Uttaranchal Map

Adventure Uttaranchal

Skiing
The hills of Uttranchal have all the ingredients for adventure packed with excitement and thrills - an unexplored valley, towering peaks, flowing rivers, snow-capped mountains, a splendid combination of flora & fauna and vast tracts of virgin snow. The region also provides immense opportunities for adventure sports like skiing, water sports and Aero sports which make Garhwal an ideal venue for adventure seekers. amongst the glaciers. For the avid skier, cross-country runs of 10-20 kms. are now available, with the added advantage of fresh powder snow, away from criss-crossing streams of skiers that overThe large slopes of Garhwal covered with seasonal snow became an ideal place for skiing in the winter months. With their wide open spaces above the snowline, Garhwal offer yet another exciting possibility - ski touringtake the slopes of the European Alps. Because of their height and spread, Garhwal, like other sectors of the Himalayas, are in position to offer the thrills of exploratory long distance skiing round the year.

Auli 16 kms. from Joshimath is an ideal winter resort run by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN). A 3 kms. long slope ranging from a height of 2519 mts. to 3049 mts. is a major attraction. The Auli resort run by GMVN has snow beaters which beat the snow to keep the slopes fit for skiing at all times. A 500 mts.long ski-lift carries skiiers back to the slope top, thus saving them the trouble and time to bridge up wearing long skis.

Season :: End December to March

River Rafting
Initiation to White Water
Half Day Float trip from Brahmpuri to Muni Ki Reti (11 Kms) Best For Children between 5 to 10 years , Families with children & elderly people Inclusive of Transport to Starting point, Tea/ Soft drinks, Rafting with professional river guide and world class equipment.

Drive(20 Minutes) to Brahmpuri. Arrive and walk down to the river. After preparation and safety briefing enboat to raft down till Muni ki Reti. We hit Initiation, Double Trouble , Hilton and terminator rapids. One can try body surfing & cliff jump on this section. In the later part we float past Suspension bridges, ashrams and temples. Certainly the best angle to see Rishikesh the town of Gods ,Ghats & the Ganges. Trip terminates upon arrival at Muni Ki Reti.

We are a team of 25 young professionals including experienced trekking and river guides, cooks and other camp staff, our own Guest House at Tapovan, Rishikesh, River/ beach camp at Brahmpuri, Nature camp at Shivpuri, with “A” Class trekking and rafting equipment, and fleet of brand new vehicles etc.

Pilgrimage in Uttranchal

Panch Badri
All as the apt tribute to Lord Vishnu reveres the five Badris. Badrinath is devoted to the worship of Vishnu who, according to an amusing tale, Usurped this place from Shiva. For Vishnu had come here as the gods once did, to offer penance. He loved the place so much that he plotted to unseat Shiva from his meditation here. He took on the form of a beautiful child and began to wail. Shiva's wife, Parvati picked him up but could not calm the child.

Since his wailing continued to disturb Shiva, he shifted to Kedamath in exasperation, leaving the spot free for Vishnu to occupy. But remainders of Shiva's stay continue to linger, most visibly in the name, badri, a kind of berry that Shiva was S most fond of, and the gigantic tree, invisible to the mortal eye, that served Shiva. Considered one of the Chair Dham or four principal places of Hindu worship, Badrinath's four subsidiary badris include Bhavishya Badri, Yogdhyan Badri,Vridht Badri, and Adi Badri.

Panch Kedar
The five Kedar lies in the valleys between the rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda. The term Kedar itself means a natural rock formation or a glacial moraine. According to legend, Kedarnath, the chief seat of the Panch Kedar, come into being during the period when the five Pandava brothers were asked to seek Shiva's blessings, purging them off sin of fratricide, or killing their cousin brothers in the terrifying bettle of Kurukshetra. Shiva disguised himself as a bull and started to plunge underground when he was spotted by Pandavas. No wonder the natural rock formation that is worshipped here resembles the rump of bull. The other four places where Shiva is worshipped take their appearance from different part of his body - the navel at Madmaheshwar, the arm at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, and the matted hair at Kalpeshwar.

Panch Prayag
Panch Prayag, confluence of most sacred rivers, is considered the epitome of immortal piety. River confluences in India are considered very sacred, especially since rivers themselves are extolled ad goddesses. And outside of Prayag, the great confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati at Allahabad, the most revered confluences are in the Garhwal Himalayas. Since the two mighty rivers and tributaries trace their source to these mountains, the points at which they meet are sanctified as major pilgrimage centers. It is here that propitiatory and cleansing ceremonies are performed as part of the tenets of Hindu religion. Five Prayags are Vishnu Prayag, Nand Prayag, Karna Prayag, Rudra Prayag and Deo Prayag.

