Kumaon Tour of Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is known as “Devbhoomi” or “Land of Gods” because of its many holy places & temples. Uttarakhand is also known for its Char Dham Yatra (Four sacred places of Garhwal Himalayas), which includes Badrinath Temple (Dedicated to Lord Bishnu), Kedarnath Temple (Dedicated to Lord Shiva), Gangotri Temple (Dedicated to Holy river Ganga ) and Yamunotri Temple (Dedicated to Holy river Yamuna). Uttarakhand is very sacred for the Hindus as well as the Sikhs. Many Sikhs come here to visit their holy place Hemkund Sahib from all around the world. Uttarakhand is also popular for its beautiful Hill Stations includes Mussoorie, Nainital, Dhanaulti, Kausani, Almora, Mukteshwar, Ranikhet, Lansdowne, Pauri, Khirsu, Binsar etc. The elevation level of Uttarakhand varies from 1500mtr to 5000mtr above sea level and the highest point in Uttarakhand is Nanda Devi peak (7817mtrs).

Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi by flight in the evening.

Delhi is the capital of India- the largest democratic and 2nd most populous country in the world and the city has seen its rise and fall several times. New Delhi is the 8th city built by British. Delhi is famous for its beautiful monuments built by different emperors, which can be seen during the city tour.

You will be well received on your arrival at the Delhi airport and transfer to hotel. 
After check- in formality, you will check in to the room.
Overnight in Delhi.

Day 02: Delhi
After breakfast at hotel, proceed for full day city tour of Old Delhi (in the morning) & New Delhi (in the afternoon).

The city of Delhi can be divided into two parts, Old Delhi and New Delhi.

Old Delhi was earlier ruled by Muslim Sultans for about 700years and later, it became the capital of the Mughal Empire between 17th & 19th centuries. Whereas New Delhi is an imperial and modern city, built by British, when they decided to move their capital from Calcutta in 1911.

The sightseeing of Old Delhi includes a visit to Jama Masjid- India's largest mosque, Red Fort- constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, Rajghat- cremation site of father of Nation- Mahatma Gandhi and finally enjoy the rickshaw ride through the old streets of Chandni Chawk, the busiest market of Old Delhi.

Sightseeing of New Delhi includes a visit to India Gate- built in memory of Indian soldiers killed during the First World War. Rashtrapati Bhawan (from outside)- built in the early 20th century as the Imperial residence of the Viceroy, today the official residence of the President of India. Parliament House- an unique circular building with huge colonnades, which houses the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. Humayun's Tomb- is the first Mughal garden tomb, which looks like the famous Taj Mahal and finally Qutab Minar- one of Delhi’s most striking monuments, which is the world's tallest brick minaret with a height of 72.5 meters.
Overnight in Delhi.

Day 03: Delhi/ Mussoorie (280Kms & 7hrs drive)
After breakfast at hotel, drive towards Mussoorie.

Mussoorie, Popularly known as the Queen of Hill stations, is 34kms from Dehradun (the capital city of Uttarakhand), which is 250Kms from New Delhi. Mussoorie is situated at an altitude of 2003mts above the sea level in the Garhwal hills, is one the beautiful hill stations in the state of Uttarakhand. It’s perfect location, natural beauty and cool climate attracts tourists from all over the world. In 1820, Captain Young of the British army was very much influenced by the beauty of this place and decided to made his residence here. The name, Mussoorie is derived from plants of 'Mussoorie' which were found in abundance here.

Arrive Mussoorie and check in to your hotel.
In the evening, walk around the Mall Road.
Overnight at hotel in Mussoorie.

Day 04: Mussoorie
After breakfast at hotel, proceed for city tour of Mussoorie, visiting Gun Hill- enjoy a Ropeway ride to the second highest peak of Mussoorie. It offers a panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges namely Bunderpunch, Srikantha, Pithwara and Gangotri group etc. Municipal Garden- a picnic spot having a beautiful garden and an artificial mini lake with boating facilities. Childer's Lodge- Highest Peak of Mussoorie near Lal Tibba. One can also visit Jharipani Fall, Bhatta Fall, Kempty Fall & Mussoorie Lake etc.
Overnight at hotel in Mussoorie.

Day 05: Mussoorie/ Dhanaulti (25Kms & 1hrs drive)
After breakfast at hotel, drive towards Dhanaulti. 

Dhanaulti is a a small but a beautiful hill station in the outskirt of Mussoorie, lies at an altitude of 2286mtr above sea level and popular for its serene beauty. Dhanaulti is a secluded hill station as compared to Mussoorie. It is nestled in the midst of deep forests of deodar, oak, conifer and rhododendron.

