Uttarakhand is often referred to as the “Devbhumi” i.e., ‘the land of the Gods’ because to its religious significance. There are several Hindu temples and pilgrimage centers found throughout the state. The State is also known for the natural environment of the Himalayas, the Bhabar and the Terai regions. Several perennial rivers have the source of various glaciers found in the State.
History of Uttarakhand goes back to Stone Age as evidences of Stone Age settlements have been found in various parts of Kumaon and Garhwal region. Rock shelters at Lakhudyar, Almora, ancient rock paintings, Paleolithic age stone tools (hundreds of thousands of years old), and megaliths shows that the region have been inhabited since prehistoric times. Some archaeological remains show the existence of early Vedic (1500 BCE) practices in the area.
The State is divided into two divisions viz. Garhwal and Kumaon, with a total of 13 districts. These districts have numerous tourist, religious & pilgrimage places along with some glaciers of the Great Himalayas that attracts lakhs of tourists across the year.
An itinerary of some of the tourist places, in this area, is given below:
Kausani – Baijnath Dham – Bageshwar – Jageshwar – Patal Bhuvneshwar – Binsar – Chaukori – Birthi waterfall – Munsiyari – Chitai Golu Devta Mandir – Chaubatia Garden – Ranikhet – Nainital – Pangot etc.
Best time to visit:
March to June are considered as best months for visiting Kausani and nearby places. But the period of October to November and February will be a good option, if you want to avoid crowd because these months are considered as off-season months.
How to reach:
By Air:
Pantanagar Airport is the nearest airport which is 168 Km away from here which will take around 4-5 hours by car/taxi.
By Railways:
Kathgodam Railway Station is the nearest railhead which is around 134 Km away from here.
By Bus:
Kausani is well connected through bus routes via Almora or Nainital.
Day 1: From Delhi to Kausani (399 KM)
Kausani
Kausani lies in Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand State at a height of 6200 ft above sea level. It is famous for its scenic grandeur and gives a spectacular panoramic view of Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi, Trishul, Chaukhamba and Panchachuli, its each peak is named after five Pandvas. Having similarities in landscape, it is often called as ‘Switzerland of India’.
Local population largely depend on the agriculture and allied activities, tourism and men serving the nation i.e., Military Officers. Some small businesses like handloom factories produces shawls, woolen apparels, blankets, local artefacts and tea from Kausani’s tea estate.
Kausani offers a large variety of activities like star gazing, mountain biking, trekking, camping, rock climbing & rappelling, birding and of course shopping, too.
For sightseeing, you can visit Starscapes observatory (https://starscapes.zone/observatory-kausani/), Pant Museum, Anashakti Museum, Rudradhari Waterfalls, Gandhi Ashram, Shawl Factory and Tea Gardens etc.
Day 2: Baijnath Dham, Patal Bhuvneshwar, Jageshwar Temples, Binsar etc.
Baijnath Dham:
Situated at the bank of Gomti River, it is popular for the Baijnath Temple and some other ancient temples. Archaeological Survey of India has recognized them as Monuments of National Importance. It is one of the four places connected by the ‘Shiva Heritage Circuit’ under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Government of India.
Though it is a small town but once was the famous capital of the Katyuri Kingdom in the medieval era of Indian history. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva which was built around the 12th century AD. The temple stood remarkably well and in good shape. The Gomti River is full of fishes and you can feed them.
Patal Bhuvneshwar:
Patal Bhuvneshwar is a limestone cave which is 530 feet long and 90 feet deep and is situated at 1,350 m above sea level. Spectacular stalactite and stalagmite figures in various forms can be seen here. A large number of caves rather a series of caves are connected through a narrow tunnel-like. The cave is fully electrically illuminated. You have to park your vehicle half a kilometer away from the entrance of cave. To reach the sanctum sanctorum of the cave, first descends nearly 100 steps into this cave from entrance. It gives you vibes that you are entering into the center of the earth.
Each stone, each stalactite, each stalagmite in each cave has been linked with the shapes of Gods, Goddesses, saints and mythological characters. Legend and folklore says that this cave cherishes Lord Shiva, as main deity and other thirty-three koti gods (koti means crore).