Gangotri
Panch Prayag, confluence of most sacred rivers, is considered the epitome of immortal piety. River confluences in India are considered very sacred, especially since rivers themselves are extolled ad goddesses. And outside of Prayag, the great confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati at Allahabad, the most revered confluences are in the Garhwal Himalayas. Since the two mighty rivers and tributaries trace their source to these mountains, the points at which they meet are sanctified as major pilgrimage centers. It is here that propitiatory and cleansing ceremonies are performed as part of the tenets of Hindu religion. Five Prayags are Vishnu Prayag, Nand Prayag, Karna Prayag, Rudra Prayag and Deo Prayag.

Yamanotri
The shrine of Yamunotri,situated at an elevation of about 3,235 mt is a point of paramount religious importance for Hindus and an essential pilgrimage. Situated in the direction opposite to Gangotri,the road bifurcates froma place called Dharasu,somewhere between Rishikesh- Uttarkashi and goes on to Yamunotri.The shrine can also be visited via mussorie and Barkot.

Fairs and festivals in Uttarakhand

Fairs and festivals have constantly been an essential part of the life of Indians and people of Uttarakhand are no different. The state of Uttaranchal has several fairs and temples, intrinsic to the culture of the hills. These fairs are considered very auspicious and form important trading centers for the people from different sectors of crafts to sell their works and animals, especially hill ponies. Many folk songs and dances are alive today because of these fairs doubling up as social gatherings.

There are many fairs in Uttarakhand like Ardh Kumbh Mela, Nandadevi Fair, Jauljibi & Thal Fair, Uttarayani Fair, Hatkalika Fair, Khataltua Fair, Somnath Fair and Devidhura Fair. The Somnath fair in Almora is one of the best fairs that happen in Uttaranchal which is held on the auspicious Vishuwat Sankranti day in November / December. Somnath is another name for Lord Shiva so it is a big day for his devotees. The venue for the fair is the Shiva Temple at Masi.

The Devidhura fair on the other hand is held on the day of Raksha Bandhan at the Varahi Devi temple at Devidhura. Almora, Pithoragarh and Nainital form a common point of Devidhura. A strange ritual of this fair is that two groups of people throw stones at each other and defending themselves with roofs as shields. There are many other things that one will be surprised to know about so read on to find more about the fairs of Uttarakhand.

Bikhauti Fair
Uttarakhand have vivacious people celebrating life on any given occasion. Any fair or festival is a part of these celebrations surrounding the lives of ordinary people. Bikhauti Fair is celebrated on the day of Vishuwat Sankranti day commemorating an ancient victory.

Haatkalika Fair
The Haatkalika fair is held in Gangolihat, a small town in the Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand. The fair is organized in honor of Goddess Haatkalika, a divine embodiment of Maa Kali.

Jageshwar Fair
Imagine a single fair for a cluster of almost two hundered temples. Think of a crowd of thousands of people amidst these ancient places of worship with a legend older than the temple building.

Jauljibi & Thal
Fairs and festivals are an important part of lives of the people of Uttaranchal. The fairs are a place to socialize and meet people and do business. Jauljibi and Thal are such popular fairs celebrated in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.

Haridwar Kumbh
Ardh Kumbh Mela is held every six years at the banks of the holy Ganges River in Haridwar. Millions of people gather to be part of a religious fervor and inspite of the rush still manage to have a good time.

Nanda Devi Fair
Fairs in Uttarakhand serve as a meeting point for mingling with people from other parts of the state, trade items of local produce and of course celebrate something of religious importance.

Purnagiri Fair
Purnagiri is located on the top of a hill and is 20 kms from Tanakpur. Purnagiri It is located on the right bank of the river kali. Also known as Punyagiri (meaning the mountain of good deeds), the Purnagiri temple is visited by thousands of devotees throughout the year.

Uttarayani Fair
The people of the state of Uttarakhand celebrate a number of fairs and festivals. The Uttarayani Fair is a perfect example of the highly sacred sentiments of the local residents. Of all the places, the Bageshwar temple fair attracts the largest number of people.

Basant Panchami
A festival not only gives a welcome break but also adds colors to our life. Basant Panchami is the festival celebrating spring season which comes accompanied by a huge variety of flowers presenting a riot of colors to the environment.

