Uttarakhand
Overview
Land of pure natural beauty and spirituality, Uttarakhand is North India’s Himalayan territory, famously named Devbhumi. Visiting the Beatles in 1968 brought to fame the vibrant and bountiful state which is now a popular tourist destination. People traveled far and wide across the world for the much-feeded Ganga Aarti – a spiritual meeting around the holy Ganges River. Uttarakhand is a popular pilgrimage location, as it is the Ganga and Yamuna originating place, two of the most sacred rivers for Hindus. Uttarakhand is home to the Char Dhams, the Hindus’ four most important pilgrimage sites – Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Each year thousands of visitors visit Uttarakhand to pay tribute to the Char Dhams.
The state’s lush Jim Corbett National Park also draws thousands of tourists on a regular basis for a peek into its dense greenery of the royal Bengal Tiger and other native wildlife. Uttarakhand takes you on a mystical, almost magical journey which promises you travel spectrums you’ve never experienced before. Inherent beauty is embedded within the vast landscapes of Uttarakhand, the meandering rivers and the magnanimous Himalayas. Every season here exhibits an artistic play of colours, as if Uttarakhand were the canvas of God himself.
A visit to these beautiful valleys is enough to ignite passion in those who are seeking love or a sense of spirituality in those who are struggling to come closer to the divine. Nevertheless, don’t ignore Uttarakhand as just another spiritual destination as the Land of Gods will delight you during your visit with an array of energetic activities. Whether it’s rock climbing, river rafting, trekking or mountain biking – there’s nothing that an adventurous soul can miss in Uttarakhand’s mountainous terrains.
Best time to Visit Uttarakhand
It remains open to visitors throughout the year, owing to the richness of geography in Uttarakhand. Summer and winter seasons are also the most favourable. The summer season makes it an ideal time to find heat respite in other parts of the world, and to enjoy activities such as trekking. On the other hand, Uttarakhand winters are perfect for enjoying the beauty of the state that is all blanketed by snow.
How to Reach Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is slowly improving its connectivity with all three modes of transport, but still the best way to explore this hilly state is by road. There is powerful intrastate and interstate road connectivity, making it easy for people to visit Uttarakhand anytime of the year and that too comfortable. The state currently has two operational airports, as well as a few railway stations.
By Road – Roadways provides state-leading connectivity. There are well-connected highways such as NH 108, NH 109, NH 119, NH 121, NH 123 and NH 72A which connect the state with other parts of the country. Uttarakhand provides excellent accessibility with an powerful Bus Network. Taxis are also accessible to most of the state’s destinations, and is thus the safest mode of transport.
By Train – Roadways provides state-leading connectivity. There are well-connected highways such as NH 108, NH 109, NH 119, NH 121, NH 123 and NH 72A which connect the state with other parts of the country. Uttarakhand provides excellent accessibility with an powerful Bus Network. Taxis are also accessible to most of the state’s destinations, and is thus the safest mode of transport.
By Air – The airports where flights from various states fly in go by the name of Pantnagar Airport located in the Kumaon area of Pantnagar, Jolly Grant located in Dehradun and Naini Saini Airport in the Pithoragarh area. Jolly Grant is the most well-connected of the three Uttarakhand airports and Pithoragarh is yet to be opened to the public.