It is believed that this cave is as old as the earth itself. “Skanda Purana”, a hindu literature says that “He who wants to feel the presence of eternal power should come to the sacred Bhuvneshwar situated near the confluence of Ramganga, Sarayu and Gupt-Ganga.”
Hindu literature says that first human who entered this cave was king “Rituparna” of Surya Dynasty during the Treta Yuga then by Pandavas in Dvapara Yuga and by Adi Shankaracharya in Kali Yuga in the year 1191 AD. There are four entrances inside the cave named as ‘Randwar’ (Door of War) ‘Paapdwar’ (Door of Sin), ‘Dharmdwar’ (Door of Dharma) and ‘Mokshadwar’ (Door of Moksha (liberation). The Paapdwar i.e., the door of Sin, was closed soon after the death of Ravana in the war of Lanka and the Randwar, i.e., the door of War, was closed down after the Great War of Mahabharata at Kurukshetra. At present only two gateways are opened i.e., the Dharmdwar and the Mokshadwar. After closing of these two doors, world becomes to end and may life begins in new form.
Jageshwar Temples:
Jageshwar Temples are a group of 125 ancient Hindu temples dated between 7th and 14th century at a height of 1870m above sea level. It was a pilgrimage site from 10th century AD. The site is protected and managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The valley has a number of temple clusters such as the Dandeshwar and Jageshwar sites. These sites include Dandeshwar Temple, Chandika Temple, Jageshwar Temple, Kuber Temple, Mritunjaya Temple, Nanda Devi or Nau Durga, Nava-grah temple and Surya Temple.
Temples primarily made in Nagara style of architecture belongs to North India with a few exceptions that shows South and Central Indian designs. Most of these temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva, while other belongs to Vishnu, Shakti and Surya. Jageshwar Monsoon Festival is the main festival here which is celebrated during the Hindu calendar month of Shravan i.e., during July–August and also Maha Shivratri Mela held every year.
Jageshwar is located 36 Km from Almora, 77 Km from Ranikhet, 84 Km from Kausani, 88Km from Pithoragarh, 99 Km from Nainital, 105 Km from Patal Bhuvneshwar in the Kumaun region. Narrow forested valley of oaks, deodara, rhododendrons and pines are worth visiting. The human settlement in the vicinity helps in providing services to pilgrims and travelers visiting these temples and nearby areas.
Binsar:
Binsar lies on top of a mountain in the lower Himalayas at a height of nearly 2412 m above sea level. It is about 28 km from Almora in Uttarakhand. It was the summer capital of the Chand Kings i.e., the rulers of Kumaon during 11th to the 18th centuries AD and also during British period where they built several estates inside the forest.
For the conservation and protection of forests of this area Binsar was declared as a sanctuary, in 1988. It spreads over 45.59 sq km and its altitude varies from 900 to 2500 meters with an average height of 2412 meters. Over 200 species of birds like tits, forktail, nuthatches, blackbirds, parakeets, laughingthrush, magpies, kalij pheasant, monal, koklass pheasant, eagles, woodpeckers, and Eurasian jays etc. It also host a range of wild animals like leopard, Himalayan goral, chital, musk deer, Sumatran serow, jungle cat, wild boar, red fox, gray langur, rhesus macaque, red giant flying squirrel etc. Binsar is also home to many reptiles and butterflies.
Jhandi Dhaar also called as Zero Point is the highest point in the Binsar wildlife sanctuary. This is the place from where you may have a stunning and captivating view of the Himalayan peaks of Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, Shivling, Trisul, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot and Panchachuli.
Day 3 & 4: Munsyari, Uttarakhand (stay in Munsyari):
Munsyari is 163 Km away from Kausani or 195 Km from Almora which can be covered in approximately 5 hours or 6 hours, respectively by taxi. Located amidst forest and snow peaks of Himalaya Mountains at an altitude of 2,135 meters above sea level in Johar Valley. Maheshwari Kund and Thamri Kund are alpine lakes found near Munsyari while Gauri Ganga River is flowing nearby.
