Garhwal · 1,150 ft
Rishikesh
Yoga capital of the world — 400+ schools, the Beatles' ashram, Laxman Jhula, Ram Jhula suspension bridges, evening Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan, white-water rafting on the Ganges.
Read the Rishikesh travel guide →
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Uttarakhand · Devbhoomi (Land of the Gods)
Where the Ganges
Operating Since 2019
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82 Curated Itineraries
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24/7 WhatsApp Support
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Own Team On The Ground
Where the Ganges
Begins Its Journey
India's spiritual capital — Rishikesh yoga ashrams on the holy river, the four-temple Char Dham pilgrimage, the UNESCO Valley of Flowers, Corbett tigers, and the hill stations the British called home in summer.
Region
North Himalaya
Best Time
Varies (see below)
Languages
Hindi, Garhwali, Kumaoni, English
Altitude
1,000 – 12,500 ft
UNESCO Site
Valley of Flowers
Why Uttarakhand
India's Spiritual Heart
Uttarakhand is called Devbhoomi — the Land of the Gods. The Ganges is born here (at Gangotri), the Yamuna is born here (at Yamunotri), and four of Hinduism's most sacred temples — the Char Dham — sit in different valleys of this single state. Rishikesh, where the Ganges leaves the mountains and enters the plains, has been the world's yoga capital since the 1960s when the Beatles studied at Maharishi's ashram here.
What makes Uttarakhand unusual is its scale of accessibility. Most of the state's wonders sit between 5,000 and 12,000 feet — high enough for proper Himalayan atmosphere, low enough that you don't need altitude acclimatisation. Rishikesh and Haridwar are 6 hours from Delhi. Nainital is overnight by train. Jim Corbett, India's oldest tiger reserve, is a 4-hour drive from Delhi.
Our Uttarakhand tours fall into four distinct categories: yoga retreats at vetted Rishikesh ashrams, Char Dham pilgrimages (helicopter or road), Himalayan trekking (Valley of Flowers, Hemkund Sahib, Roopkund), and family hill-station holidays in Nainital, Mussoorie, and Kumaon. Most travellers do two of these in combination.
From the Plains to 13,000 Feet
Uttarakhand divides into two cultural regions — Garhwal (west — Rishikesh, Char Dham, Mussoorie) and Kumaon (east — Nainital, Almora, Jim Corbett). Most trips focus on one region.
Garhwal · Gateway to the Char Dham
Haridwar
Where the Ganges meets the plains — Har Ki Pauri's evening aarti (one of Hinduism's most spectacular rituals), Mansa Devi temple cable car, the Kumbh Mela site every 12 years.
Read the Haridwar travel guide →
High Himalaya · 8,000–11,500 ft
Char Dham
The four-temple circuit: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath. Open May–November. Helicopter packages compress to 2 days; road yatras take 10–12 days.
Chamoli · 11,500 ft · UNESCO
Valley of Flowers
UNESCO World Heritage alpine valley carpeted with 600+ wildflower species — open July to early September only. Paired with Hemkund Sahib Sikh shrine trek (15,200 ft).
Kumaon · 4hr from Delhi
Jim Corbett
India's oldest national park (1936), ~250 tigers, leopards, elephants, gharials. Dhikala zone has highest sighting rates (book 6 months ahead). Excellent eco-lodges.
Kumaon · 6,840 ft
Nainital
Eye-shaped Naini Lake, colonial Mall Road, Naina Devi temple, ropeway to Snow View Point. India's classic British-era hill station, perfect for family holidays.
Read the Nainital travel guide →
Garhwal · 6,400 ft
Mussoorie
"Queen of Hill Stations" — Mall Road, Gun Hill cable car, Kempty Falls, Landour's vintage cafes. Quieter than Nainital and beloved of writers (Ruskin Bond lives in Landour).
Read the Mussoorie travel guide →
Kumaon · 5,400 ft
Almora & Kasar Devi
Old Kumaoni hill town with stone-paved bazaars, Kasar Devi's geomagnetic energy zone (Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens stayed), and views of the Trishul-Nanda Devi range.
Read the Almora travel guide →Uttarakhand, Month by Month
Each destination within Uttarakhand has its own ideal window — Char Dham is summer-only, Corbett is winter-only, yoga is year-round. Pick by goal.