Arrive Dhanaulti and check in to your hotel.
Later, proceed for tour of Dhanaulti, visiting Eco Park- which was developed recently and Surkhanda Devi Temple- dedicated to Goddess Surkhanda. Also visit Himalayan Weavers, located on Mussoorie-Dhanaulti Road, who produces hand-woven shawls, stoles, scarves and and pashmina.
Overnight at hotel in Dhanaulti.

Day 06: Dhanaulti/ Haridwar (75Kms & 2-3hrs drive)
After breakfast at hotel, drive towards Haridwar.

Haridwar is one of the most revered Hindu pilgrimage destinations in India, picturesquely located by the bank of holy river Ganga in the holy state of Uttarakhand. River Ganga is also referred as 'Mother Ganga' by the Hindu community. It is an important point and gateway to the famous pilgrimage of the Himalayas call “Chardham Yatra or Chardham Pligrimage”. Char means “four” and Dham means “sacred places”. These four sacred destinations are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. People from across the globe come here to seek spirituality. The name 'Haridwar' means 'Gateway to God'. Haridwar is more popular for 'Kumbh Mela', the largest fair in human history, which is held here at the interval of every 12 years.

Arrive Haridwar and check into your hotel.

In the afternoon, you can visit the famous Har Ki Pauri, this ghat is one of the most sacred ghats in India. Take a holy dip here, as this ghat is also called as Brahmakund.

Later, you can visit the famous Mansa Devi temple- located on top of a hill called the Bilwa Parvat. The temple can be reached by the rope way or one can also take the normal trekking route to the top. From where, you can have an excellent view of Haridwar. Chandi Devi Temple- as per the Hindu mythology, the demon King Shumbha-Nishumbha, was killed by Goddess Chandi here after which the place named as Chandi Devi. This temple, situated on top of the Neel Parvat on the other bank of river Ganges and it was constructed in 1929 by Suchat Singh, the King of Kashmir. The temple is a 3Kms trek from Chandi Ghat and it is believed that the Adi Shankaracharya established the main statue here in eighth century AD. The Chandi Devi Temple is also accessible by a ropeway, which starts near the Gauri Shankar Temple. Vaishno Devi Temple- this temple is a newly constructed and a true replica of the original Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu & Kashmir. Bharat Mata Temple- is one of the important temples of Haridwar, which has eight stories in which the images of cities, heroes and great men are installed. Maya Devi Temple- which is an ancient temple of Maya Devi the Adhishtkatri, known as one of the Siddhapeethas. It is believed that the heart and navel of goddess Sati had fallen at this ancient saktipeeth, located to the east of Har-ki-Pauri. The Triveni Ghat- which is another interesting place to be at dawn, when people make offerings of milk to the Ganges and feed the fish. After sunset, priests set off floating lamps on the water during the Aarti ceremony. The Sapt Rishi Ashram- which is situated along the Haridwar-Rishikesh road. According to Hindu Mythology, Sapt Rishi Ashram is regarded as the place where the seven great sages, or Sapt-Rishis- Kashyap, Vashisht, Atri, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadwaja and Gautam meditated. It is said that the Ganges split herself into seven streams, here only, so that the sages would not be disturbed by her flow. And therefore, the place is also called as the Sapt Sarovar or Saptrishi Kund. The streams reunite further and flow as a beautiful channel called Neel Dhara while entering into Haridwar.

In the evening, witness the Ganga Arti at Har Ki Pauri. 
Overnight in Haridwar.

Day 07: Haridwar/ Rishikesh (25Kms & 1hrs drive)
After breakfast at hotel, drive towards Rishikesh.

Rishikesh is another important Hindu pilgrimage destination in India, picturesquely located by the bank of holy river Ganga in the holy state of Uttarakhand. It is an important point and gateway to the famous pilgrimage of the Himalayas call “Chardham Pligrimage”. Char means “four” and Dham means “sacred places”. These four sacred destinations are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Rishikesh is famous for its spiritual centers and Yogic ashrams and therefore it is called “Yoga capital” of India. International Yoga festival is celebrated here in November every year, where world’s renowned Yoga teachers participate and give the Yoga teaching.

Arrive Rishikesh and proceed to city tour of Rishikesh, visiting Lakshman Jhula, Bharat Mandir, Triveni Ghat, Rishikund, Geeta Bhawan, Swarg Ashram and Trayambakeshwar Temple etc. 

In the evening, witness the evening arti of holy Ganges at Parmarth Niketan, where the students of Parmarth Niketan perform Pooja with great devotion & enthusiasm.
Overnight in Rishikesh.

Day 08: Rishikesh/ Corbett National Park (220Kms & 6-7hrs drive)
After breakfast at hotel, drive towards Corbett National Park.