Munsyari acts as the base camp for treks to Milam, Ralam and Namik Glacier, while Dharachula is the base camp for Kailas Mansarovar Yatra, Adi Kailash Yatra and Narayan Swami Ashram.
Maheswari Kund/ Messary Kund or Meshar Kund, Birthi Waterfall, Kalamuni Temple, Nanda Devi Temple, Thamri Kund, Gauri Ganga River, Munsiyari Museum, Baituli Dhar are some famous places in and around Munsiyari.
Munsyari can also be explored on Scooter/ Scooty which can be rented on ₹500-700/- per day.
What to see in and around Munsyari:
1. Maheswari Kund/ Messary Kund or Meshar Kund:
It is associated with Yaksha, a demigod who used to reside in the pristine lake. The beautiful lake is surrounded by scarlet rhododendron, oak trees and other himalayan flora.
A story tells by locals that the Yaksha fell in love with the beautiful daughter of Sarpanch (head of the village). The villagers didn’t let him to marry her and dried the lake where he used to live. He cursed the villagers that they will face the scarcity of water and drought. Later, the villagers applogised him and he set free the lake form the curse.
The kund/ lake is situated at a walking distance in the forest from the town. The trail is well defined that can be undertaken alone but prefer to go with a guide who will brief and assist you in exploring some untouched places where normal tourist can’nt go alone. Generally, uphil trek will take around 45 minutes to reach the kund but you can spend some quality time in pristine environment and do photography of snowcapped Panchachuli range of mountains named after the 5 Pandavas of Mahabharata.
2. Birthi Waterfall:
Birthi Water Fall is located about 14 km from Tejam and 35 KM from Munsiyari on Munsiyari-Thal road in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. It gushes from 400 feet above sea level which can be approached easily by a short trek. Region around the waterfall is surrounded by dense forest and offers a magnificent view of the snow covered peaks.
3. Kalamuni Temple:
Located at a distance of 15 km from Munsiyari on the way from Birthi Waterfall. The place is famous for its Kalamuni Temple dedicated to Naga God. Divine aura of the temple liberates all the bad energy and negative vibes and brings positivity. It is the highest point en-route from Chakauri to Munsiyari. The eccentric view of Panchachuli peak can be seen from here.
4. Nanda Devi Temple:
Nanda Devi temple, dedicated to Goddess Nanda or Parvati, is a religious or spiritual site. You can reach here by after a 3 Km exciting trek. It is one of the oldest temple of Uttarakhand situated at 7500 feet above sea level.
5. Thamri Kund:
Thamri Kund or Thamri Tal is surrounded by alpine trees. This magical lake exists at such a height of 7500 feet above sea level. Lake is surrounded by snow-capped hills all around in winters and it becomes green during the monsoon. Snowcapped Panchchuli peaks look great from here. Mystic spirituality blends with natural charm captivates the mind of every tourist.
It is a perennial lake and one of the freshwater lakes located at this height in the entire region of the Kumaon Valley. A beautiful trek leads to this lake in 4 to 5 hours and hence starts your journey in the early morning.
Religious significance of this lake can be understand by the fact that when the rain is low then the local people reach Thamari Kund and offer prayers for the rain.
6. Gauri Ganga River:
Gauri or Gori Ganga is a river in the Munsyari tehsil of the Pithoragarh District. Milam Glacier is the main source of this river just northeast of Nanda Devi along with the Glaciers of the Ralam River.
7. Munsyari Museum:
It is a tribal heritage museum whereas Baituli Dhar is a rhododendron forest in the Munsiyari can also be seen during the visit.
Day 5 & 6: Return to Nainital & Stay: Visit Naina Devi Temple & Naini Lake, St John Church in Wilderness, Ropeway & Snow View Point, Mall road market & Tibetan market, Tiffin Top, Nainital Zoo, Hanuman Garhi etc.
