhet

Ranikhet : places to visit in Uttarakhand

Ranikhet : places to visit in Uttarakhand

Ranikhet is a charming hill station of Uttarakhand. It is located in Almora district of Uttarakhand at a height of 1829 meters above sea level. Ranikhet is the literal translation of ‘Queens land’. This is an all season holiday destination and is a perfect spot for the admirer of the natural beauty. The picturesque view of Himalayas, tall pine trees, beautiful green forests, attractive wild life , fresh air, chirping of birds and the majestic sights of the nature makes this place heavenly & divine. The serene environment of Ranikhet is so reviving that you would love to walk on the hilly lanes of the Ranikhet.

How to reach Ranikhet

By air: The nearest airport is Patnagar airport which is 115 kms away from Ranikhet. Taxis are easily available for Ranikhet from the airport.
By train: Kathgodam Railway station is the nearest railway station at a distance of 88 kms. Buses and taxis are available for Ranikhet.
By road: Nearest bus stand is at Kathgodam and Almora. Kathgodam is well connected from Delhi and other major cities.

Places to visit in Ranikhet

Here is list of top places to visit in Ranikhet, with images, click on the image to see the full size with description.

Auli

Auli : Places to visit in uttarakhand

Auli : Places to visit in uttarakhand

Auli is a famous hill station and ski Destination of India, also known as ‘Heaven for Skiing‘. It is situated in the Garhwal region of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand at an elevation of 2519 meters to 3050 mts above sea level. Foreigners often compare this place with worlds best ski resorts. A 7 days and 14 days skiing courses are also offered here for tourist by GMVN. Widely spread green lush valley looks like a snow carpet in winters. The climate of Auli is perfect for adventure. Lofty mountain ranges like Nanda devi , Mana Parvat & Kamat looks spectacular from Auli. It has one of the most fascinating slopes in the world. The beauty of Auli is breathtaking during winters that is why Auli tops the list of best winter destination in India. If you love winter and like to witness the beauty of snowfall then Auli is a must visit place for you.

How to reach Auli

By air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, which is approximately 286 kms from Auli. Taxis are available for Auli at airport.
By train: Rishikesh is the nearest railway station which is 264kms away from the station. Buses and taxis are easily available from the station.
By road: Auli is not directly connected with major cities yet it is well connected to motorable roads of Uttarakhand. Nearest bus stand Joshimath is at a distance of 14 km.

Places to visit in Auli

Here is list of top places to visit in Auli, with images, click on the image to see the full size with description.

There are some other important places to visit in Uttarakhand like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yumnotri.  I have written a seperate article on it chota char dham yatra. Above mentioned list covers some of the amazing places to visit in Uttarakhand. Do let me know in comments if i missed some notable destination from the list. Give your feedback, if you have visited any of the plays mentioned here. I love to hear about experience regarding people and places.


nivedita chaudhary

Nivedita is a post graduate from Delhi University and works in Government sector. She loves traveling, writing and cooking. According to her, all these three ingredients are necessary for her survivor. She strongly believes in herself and is motivated to make life better for people, who are deprived of basic rights.

2 Comments

Krishna · September 26, 2016 at 10:29 am

Hi niveditha, Your information about UK UTARKHAND trip is awesome.We are ten adults planning to visit UK from Oct 8-11 reaching Delhi airport by Oct 7 nit from there planing to reach UK by road

Our main aim in UK I s adventurous activities.Paragliding,bungee jumping,river rafting.But we also wanna see good sights.Can you please help us how we can plan our four days,from where to where we can go

    saurabh · September 27, 2016 at 2:05 am

    If you are seeking adventurous activities then your first visit from Delhi should be Rishikesh, where you can involve in activities like Rafting mountaineering etc. Nainital, Auli, Dehradun are also well known for adventurous activities.

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