Looking for the best places to visit in Uttarakhand?
This mountain state works for almost any kind of trip you have in mind. Spend a quiet morning sitting by a lake, take a hike through the hills, go white-water rafting with friends, or just relax in a calm town with your family. Picking the right spot can be tricky when you have so many options. Here are 10 great places to add to your plan, along with how tourio.in can help you book everything.
1. Rishikesh
Rishikesh sits right where the Ganga river enters the flat plains from the hills. Most people go there for river rafting, camping near the water, and cliff jumping. You can walk across Laxman Jhula, stop by the cafes, and head down to Triveni Ghat in the evening to see the Ganga Aarti.
2. Nainital
Nainital is a famous hill town built around Naini Lake. It is very easy to travel here with kids or elderly family members because the main spots are close together. You can rent a wooden rowboat on the lake, buy snacks on Mall Road, or take a cable car ride up to Snow View Point.
3. Mussoorie
Mussoorie is just a short drive up from Dehradun. It sits on a high mountain ridge, giving you a full view of the Doon Valley down below. Kempty Falls and Gun Hill get crowded, but you can take a quiet walk along Camel’s Back Road if you want to get away from traffic noise.
4. Auli
Auli is the top spot in India if you want to see snow or try skiing. From December to February, the hills get covered in deep snow. Once summer starts, the snow melts away and leaves giant green grass meadows called bugyals with views of peak Nanda Devi.
5. Jim Corbett National Park
If you want to see wild animals, Corbett is the best park to visit in Uttarakhand. It is filled with dense forests and open river beds. Booking an early morning safari in an open jeep gives you a real chance to see wild elephants, deer, birds, and tigers.
6. Kedarnath
Kedarnath sits high up near a big glacier in the Garhwal range. Getting to the old stone temple means walking a 16 km uphill trail from Gaurikund. The trail runs alongside fast river streams, and seeing the temple standing in front of snowy peaks makes the long walk worth it.
7. Badrinath
Badrinath is another major temple town, located right on the banks of the Alaknanda river. The bright temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and sits between the Nar and Narayan mountains. While you are there, you can drive a few extra kilometers to Mana, which is the last Indian village before the border.
8. Valley of Flowers
This high-altitude national park stays open only from June to September during the rainy season. During these months, the whole valley fills up with hundreds of different wild flowers. You start the trek from Govindghat, crossing wooden bridges over river streams along the way.
9. Dehradun
Dehradun is the capital city and the main stop if you arrive by train or flight before going up to Mussoorie or Rishikesh. It sits in a flat valley between two rivers. Good places to check out inside the city include Robber’s Cave, where you walk through cold water inside a narrow rock gap, and Mindrolling Monastery.
10. Kausani
Kausani is a small, quiet village in Bageshwar district if you want to avoid crowded markets. It is famous because you get an open, 300 km wide view of Himalayan peaks like Trishul and Nanda Devi. It is a nice place to walk through tea gardens and watch mountain sunsets.
Planning a mountain trip takes proper timing, good cabs, and clean hotels. At tourio.in, we handle your hotel bookings, local cab pick-ups, and custom tour packages so you can travel without any trouble. Visit tourio.in today to start planning your Uttarakhand tour.
(FAQs) About Visiting Uttarakhand
Q1: Which month is actually the best time to go to Uttarakhand?
March through June is when most people go because the weather is warm and roads are clear for visiting places like Nainital or Mussoorie. If your goal is to see snow or ski, go between December and February. July to September is monsoon, which means heavy rain across most of the state, but it is the only time the Valley of Flowers trek is open.
Q2: How many days should I plan for a trip?
If you just want to see two or three nearby places like Dehradun, Mussoorie, and Rishikesh, a week is plenty. If you are doing a pilgrimage up to Kedarnath or driving all the way to Badrinath, plan for 10 to 12 days so you aren’t spending your entire trip sitting in a car on mountain roads.
Q3: Is it risky to visit Uttarakhand during the monsoon?
It can be. In July and August, rain often causes sudden landslides and blocks narrow mountain roads. Towns lower down like Rishikesh and Haridwar are fine to visit, but if you are heading higher up, keep a day or two free in your schedule in case you get stuck behind a road closure.
Q4: What is the easiest way to reach Uttarakhand from Delhi?
You can take a short flight straight into Dehradun’s airport. Trains like the Jan Shatabdi or overnight express runs daily from Delhi to Haridwar, Dehradun, and Kathgodam. Otherwise, you can take an overnight Volvo bus or hire a cab, which takes anywhere from 5 to 8 hours depending on where you are going.
Q5: How hard is the Kedarnath trek for a beginner?
The trail from Gaurikund to Kedarnath is 16 kilometers long and goes steep uphill, which usually takes 6 to 8 hours of continuous walking. First-timers can do it, but start going for regular 3–4 km daily walks two weeks before your trip so your legs don’t give out. If walking becomes too hard, you can hire a horse, a palki, or book a helicopter ride from the base.
Q6: Can I rent a car and drive myself around the mountains?
You can, but unless you have real experience driving on steep, narrow hairpin bends, it isn’t recommended. Local mountain drivers know how to negotiate narrow turns and blind spots safely. Hiring a cab with a driver is usually much less stressful.