Corbett National Park is India's first national park and the first sanctuary under Project Tiger, which was established in 1936, as the Hailey National Park. It is located in the foothill of Himalayas in the holy state of Uttarakhand. Corbett National Park is very rich in flora and fauna and famous for its wild population of Tigers, Leopards and Elephants. Corbett National Park has a total area of 1318.54 sq. km, which includes 520 sq. km. of core area of and 797.72 sq. km. of buffer area and it was named after late Jim Corbett, the legendary hunter-naturalist turned author and photographer, who spent most of his years in this area and contributed in setting up the this National Park.

Arrive Corbett and check in to your hotel. 

In the afternoon, proceed for 1st Jeep safari into Corbett National Park.
Overnight at hotel in Corbett.

Day 09: Corbett National Park
Early morning, proceed for 2nd jeep safari into Corbett National Park.
Return to hotel for breakfast and rest of the morning at leisure.

In the afternoon, proceed for 3rd Jeep Safari into Corbett National Park.
Overnight in Corbett.

Day 10: Corbett National Park/ Ranikhet (95Kms & 3-4hrs drive)
After breakfast at hotel, drive towards Ranikhet.

Ranikhet is situated at an altitude of 1829mtr above the sea level, which offers an interesting mix of hill & military cultures. Ranikhet, literally means 'The Queen's Field', was named after the wife of a 12thcentury ruler, Sudhar Deve. According to legends, the queen, during the course of a journey came to this place and so enchanted by this picturesque place that she decided to settle down here. It is an ideal holiday destination for nature lovers. Today, Ranikhet is a centre of Kumaon regiment of Indian Army.  

Arrive Ranikhet and check in to your hotel.

Later, proceed for city tour of Ranikhet visiting, Jhula Devi Temple- apart from the usual crowd of devotees, a leopard visits the temple once in a month. Temple of Lord Rama- dedicated to the hero of the Hindu epic, Ramayana. Uphat- the site for one of the highest golf courses in India and Kalika Temple and a Forest Nursery that is run by the government. Also visit Kaichi Temple and Kumaon Regiment Shahid Smarak.
Overnight at hotel in Ranikhet.

Day 11: Ranikhet/ Kausani (75Kms & 3hrs drive)
After breakfast at hotel, drive towards Kausani.

Kausani is one of the most beautiful hill stations in the holy state of Uttarakhand, famous for its beautiful sunrise and sunset. Nestled in the dense pine forests and separated from the towering mountains of the Nanda Devi range by low medium mountains, Kausani commands an incredible view of 300Kms of majesty Himalayan range. Praised by poets and philosophers, this scenic spot offers a complete package of sightseeing, history and relaxation. Gandhiji stayed here at the Anashakti Ashram in 1929 and was inspired by the superb Himalayan mountain view and the Hindi poet laureate Sumitra Nandan Pant grew up here.

Arrive Kausani and check in to your hotel.

Later, proceed for city tour of Kausani visiting, Anasshakti Ashram- it is a popular landmark of Kausani where Mahatma Ghandhi stayed for a few days. Pant Museum- the birth place of a famous Hindi literature poet. It is a great place for literature lovers. Lakshmi Ashram- which is dedicated to social service, the upliftment of women. As per them “a noble life is one dedicated to noble work”.

Kausani is also famous for sunrise and sunset.
Overnight at hotel in Ranikhet.

Day 12: Kausani- Excursion to Bageshwar & Baijnath (55Kms & 2-3hrs drive one way)
After breakfast at hotel, proceed for full day excursion to Bageshwar & Baijnath.

Bageshwar is a Hindi word, which means Bag (Tiger) and Ishwar (God), which is a name of Lord Siva. It is also the administrative headquarters of Bageshwar district in the state of Uttarakhand.  Bageshwar is situated on the confluence of river Saryu and Gomti. There are many old temples dating back to 10th century AD but Baijnath temple and Bagnath temples are the most important. The Bagnath temple is situated in the middle of the town. Chandika and Neeleshwar temples are other important temples in the district. These are on the top of the city (hills). One can have a beautiful view of the city from these temples. Other important shrines in and around Bageshwar are - Ram Ghat temple, Agnikund temple, Kukuda Mai temple, Shitla Devi temple, Gopeshwar Dham, Golu temple and Praktishwar Mahadev etc.

Baijnath has remained the capital of Katyuri Kings, who ruled the area from 7th -11th century AD. There is a famous Baijnath Temple-  dedicated to Lord Shiva on the bank of the river which is said to have been built by the Kumaon Katyuri king in around 1150 A.D and was Capital of the Katyuri dynasty of kings who ruled Uttarakhand during 12th and 13th century. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva and Parvati were married at the confluence of River Gomati and Garur Ganga in Baijnath.
Overnight at hotel in Ranikhet.

Day 13: Kausani/ Almora/ Binsar (50Kms & 3hrs drive)
After breakfast at hotel, drive towards Binsar. On the way, visit Almora.

