Uttarakhand, the land of the gods
Your guide to the Char Dham Yatra, ancient temples, Himalayan hill stations, glacier lakes and treks across Garhwal and Kumaon.
Popular: Kedarnath Nainital Auli Mussoorie Jim Corbett
- Area
- 53,483 km²
- Mountainous land
- 86%
- Forest cover
- 65%
- Regions
- Garhwal & Kumaon
Char Dham Yatra
The four abodes of the Garhwal Himalaya, visited from west to east. Each temple opens in late April or May and closes for winter around Diwali.
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3,293 m
Yamunotri
Source of the Yamuna and the first stop of the yatra, below the Bandarpunch massif.
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3,100 m
Gangotri
Temple town on the Bhagirathi, gateway to the Gaumukh glacier where the Ganga is born.
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3,583 m
Kedarnath
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, at the head of the Mandakini, open from late April to November.
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3,133 m
Badrinath
Between the Nar and Narayan ranges on the Alaknanda, the most visited of the four dhams.
Tourist places in Uttarakhand
Hill stations, Himalayan lakes and wild valleys, from easy family trips to high-altitude treks.
Hill stations of Uttarakhand
- Nainital Nainital The lake town of Kumaon, with boating on Naini Lake and views from Cheena Peak.
- Mussoorie Dehradun The Queen of Hills: Mall Road, Kempty Falls and long Doon Valley views.
- Auli Chamoli Winter capital of Uttarakhand, home to some of India’s finest ski slopes and Nanda Devi views.
- Chopta Rudraprayag The Mini Switzerland of India and base for the Tungnath–Chandrashila trek.
- Kausani Bageshwar A 300 km sweep of Himalayan peaks seen from one quiet ridge.
- Ranikhet Almora Cantonment town of pine forests, golf greens and old temples beyond Nainital.
- Lansdowne Pauri Garhwal An unhurried colonial-era hill station, still one of Garhwal’s cleanest.
- Munsiyari Pithoragarh Face-to-face with the Panchachuli peaks, far from crowds.
- Almora Almora A 5 km ridge of heritage bazaars, handicrafts and Kumaoni food.
- Dhanaulti Tehri Garhwal Deodar forests and eco parks a short drive beyond Mussoorie.
- Chakrata Dehradun Secluded Jaunsar-Bawar hill town with Tiger Falls nearby.
- Chaukori Pithoragarh Tea-garden slopes facing a 350 km stretch of Kumaon Himalaya.
- Harsil Uttarkashi Apple orchards on the Bhagirathi, an off-beat stop on the way to Gangotri.
- Khirsu Pauri Garhwal Oak and apple country with an unbroken view of the high peaks.
- Pauri Pauri Garhwal Garhwal’s headquarters town on the Kandoliya hills.
- Chamba Tehri Garhwal A calm retreat on the Mussoorie–Tehri road.
- Joshimath Chamoli Gateway to Auli, Badrinath and the Valley of Flowers.
- New Tehri Tehri Garhwal Planned town above Tehri Dam and its lake water sports.
- Chamoli Chamoli The district of temples, confluences and high meadows.
- Askot Pithoragarh Quiet frontier town known for the Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary.
Lakes of Uttarakhand
- Naini Lake Nainital The mango-shaped lake at the heart of Nainital town.
- Bhimtal Nainital The largest lake in Kumaon, with an island aquarium.
- Naukuchiatal Nainital The lake of nine corners, loved by birdwatchers.
- Sattal Nainital Seven linked lakes inside oak and pine forest.
- Khurpatal Nainital A small emerald lake 12 km from busy Nainital.
- Deoria Tal Rudraprayag A mirror for the Chaukhamba peaks above Sari village.
- Dodi Tal Uttarkashi Forest-ringed trekking lake, said to be Lord Ganesha’s birthplace.
- Nachiketa Tal Uttarkashi An easy forest walk to a still lake near Uttarkashi.
- Vasuki Tal Rudraprayag High glacial lake 8 km above Kedarnath.
- Sahastra Tal Tehri Garhwal A cluster of remote lakes near 5,000 m.
- Hemkund / Lokpal Chamoli Sacred lake ringed by seven peaks beside Hemkund Sahib.
