Earlier, Uttarakhand was known as a religious place and only attracted a group of people (especially old people). But with the passage of time, people’s spiritual alignment has changed and the youths are also quite spiritually inclined and look for inner peace amidst regions that hold religious importance. Let us explore Uttarakhand and its special attractions to take home some of the amazing memories that we can retrospect again and again. Every year, thousands of visitors visit this mystical land and attain an inner peace that helps them to deal with regular stress that can be either personal or professional.
It is a hill station located at a distance of approximately 35 kilometers from the capital city of Uttarakhand, Dehradun. The Himalayan snow ranges fall on the northeast of Mussoorie and the Doon Valley and Shivalik ranges occupy the south. People call Mussoorie” The Queen of Hills”.
One of the most significant sources of the economy of Mussoorie is tourism. There are some of the amazing places in Mussoorie that attract people of all ages are as follows:
Some other major falls of Mussoorie are Bhatta Falls, Jharipani Falls, and Mossy Falls.
Considered to be the seventh most populated city of Uttarakhand, Rishikesh is situated at the foothills of the Himalayas in the northern part of India and is called the “Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas” as well as the “Yoga capital of the World”. It is the hub of pilgrimage points and people consider it to be one of the holiest places in India (especially for the Hindus). Rishikesh has always been a region of attraction when it comes to religious and spiritual satisfaction because Hindu sages and saints have chosen Rishikesh as the site of meditation to attain higher knowledge since time immemorial.
Some of the special attractions of Rishikesh that are compulsory for visitors to witness are as follows:
Some of the adventurous activities that the youths can try out in Rishikesh are:
Known as the Skiing Paradise of India, Auli is a small yet picture-perfect town of Uttarakhand and has now turned into a ski destination. The skiing slopes of Auli are quite popular among tourists and professionals as well. In winter, visitors can visit this small town if they don’t want to miss several snow adventure events that take place from time to time throughout the period.
This hilly town is situated at an altitude of approximately 2,800 m above sea level. There are acres of oak and coniferous forests that surround this beautiful valley and offer panoramic views of India’s second-highest peak called Nanda Devi (7,816 m). It is home to the Valley of Flowers National Park which is home to a wide range of flora and fauna.
Another hilly town situated on a ridge at the southern edge of the Kumaon Hills of the Himalayan range, Almora is next to divinity. With the Koshi and Suyal rivers flowing by the heart of this city, the background view comprises only snow-capped Himalayas.
People can visit this town to witness many notable temples such as Kasar Devi, Nanda Devi, Doli Daana, Shyayi Devi, Khakmara, Asht Bhairav, Jakhandevi, Katarmal (Sun temple), and many more. Another very popular temple of this region that is dedicated to Lord Shiva is Rudreshwar Mahadev Temple which is located near Sanara Guniya. People can also visit the holy Dunagiri temple dedicated to Goddess Shakti.
Considered to be the second-largest city of Uttarakhand, Haridwar is located on the right bank of the holy River Ganges, at the foothills of the Shivalik ranges. This place holds immense significance, especially for the people who follow Hinduism. Further, Haridwar holds the title of hosting important religious events as well as serving as the gateway to numerous places of worship. One of the most significant religious events taking place in Haridwar is the Kumbha Mela that people celebrate every 12 years. Millions of devotees, pilgrims as well as tourists assemble here and perform ritualistic bathing to offer their prayers to the Ganges to get rid of their sins and attain moksha.
The Jim Corbett National Park is a part of the largest Tiger Reserve in the country, located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. This National Park is mainly famous for its richness of tigers and was inaugurated in the year 1936 with the name of Hailey National Park that later on changed to Jim Corbett National Park. This national park holds the record of being the oldest as well as the most prestigious national park in the country. Besides, this is the first National Park where “Project Tiger” was launched for the first time in the year 1973.
A perfect blend of Garhwali and Kumaoni cuisine, the dishes of this region are simple and locally grown without being dominated by complex spices. Health-freak people can definitely try out a nutritious food available here called Kafuli which is prepared using spinach and fenugreek leaves. You can consume it with hot steaming rice. Another popular dish called Bhang ki chutney is prepared using hemp seeds and its tangy taste will continue to linger inside your mouth for long. Some other dishes include Garhwal ka Fannah, Phaanu, Baadi, Kandalee ka Saag, Chainsoo, and Kumaoni Raita.
The ideal time to visit Uttarakhand is from March to April and September to October. Though the state has wonderful weather throughout the year, trekking, paragliding and the Char Dham Yatra are the most popular activities during summer.