Jan
5–18°C
Yoga · Corbett
Feb
7–20°C
Yoga · Corbett
Mar
10–25°C
Hill stations
Apr
13–28°C
Peak hill
May
15–30°C
Char Dham opens
Jun
17–32°C
Char Dham
Jul
18–28°C
Valley of Flowers
Aug
17–26°C
Valley of Flowers
Sep
15–25°C
All open · Best month
Oct
11–22°C
All open
Nov
7–18°C
Char Dham closes
Dec
4–14°C
Yoga · Snow at hill
Our pick: September is the only month when everything is open simultaneously — Char Dham, Valley of Flowers, Corbett, hill stations, yoga. October is a close second. For pure yoga, October–March is ideal. For Char Dham, May–June or September–October.
Where India Goes to Meditate
Yoga & Ashram Culture
Rishikesh has 400+ yoga schools and 100+ ashrams along the Ganges. Top retreats: Parmarth Niketan, Anand Prakash, Sivananda. 200-hour teacher training is widely available. We curate retreats from 7 days to 4 weeks.
Char Dham Yatra
The four-temple pilgrimage — Yamunotri (5,500 m), Gangotri (3,100 m), Kedarnath (3,584 m), Badrinath (3,300 m). Open May to November. Helicopter packages (2 days) for time-pressed pilgrims; road yatras (10–12 days) for traditional immersion.
Valley of Flowers
UNESCO World Heritage alpine valley with 600+ flowering species. Open July to early September only. Combined with the 15,200 ft Hemkund Sahib Sikh pilgrimage on the same trek. One of India's most striking 3-day treks.
Sacred Ganga Aarti
Evening Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri (Haridwar) and Triveni Ghat / Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh) — synchronised oil-lamp worship by 100+ priests, floating diyas, devotional songs. India's most photogenic ritual.
Jim Corbett Heritage
India's first national park (1936), named after the hunter-conservationist Jim Corbett who wrote Man-Eaters of Kumaon. ~250 tigers across 521 sq km. Dhikala zone has highest density; book 6 months ahead.
Festivals to Plan Around
Kumbh Mela (Haridwar · every 12 years; next 2033 if you missed 2021), International Yoga Festival (Rishikesh · March), Ganga Dussehra (May–June), Kanwar Yatra (Jul–Aug — Shiva devotees), Diwali (October — temple-town lights).
Uttarakhand Tours
All packages include private AC vehicle, hand-picked ashram / heritage accommodation, helicopter slots where included, and 24/7 WhatsApp support.
Yoga
Rishikesh Yoga & Rafting
Rishikesh · Haridwar · Mussoorie — Ganga Aarti, white water rafting, yoga at dawn.
from USD 333₹32,000EUR 294GBP 252 per person, land only
View Itinerary →
Pilgrimage
Uttarakhand Char Dham
Yamunotri · Gangotri · Kedarnath · Badrinath — the sacred four dhams.
from USD 885₹85,000EUR 781GBP 669 per person, land only
View Itinerary →
Trek
Hemkund & Valley of Flowers
Govindghat — UNESCO Valley of Flowers in full bloom, Sikh shrine at 15,200 ft.
from USD 468₹45,000EUR 413GBP 354 per person, land only
View Itinerary →
Hill Station
Nainital & Kumaon Circuit
Nainital · Corbett · Mukteshwar — lakes, tigers, and Himalayan orchard villages.
from USD 364₹35,000EUR 322GBP 276 per person, land only
View Itinerary →
Wildlife
Jim Corbett Tiger Safari
Three-night Dhikala / Bijrani zone safari with luxury eco-lodge accommodation.
from USD 333₹32,000EUR 294GBP 252 per person
Enquire →
Retreat
200-hr Yoga Teacher Training
Vetted Rishikesh ashram, Yoga Alliance certified, 28-day immersion programme.
from USD 1,301₹1,25,000EUR 1,148GBP 984 per person
Enquire →
Plan Your Uttarakhand Journey
How to Arrive
Fly into Dehradun (DED) for Garhwal (Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Char Dham), or Pantnagar (PGH) for Kumaon (Nainital, Corbett). Both 4–5 hr from Delhi by car. Rishikesh + Haridwar are also overnight by AC train from Delhi.