Naina Devi Temple & Naini Lake:
Naina Devi Temple is one of the famous attraction in Nainital because of its mythological importance. It is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths which is situated at the point where nayan (eye) of Sati fell, that’s why, it is so famous among locals and tourists. Also, because of the Naina Devi temple, the city & lake gets its name.
Naini Tal or Naini Lake, is a natural freshwater body, situated amidst the town of Nainital. It is tectonic in origin and was almost circular but frequent landslides made it crescent shaped. The lake is eutrophic so it supports dense growth of phytoplankton. Its lost its transparency due to Algal blooms. High siltation reduces its depth from 27.97 m to only 19.6 m. There are several reasons responsible for it like clogging of drains due to encroachment, poor drainage, landslides and inadequate sanitation facilities for the weaker section of society, commuters and tourists etc.
Though National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee had started restoration of the lake which is sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India, but the efforts being made are not sufficient. Government(s) have to take some major steps for restoration of the lake by prohibiting encroachments, blocking drains, cleaning the silts, developing green areas around the lake specially on the slopes of nearby hills etc.
St John Church in Wilderness:
St. John in the wilderness was built in a Gothic style and was inaugurated in April, 1848. Tall deodar and pine trees, divine ambiance and stained glass windows makes essential and principal trademarks of the Church. A lot of followers of the Church reach in the search of calmness, peace and tranquility in life. The beautiful architecture of the Church is commendable which shares the similarity with a church in North California. This church is frequented visited by architects to understand the Neo-Gothic architecture.
Ropeway & Snow View Point:
The Aerial Ropeway in Nainital is one of the biggest tourist attractions. It carries people from Mallital to the Snow View Point and vice-versa, alternatively, a cab also be hired to visit Snow View Point. A three-minute ride is a dream which offers a panoramic bird-eye view of the Naini Lake and the surrounding City, as well. The cabin capacity is a maximum of 825 kg or 11 people.
Aerial Ropeway, Nainital has an entry Fee of Rs. 300 per person for Adults and Rs.200 per person for Children between 3 Yrs – 12 Yrs for both ways. 1 Hour stay time is there for indulging in various activities at Snow View Point at a height of 2270m above sea level. The timing of the Ropeway is 10.00 AM to 04.00PM on all days i.e., from Monday to Sunday.
Snow View Point offers magnificent view of the snow-covered mountain peaks of the Great Himalayas like Nanda Devi peak, Nanda Kot peak and the Trishul peak. You may have a closure look of these snow-covered peaks through binoculars (chargeable) installed there. A small amusement park is waiting for the children’s entertainment. Find some food stalls that offers hot chocolate, Maggi, tea, coffee and soft drinks.
Mall road market & Tibetan market:
Officially the Govind Ballabh Pant Marg was earlier known as the Mall Road in Nainital. It runs parallel to the Naini Lake from Mallital and Tallital. This 1.5 km long road serves as main location for shopping, food and hanging around the lake for the visitors coming from different parts of the country. It is home to a number of hotels, shops, banks, commercial buildings, travel agencies and restaurants and cafes. Here, you can go for local crafts, woolens, candles and other aromatic products. The shops at the mall road open at 9:00 am and close at or before 10:00 pm.
There are separate traffic rules for Mall road, hence, check before you go there. Parking is not allowed on the Mall road, throughout the year, but you can park your vehicle at the designated Parking space.
During the months of May, June and October, no vehicle is allowed on the Mall road. Generally, timing for Cycle rickshaw is 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, for light vehicles it is 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm and for heavy vehicles it is 8:00 am to 10:30 am and from 2:30 pm to 10:30 pm.
Nainital Zoo:
Nainital Zoo is situated at a height of 2100 to 2150 meter above from sea level. This is one of the 3 high altitude zoos in India, other two are in Gangtok, Sikkim and Darjeeling, West Bengal. The zoo is spread over a green area of 4.6 hectares or 11 acres having species of evergreen Oak and cupressus trees.
It is one of the best established zoo where dedicated markings have been made, so that you can every enclosure and don’t miss anything. It opens from 10:00AM to 05:00 PM with last entry at 04:30 PM. Normally, the ticket fee is Rs.100 for adults and for foreigners it is Rs.200.
