Uttaranchal now known as Uttarakhand contains the two major districts of Garhwal and Kumaon which finds mention in the age’s old holy texts of India.
This land has seen many wars from the Gorkha regime in the 1800’s. The Gorkha’s ruled over most of what is Dehradun, Sahranpur, Kangada and Shimla today, but for a very short while, till 1815 when the British Army forced them to flee. The British rule came to an end in 1947 and with it the districts of Garhwal and Kumaon came together to be known as Uttaranchal.
Why should one come to Uttarakhand? Because no where else will one find raw beauty of nature in its best forms- Nainital, Valley of flowers, Kausauni and other scenic spots are known for their lakes, mountains, forest reserves and more, which makes it a delight for the tourists. Main tourist spots of Uttarakhand are Almora, Dehradun, Haldwani/Kathgodam, Haridwar, Kausani, Nainital, and Mussoorie. Jim Corbett National Park attracts many wildlife lovers from world over. It is known for its varied flora and fauna and is one of the most visited national parks in India. For those religiously inclined, Uttarakhand has a religious circuit to follow including- Haridwar, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The particular circuit holds great relevance in Hindu mythology. Exploring its potential, Uttarakhand is now has many options for adventure sports, most popular being white water river rafting in Rishikesh, trekking in Himalayas and skiing in Auli.
Even though the charm of its culture, people and festivals will never fail to impress you, one of the interesting traditions still followed in Uttarakhand is the making of traditional ‘Aipan’ rangoli. It has cultural as well as religious significance. One can notice these designs next to places of worship, front door or courtyard of the house. Aipan rangoli is used as a ritual design for almost all pujas, festivals and ceremonies. The raw material used for making it is simple ochre (Geru) colour and rice paste.
Uttarakhand is a paradise for tourists of varied interests; it offers something for everyone from skiing slopes to wildlife safaris, adventurous treks to holy places. Nestled snugly in a scenic valley of coniferous forests, it’s a dreamland on everyone’s travel list.
Best Season, Climate and Clothing:
Uttarakhand has two distinct types of climate. The plains have typical north Indian climatic conditions with high temperatures touching as high as forty degree Celsius accompanied by humidity. The winters are quite cold and the temperatures frequently drop below 4 degrees Celsius. The hilly regions have cool climate featuring chilly winters with snowfall in some regions and mild summers. The best time to visit is from April to May. Clothing can be planned according to the weather of the place to be visited and the kind of activities planned.
How to get there:
- Trains – The most common and the best way to get to Uttarakhand are the trains; fares are cheap courtesy the Indian Railways. New Delhi is a major hub for people coming towards Uttarakhand with Dehradun being the arrival station.
- Travel by Air – You can also enjoy the picturesque beauty of Uttarakhand up from the skies, only the airfares shoot up in tourist seasons. They are the fastest way of getting in the state. There are regular Air India flights between Dehradun and New Delhi. For the international tourists, the nearest airport is Delhi.
- Travel by car - Access to Uttarakhand by road is also quite easy as the state has efficient network of state and national highways running through it. You can reach here from any place of India by the various National Highways such as 58, 73, 74, and 87.