Visa & Permits
Standard Indian e-Visa. Char Dham yatra requires a biometric registration at Haridwar Yatra Office (mandatory since 2023) — we arrange. Valley of Flowers and Nanda Devi require entry permits, handled at trek entry.
What to Pack
Layered clothing. Yoga retreats: loose modest clothing, yoga mat (provided), shawl for meditation. Char Dham/treks: warm layers, waterproof jacket, hiking boots, gloves. Corbett: neutral colours, binoculars, hat.
Altitude & Health
Rishikesh / Haridwar — no altitude issues. Char Dham temples sit 10,000–12,000 ft — acclimatise overnight at Sonprayag/Joshimath before going higher. Mild altitude effects possible. We pre-arrange oxygen cylinders for at-risk travellers.
Connectivity
Strong in Rishikesh, Haridwar, Nainital, Mussoorie. Patchy in Char Dham temple towns. Non-existent at Valley of Flowers and the higher trek points — treat as digital detox. Hotels generally have Wi-Fi.
Temple & Ashram Etiquette
Modest dress at all temples (shoulders + knees covered). Remove shoes before entering. Many ashrams require no alcohol, no meat, no eggs on the premises (and sometimes celibacy). We brief you on each specific ashram's rules before booking.
Uttarakhand, Answered
Depends on your goal. Char Dham yatra: May–June and September–October. Valley of Flowers: July–August (in full bloom). Rishikesh yoga: October–March (cool, dry). Jim Corbett wildlife: November–February. Nainital hill station: March–June or September–November. Avoid late June–early August for any road journey except the Valley of Flowers.
The Char Dham (four abodes) is Uttarakhand's most sacred pilgrimage circuit — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Open from late April/early May to mid-November depending on weather. Helicopter packages take 2 days from Dehradun; road yatras take 10–12 days. We arrange all permits (mandatory biometric registration since 2023), accommodation, and helicopter slots.
It's the most authentic place to study yoga and meditation — over 100 ashrams and 400+ yoga schools along the Ganges. The Beatles famously studied at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram here in 1968. We curate 7-day to 4-week yoga retreats at vetted ashrams: Parmarth Niketan, Anand Prakash, Sivananda, Phool Chatti. Yoga Alliance certified 200-hr Teacher Training also available.
Minimum 5 nights for Rishikesh-Haridwar yoga retreat. 7 nights to add Jim Corbett. 10–12 nights for Char Dham yatra. 14 nights for a comprehensive Garhwal + Kumaon Himalayan circuit including the Valley of Flowers. 28 nights for a full Yoga Teacher Training certification.
Yes — Corbett is India's oldest national park (1936) and one of its best for big-cat sightings (around 250 tigers). Dhikala zone has the highest sighting rates but books out 6 months ahead. Bijrani and Jhirna zones are good alternatives. Park closed June 15 to October 15 for monsoon. Best months: November–April.
Yes, particularly for yoga and pilgrimage. Rishikesh is one of India's most international cities — a huge solo-female ashram community, English-speaking guesthouses, female-led yoga schools. Standard precautions apply for late-night walking. Many of our 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training students come solo.
Yes — common combinations: Uttarakhand + Delhi/Agra (Golden Triangle + yoga finish), Uttarakhand + Himachal (Rishikesh → Manali overland), Uttarakhand + Nepal (overland via Banbasa to Mahendranagar). The Yoga + Golden Triangle 10-night combo is one of our most popular international packages.
Plan Your Uttarakhand Journey
Tell us your goal — yoga, pilgrimage, trekking, wildlife, or family hill station — and your dates. We'll send a thoughtful, season-appropriate proposal within 24 hours.
Continue Exploring
Pair Uttarakhand with another region
We filmed all of this
Mussoorie, On Film
Our films from the Queen of the Hills — the falls, the viewpoints and Landour.
Kempty Falls
The ropeway down, the entry fee and the crowds.
Bhatta Falls
The quieter alternative, with far fewer people.
Mussoorie Lake & Lal Tibba
Boating, paragliding and the highest viewpoint in town.
Dalai Hills
The Buddha above the deodars and the Tibetan temple few reach.
Sterling Mussoorie
A full walk-through of the resort — rooms, grounds and views.
Planning a trip? See the Mussoorie & Landour package →
Planning a trip to Uttarakhand?
Tell us roughly what you have in mind and we will send a considered reply — not a brochure. Usually within 24 hours, Kolkata office hours.