"Land of the Gods"
Overview
Uttarakhand — the Devbhumi (Land of the Gods) — is where the Ganges and Yamuna descend from the Himalayas, where ashrams line the Rishikesh riverbank, and where pilgrims undertake the Char Dham yatra to the four sacred shrines. Beyond the spiritual pull, Uttarakhand offers India's best white-water rafting, Jim Corbett's Bengal tigers, and the flower-filled Valley of Flowers.
Ready to go packages
Where to go
Rishikesh
The world yoga capital — 48 ghats on the Ganga, international ashrams, bungee jumping, rafting through 36 km of rapids.
Haridwar
One of the seven holiest cities in Hinduism — the Ganga Aarti at Har ki Pauri is among India's most spectacular rituals.
Nainital
A colonial hill station built around Naini Lake in the Kumaon hills — boat rides, Naina Devi temple, and panoramic cable car.
Dehradun
The state capital and the usual arrival point, in the Doon valley below Mussoorie. Jolly Grant airport and the railhead are here; most itineraries transfer straight on to the hills.
Mussoorie
A colonial hill station at around 2,000 m on a ridge above Dehradun, strung along a long Mall Road. Gun Hill is reached by ropeway; Kempty Falls, Landour and Dhanaulti are all short drives out.
Corbett
The town of Ramnagar and the reserve around it — India's oldest national park, established 1936. Safaris run by zone on advance permits, and the zones open on different seasonal calendars.
Ranikhet
A quiet cantonment town at 1,870 m in Kumaon, still run by the Indian Army, with long Himalayan views and the terraced Chaubatia orchards a few kilometres south.
Must-see experiences
Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)
The abandoned Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram where the Beatles stayed in 1968, now a ticketed site inside Rajaji Tiger Reserve.
Bhimtal
A lake town 22 km from Nainital whose lake is larger than Naini and holds a small island with an aquarium.
Chaubatia Gardens
A government fruit orchard and research station about 8 km from Ranikhet, growing apple, apricot, peach and plum varieties.
Dhanaulti
A quiet ridge of deodar and oak forest about 25 km beyond Mussoorie, with Forest Department eco-parks and Himalayan views.
Ganges White-Water Rafting
Commercially operated white-water rafting on the Ganga above Rishikesh, run in fixed stretches from mid-September to the end of June.
Gun Hill
Mussoorie's second-highest point, reached by a cable car from Mall Road or a 20-minute walk, with views to the Doon valley and the Himalaya.
Har Ki Pauri
The principal bathing ghat on the Ganga at Haridwar, where the Ganga Aarti has been performed by Shri Ganga Sabha since 1916.
Jim Corbett National Park Safari
Permit-controlled jeep and canter safaris into India's oldest national park, run from eight separate tourism zones with different open seasons.
Mall Road, Mussoorie
Mussoorie's central pedestrian promenade running between Library Bazaar and Picture Palace, lined with shops, cafés and viewpoints.
Naini Lake
The eye-shaped lake at the centre of Nainital, ringed by the Mall Road promenade and used for rowing and yachting.
Sattal
A cluster of interconnected freshwater lakes in oak forest, 23 km from Nainital, known for birdwatching.
Snow View Point
A hilltop viewpoint at 2,270 metres above Nainital, reached by aerial ropeway from Mallital or by road, facing the Himalayan snow line.
Tiffin Top
A 2,292-metre peak in the Ayarpatta hills 4 km from Nainital, with the stone Dorothy's Seat memorial at its summit.
Triveni Ghat Ganga Aarti
The daily evening Maha Aarti on the steps of Rishikesh's largest ghat, where the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati are held to meet.
Weather & best time to visit
Seasons at a glance
Spring
March–June
Best time for Char Dham pilgrimage (shrines open May). Valley of Flowers blooms July–August. Rishikesh rafting from March.
Monsoon
July–August
Heavy rain in Garhwal; landslides possible on mountain roads. Valley of Flowers blooms. Avoid high-altitude treks.
Autumn
September–November
Clear views of Himalayan peaks, trekking season for Roopkund and Kedarkantha. Shrines close in October–November.
Winter
December–February
Auli gets good snowfall for skiing. Rishikesh and Haridwar are pleasant. High passes are snowbound.
Festivals & events
Every evening at Har ki Pauri, priests swing fire lamps over the Ganga as thousands of diyas float downstream.
Seven-day festival in Rishikesh draws 2,000+ participants from 100 countries for master classes on the Ganga banks.
Ready to go to Uttarakhand?
From ₹22,000 · 5–6 nights · Fully curated by a real expert