Bhaitauli & Harela
The people of Uttarakhand have great enthusiasm for their festivals. Harela is curiously a Kumauni festival celebrated to mark the beginning of the rainy season or the monsoon. The celebration falls on the first day of Shrawan

Ganga Dussehra
Ganga Dusshera is celebrated in Uttarakhand with lot of enthusiasm. This festival starts on the tenth day of Jaishtha (May-June) according to the Hindu calendar. It begins on the Amavasya night (dark moon night) and continues till Dashami tithi or the tenth phase of the moon.

Makar Sankranti
Sankranti or Sankrant is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘to move’ and usually symbolizes a harvest festival not only in India but in many South-East Asian countries as well. Makar Sankranti is one of the major festivals of the Indian subcontinent.

Phool Dei
The land of Uttarakhand is known for numerous fairs and festivals. All the festivals celebrated here have an immense deal of ceremonial grace and magnificence. Both the festivals of Phool Dei and Olgia/ Ghee Sankranti have a relation with nature

Uttarakhand Wildlife

Uttarakhand is a wonderful tourist destination. Thousands of people go there every year to rejuvenate themselves amidst the mountains. The mountains in Uttarakhand are home to rare species of plants and animals which are protected by sanctuaries and reserves. The major sanctuaries and reserves of the area are Jim Corbett National Park, Valley of Flowers National Park, Govind National Park, Nanda Devi National Park, Rajaji National Park and Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary.

The most common animals found in Uttarakhand are wild sheep, goat, oxen, antelopes and butterflies but rare and endangered animals such as Musk Deer, Snow Leopard, Ghorals and Monal are also found here.

Jim Corbett National Park is one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries of Uttarakhand. Established by the British government as a reserve area to protect tigers, today one can observer them in their natural habitat.

The Nanda Devi National Park & Valley of Flowers have been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since the Valley of Flowers resembles Kashmir when in full bloom, it is worth giving a visit.

Rajaji National Park and Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary are very close to Dehradun, the capital city of Uttarakhand. Though one cannot cover both of them in a day, one can certainly make Dehradun the base and then explore both the wonderful places, especially for a wildlife aficionado.

Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary
Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary was established in the year 1967 as a small man-made wetland at the convergence point of Rivers Yamuna and Asan in Dehradun. Since it is near to Dhalipur power house, it is also known as Dhalipur Lake.

Govind National Park
Govind National Park, also known as Govind Pashu Vihar, was established to save the increasingly endangered species. This sanctuary is spread over an area of 957.969 sq. kms with a varying altitude of 1,300 m to 6,323 m.

Jim Corbett National Park
Jim Corbett National Park used to be just another Himalayan forest until in 1936 it was demarcated as a reserve area by the British Government. Jim Corbett Park is spread over 520 sq kms and is covered with huge stretches of Savannah type grasslands and Sal forests.

Nanda Devi National Park
Nanda Devi National Park along with the nearby Valley of Flowers was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Nanda Devi National Park is a forest reserve cum national park (established 1982) in the area surrounding the Nanda Devi peak and covers an area of 630.33 sq kms.

Rajaji National Park
Rajaji National Park was established in 1983 amidst the bio diverse area of the Shivalik Hill range on the Himalayan foothills. The national park’s name has been dedicated to C. Rajagopalachari, fondly known as Raja Ji.

Valley of Flowers
Valley of Flowers is as full of flowers as of exotic animal species and birds. It is a sight to watch, explore and absorb. The valley is a riot of colors and fragrances so unique and exotic that one needs an entire day just to take in whatever nature is giving us that time.

Haridwar Travel Guide

Location:	In Haridwar district of Uttarakhand in India
Climate:	Summers: 40o C (maximum) and 15o C (minimum) Winters: 16.6o C (maximum) and 0.6o C (minimum)
Best Time to Visit:	September-November and February to April.
Nearest Airport:	Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun)
Nearest Railhead:	Haridwar
Must Visits:	Har-Ki-Pauri, Chandi Devi temple, Mansa Devi Temple, Gurukul Kangadi University, Daksha Prajapati Temple, Bhimgoda Tank, Parad Shivling, Ma Ananda Mai Ashram and Maya Devi Temple
Languages:	Hindi and English
STD Code:	+01334
Pin Code:	249 403

Legend holds that one can attain moksha (nirvana) just by the touch of Ganges from Haridwar or the Gateway to God. The village has got such an esteemed place in Indian way of thought. Haridwar is considered to be blessed by the trio of lords Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva). Har ki Pauri is one of the holiest ghats in India and it is believed that a drop of the immortal exilier fell here, testimonied by the footprint of Lord Vishnu.

