Chances are you haven’t heard about Uttrakhand, a state in the North of India. Uttrakhand has had brief moments of popularity in the West such as when the British Empire built hill stations in Uttrakhand as their summer escapes, or when The Beatles stayed in an ashram in Uttrakhand in the 1960s. Uttrakhand is very popular with tourists who escape to the mountains during the heat of the summers in India. In places like Nainital hill station, Mussoorie hill station and Binsar hill station, you can enjoy lots of outdoor adventure activities like trekking and climbing but in the milder summer temperatures and surrounded by the scenic Himalaya Mountains. In winter though, Auli hill station has some of the best skiing in India. Finally, Chamba hill station is perfect for its proximity to Rishikesh, a world famous yoga centre, so you can accommodate different interests of family members.
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About Uttrakhand
Uttrakhand? Where’s that? You’ve heard of the famous Golden Triangle of India, the beaches of Goa, the houseboats of Kerala, and maybe even the Golden Temple of Amritsar. If you are visiting New Delhi and other well-trodden tourist areas in India in the height of summer, you may want to schedule in some time in the hill stations of Uttrakhand for a break from the oppressive heat.
What about Uttrakhand? Uttrakhand is a super popular destination with domestic tourists in India. These tourists flock to the hill stations set up by the British Raj in the 19th century to escape the stifling heat of the lowland portions of the country.
Uttarakhand, part of the enormous Himalayan range boasts of captivating views, tranquil environs, and perfect weather. The land of spirituality is bordered by the countries of Tibet and Nepal in the north and east (respectively) the Ganges plains in the south and the state of Himachal Pradesh in the west. Some of the hill stations in Uttrakhand even boast of snow-packed mountains.
The geography of Uttrakhand made it perfect for the location of hill stations. Hills stations were places established by colonial rulers at high elevation which became towns in their own right eventually. Of course, they also needed to be convenient to where the ruling elite usually gathered. For example, the distance from New Delhi to Dehradun in Uttrakhand is only about 150 miles.
The hill stations of Uttarakhand are well known not only for their amazing nature and panoramic views of snow packed mountains, but also the plethora of adventure activities. The area is a haven for adrenalin junkies who can enjoy camping, paragliding, mountain biking, rappelling, jet skiing and more.
Hill Stations of Uttarakhand
Although there are lots of hill stations of Uttarakhand, here is a hand-picked list of some of the most popular ones.
Nainital Hill Station
You can’t talk about Uttarakhand hill stations and not mention the Nainital hill station. For mesmerizing views and perfect weather, Nainital hill station is the one of the best hill stations in Uttrakhand to choose.
Nainital Lake is the jewel of hill station Nainital
The beautiful Naini Lake and the green hillsides with densely wooded hills makes it a perfect retreat for tourists. Some of the favorite places in Nainital include Tiffin Top, Guano Hills, Hanuman Garhi , Sher-Ka-Danda Ridge, Naina Devi Temple, and Eco Cave Gardens. Another must-do at hill station Naintal is a boat ride on the Naini Lake.
Mussoorie Hill Station
Considered the queen of the hill stations in Uttrakhand , Mussoorie Hill Station is indeed the pride of Uttarakhand. Mussoorie boasts of breathtaking scenic beauty as it is located amidst the rolling Himalayan ranges.
You don’t need to be a mountain climber to enjoy the scenic Himalyan mountains at Mussoorie Hill Station
Mussoorie Hill Station is a perfect spot for adventure seekers who are looking for an active holiday including paragliding, trekking, river rafting and mountaineering. You can stay in one of the leading hotels in Mussoorie and make the most of this splendid Mussoorie hill station. Places to visit in Mussoorie Hill Station include the Clock Tower, Lal Tibba, Kempty Falls, Landour Clock Tower and Cloud’s End.
Chamba Hill Station
Chamba is one of the most picturesque hill stations in Uttrakhand. The tiny Chamba hill station with unspoiled nature and slopes with pine trees offer an impressive view of Himalayas. Moreover, Chamba Hill Station is close to both Mussoorie Hill Station and Rishikish (the so-called Yoga Capital of the World). If all of your family is like mine, you may split up for couple of days where some of you would prefer yoga and others want more action and adventure.
A yoga complex in Rishikesh which is conveniently close to Chamba Hill Station if you are travelling with companions who prefer yoga to outdoor adventure.
There is an impressive variety of Himalayan fauna and flora here which makes the Chamba hill station highly attractive. The Ravi River and the Chal River are the two main rivers of the region. Enjoy the romantic monsoons in Chamba or the great weather in the summers. Tourists also come here to enjoy camping, trekking, and climbing.
Auli Hill Station
Auli hill station is a delight or winter sports enthusiasts. The best time to visit Auli hill station for winter sports is January to March. With panoramic view of the Himalayas, Auli hill station makes for an unforgettable experience for those who love winter sports. Auli is fast becoming one of the best places to ski in India with many ski resorts.
Any thoughts about Uttrakhand immediately bring to mind the snow covered peaks of the Himalayas.
There are plenty of trekking trials for trek lovers and the most popular are Auli-Kuari Pass trek and Auli to Badrinath for adventure trekking. You can even take a cable car ride to Auli from Joshimath (an important Hindu pilgrimage destination).
Binsar Hill Station
The highest of the hill stations in Uttrakhand is Binsar hill station located 7600 feet above sea level. Binsar Hill Station is just perfect for both nature lovers as well as fans of adventure travel.
The hill stations in Uttrakhand offer many opportunities for trekking.
Situated amidst the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, from Binsar hill station you can enjoy the panoramic views of the snowy Himalayan peaks and slopes covered with Himalayan oak and rhododendron forests. Those slopes boast of some great treks as well as plenty of wildlife and bird’s species. Among the wildlife at Binsar hill station, you can spot black bear, pine marten porcupine and leopard as well as more than 200 species of birds.
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When you think of India, you probably think about the Taj Mahal or Rajasthan… but there’s more to visit. An example is Uttrakhand, a state in the North of India. Check out the best 5 hill stations in Uttrakhand, India – here you can trek in the summer, and enjoy some of the best skiing in India in the winter. #uttrakhand #india #hillstation #skiing
Let’s talk India off the beaten path. In Uttrakhand, a state in the North of India, the British
Empire built hill stations. Check out the best places to visit in Uttrakhand: you’ll find some of
the best skiing resorts in India, and beautiful places perfect for climbing and trekking.
#uttrakhand #india #hillstation
Chances are you haven’t heard about Uttrakhand, a state in the North of India. The
British Empire built hill stations in Uttrakhand as their summer escapes. In places like
Nainital hill station and Mussoorie hill station, you can enjoy trekking and climbing
surrounded by the Himalaya Mountains. In winter, Auli hill station has some of the best
skiing in India.Check out the best 5 hill stations in Uttrakhand, India! #uttrakhand #india
#hillstation
This is a collaborative post with Cleartrip.
