Travel to Uttarakhand

the Kumaon area is more remote and special

The province of Uttarakhand is located in northern India, roughly 225 km (140 miles) northeast of Delhi.

Lying immediately to the west of Nepal, this mountainous region rises from the plains of northern India, all the way up to the border with Tibet and includes the main peaks of this section of the Himalayas.

The region is divided into two halves, the western Garhwal and the eastern Kumaon, with different cultures, traditions and languages.

The main reason to visit the area is for trekking and spending time in the wonderfully scenic and welcoming mountain villages.

Some areas have become a little overrun by high volumes of trekkers, whilst others remain blissfully pure and remote.

We tend to focus more on the quieter Kumaon area, focusing less on trekking and more on gentle walks between villages, spending time with local people and really getting under the skin of the place, whilst staying in sensitively upgraded villages houses.

On the south side of the area, the sacred River Ganges emerges from the mountains at a sacred Hindu location known as the Gateway to God, lined by the pilgrimage towns of Rishikesh and Haridwar.

It might also be worth mentioning that there is a string of national parks and wildlife reserves along the fringe of the foothills, the best known of which is Jim Corbett National Park. Unfortunately we are not aware of any decent safari or lodge options in these areas, so they tend not to feature in trips.

The best time of year to visit the Uttarakhand area is generally considered to be during Oct-Nov and Feb-Apr…

Oct-Nov is the transition period between the end of the monsoon rains and the start of the cool dry season. During Oct-Nov the daytime temperatures usually rise to around 20C/68F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures remain up around 11C/52F. However the rainfall usually drops away to around 50mm (2”) per month. Sunshine is around 7 hours per day (around 60% of daylight hours), meaning that skies can be persistently overcast.

Dec-Jan is the main cool season. During Dec-Jan the daytime temperatures usually only reach around 15C/77F, with the nighttime low temperatures plunging down to around 0C/32F. Rainfall should be low throughout, but any precipitation can often fall as snow. Sunshine is around 7 hours per day (around 70% of daylight hours), meaning that skies are more often than not clear.

Feb-Apr is a slightly warmer and wetter season, the build-up to the main monsoon. During Feb-Apr the daytime temperatures climb gently to around 19C/66F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures hold up around 9C/48F. Rainfall usually rises to around 100mm (4”) per month and can fall as snow as late as April. Sunshine is around 8 hours per day (around 60% of daylight hours), meaning that skies can be persistently overcast. This is the most popular time for domestic visitors, who come up here to escape the pre-monsoon heat down in Delhi, so the place can become a bit hectic in the more busy western areas.

May-Sep is the main monsoon season and is generally considered to be the least favourable time to visit. During May-Sep the daytime temperatures continue to climb to around 20C/73F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures remain up at 13C/61F. Rainfall climbs to an extremely high 550mm (22”) per month. Sunshine drops to around 4 hours per day (around 30% of daylight hours), meaning that skies are more often than not overcast.

Getting there

The Uttarakhand area can be accessed in a number of different ways…

By train

The best way to access the Kumaon area is usually to take the Shatabdi Express from Delhi to Kathgodam, where you will be met by a vehicle for the drive up into the mountains, which usually takes 4-6 hours, depending on where you are headed.

To get to Garwhal you can get a train from Delhi to either Haridwar or Dehradun and continue by road from there.

By air

An alternative way to get to Kumaon is to fly from Delhi to Pantnagar, from where you can continue by road.

To get to Garwhal you can fly from Delhi to either Haridwar or Dehradun and continue by road from there.

Where to stay

Accommodation options in this region fall into two main categories…

Firstly, there are properties which are located high up in the remote valleys of the Himalayas, that specialise in walking, trekking and cultural interaction. These are the highest rated options in this area, so you will find them at the top of the list.

Secondly, there are properties located around the location where the River Ganges emerges from the mountains, which are mainly focused on visiting religious shrines, taking yoga classes and enjoying spa treatments.

to compare with Ladakh, Darjeeling and Nepal