Haridwar became an integral part of Uttarakhand on 9th November 2000 when the state was carved out of Uttar Pradesh. Today it houses many symbols of modern growth like Industrial Estate of State Infrastructure & Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCUL) and BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) and the ancillaries of these businesses. Many professional builders have constructed housing societies for vacationers and retired people. Get to know more about Haridwar through this section.

Attractions
People visit Haridwar to forget all their worldly desires, anxieties and ‘unholy’ things connected with their lives. Haridwar has the ‘Panch Teerth’ mentioned in the Puranas located within the district mainly known as Gangadwara (Har-ki-Pauri), Kushwart Ghat, Kankhal, Bilwa Teerth (Mansa Devi) and Neel Parvat (Chandi Devi).

Chandi Devi Temple
Situated on the top of Neel Parvat, in Haridwar, Chandi Devi Temple is one of the most famous temples of India. Considered to be one of the Shaktipeeths of North India, this place is of great religious significance. It is said to have the power to fulfill the wishes of devotees and this is why it is also known as Siddhpeetha.

Daksha Mahadev Temple
Daksha Mahadev temple is one of the most ancient temples of Lord Shiva, situated in Kankhal. The temple is approximately 4 km away from the main township of Haridwar. Mythologies relate this temple to Daksha Yagya. According to the legends, Goddess Sati's father Daksha Prajapati performed a yagna, a holy ritual, at this place, but did not invite Lord Shiva, his son-in-law.

Places to See Near Haridwar
Considered as one of the most sacred pilgrims in Hindu Religion, Haridwar according to some mythological text is one of those four sacred places in India where the elixir of immorality accidentally spilled from heaven. It is also famous for the Kumb Mela celebrated here once in every three years.

Har Ki Pauri Haridwar
One of the most famous and most visited sites of Haridwar, Har ki Pauri is considered as one of its five main holy sites. It is believed to be the sacred place where Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, two great Hindu Gods, appeared in the Vedic era. This place is considered equivalent to the Dashashwamedh Ghat in Banaras, in religious terms.

History
The city of Haridwar is an ancient city of India, mentioned in several Upanishads and Puranas with different names such as Gangadwara, Mayapuri and Kapilasthana. The city’s name literally meaning the ‘Doorway of / to Gods’, is equally important to both Shaivites (Shiva followers) and Vaishnavites (Vishnu followers).

How to Reach
Haridwar is a sacrosanct place in Uttarakhand well-connected to the rest of India by various means of transport. Delhi, the capital of India, is just at 214km from Haridwar. Hardwar’s existence is supposed to be from the days of Pandavas of Mahabharata, so one can safely assume that the place is really ancient.

Mansa Devi Temple
Situated atop the Bilwa Parvat, on Shivalik Hills, Mansa Devi is approximately 2.5 km from the main township of Haridwar. One of the most visited temples in North India, the temple is known for being the holy abode of Goddess Mansa, the wife of Nag Vasuki and the brainchild of Saint Kashyap.

Weather
Haridwar is located in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India. However, since it is not cradled by the mountains, its weather is also affected by the conditions in other parts of Northern India. Maximum temperature in summers reaches up to 42^o C. In winters, the temperature falls to 18^o C in winters.

How to Reach Haridwar :

Located at the foot of Himalayan Shivalik ranges, Haridwar is situated in the state of Uttarakhand. Haridwar is close to several major North Indian cities and is about 214 km from the capital city of New Delhi. This revered city of Hindus is visited by millions every year to experience the spirituality and the divinity associated with the place. Find about various ways how you can reach this holy city from different parts of the country and beyond.

By Air
Haridwar does not have an airport of its own. The nearest airport to Haridwar is located in Dehradun called the Jolly Grant airport* which is about 35 km away from the city. From Dehradun you can either board a train or hit the road to reach Haridwar. Also one can take a flight to the International Airport at Delhi and from here one can take a train or road journey to the holy city. Jolly Grant airport is presently undergoing renovation and therefore closed for flights

By Rail
The Indian Railways has a railway station at Haridwar which is connected by trains from major cities of India. Reaching Haridwar by train is one of the most convenient and economical means. Trains from Ujjain, Delhi, Varanasi, Bombay, Allahabad, Amritsar, Lucknow and Dehradun all ply regularly to Haridwar. Some of the important trains running to Haridwar are Bombay-Dehradun, Doon Express, Gorakhpur - Dehradun Express, Ujjaini Express, Varanasi-Dehradun Express, Dehradun-Allahabad Link Express, Mussoorie Express (Delhi-Dehradun), Shatabdi Express (Delhi- Dehradun).

