“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before”. This is a famous quote from the popular Dalai Lama. Yes, traveling is a great thing. When you do it in a place that is close to nature like Uttarakhand, your happiness will find no bounds. I know this and I have experienced it as well. I travel a lot and here I have shared my Uttarakhand Itinerary that worked great for me. Hope, it will work for you as well:
First Week in Uttarakhand Itinerary:
Day Zero:
Reach Delhi:
Irrespective of the part of the world you belong to, you can easily reach Delhi. Yes, flights are operated not just from different cities in India, but even from many foreign countries to Delhi. Even, train services are available to Delhi from different states and cities in India. So, choose the right mode of transport. Book tickets early irrespective of the mode you choose and reach Delhi on Day Zero. The reason is that our Uttarakhand itinerary will begin right from day one.
Day One:
Travel from Delhi to Mussoorie:
You can reach Mussoorie from Delhi by air, by road or by rail.
- By Air: When you wish to reach by air, you will have to reach the Jolly Grant Airport that is located around 50 km away in Dehradun. Flights from Delhi are operated to this airport. Once you reach this airport, you can take taxis to reach Mussoorie.
- By Road: Mussoorie is well-connected by public transport services to major Indian cities. From Delhi, luxury buses operate. This trip will take around 10 hours of your time. So, it is better to book an early morning bus. Otherwise, you can travel by hiring a car. This will take around 8 to 9 hours. The road trip will bring you excellent views of mountains and greenery.
- By Train: When it comes to reaching Mussoorie from Delhi, you can reach Dehradun Railway Station. It is located at around 28 km from Mussoorie. Some trains like Nizamuddin AC, Mussourie Express and Shatabdi Express run from Delhi to Dehradun. Once you reach Dehradun, you can take a bus or taxi to reach Mussoorie. Based on the route your train takes, it will take around 6 to 10 hours to reach.
So, irrespective of the mode you choose, make sure you reach Mussoorie as early as possible. Only then, you can take complete rest and prepare for the next day. If you check-in to your accommodation in Mussoorie early on this day, you can walk around Mall Road. You will find plenty of outlets to eat. Even, you can do souvenir shopping.
Day Two:
Mussoorie Local Sightseeing:
Visit the hill stations:
Mussoorie is the home for many hill stations. You can begin the day by visiting one or more of the hill stations. The reason is that only at the beginning of the day you will be fresh to hike. You can visit Bhatta Falls, Lal Tibba and Jharipani Falls.
Walk along the Camel’s Back Road:
In this Uttarakhand itinerary, I have included this place because I love shopping. If you are interested in shopping, this road will take you to the Kulri Bazaar. This market is the home for local handicrafts and fashionable shoes. Even, you can find exclusive silver ornaments and mouth-watering sweets in this market. Never miss out on any of these things. You can finish your lunch here.
Get to Kempty Falls:
Do you love adventure activities? Then, you will love this place. It is a destination that features cascading waterfalls. Also, you can engage in outdoor activities like boating as well. Further, the cafes and cake points in this place will quench your thirst and hunger.
Mussoorie Lake:
This lake is located on the Dehradun- Mussoorie Road about 7kms before Mussoorie. You can have a great boating experience at the lake itself. Further, the stunning views of the verdant hills of Mussoorie and Doon Valley on this road will help you get an unforgettable experience.
After covering all these places, if you still have time, you can cover any other attractions located close to your accommodation. Otherwise, you can get to your room to take some rest. You need to rest as you will have to travel to Rishikesh the next day from Mussoorie.
Day Three:
Travel from Mussoorie to Rishikesh:
You can make this travel from Mussoorie to Rishikesh by road. These two cities are connected by roads. The distance is around 76 km and it will take around two-and-half hours for you to reach Rishikesh. When you reach Rishikesh early as the journey time is less, you can cover some attractions in Rishikesh. Some of the places worth to visit here are:
- Parmarth Niketan
- Ram Jhula
- Lakshman Jhula
- Bharat Mata Mandir
Finally, do not forget to attend the Ganga Harathi in the evening. After this, reach your hotel room and stay comfortably.
Day Four:
Move from Rishikesh To Auli:
The distance between Rishikesh and Auli will be around 268 km. You can book a cab and the road trip will take around 8 hours. If you start early, you will get some time in the evening. Otherwise, if you start late from Rishikesh, you will reach late to Auli and can spend your night at Auli in your accommodation.
Day Five:
Auli Sightseeing:
If you love mountains, you should never forget including Auli in your Uttarakhand Itinerary. Auli is located close to the religious site of Badrinath in Uttarakhand. So, you will get a breathtaking view of the snow-capped peaks when you visit Auli. You can visit the following places in Auli:
Joshimath:
Joshimath is located in Chamoli District. This small town is the starting point for many Himalayan Expeditions. Be it trekking trail to Badrinath or ropeway to Auli, everything begins from this small town. Joshimath is the home for Tapovan Natural Hot Springs and Shankaracharya Math. You can get to Auli only through this town. It is not just Joshimath is a place for religious enthusiasts, it is also the hotspot for adventurous activities. If you camp in Joshimath, even you can go trekking.
Auli Artificial Lake:
This is a manmade lake in Uttarakhand and you can include this place in your Uttarakhand itinerary if you look to visit a calm and serene atmosphere. Most importantly it is located along the skiing track. From this place, you can get an eye-catching view of the Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi Hill. Irrespective of whether you are a professional or a first-timer, the skiing track located behind this lake can help you learn skiing. During the summer months, fake snow is produced in this lake.