Animals like Leopard, Goral, Barking deer, Jungle cat, Hill fox, Flying Squirrel, Himalayan Palm Civet, Jackal and Porcupine are kept in the Zoo. It also houses various birds like Golden Pheasant, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Kalij Pheasant, Lady Amherst Pheasant, Steppe Eagle, Hill Partridge, White Peafowl, Blossom Headed Parakeet and Red Jungle fowl etc. However, over 100 species of birds are found in this area.
Tiffin Top:
Tiffin Top is also known as Dorothy’s Seat which offers a wonderful 360-degree view of Nainital city and surrounding Kumaon mountains. It is 4 km uphill from the Nainital Mall Road located on the Ayarpatta hills at a height of 2290 m above sea level. It gives an opportunity to the photographers to show their talent in photography and families for a perfect picnic spot.
A lot of tourists visit this place for photography, trekking, hiking, rock climbing and rappelling etc. No entry fee is levied for exploring this beautiful place. You can explore this place at any time on all days but you can witness its beauty in perfect day light. If sky is clear, you can enjoy the beauty of majestic Nanda Devi peak.
Hanuman Garhi:
Hanuman Garhi is perched atop on the Nainital-Haldwani route at a height of 6400 ft. from sea level. Built by a local saint Baba Neem Karoli in 1950, it is close to Shitla Devi temple. The idol of Lord Hanuman is portrayed as splitting his chest, depicting that Lord Ram resides in his heart. The view of during sunrise and sunset attracts tourists to Hanuman Garhi.
Nearby Areas of Nainital:
Day 7: Jim Corbett National Park
Jim Corbett National Park:
The Jim Corbett National Park lies in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. Its most famous Dhangarhi gate is just 82 Km which can be covered in nearly 2 hours from Nainital. The Majestic landscape of Corbett was established as Hailey National Park in 1936, So, this is the oldest National Park of India. Later, it was renamed as Ramganga National Park but finally it was name after Jim Corbett as Jim Corbett National Park.
This became the first place from where Project Tiger was launched in 1973. In this oldest National Park of Asia and First Tiger Reserve in India, first major step was taken towards the preservation of our national pride i.e., our national animal ‘Tiger’. Its diverse and captivating landscapes are heaven for the wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers.
Here you can find Dense Forests which covers a variety of tree species such as sal, bamboo, khair, and shisam which creates a mesmerizing serene atmosphere and offers a sense of tranquility and natural beauty. You can find several rivers flow through the park including the Ramganga, Kosi, and Sonanadi which carve the landscape, creating picturesque scenes and providing water sources for the diverse wildlife.
Grasslands, Hills, Valleys, Water Bodies, Rocky Outcrops, Waterfalls makes harmonious blend for a paradise for birdwatchers, nature lovers and visitors to feel the incredible biodiversity of the region and experience the untamed beauty of the park.
Day 8: Bheemtal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal, Mukteshwar etc.
Bheemtal:
Bheemtal or Bhimtal is a town situated at an altitude of 1370 meters above sea level at a distance of 22 kilometers from Nainital. The major attraction is Bhimtal Lake, which has an island at its centre. The climate of Bhimtal is pleasant during summers ranging from 15 °C to 29 °C but very cold during winters ranging from 4 °C to 18 °C.
Bhimtal is named after Bhima of Mahabharata who built a temple of Bhimeshwara Mahadev Temple, an old Shiva temple on the bank of Bhimtal Lake, during their exile. Bhimtal was a stoppage en-route to Nepal and Tibet and might have been the part of the famous ancient silk route.
Nal Damyanti Tal, a small natural lake, is about 2 km away from the Bhimtal. It is believed that the palace of famous king Nala drowned into this lake. It is a very sacred place for the residents of this region.