By Road
Many inter-state deluxe, semi-deluxe and ordinary buses ply to Haridwar everyday. If you wish to come in a large group you can even book a private bus for coming to Haridwar. For a smaller group private cabs or even your own vehicle can be used to reach Haridwar. In the course of the journey you will find several restaurants, hotels, motels and even garages for servicing of the vehicle.

Shopping
Haridwar, being primarily a pilgrimage destination, has numerous shops along its streets selling all essentials that a pilgrim would need. The streets between the railway station and famous Har Ki Pauri are filled with such shops.

Uttaranchal Travel Guide

Area : 55,848 sq. km
Capital : Dehradun
Population : 7.045 Million
Religion : Hinduism
Languages : Hindi, Garhwali, Kumaoni
Best Time to Visit : April to July
Major Cities : Almora, Nainital, Haridwar, Dehradun, Mussoorie and Rishikesh.

Uttaranchal Travel guide presents an overview of the precise geographical position and important tourist destinations of the state. Located in the northern part of India, Uttaranchal is known as the land of Gods since it is adorned with several pilgrim centers of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Henmkund Sahib, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

Ganga, the sacred river in the Hindu mythology, flows through the state. Pilgrims generally start their journey from Haridwar, which is centrally located and easily reachable by roadways and railways.

The important places to visit in Uttaranchal include Dehradun, Mussoorie, Nainital, Almora, Kaushani and Ranikhet. Dehradun, which is the capital of Uttaranchal, is one of the oldest Indian cities. Sightseeing in this city comprises places like Robbers' Cave, Tapkeshwar, Malsi Deer Park and Forest Research Institute.

Mussoorie is one of the best hill resorts in India. Gun Hill, Kempty Falls, Camel's Back Road, Lal Tibba and The Jheel are some of places mostly visited by tourists. Nainital is a popular lake resort placed at a height of 1,938 meters. Sightseeing in Nainital includes Naini Lake, Naina Peak, Snow View and Hanuman Garhi. Ranikhet offers the lush green forests housing attractive wildlife.

Almora houses many tourist attractions like Bright & Corner, Public Museum, Deer Park, Nanda Devi Museum, Chetai Temple, Simtola. Kausani, a small town provides a breathtaking view of the snow-capped peaks of Trishul, Panchchuli, Nanda Devi, Nandakot, Nanda, Chaukhan and Ghunti.

Corbett National Park, Valley of Flowers and other parks, the tour to Uttaranchal becomes interesting for the nature lovers. Airways, roadways as well as railways connect Uttaranchal with all the parts of the country. Jolly Grant located near Dehradun caters to airlines plying regular flights to and from Uttaranchal.

Tourist Attractions:
Uttaranchal consists of two main regions, they are Garhwal and Kumaon. Both the regions are very similar on cultural terms.

Garhwal
The Garhwal Himalayas area is remote and mountainous, filled with oak forests and alpine meadows. The forests are home to a number of endangered animal species and have historically been managed by local community institutions. In recent years, however, overgrazing and overharvesting in government-controlled forestlands has begun to threaten the area's biodiversity

Char Dham
The state of Uttaranchal is considered the holy land or the Devbhoomi. The Garhwal division of Uttaranchal is famous for the Char Dham Yatra. It includes the four most revered and holy destinations of Garhwal Himalayas, namely, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. It is generally believed by the pilgrims that undertaking pilgrimages to these places not just wash away one's sins but also liberates from the cycle of birth and death. It is also believed that earlier all these dhams were placed together and with the onset of the Kalyuga, the distance between the four grew and they drifted apart. The Char Dham Yatra must be initiated from left to right or west to east, beginning from Yamunotri, Gangotri, moving to Kedarnath and ending in Badrinath.

