Uttarakhand - The Devbhoomi
Uttarakhand has a huge significance in Hindu mythology. Places like Haridwar and Rishikesh situated along the banks of river Ganga is a prominent place of visit and worship for Hindu devotees. The famous Char Dham Pilgrimage of the Himalayas is a pilgrimage journey traveled across four holy sites in Uttarakhand- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.
From being one of the top places in India for religious tourism, Uttarakhand is now gaining popularity for adventure sports and trekking. Being home to numerous mountain peaks, Uttarakhand offers a great trekking experience to the novice as well as pro. The numerous activities that can be undertaken alongside trekking make it even more enjoyable. While the summers serve as a refuge from the scorching sun, winters in Uttarakhand are even special with thick snow lying across the hill stations.
Each city and town in Uttarakhand has its own significance. This is a place to satisfy your adventure junkie; be it bungee jumping in Rishikesh, trekking in the Himalayas, skiing in Kedarkantha, or tasting the local delicacies in Kumaon. Simply heaven, isn’t it?
So, hop in and join aboard!
Rishikesh - Yoga Capital of India
Residing at the foothills of Ganga, Rishikesh is renowned as the Yoga Capital of India. With countless yoga and meditation centers, ashrams, and temples, Rishikesh is a go-to destination for people seeking calm and peace. Moreover, the location of Rishikesh, surrounded by dense green forests, mellow hills, and the clear gushing Ganga makes it even the more enthralling.
In the late 60s, the Beatles visited the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram in Rishikesh. The Beatles are said to have a spiritual experience here. Ever since then, Rishikesh has been pursued by Western countries in a spiritual sense. The ashram has been reopened for the public and is a peaceful location.
The Char Dham Yatra (Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri) begins from Rishikesh.
Adventure Sports
The landscape and location of Uttarakhand make it ideal for various adventure sports.
- White Water Rafting- White water rafting in the gushing Ganga, Kali, and Tons river serves the perfect dose of adrenaline for adventure lovers. The rivers flow through rocky terrains and dense forests. Whether you are a swimmer or a non-swimmer, whether it’s your first-time rafting or not, you can easily choose the package that’s ideal for you. There are several places in Uttarakhand where you can do rafting. However, the most popular ones are in Rishikesh and Mori.
- Trekking- Surrounded by the majestic Himalayas, Uttarakhand offers one of the best trekking destinations for everyone. From easy treks like Har ki Dun, Kedarkantha, etc to moderate and tough treks, you’ll find the perfect trek for you. The trekking bases are beautiful with picturesque views and the summits are captivating with the lofty mountains surrounding them. The World Heritage sites of Valley of Flowers and Nanda Devi have very scenic trekking trails. You can trek all year round with treks like Kedarkantha that look surreal in winters with thick snow covering them.
- Skiing- One of the best things about trekking in winter is skiing. And Uttarakhand surely provides you the perfect opportunity to glide through the white blanket of snow. Skiing in Auli and Kedarkantha is one of the most sought after adventure in Uttarakhand.
- Camping- Whether you’re trekking across the Himalayas or hiking across the outskirts of the city, you’ll fall in love with the camping sites of Uttarakhand. The camping sites reside in the lap of Mother Nature providing you with much-needed peace and calm. The sites are perfect for stargazing, taking therapeutic nature walks, and for relaxation.
- Paragliding- Fly! Let the winds sweep you while you gaze at the vast sky and the spread of green all around you. You don’t need any prior knowledge for paragliding in Uttarakhand. The trained experts will guide you through and aid you in having your best experience. Mukteshwar and Ranikhet are two of the most famous paragliding destinations in Uttarakhand.
- Bungee Jumping- When you gotta Bungee Jump, you gotta jump from India’s highest Bungy. Jumpin Heights, India’s highest Bungy at 83 feet, is located at Rishikesh. Reasons to try out Bungee Jumping at Rishikesh- Trained experts from New Zealand, amazing views, ultimate adventure.
Char Dham Pilgrimage
“Devabhoomi” or the “Land of Gods” is what Uttarakhand is commonly known as. You’ll find significant places and stories from Hindu mythology having a deep-rooted connection with Uttarakhand. Along with the sacred mountain peaks, holy rivers, and religious temples, Uttarakhand is renowned for the Chota Char Dham Yatra or the Char Dham of Himalayas. The Chota Char Dham Pilgrimage comprises of four holy places of Uttrakhand- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.
The Char Dham originally was established by Adi Shankaracharya and is located in the four directions of India. It comprises of three holy Vaishnasites of Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and one holy Shaiva site of Rameshwaram. Vaishnavism is one of the three major traditions of Hinduism, two of them being Shaivism and Shaktism. The Chota Char Dham comprises of two Shakti sites of Yamunotri and Gangotri, one Shaiva site of Kedarnath, and one Vaishnava site of Badrinath.
