RegionOutline guide

Uttarakhand

State in northern India

Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Uttarakhand (Hindi: उत्तराखंड Uttarākhaṇḍ, Sanskrit: उत्तराखण्डम् Uttarākhaṇḍam), formerly Uttaranchal, is a stunningly beautiful state in the Himalayan North of India. Often called Devbhūmi (देवभूमि), literally the "Land of God", Uttarakhand contains some of Hinduism's highly revered shrines and temples as well as excellent scenery and huge mountains.

Regions

Garhwal
The western and more easily accessed part famous for its religious destinations like Char Dham, Panch Prayag, Panch Kedar, Sapt Badri and Haridwar-Rishikesh.
Kumaon
The eastern part famous for its beauty, lakes and hill stations like Nainital, Ranikhet, Kausani, Chaukori and Munsyari.

Getting there and around

Getting there

There are many ways to enter Uttarakhand. If you are interested in seeing the Garhwal region you can enter through either Haridwar or Kotdwar. Haridwar is the more popular entrance.

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Getting around

Public transport mainly consists of buses and shared jeeps that ply the major north-south pilgrimage routes during the day.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Dehradun Jolly Grant Airport

Dehradun (Jauligrant) · Regional · DED

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Cities

Rajaji National Park

Rajaji National Park is in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand in the Himalayan North region of India. It has been named as the second tiger reserve in Uttarakhand after the Corbett Tiger Reserve.

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Park

a , famous for its outstanding natural beauty, endangered animals and endemic alpine flowers

Read before you go to Uttarakhand

Articles and travel topics about Uttarakhand and India.

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Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

UnderstandThe name "Uttarakhand" (Hindi: उत्तराखंड oot-tuh-RAH-khuhnd) literally means the "northern part".

TalkUttarakhand is linguistically diverse, with most people speaking Indo‑Aryan mountain languages collectively known as Pahari. These languages vary by region, with Garhwali spoken in Garhwal and Kumaoni in Kumaon.

Get inThere are many ways to enter Uttarakhand. If you are interested in seeing the Garhwal region you can enter through either Haridwar or Kotdwar. Haridwar is the more popular entrance.

Get aroundPublic transport mainly consists of buses and shared jeeps that ply the major north-south pilgrimage routes during the day.

SeeNainital, Mussoorie and Ranikhet though it's better to treat these slightly overcrowded, touristy 'hill stations' as base camps to explore lots of other hidden jewels further afield in Uttarakhand.

DoUttarakhand is a great place for trekking. At the lower levels, there are forests and wildlife. At the upper reaches, you go past the tree line to snow clad mountains.

EatKumaoni food is very simple but very nutritious and completely suits the hard environment of the Himalayas.

DrinkUttarakhand’s drinking culture is shaped more by nature, climate and tradition than nightlife, so the experience is calm and refreshing rather than loud or party‑focused.

Stay safeCities like Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh are generally easy to navigate, yet crowded markets and bus stands can feel chaotic, so keeping your phone and valuables secure is smart.

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Uttarakhand" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Uttarakhand", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

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