Carved out from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand which was formerly known as Uttaranchal has a number of charming and often off-beat hill stations almost hanging out from snow-capped peaks, quaint villages along winding mountain road. With oaks, birches, silver firs and rhododendrons adorning the steep mountain slopes, serpentine rivers carving their way through the hills, waterfalls hurtling down slopes and serene lakes shimmering amidst beautiful towns, world-renowned conservation parks like ‘Jim Corbett Tiger National Park’, world heritage sites like ‘Valley of Flowers’ and ‘Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve’, Uttarakhand offers a glimpse into a fresh and picturesque world.
Uttarakhand is a very popular pilgrimage site, as the Ganga and the Yamuna, two of the most sacred rivers for Hindus, originate here. Uttarakhand is home to the Char Dhams, the four most pious sites of pilgrimage revered by the Hindus, consisting of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Thousands of tourists visit Uttarakhand annually to pay homage to the Char Dhams.
Mussoorie, Nainital, Dhanaulti, Lansdowne, Sattal, Almora, Kausani, Bhimtal, and Ranikhet are the most popular hill stations in the state. Uttarakhand is best for all kinds of trips be it a family holiday or a honeymoon.
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Festivals of Uttarakhand
All the festivals of Uttarakhand are colourful and vibrant. Basant Panchami is celebrated with great energy and spirit. This festival marks the beginning of the spring season. Yellow outfits are worn, and Goddess Saraswati is worshipped. Makar Sankranti is also a famous festival of Uttarakhand. It is a religious festival, and people take holy dips in rivers. Nanda Devi Festival is held in September, and Goddess Nanda Devi is carried around in processions. Phool Dei is mainly a festival of young girls as they go to all houses in their locality and offer their good wishes for the prosperity of the household.
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Adventure sports of Uttarakhand
Being located at the foothills of the Himalayas, Uttarakhand offers a wide choice for adventure enthusiasts. The rivers flowing throughout the steep mountains make it a perfect destination for water sports including water rafting. Snowfall in winters allows travellers to enjoy skiing. There is no shortage of trek routes in the state. Dodital, Kedarnath, Kauri Pass, Bedni Bugyal, Roop Kund are some of the famous trek routes. Most popular places for paragliding are Mukteswar and Ranikhet. Rishikesh provides the most fantastic river rafting as well as Bungee Jumping experience. Great camping sites in the dense woods of Bhimtal, Chokuri, Corbett National Park provide a unique experience. Other adventures include zip-line activities, canoeing and kayaking. Uttarakhand also boasts of the longest cable-car ride in India.
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In short, Uttarakhand is a dream destination for all.
