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Tourism in Uttaranchal

About Uttaranchal: The newly formed state of Uttaranchal is located at the foothills of Shivalik and is a place for abundant tourism opportunity. It is renowned for its flora and fauna and row of pilgrim centres. The alpine forests which cover most part of Uttaranchal are a habitat to some endangered and rare wildlife species. The glaciers, snow-covered mountains, skiing slopes and valley of flowers are sure to add a cutting edge to your breath-taking holiday experience in Uttaranchal.

Places of visit:

- Dehradun: Dehradun is the capital of Uttaranchal and is a favorite hill station retreat for thousands of tourists each year. It is situated in the Doon Valley at the Himalayan foothills with the Ganges in the east and the Yamuna in the west. There are several tourist sites in the city including Tapkeshwar, Robbers' Cave, Malsi Deer Park and Forest Research Institute. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 24 kms from Dehradun. It is connected among other places, to Amritsar, Howrah, Bombay, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi and other major cities. Dehradun is well connected to other parts of India with a wide network of road routes.

- Mussoorie: Mussoorie is one of the most popular hill stations in Uttaranchal. Its enchanting natural beauty and the variety of flora and fauna has given it abundant tourism scope. The sight seeing places in Mussoorie include Gun hill, Camel's Back Road, Kempty Falls, Lal Tibba and the Jheel. The nearest railhead is at Dehradun 35 kms away, which is connected to Delhi, Varanasi, Howrah, Amritsar, Saharanpur and Haridwar. Taxies and buses are available outside the Railway Station. The city has three bus stands, Masonic Lodge, Library and Tehri bus stand. Buses ply to all the major tourist centres in the region. Dehradun is 35 kms, Delhi 280 kms, Saharanpur 110 kms, Srinagar (Garhwal) 135 kms, and Tehri 76 kms. The U.P.State Transport Corporation plies deluxe and super fast buses to Delhi.

- Nainital: Apart from being a popular hill station. Nainital is often seen as a lake retreat because of its sparking water streams and lakes which are surrounded by seven hills. Naini Lake, Snow View, Naina Peak, Hanuman Garhi. You could try a hand at adventure sports like sailing, parasailing and mountaineering. You could also trek up to Snow View.
You could also plan an excursion to the quiet hill station of Ranikhet which is 60 kms away from Nainital and to Corbett National Park that is 50 kms away from here.

- Corbett national park: The Park has a core area of 520 sq.kms which houses 582 species of birds, 26 species of reptiles, 7 species of amphibians and 50 species of mammals. The floral diversity is also extremely varied. The park is open from mid-November to mid-June. The months from March to June get very hot but are considered the best time to view the animals as they come down more frequently to the water to drink. Advance reservations are available at the Field Director's office in Ramnagar. Accommodation is available at Ramnagar as well as at the Park. There are a variety of hotels, lodges and rest houses to choose from. The Forest Dept has accommodation at 24 rest houses. You could also opt to stay in log huts, tourist huts and tented lodges at Dhikala.

- Pilgrimage sites: Rihikesh, Haridwar and Chardham are visited by thousands of pilgrims each year. The Chardham is regarded as one of the holiest pilgrimages by the Hindus and it comprises of visit to Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. These shrines rest in the Middle Himalayas and are under snow for a significant part of the year. Rishikesh and Badrinath are considered equally holy. Many foreigners arrive here each year in search of spiritual quest or as tourists. The beautiful landscapes here give another reason for tourists to visit these holy places.
You could also add Almora, Kausani and valley of flowers to your travel list.

Climate: The state has two distinct climatic regions: the predominant hilly terrain and the smaller plain region. Summers in the plains are extremely hot and the temperature can soar up to 40°C and bring about a lot of humidity. The temperature in this region during winter can drop down to 5°C. The Himalayan region has Alpine conditions characterized by cold winters with snowfall for quite a long time, good rainfall in the monsoon, and mild summers. This climate attracts tourists seeking spiritual refuge, adventure or simply scenic beauty. Summer is thus the best time to visit the Himalayan region and it is better to visit the plains during winter.

How to reach: Uttaranchal is accessible by air, rail and road.

- Air: Jolly Grant is the only airport situated in the capital city of Dehradun. Indian airlines fly regularly to this airport. You also have the option of flying to Delhi and taking a train or bus from there.
- Rail: Dehradun, Haridwar, and Kathgodam are the major railway stations connected to the rest of the country by regular trains. However, there are fewer rails within the state due to difficult terrains.
- Road: metalled roads connect all important places in the state. National Highways such as 58, 73, 74, and 87 connect places in the state to other parts of the country. There may be difficulty in accessing higher altitudes due to landslides and snowfall.

Adventure sports in Uttaranchal:

- Skiing: Auli is an important skiing base in Uttaranchal. At Auli, machines like snow beater provide a smooth track ideal for skiing. The Ski training institute at Auli, an amateur helps you to understand the many details of the sports. Mundali is another important ski resort comprising of a vast stretch of open land covered in dense snow. It is advisable that you bring along your winter gears like mufflers, pull overs, wind proof jackets, snow boots, and a tough pair of glare. Skiing in Uttaranchal generally takes place in the winter seasons specifically December to march.

- River rafting: Uttaranchal has many rivers intersecting which are hot spots for river rafting. Ganga, Alakananda, Bhagirathi and Yamuna are rivers that are best suited for river rafting. You can also try White Water Rafting in Kumaon which allow rafters to flow with the waters of river Kali.

- Jungle Safari: Corbett National Park and Nanda Devi National Park offer jungle safari options for tourists.

- Mountaineering: The various Himalayan ranges in Uttaranchal offer a wide range of mountaineering experiences. Garhwal and Kumaon are the most popular mountaineering sites. Panch Kedar in Garhwal region gives a glimpse of rich flora and fauna. Pithoragarh is a popular mountaineering spot in Kumaon region.

- Paragliding: Paragliding is a popular sport in Uttaranchal. This is one sport which fulfils your wish t fly like a bird. Nainital, Dayara, Pratap Nagar, Dhanolti Ridge and Bedni Bugyal in Kumaon are popular paragliding hubs. Experienced trainers help learners in learning the sport as well as polishing your skill at the sport. One can also register in a paragliding club that provides all kinds of equipments and look into the safety aspects of the person too.

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