- Nandikund Chamoli High-altitude lake on the Madhyamaheshwar–Kalpeshwar trail.
Treks & wildlife of Uttarakhand
- Har Ki Doon Uttarkashi A cradle-shaped valley of meadows and ancient villages.
- Pindari Glacier Bageshwar Kumaon’s classic glacier trek, gentle enough for first-timers.
- Panchachuli Glacier Pithoragarh A 40 km trek from Dar to the base of the five peaks.
- Jim Corbett National Park Nainital India’s oldest national park and the home of the Bengal tiger.
- Nanda Devi Almora The revered goddess of Kumaon and her temple above Almora.
- Chaukhamba View Pauri Garhwal Viewpoint for the four-pillared Chaukhamba massif.
Pilgrimage places beyond the Char Dham
Uttarakhand’s shrines are grouped into ancient circuits of five. Follow one, or combine it with your yatra.
Panch Kedar
Five Shiva temples where the Pandavas found parts of Shiva in the form of a bull.
Panch Badri
Five shrines of Lord Vishnu around Badrinath and Joshimath.
Panch Prayag
Five holy confluences of the Alaknanda, ending where the Ganga begins at Devprayag.
Adventure in Uttarakhand
Rapids, ski slopes, jungle trails and high camps, with something for every season.
- Trekking From one-day forest walks to Gaumukh and Har Ki Doon, for every level.
- River rafting Grade II–IV rapids on the Ganga at Rishikesh.
- Skiing Auli’s slopes from January to March, with lessons for beginners.
- Camping Riverside and forest camps under clear Himalayan skies.
- Jungle safari Jeep and canter safaris in Corbett and Rajaji.
- Bungee & flying fox India’s highest bungee jump and giant swing near Rishikesh.
When to visit
Mar – Jun
Summer & yatra season
Pleasant days in Nainital and Mussoorie. The Char Dham opens in late April or May.
Jul – Sep
Monsoon
Green valleys and full rivers, but frequent landslides. Rafting pauses on the Ganga.
Oct – Nov
Clear skies
The sharpest Himalayan views of the year. Temples close for winter around Diwali.
Dec – Feb
Snow
Skiing in Auli, snowfall in Dhanaulti and Munsiyari, and the Chopta winter trek.
About Devbhumi Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand, the abode of the gods, is a Himalayan state of snow peaks, sacred rivers and ancient towns. Covering 53,483 square kilometres, 86% of its land is mountainous and 65% is forest. The Ganga and Yamuna rise here, and almost every valley holds a temple, a legend and a festival of its own.
The state has two regions. Garhwal in the north is home to the Char Dham, the Panch Kedar and hill stations like Mussoorie and Auli. Kumaon in the south is the country of lakes and ridges, from Nainital and Almora to Kausani and Jim Corbett National Park.
Whether you come for a pilgrimage, a family holiday, a trek or white-water rafting, this guide covers each place with how to reach it, what to see and when to go.
“In those lovely valleys there is still the romance and poetry of life: each tree has its god, each bush its spirit.”
Questions travellers ask
What is the best time to visit Uttarakhand?
March to June suits hill stations and the Char Dham Yatra, which opens in late April or May. October and November bring the clearest Himalayan views. December to February is for snow and skiing in Auli. Avoid mountain roads in the July–August monsoon, when landslides are common.
Which are the Char Dham of Uttarakhand?
Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Pilgrims traditionally visit them in that order, from west to east. All four temples close for winter around Diwali and reopen in spring.
What are the two regions of Uttarakhand?
Garhwal in the north-west, with the Char Dham, Mussoorie and Rishikesh, and Kumaon in the south-east, with Nainital, Almora, Kausani and Jim Corbett National Park.
Which hill stations in Uttarakhand are best for a first trip?
Nainital and Mussoorie are the easiest to reach and have the most facilities. For quieter stays, try Kausani, Lansdowne, Chopta or Munsiyari.
Why is Uttarakhand called Devbhumi?
Devbhumi means Land of the Gods. The state holds the sources of the Ganga and Yamuna, the Char Dham, the Panch Kedar and Panch Badri, and thousands of temples in its villages.
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