Top 15 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Uttarakhand, India
Uttarakhand which is respectfully called Dev Bhoomi, this place is no less than a heaven for tourists. Snowy Himalayas, originating glaciers of sacred rivers, top pilgrimage sites, scenic views, boating, trekking, bungee jumping, river rafting, paragliding, etc. Everything will be found here, absolutely natural and in peace. In this article, we will know about beautiful places to visit in Uttarakhand state of India.
Best time to visit Uttarakhand
The unique beauty of nature in Uttarakhand attracts tourists all the time except during the rainy season. Snowfall in winter, cool climate in summer, pleasant weather in October and November, you can come here any time as per your interest. By the way, people mostly come here from April to mid-June to escape the scorching heat of the plains of the city.
All the adventure and popular tourist activities like trekking, river rafting, paragliding, etc take place during summer or October and November.
Avoid visiting Uttarakhand during the rainy season as the rivers are at their peak and there is a constant threat of landslides.
Places to Visit in Uttarakhand
The hilly region of Uttarakhand is divided into two divisions, Kumaon and Garhwal, and the routes coming from Delhi are different. That’s why you can choose one circle at a time and see many tourist places in it.
The two most sacred rivers of Hinduism, the Ganges, and the Yamuna, originate from the Gangotri and Yamunotri glaciers in Uttarakhand, respectively. Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham are also here which is the holy pilgrimage of Hindus.
Here are some beautiful places to visit in Uttarakhand:
1. Nainital
Nainital is undoubtedly one of the most scenic, refreshing, and beautiful places in India. The whole place is situated around the Nainital Lake and is among the most preferred hill stations to visit by the people.
Boating in the lake is the most famous activity here. It is known for its colorful views, bustling markets, religious places, wildlife observations, and adventure activities.
On one of the surrounding hills also lies the Sherwood College, which is best known for Amitabh Bachchan, considered among the greatest personalities of India, being an alumnus. Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences is located here as well, which houses the largest telescope in Asia.
Overall, Nainital is a place where one can enjoy all sorts of touristic activities along with a magnificent panoramic view of the Himalayas around at all times.
2. Mussoorie
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Also known as the Queen of Hills, Mussoorie is located at a height of 2000 mt. from the sea level, offering a spectacular view of the mountains. It is famous for its forests, waterfalls, and lots of adventure activities.
The town was discovered by Captain Frederick Young, a Britisher, in 1827. He had found it with a British official named FJ Shore when they both climbed up one of the Doon Valley hills.
People prefer this destination as it is about 270 km away from Delhi, and just around 35 km away from Dehradun. Along with the views and typical mountain activities, people are also fascinated by the churches, historic structures, and the mall Road which is very popular for shopping souvenirs.
3. Kausani
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Kausani is best known for its marvelous views of the Himalayan peaks of Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nandakot, and Panchchuli. The town was even named “Switzerland of India” by Mahatma Gandhi after he spent some time at Anasakti Ashram, writing his book ‘Anasakti Yoga.’
Bajinath Temple at Kausani is a place of mythological significance as it is believed that Lord Shiva and Parvati married here. People visit this place to take a break from busy city lives and spend time among nature and views of the mountains.
The most famous places to visit here are the Ashrams, Kausani Tea Estate, and Rudhradhari Waterfall. Famous Indian poet Sumitranandan Pant was also born here, after whom, his native place has been turned into a museum called Sumitranandan Pant Gallery.
4. Auli
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Auli is considered the ‘Skiing Capital of India’ because of the regular winter sports competitions conducted here. It also offers a magnificent view of some of the highest Himalayan peaks including Nanda Devi.
The place is best known for its ropeway (cable car), which is the highest and longest in all of Asia and takes you from Joshimath to Auli. It is also home to some of the highest man-made lakes in the world at an altitude of about 3000m.
Many Explorers and travellers have made camping and trekking also a very popular activity here making the place among the best places to visit in Uttarakhand.
5. Rishikesh
The name Rishikesh comes from the words ‘Rishika,’ meaning Lord, and ‘Isha,’ meaning sense. Therefore, Rishikesh means “Lord of the Senses,” referring to the Hindu God, Vishnu.
Rishikesh is considered one of the holy cities due to its location on the right bank of the river Ganga, as well as being a gateway for the Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand.
It is also known as the Yoga Capital of the World due to the large number of meditation centers and ashrams located here. Interestingly,
Rishikesh is much more popular for its adventure activities such as river rafting, paragliding, etc. It was also the first place to introduce bungee jumping in India.
Rishikesh is very popular among youth for adventures, devotees for temples, and foreigners for yoga and meditation, and is also on the list of popular places to visit in Uttarakhand.
6. Dehradun
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Dehradun is the capital of Uttarakhand and the most populous Yamuna River passes through Dehradun making it a very fertile natural habitat. The place serves as the headquarters city as well. It acts as a link between the Himalayan ranges and the Shivaliks.
Dehradun is considered a training and academic hub since the beginning as institutes like Doon School, Indian Miltary Academy (IMA), RIMC (Rashtriya Indian Military College), Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), and Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) are all located here.
