Uttarakhand mesmerizes everyone with its classic natural beauty surrounded by the impressive peaks of the Himalayas as well as the lush green forests that surround it. With pleasant temperatures throughout the year, travel destinations in Uttarakhand are popular with smart and discerning tourists as places to rejuvenate and relax, both in summer and winter. Uttarakhand’s tourist destinations offer a mix of everything for everyone, from adventure sports to pilgrimage centers. The valleys are as old as the holy places that abound in this friendly and welcoming state. These are some of the unforgettable travel destinations in Uttarakhand that leave visitors spellbound.
The Valley of Flowers: First discovered in 1931 by a British mountaineer who fell in love with this perfect location, it has since become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Uttarakhand. It is a World Heritage Site with more than 300 different flower species. The Valley of Flowers is now a national park covering 87 square meters. There are trekking trails, buses, jeeps, ponies and even helicopters for people to reach the valley at their convenience.
Rajaji National Park: Located in the foothills of Haridwar, this park is as famous for its forest as it is for the hundreds of Asian elephants that roam freely in the park. You can also see Himalayan bears, leopards, tigers, sloth bears, as well as exotic birds. The many forest rest houses that dot the national park make it a joy to spend days and nights exploring the park. This is also the place for fossil hunters as the 10 million year old Shiwalik trail is a treasure trove of fossils.
Corbett Tiger Reserve – India’s first national park still abounds with legendary stories from its charismatic founder, Jim Corbett, who immortalized the tigers of Kumaon in his book The Man-Eaters Of Kumaon. The more than 200 tigers can be seen if you are lucky, especially in the months of April to June. The reserve is also rich in wildlife, as well as habitats ranging from grasslands to rivers. Bird lovers will enjoy visiting the reserve in the months of December to March, when a large number of migratory birds visit the Ramganga Reservoir in the reserve. The largest number of animals can be found in the central area that is open from November to June, called Dhikala.
Binsar – For a 300-kilometre panoramic view of the Himalayas and the Kumaon Hills, there is no better place to stay than Binsar. At an altitude of 2,412 meters, this village has wildflowers, hanging moss, and an exotic variety of alpine flora that is breathtaking in its simple beauty.
Deoria Tal – Anyone interested in enjoying nature, bird watching or angling cannot miss a visit to Deoria Tal which has captivated ordinary people and poets since time immemorial. The lake is located at an altitude of 2438 meters with lush green forests surrounding it. The reflections of the peaks of Neelkanth, Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath can be seen in the crystal clear waters of the lake on a sunny day. These Uttarakhand travel destinations may be a bit off the beaten path, but they offer memories that are sure to last a lifetime!