Mussoorie
Mussoorie, with its green hills and varied flora & fauna, is a facinating hill resort. Commanding snow ranges to the north-east, and glittering views of the Doon Valley & Shiwalik ranges in the south, the town presents a fairyland atmosphere. Mussoorie is famous for its scenic beauty

Kumaon
Kumaon is a beautiful region in the newly formed state Uttaranchal . It is in the northern side of Uttar pradesh .Kumaon is derived from "Kurmanchal" which meanes Land of the Kurmavtar (the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Preserver of Mankind as per hindu religion. Kumaon consists of six Districts Almora, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Champawat and Udhamsingh Nagar. Kumaon is situated in Central Himalayas .Himalaya in the north , "Kali" river in east, Garwal in the west and Plain area in south make the typial boundry of this region

Nainital
A beautiful hill station in Kumaon hills, Nainital is popular for the its beautiful views, and boat rides. Hill Resorts in India provides complete information on the beautiful Nainital Hill Station. Nainital is located at an altitude of 1,938 metres in the state of Uttaranchal. Nainital has a number of tourist destinations that one can visit. Travel to Nainital with Hill Resorts in India.

Corbett National Park
Corbett National Park and Tiger Reserve lies 280 km north-east of New Delhi in the Nainital and Pauri Garhwal districts of Uttaranchal. Named after the celebrated hunter turned naturalist, Jim Corbett who immortalized the area through his famous books, Corbett is India's first national park and was established in 1936.

Encompassing 1318 sq kms of foothills of the Western Himalayas and the adjacent terai region Corbett contains a wide range of habitats between 400 and 1200 meters. The thick Sal forests in the bhabar zone and the chaurs (or open grassland) are intersected by river valleys and streams ~ tributaries of the Ramganga and Kosi rivers creating primeval forests which are a hotspot of bio-diversity.

Haridwar
Haridwar is one of the most sacred cities of India. The city is situated on the banks of Ganga and it is said that Ganga enters the plains in Haridwar. Haridwar means Gateway (Dwar) to gods (Hari). Tere are many temples and ashrams in the town. The city is also famous for being host to Kumbh mela, the most sacred fairs of Hindus. The water of Ganga is supposed to be medicinally very strong in Haridwar, due to herbal secretions of the plants and herbs.

Adventure Sports
Uttaranchal is famous for its adventure sports activities. The state can boast about the host of adventure activities which it offers to visitors. The most famous ones are skiing, white water rafting, trekking, jungle safari and mountaineering. The geographical variations in the land of Uttaranchal offers some very intresting challenges.

Auli Skiing
Auli, located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, is a new entrant in the tourist map of India. Located in the cradle of snow-capped mountains, Auli is one of the very few places in India where skiing is a major pastime. The bitter cold winds, the vast snow-covered landscape, the sylvan mountains, all add up to make Auli a skier's paradise. Representing man's constant endeavor to triumph over nature, Auli proves to be an ideal locale for the daring.

Accommodations
Uttaranchal is one of most visited states of India, due to its pilgrimage sites, adventure potential and hill resorts. The state has best of facilities for stay in India. Dehradun, Nainital, Mussoorie, Almora and Ranikhet provide with the most luxurious stay in Uttaranchal, while Rishikesh and Haridwar are known for the Ashrams, which form an inevitable part of stay in these cities. Good hotels are found in all the districts. GMVN and KMVN have also guest houses, hotels and tourist lodges all over Uttaranchal.

How to Reach Uttaranchal :
The heavenly abode of Uttarakhand is an open invitation waiting to be accepted by the people. The state of Uttaranchal boasts of admirable road and rail network in terms of user friendliness. The state hosts a variety of colorful fairs and festivals all round the year. Uttaranchal should preferably be visited between the spring / summer months of March and June. Underneath are listed some of the ways to reach the ‘Abode of Gods’:

By Air
The state of Uttarakhand has only one airport till now in the form of Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. The second is in Pant Nagar, near Nainital, with limited flights. Almost all public and private airlines operate regular flights to Dehradun.

By Road
Uttarakhand has a wide-ranging road network covering the state. The state has an exceptional road connection with Delhi and many State Highways. They provide the linkage to tourist destinations and important places like Corbett National Park, Haridwar and Rishikesh. Regular bus shuttle services (private, deluxe, state or otherwise) are available for journey to Uttarakhand.

By Rail
Rail network is also quite very convenient in Uttarakhand. The key Railway Stations in the state are Dehradun, Haridwar and Kathgodam. Many super-fast express and passenger (local) trains connect these locations with cities in other parts of India. However due to difficult terrain of the hilly Uttaranchal, it is not possible to extend the railway services to interior and remote locales.