Dehradun is the epitome of nature and its beauty with its waterfalls, national parks, and forests. Adventure activities like paragliding and safari are famous here along with its temples and monasteries.
Robber’s Cave is a must-visit site for those seeking peace and thrill at the same time. Other than that, one can enjoy shopping as well at Paltan Bazaar and Tibetan Market. It is at a distance of around 240 Km from Delhi and one of the most preferred tourist places to visit in Uttarakhand.
7. Chopta
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Chopta is a convenient destination for tourists due to its location at the center of the Panch Kedar, the five holiest temples in Uttarakhand dedicated to Lord Shiva.
It serves as an essential checkpoint for many treks toward religious places and viewpoints.
Its trek to Tungnath temple is the most preferred route, surrounded by scenic views and deodar forests. Besides temples and breathtaking landscapes, Chopta is known for bird watching and ‘bugyals’ (meadows).
For the same reason, it is called the “Switzerland of Uttarakhand.” and is on our list of places to visit in Uttarakhand. The place is full of tourists nearly throughout the year.
8. Haridwar
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Haridwar is made up of two words, ‘Hari’ and ‘Dwar.’ ‘Hari’ means God, and ‘Dwar’ means gateway, the full word meaning ‘Gateway to God.’ It is located on the right bank of the river Ganges and is famous for hosting the grand Kumbh Mela once every 12 years.
It is considered one of the holiest places in India as it has numerous connections with Hindu mythology and is the first place the river Ganges flows through when it enters the plains. Har Ki Paudi is the most famous ghat.
It is the spot where drops of ‘Amrit’ are considered to have fallen and it attracts thousands of people every morning and evening for Ganga Arti. It is also the spot where most people take dips in the holy water considering its religious importance. It is among the popular places to visit in Uttarakhand for both religious and tourist people.
Haridwar is full of temples of significance and is a must-visit spot for religious and spiritual people. It is also known for its street food and uncountable yoga ashrams for which booking has to be done in advance.
9. Mukteshwar
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The name for this village derives from a 350-year-old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, called Mukteshwar Dham. It is the epitome of nature’s beauty with its wildlife, waterfalls, cliffs, and vegetation.
The place is near Nainital with a distance of just about 50 Km. It is around 70 Km away from Haldwani and around 350 Km from Delhi, keeping it quite well connected.
Some of the popular activities here include rock climbing on the cliffs and rappelling. The little town is more appealing to nature lovers with its serene ambiance, beautiful views, fruit orchards, and simple cottages built in colonial style. This place is among the most beautiful natural places to visit in Uttarakhand.
10. Binsar
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Binsar too, like Mukteshwar, is said to be named after the BIneshwar Mahadev Temple, built in the 16th century, dedicated to Lord Shiva. This is among the natural places to visit in Uttarakhand and is best known for its wildlife sanctuary which is home to about 200 species of birds.
The Zero Point located a 2 Km trek away from the sanctuary is a must-visit spot as it gives you the best view of Kedarnath, Nanda Devi, Shivling, and Trishul peaks of the Himalayan range. One can enjoy bird-watching, treks, and peaceful walks through the village of Binsar. It is a dream site for photographers with nature all around.
Religious Places to Visit in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is also called Devbhoomi as it is the abode of gods and has many pilgrimage centers like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Haridwar, Rudranath, Tungnath, Devprayag, Hemkund Sahib, etc. Here in history many sages and kings have done penance and attained siddhis.
People from all over India come with reverence to these religious places to visit in Uttarakhand by walking long distances.
Chhota Char Dham or 4 pilgrimage sites is an important Hindu pilgrimage site also located in the Uttarakhand Himalayas. The Chota Char Dham Yatra or journey includes four holy sites which include Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.
11. Kedarnath Temple
The Kedarnath Temple, situated at an altitude of 3,583 m (11,755 ft) on the banks of the Mandakini River, is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
This holy place is one of the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and is also among the Chhota Char Dham of India. This is one of the most preferred religious places to visit in Uttarakhand.
12. Badrinath Temple
Badrinath Temple, one of the Char Dhams of India, is situated at an altitude of 3,133 meters (10,279 ft) on the banks of the Alaknanda River.
The temple is mentioned in ancient religious texts like Vishnu Purana and Skanda Purana and is one of the most preferred religious places to visit in Uttarakhand.
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13. Gangotri
Gangotri is the origin of the holy river Ganga (here Bhagirathi and Ganga after Devprayag) and the temple of Goddess Ganga.
This temple is one of the smaller Char Dhams and one of the most preferred religious places to visit in Uttarakhand.
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14. Yamunotri
At an altitude of 3,293 meters (10,804 ft), Yamunotri is the origin of the holy river Yamuna and a temple of the Hindu goddess Yamuna.
Being a part of the Chhoti Char Dham Yatra, it is one of the most preferred religious places to visit in Uttarakhand.
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15. Hemkund Sahib
Gurudwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib Ji is a very sacred shrine for Sikhism situated at an altitude of about 4,329 meters on the banks of Hemkund Lake.
One of the pilgrimage places to visit in Uttarakhand, Hemkunt Sahib attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.
According to the Holy Granth Sahib of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, meditated here.
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