Travel to Uttaranchal

Uttaranchal is one of the newest states in India. It was carved out of the state of Uttar Pradesh in 2000. The mighty Himalayas endow this state with all its charms.

The major towns in Uttarnchal are Dehra Dun, Rishikesh and Roorkee, are connected to the rest of India by rail. All other places are accessible only by road. Transport is difficult to get in most parts of the state after dusk, so travelers are advised to plan their itineraries factoring in the halts at night.

Travel to Uttaranchal
How to reach Uttaranchal
Top cities in Uttaranchal
Where to stay in Uttaranchal
Wildlife in Uttaranchal
Tourist Attractions of Uttaranchal

With the exception of plains towns like Roorkee and Dehra Dun, most parts of Uttaranchal are pleasant throughout the year, although those places that are above 6500 feet up in the mountains become snowbound and cold between November and April.

In most parts of the state one doesn’t need the services of a guide. The people of the state have a reputation for friendliness and free, informal guidance is easily available.

However, if you are trekking, especially in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, it is advisable to hire the services of a guide, preferably a young local.

It is good to read up a little of the mythology relating to Siva, Parvati and Ganga while visiting places like places Rishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath, so that they come alive in the imagination.

Uttaranchal is a land of awesome scenic beauty. The Corbett National Park (named after the famous British shikari and raconteur Jim Corbett) located in the Kumaon Himalayas is a destination for wildlife enthusiasts, with species like the elephant, tiger and several varieties of deer. Many spots in Uttaranchal are also rich in flora. The most famous of these is the Bhyundar Valley in the Garhwal region, known to botanists all over the world as the Valley of Flowers.

The hill towns of Nainital, Ranikhet and Almora are also sought after for their natural beauty, especially Nainital for the lakes in and around it.

Places such as Rishikesh, Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath are primarily of religious significance to Hindus. The aarti ceremony on the Ganges at Rishikesh is worth seeing. All the temples on the banks of the sacred river light up their ornate lamps. An offering of lamplight is made to the river at dusk. Following this, hundreds of little lamps in leaf boats are lit and floated down the river. Although this ceremony is religious, even skeptics and confirmed atheists (such as the bestselling novelist Khushwant Singh) report being moved beyond words by the scene.

A similar feeling takes over the trekker to Kedarnath, nestled 11,000 feet up the Himalayas. The last stretch of the route from Gaurikund to Kedarnath has to be covered on foot, on muleback, or on a litter carried by a professional litter-bearer. Every stone on this path has been lovingly hewn and laid in place by human hands.

Another priceless experience in Uttranchal is the sight of the sun rising between the snow-capped mountains. Or alternatively, a dip in the cold, crystalline waters of the fast-flowing mountain rivers. It is experiences like these that make traveling to Uttaranchal seem to many like a voyage into the depths of one’s own self.

Even if you visit one of the famous hill-stations in Uttaranchal, your travel to this state is worth it. Adventure sports are also very much part of the activities of this state. It’s a newly formed state and hence is developing it’s tourism industry and so is offering some very good tour packages, which is very much worth the price, so don’t lose a moment thinking over it, but just travel to Uttaranchal and enjoy this state to the fullest.