Gurso Bugyal:
You can get a complete 360-degree view of the Himalayan Peaks from this place. It is standing tall at a height of 3000 meters above sea level. From the top of the hill, you can get a view of the Dron, Trishul and Nandadevi. You can make stops on the 3 km long trek of this range. Never forget to get a panoramic view of the rapidly flowing river. The rivers turn icy when you visit during the winter. So, you cannot get a complete view from the top.
If time permits, you can also visit Chattrakhand that is located just at a distance of 1 km from Gurso Bugyal.
Day Six:
You can even spend this day exploring Auli in your Uttarakhand Itinerary.
Kwani Bugyal:
From Auli, Kwani Bugyal is located at a distance of about 13 km. It is well connected with most of the cities and towns in Uttarakhand. You will have to trek from Auli to reach Kwani Bugyal. You can also reach Kwani Bugyal by ropeway from Joshimath. So, if possible you can cover Joshimath as well on the sixth day together with Kwani Bugyal. You can go trekking here and you can get to see the real beauty of snow-capped mountains in this place. This place is located at a height of 3380 meters above sea level. You will get a pleasure that will never be less than heaven if you love exploring heights. So, do include Kwani Bugyal in your Uttarakhand Itinerary.
If you still have time and energy on this day, you can cover any places in my itinerary for your fifth day in Uttarakhand.
Day Seven:
Travel from Auli to Kausani:
To reach Kausani from Auli, you will have to travel around 200 km. So, it will take around 6 hours of journey by road. You can choose to travel by shared vehicles. In this case, you cannot directly reach Kausani. You will have to take two or three shared vehicles. Otherwise, you can also book private cabs through your hotel accommodation itself. When you book through your hotel itself, you can ensure safe and reliable taxi drivers. Do not forget to enquire about the tentative cost of the cab. When you have a prior idea, you can somewhat feel satisfied that you are paying only the right money and not anything extra.
As you will have to travel long, you need rest after reaching Kausani. So, you can dedicate the rest of the day to spending time with your family in your hotel room itself.
Second Week in Uttarakhand Itinerary:
Day Eight:
In my Uttarakhand Itinerary, I would like to suggest you dedicate this day to explore local attractions in Kausani. It is not just a village but is also a hill station in Bageshwar District in the state of Uttarakhand. The village is familiar for its eye-catching panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks and scenic attractions. Here are some of the attractions that you can explore in this village in Uttarakhand:
- Baijnath Temple
- Trekking at Pinnath
- Rudradhari Falls and Caves
- Gwaldam
- Shopping at Kausani
- Kausani Tea Estate
- Anashakti Ashram
- Someshwar
Day Nine:
From Kausani to Binsar:
The distance between Kausani and Binsar is around 50 km. It will take around two and a half hours on a road trip.
Local sightseeing in Binsar:
As you can reach Binsar just within two and a half hours, you can explore some attractions in Binsar. Here are some places you can visit in Binsar:
- Almora Town
- Jageshwar Temple
- Zero Point
- Binsar Bird Sanctuary
After covering these places, you can get to your hotel and spend this night in Binsar itself.
Day Ten:
Binsar to Nainital:
The distance between these two places is around 88 km. It will take around three hours to reach Nainital by road from Binsar. As you covered many places the previous day, you can spend the remaining part of the day resting in your hotel in Nainital.
Day Eleven:
Dedicated to Nainital Sightseeing:
Nainital holds the pride of being one of the best hill stations in India that is fenced with old cottages and green hills. This town is popular for natural attractions and people throng this town to enjoy its scenic beauty. Here is the list of places you can cover in Nainital:
- Mall Road
- Naina Devi Temple
- Himalaya Darshan
- Eco Cave Gardens
In addition to visiting these attractions, do not miss the Ropeway trip in Nainital. The reason is that it holds the pride of being one of the fastest ropeways in India. This aerial ropeway associate Mallital to the snow view point. You can travel from the base to reach a height of 2270 meters in this ropeway. It offers a panoramic view of breath-taking landscapes.
Day Twelve:
Take Nainital Lake Tour:
In your Uttarakhand itinerary, it will be worthy to dedicate one day entire for this trip. Yes, on this day, you can go on a trip to Naukuchiatal and Bhimtal. Here, the Naukuchiatal refers to the nine-cornered lake in Nainital. It is standing at a height of 1220 meters above sea level. The lake spreads for about a km long. Also, the lake holds the pride of being the deepest lake in Nainital with a depth of about 40 meters. Bhimtal is another eye-catching lake in Nainital standing at about 1350 meters above sea level. After exploring this place, you can spend the rest of the day at your accommodation.
Day Thirteen:
Travel from Nainital to Corbett:
Corbett is popular for its National Park. You can reach Corbett from Nainital within two hours. You can book a cab to reach this place. Once you reach Corbett on this day, you can spend the rest of the day exploring some local places. They are:
- Hanuman Dham
- Girija Devi Temple
- Corbett Museum
- Corbett Falls
If you still have time after covering these places, you can enquire about any attractions available on the way to your accommodation. Then, reach your place of stay and spend the night here.
Also, read my post on 5-day Nainital itinerary.
Day Fourteen:
Take a safari ride in Corbett:
As mentioned earlier, Corbett is popular for the National Park. So, you should never miss a safari ride in this national park. You can get a chance to see wildlife on this ride. Then, you can start at Corbett to reach Delhi. It will take just around 20 minutes to reach Delhi.
Day Fifteen:
Start to your home country or city from Delhi. You can choose any of your convenient modes to reach your hometown from Delhi.
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