India
Uttarakhand
Where the Ganges leaves the Himalaya: the yoga town of Rishikesh, the pilgrim city of Haridwar, India's oldest national park at Corbett, and quiet hill villages with views of Nanda Devi.
Uttarakhand is the land of the gods for many Hindus, with the sources of the Ganges and its great pilgrim shrines high in the mountains. For visitors, it is also a short trip from Delhi to clean air, forest and the snow peaks.
Rishikesh is the best-known stop; Corbett is one of India's best tiger parks; and the Kumaon hills to the east have some of the most peaceful mountain lodges in India.
Written by the TravelZeg team in New Delhi.
In short
- Best for
- Yoga and wellness, tigers, Himalayan views, walking
- Less suited to
- The monsoon, when hill roads are often closed
- Best time
- March to June and September to November; Corbett's Dhikala zone from mid-November to mid-June.
- Ideal length
- 5 to 9 nights.
Where to go
Where to go in Uttarakhand
- Rishikesh
- Ashrams and yoga schools on the banks of the Ganges, the evening ceremony at Parmarth Niketan, and walks in the forested hills.
- Haridwar
- One of the seven holy cities of Hinduism, with a vast evening ceremony at Har ki Pauri.
- Corbett National Park
- India's first national park: tigers, elephants and the Ramganga river.
- Kumaon
- Binsar, Almora and the village lodges of the Kumaon hills, with views of Nanda Devi and long walks between villages.
- Mussoorie and Landour
- A colonial hill station and its quiet upper village, an easy trip from Dehradun.
Our view
What we rate, and what we would skip
What we rate
A week of yoga or Ayurveda in Rishikesh
At a serious centre, not a hotel spa.
Village walks in Kumaon
From lodge to lodge, with mountain views.
Corbett's Dhikala zone
The heart of the park, for those who book well ahead.
What we would skip
Rishikesh on long weekends
It fills with visitors from Delhi.
The high pilgrim routes for a first visit
Kedarnath and Badrinath need time and suit pilgrims more than sightseers.
Monsoon travel
Landslides close mountain roads in July and August.
Practical
Getting there and around
- Getting there
- Fly or take the fast train from Delhi to Dehradun (for Rishikesh); Corbett and Kumaon by road from Delhi.
- Combine with
- Delhi and Agra; Himachal; Varanasi.
Plan my journey
Tell us roughly what you have in mind
A specialist for that country replies within 24 hours, with a first idea of route and price. There is no charge and no obligation.
Or call us on +91 95571 00126