Sattal:
Sattal or Sat Tal (means Seven lakes) is an interconnected group of seven freshwater lakes situated in the Lower Himalayan Region near Bhimtal. Lakes were formed as a result of tectonic activities and the uplifting of sediments between the Tibetan plain and the Indo-Gangetic plains. The lakes are situated at an altitude of 1370 metres above the sea level. Amidst dense forests of oak and pine trees, it is one of the few unspoiled and unpolluted freshwater biomes in India. These lakes are a paradise for migratory birds. The names of the seven lakes of Sattal are Purna Tal, Ram Tal, Sita tal, Laxman Tal, Nal Damyanti Tal, Sukh Tal and Garud Tal.
Butterfly museum:
A beautiful butterfly museum was established in this area. This museum has over 2500 butterfly and moth specimens and 1100 species of insects that are found in this region.
Naukuchiatal:
Naukuchiatal i.e., the ‘lake of nine corners’ is a small hill station near Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. It is situated 4 km from Bhimtal, and 26 km from Nainital and is situated at 1,220 meters (4,000 ft) above sea level. It is the deepest of all the lakes in the Nainital region. The length of the lake is 983 metres (3,225 ft), its breadth is 693 metres (2,274 ft) and it has a depth of 40.3 metres (132 ft).
Here, a plenty of activities are waiting for you right from the angling to bird watching. Some other activities like parasailing, paragliding, rowing, paddling or yachting. The lake is fed by an underground perennial spring. An ‘Escape Festival’ is organized every year in the month of May in Naukuchiatal.
Mukteshwar
It is situated at a distance of 38 km from Naukuchiatal at an elevation of 2,285 m above sea level. Mukteshwar got its name from a 350-year-old temple Mukteshwer Dham of Lord Shiva. It offers views of beautiful snowcapped Himalayan range.
Day 9: Pangot:
Pangot:
Pangot, a tourist village, is located about 13 kilometers from Nainital at a height of 6,510 feet from sea level. Passing through the famous forested area of Naina Peak Range via Himalaya Darshan & Echo Zone, one can reach here.
It is one of the famous birding areas where around 580 bird species have been recorded. A variety of Himalayan species such as lammergeyer, Himalayan griffon, blue-winged minla, spotted & slaty-backed forktail, rufous-bellied woodpecker, rufous-bellied niltava, khalij pheasant, variety of thrushes etc. Almost 150 bird species have been recorded at Pangot and the surrounding areas. A variety of flora and fauna including leopards, yellow-throated Himalayan martens, Himalayan palm civets, gorals, barking deer and sambhar are also found in this area.
Apart from birding, one can indulge in some adventure activities like Rappelling, Burma Bridge, Flying Fox, Double Rope etc. Besides this certain trekking options are also available here like Naina Peak Trek, Brhamsthali Trek, Kilbury Trek, Waterfall Trek & Sunset Point Trek etc.
Day 10: Ranikhet
Ranikhet:
Ranikhet which means Queen’s Meadow is a hill station and cantonment town in Almora, Uttarakhand, India. It is situated at an altitude of 1,869 metres (6,132 ft) above sea level, within sight of the western peaks of the Himalayas.
The Ranikhet Cantonment area is home to several tourist places. The Kumaon Regimental Centre Museum is maintained by the Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army, it has a collection of pictures and aretfacts from World wars, Sino-Indian War, Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 & 1971, the Kargil war and Operation Pawan. It displays the various weapons captured, flags of enemies captured by the army and a LTTE boat captured during Operation Pawan. The museum also showcases medals and uniforms of the soldiers.
Other tourist places in the cantonment include the Ashiyana Park for children, the Mankameshwar Temple, Gurudwara and a Shawl factory. The Rani Jheel, located near Nar Singh Stadium, is a man-made lake for boat rides. St. Bridget’s Church is an old church in Ranikhet town.
The Ranikhet Golf Course, located at Upat Kalika is one of the highest golf courses of Asia. It is situated at a distance of 5 KM from main Ranikhet City. It is a 9-hole course making it one of the prime attractions of Ranikhet. The green meadow of the golf course at such high altitude is breathtaking from where you can see the majestic Himalayan Range.
Day 11: Return to your home
Choose the places whom you want visit in this trip or skip for next visit.