The Char Dham Pilgrimage follows a specific order and can be undertaken from Haridwar, Rishikesh, or Dehradun. You’ll begin your journey towards Yamunotri, and then move towards Gangotri, followed by Kedarnath, and finally Badrinath. The route is very scenic and full of adventure.
Hill Stations
Guarded by the Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayas in the north and the birthplace of important Indian rivers, Uttarakhand without doubt, consists of the best hill stations. The hill stations of Uttarakhand with their stunning landscape provide a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The culture and slow-paced lifestyle of the people helps in enjoying the beauty of the places with ease and calm.
Whether you are looking for a beautiful family getaway, romantic honeymoon destinations, an adventurous trip with friends, or wander solo, the hill stations of Uttarakhand offers you the best of what it has. You’ll come as a traveler but when you leave, you’ll feel like leaving the warmth of your home.
Wildlife
Uttarakhand is rich in flora and fauna. From the lush green alpine meadows to the lofty forests of pine, deodars, and oaks, along with countless other species of trees, plants, and animals, Uttarakhand is a nature lover’s paradise. A haven for birds and flowers, at Uttarakhand you’ll get to watch various kinds of birds and captivating flowers.
Forest constitutes 65% of the total area of Uttarakhand. There are about 12 National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries that cover 13.8% of the total area of Uttarakhand. There are many rare species of plants and animals which are protected in biospheres and reserves. The famous national parks of Uttarakhand include Jim Corbett National Park, Rajaji National Park, The Valley of Flowers National Park, and Nanda Devi National Park, among others. There are two conservation reserves, namely, The Asan Barrage and Jhilmil Tal.
Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India. It is also the oldest tiger reserve. The Valley of Flowers and Nanda Devi National Park have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Valley of Flowers consists of about 520 species of higher plants and 498 species of flowering plants.
Leopards, sloths, Himalayan black bears, barking deers, sambars, hogs, chitals, Indian gray mongooses, yellow-throated martens, Bharoi, Indian pangolins, langur, rhesus monkeys, elephants, marsh crocodiles, gharials, Indian saw back turtle, brahminy river turtle, Gange's softshell turtle, etc. are some of the animals found in Uttrakhand.
Red Helen, great eggfly, common tiger, pale wanderer, jungle babbler, tawny-bellied babbler, great slaty woodpecker, red-breasted parakeet, orange-breasted green pigeon, and chestnut-winged cuckoo are the butterflies and birds of Uttarakhand.
The most prominent trees of Uttarakhand include evergreen oaks, rhododendrons, conifers, sal, silk cotton tea, etc.
Himalayan Expedition
An expedition is an experience unlike any other. There are about 200 mountain peaks with an altitude of above 6,000mts in Uttarakhand. Along with that, there are countless other smaller peaks fuelling the adventurer with more experiences. Uttarakhand is one of the best places for an expedition. Whether you are a novice or a pro, there’s a peak for everyone.
While the Himalayan Expedition is an experience worth undertaking, we realize the safety requirements and precautions of it. Hence, leading our teams are professional mountaineers and climbers, who are an expert at what they do.
For testing your spirits, you can take up an expedition to the highest mountain located entirely in India, Nanda Devi. The trek to Nanda Devi is quite difficult and is recommended for expert trekkers. For starting out with trekking, you can start with Har ki Dun trek or Kedarkantha trek.
Eco-Tourism/Cultural Tourism
Being a biodiversity hotspot and a culturally rich state, ecotourism and cultural tourism in Uttarakhand is eye-opening. Explore the mountains of Uttarakhand and indulge in bird watching and photography. The mountains of Uttarkhand have a diverse range of flora and fauna that never fails to amaze anyone.
The ethnic communities of Uttarakhand comprise of Kumaoni, Garhwali, Jaunsari, Bhotia, Tharus, Boksas, and Rajis. The people have an impressive cultural heritage and have stood by and followed the traditions to this day. They are warm-hearted, honest, and simple.
The culture of Uttarakhand is highlighted through its unique crafts, cuisine, music, dance, literature, arts, festivals, and structures. Each place in Uttarakhand has its significance in Hindu mythology. The crafts aim to spread the culture of Uttarakhand. The most prominent local crafts are wood carving. The local cuisine is pleasant and healthy. Some popular dishes of Uttarakhand include Bal mithai, Dubuk, Chutkani, Sei, Swal, Ghughut, Arsa, Gatta, etc.
One of the most prominent ways to experience the tradition of Uttarakhand is to visit local villages, eat local cuisine, and be a part of the local festivals.
