15 Best Plaes to Visit in Uttarakhand

  GET YOUR PEACE IN RISHIKESH For me Rishikesh has always meant two things: The Beatles & Peace! And what a great combination it is. Which is why I return to Rishikesh time & again to be rejuvenated. If you have never been to Rishikesh, it’s a humble hill-station in Uttarakhand, India. To reach there, one can easily drive from Delhi. The drive will take around 6-7 hours; however the route is beautiful so it makes for a great road trip. Another way to reach is by train to Haridwar & then an hour drive to Rishikesh. It’s best to visit here from October- February, as in summers it gets hot The Beatles Ashram If you’re a fan of The Beatles, Rishikesh must be on your Bucket-list. The iconic band lived here for quite a while at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Ashram to gain spirituality. It’s rumoured that they even wrote their album Whitehere. Here’s a glorious picture on my way to the Ashram, I must say this sign made me jump with joy. Though the Ashram is in ruins now, one can see...

  5 DIVINE PLACES TO VISIT IN BADRINATH Mystery and mythology interweave the places to visit in Badrinath in Uttarakhand, India. It constitutes one of the four heavenly abodes (Char Dham) of the Hindu pilgrimage circuits in India. You cannot visit the pilgrimage in the winters. The reason being Lord Badrinath resides in the Narsingh Temple at Joshimath at that time. The high priests determine the opening and closing dates of the shrines of the Char Dham. It is important to be aware of the time one can embark on the journey to check out the places to visit in Badrinath Dham. The Route We had planned to cover all the places around Badrinath in a single day. We started from our hotel in Joshimath at around 7 am. It was November and extremely cold outdoors. Wrapped in multiple layers of woolen sweater and a bomber jacket, we set off in our vehicle.  As our car drove ahead, the character of the mountains kept changing. All around now, the grey rocks broke the blue skyline in craggy...

  MONSOON IN MUSSOORIE Outside the car window, the clouds seem to be floating along with us. Dodging the mountains, drifting through the green valley and hanging low on the road, the soft wisps of water, bring a smile to my face. I am approaching Mussoorie, the queen of hill-stations, as it is often described. A drizzle greets me, as the car winds up the last mountain bend and arrives at the popular holiday destination, known not just for its scenic views but for being home to the most celebrated authors, poets and artists. A resident of the town and celebrated author Ganesh Saili had once said, “the stretch from Mussoorie to its twin Landour has the most number of creative brains”. The clouds clear for a minute and the stunning views of the green Doon Valley and the distant snow-capped Himalayan peaks mesmerise me. As I step out of the car, breathing in the fresh air and looking around the quaint and vibrant town, I think maybe its salubrious climate will make a poet out of me as ...

  LEGENDS OF NAINITAL The British may have “ accidentally stumbled ” upon the stunning lake in Nainital and built a colony for themselves in the region's serene surroundings, but the beautiful town of Nainital finds a mention in ancient legends and texts. It is is said that Nainital is mentioned in ‘Manas Khand’ of the 'Skanda Purana’ as the Tri-Rishi-Sarovar, the lake of the three sages, Atri, Pulastya and Pulaha who had come here on pilgrimage. Finding no water to quench their thirst, they dug a hole here. Legend says that Sati, the consort of Lord Shiva consigned herself to the sacrificial fire when her father Daksha insulted her lord. In grief, Shiva danced the tandava with the lifeless body of Sati, until Vishnu cut it into bits scattering it all over the land. It is said that the left eye (nayan) of Goddess Sati fell here. It is said that the lake is formed in the shape of an eye. Naina Devi temple is located at the northern end of the lake.  The seven hills surrounding ...

  9 TOTALLY AMAZING OFFBEAT PLACES IN UTTARAKHAND I EXPLORED & YOU MUST TOO Uttarakhand is a land of misty Himalayas, roaring rivers, serene forests and ancient temples. Without a doubt, it is one of my most favourite states in India. Though the famous Shiva temples (Badrinath & Kedarnath), Nainital, Mussoorie, Haridwar, Rishikesh etc are some of the most common attractions of Uttarakhand; this time I got a chance to explore the hidden gems in Uttarakhand. These offbeat places in Uttarakhand totally left me awestruck. All thanks to Uttarakhand Tourism for this amazing experience. If you are a regular follow of me on social media (especially Instagram) then you must be have seen all the updates from my trip. If not, click here to see all the Instagram story highlights. In this post, I’ll be sharing 9 totally amazing offbeat places in Uttarakhand that I explored and you must too.       1- NAUKUCHIATAL Naukuchiatal is a beautiful place situated just about 27 km ...

  5 MONSOON TREKS IN UTTARAKHAND YOU CAN'T MISS The first shower of the monsoon brings with it not just respite from the scorching heat but also breathes life to nature's lush foliage. The season is also one of the best times of the year to experience the vibrant culture and traditions of the mountains, especially those of Uttarakhand because it is during this period that the state celebrates some of its most beautiful festivals – be it the Shivaratri festivities in Kangra and Chamba, the Harela festival that marks the beginning of the monsoon or the Nandashtami festival that is celebrated by the indigenous Bhotiya community residing in the northern parts of the state. Here are 5 picturesque trekking routes that offer the best of both nature and local culture during the rainy season.   Valley of Flowers Surrounded by mountains, dotted with gurgling streams, strewn with flowers and offering a much-travelled-on path – the  Valley of Flowers  is one of India's most popu...

  THE BES T SUMMER ADVENTURES TO TRY IN UTTARAKHAND Summers tend to become a bit lazy and the adrenaline junkie in us starts making peace with deep slumbers. The scorching hot season also brings limited vacay experiences with it. But what if one gets a plethora of summer holiday experiences? Give a shot to the summer adventures in Uttarakhand. One of the fastest growing tourist places, Uttarakhand sees a huge influx of tourists all through the year. Uttarakhand brings a lavish spread of recreational activities, which brings a halt to the monotony of daily lives. Let’s jump ahead to know more on such recreational activities. Bungee Jumping Bungee jumping is one of the best adventure sports in Uttarakhand. One can feel the adrenaline rushing at a bullet’s speed. The mother of all experience sports, bungee jumping makes one encounter fear and come back. One of the best spots for bungee jumping in India is Rishikesh in Uttarakhand. At 83 metres, Jumpin Heights – with jump masters from ...