Almora is another beautiful hill station in the state of Uttarakhand. Almora was the seat of power of the Chand Dynasty, who ruled the land of Kumaon for almost one thousand years. An interesting fact about Almora is that unlike other hill stations, it was not discovered and developed by the British. The Katyuri Dynasty ruled the region around Almora from the 9th century AD till it made way for the Chand dynasty. Raja Balo Kalyan Chand made Almora as his new capital in 1560 AD. The Chand dynasty occupied Almora till the 19th century AD. The Gorkhas captured Almora in 1790 AD and finally British took it over from the Gorkhas after the Gorkha wars of 1814-1815.

After visit some important of Almora, drive continue to Binsar.

Binsar is located 25Kms from Almora in the serene and heavenly Kumaon hills. Binsar is nestled in the midst of a forest reserve known as the ‘Binsar Reserve’ which has been declared as a wildlife sanctuary. Binsar is situated on the top of the Jhandi Dhar hills and completely surrounded by dense forests of Oak, rhododendron, pine and deodar. The main attraction of Binsar is the majestic view of the Himalayan peaks- a 300Kms stretch on famous peaks which includes Kedarnath, Trishul, Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba, Nanda Kot and Panchchuli.

Arrive Binsar and check in to your hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Binsar.

Day 14: Binsar
After breakfast at hotel, proceed for jungle safari inside Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary.

The sanctuary covers an area of 45.59 Sq. Kms and has a wide variety of animals and birds inside it. It is believed that over 200 varieties of birds are found in Binsar along with animals like deer, leopards, Himalayan bears, monkeys, foxes, flying squirrels and many others, making it a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts. People from all across the country as well as abroad visit Binsar to experience nature and wildlife. With so many varieties of birds, bird watching is one of the most popular activities here.

In the afternoon, proceed for village tour to see the local houses and temples. The famous 16th century temple is Bineshwar Mahadev Temple- dedicated to Lord Shiva. Kasar Devi Temple is another famous temple- dedicated to Goddess Kasar Devi.
Overnight at hotel in Binsar.

Day 15: Binsar/ Nainital (96Kms & 4hrs drive)
After breakfast at hotel, drive towards Nainital.

Nainital is the popular hill station in the holy state of Uttarakhand at an elevation of 1938mtr above the sea level. The hill resort is believed to have derived its name from the goddess Naina. There is a temple dedicated to the goddess Naina on the banks of Naini Lake. It is also called that Nainital got its name from popular Naini Lake. The natural beauty and the charm of the cool weather has made Nainital a beautiful hill station. Nainital is divided into two parts, Tallital and Mallital, with the lake separating them. Because of so many lakes in the city, it is also called the city of lakes.

Arrive Nainital and check in to your hotel.
In the afternoon, proceed to visit Naina Devi Temple- which was constructed in the 15th Century during the Kushan reign. Also visit Naina Lake, which is the best among all the lakes in Nainital with a circumference of about 3.5Kms and almost 28mts deep and surrounded by seven hills called 'Sapta-Shring' i.e. Naini Peak or China Peak at 2611mts, Laria Kanta Peak at 2481mts, Deopatta Peak like Camel's Hump at 2273mts, Alma Peak Peak at 2270mts, Aryapatta at 2235mts, Sher-Ka-Danda (Tiger Ridge) at 2217mts and Handi-Bandi at 2139mts. One can enjoying the boating in this beautiful lake.

In the evening, stroll around Mall Road for shopping etc.
Overnight at hotel in Nainital.

Day 16: Nainital
After breakfast at hotel, proceed to visit Naina Peak or China Peak- which is the highest peak of the town at an altitude of 2611mts. It offers a magnificent view of snowcapped Himalayan peaks from Bandar Punch in west to Api and Nari peaks of Nepal in the east, a full Himalayan range in one side and a bird’s eye view of the lake city of Nainital in its full grandeur on the other. Pony or Horses can be hired to visit this peak either from Snow view or from Mallital.

Return to Nainital and proceed to visit Ghorakhal Bell temple, followed by a Lake tour of Bhimtal and Naukuchiatal. You can also go for a memorable boat ride in Naukuchiatal.

In the evening, stroll around Mall for shopping etc. There are two main shopping areas, The Mall and Barra Bazaar. Traditional buys have included shawls, scarves, cardigans and local jams. You can also buy wooden handicrafts which are good and cheap option for souvenirs.
Overnight at hotel in Nainital.

Day 17: Nainital/ Delhi (315Kms & 7hrs drive) & Delhi/ Fly Back Home
After breakfast at hotel, drive towards Delhi. 

Arrive Delhi and transfer to Delhi airport to board your flight back home with sweet memories of your Kumaon Trip with Dependable Travel Solutions (India) !!

***END OF THE TOUR***