The Best Things to Do in Uttarakhand

With encapsulating scenic beauty all around, Uttarakhand is an all-season destination for travel seekers. From camping, trekking, river rafting, or attending the world’s famous Ganga Aarti on the bank of river Ganges, Uttarakhand has a long list of activities for tourists of all ages and tastes.

With mesmerizing Himalayan views, abundant natural beauty and tranquility, and adrenaline-pumping sports and activities, Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand is always set to welcome you all through the year.

So, if Uttarakhand is on your travel bucket list too, quickly run through our checklist of the best things to do in Uttarakhand for a wholesome vacation.

The Best Things to Do in Uttarakhand

River Rafting

Uttarakhand has some of the world’s major hotspots for white water river rafting. Rishikesh, Ranikhet, Kumaon, and Pithoragarh are the most popular places among travelers craving some hair-raising experience of river rafting. The rivers like the Ganges, Yamuna, Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Kosi, and many others flowing through the state make excellent opportunities for river rafting in Uttarakhand.

A gaze through a cascading journey drifting along the seemingly still waters, the surging crashes of the churning rapids, and the deep dives over the falls- you’ll never be more awake or alive than when white-water rafting. Also, a comfortably cold temperature surrounded by gorgeous Himalayan sights makes your journey on the water unforgettable. 

If you’re a first-timer, don’t worry! You can get professional guidance from the best instructors. 

Wildlife Safari

 With green forests and rich biodiversity, Uttarakhand is home to many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. With about 102 species of mammals, 623 types of avifauna, 124 varieties of fish, 19 types of amphibians, and 69 categories of reptiles, Uttarakhand invites you to explore the wilderness of a thrilling jungle life on safaris.

Jim Corbett National Park, Nanda Devi National Park, and Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary are the most popular choices among wildlife enthusiasts.

So, if the deep jungles have always called you to unveil their mystery, do not delay anymore! Visit Uttarakhand. Take a jeep or elephant safari to witness the graceful walks of predators like the tiger and leopards right before you.

 Protip: When you board a safari, remember to keep a respectful distance from animals to give them space and ensure safety.

Paragliding

One of Uttarakhand’s most thrilling and most loved things to do is paragliding.

If you’re an adventure enthusiast and want to experience the thrill of gliding high into the sky, paragliding brings you that wonderful opportunity. Also, it’s a good chance to witness the state’s pristine landscape from a bird’s eye view.

You can go paragliding from various cities of Uttarakhand. Ranikhet, Mukteshwar, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Naukuchiatal are some hotspots.

The best thing is you don’t need any prior expertise for it. A professional instructor will fly with you to guide you all through your journey until you land back on Earth.

Trekking

With stunning Himalayan landscapes as the backdrop, Uttarakhand is a trekker’s paradise. From easy walks through scenic valleys to challenging high-altitude treks, the trekking routes of Uttarakhand take you to base camps of some of the world’s highest peaks, such as Nanda Devi.

Whether you’re a beginner looking for an easy trek or an expert mountaineer and want some challenging paths to explore, there’s definitely a trek for you in Uttarakhand. 

The Valley of Flowers trek, Har Ki Dun, Rupin Pass, Kuari Pass, and Roopkund are some famous treks of Uttarakhand.

A trek to Nag Tibba is very popular among trekkers. Standing at an elevation of approx 10,000 feet above sea level, it’s the highest peak in the lesser Himalayas or the Garhwal Range. The place mesmerizes you with some jaw-dropping views.

A must-try for every trekker!

Protip: Trekking in the Himalayan paths is tough. Continuously changing weather makes your way sometimes more difficult. Carry the right gear. Be responsible not to litter on the paths and be kind to take care of the natural surroundings.

Yoga and Meditation

Uttarakhand has naturally a spiritually enriching environment. The state’s calming green surroundings, with the snow-capped Himalayan peaks as a backdrop and the holy river Ganges quietly flowing across the state- make it an ideal place for practicing yoga and meditation. 

Rishikesh, the tranquil city of Uttarakhand, is popularly known as the Yoga capital of the world. Sitting by the bank of the river Ganges, Rishikesh is home to many well-known yoga ashrams like the Parmarth Niketan and Yoga Niketan.

Also, it hosts many yoga festivals and events throughout the year, offering workshops on yoga and meditation sessions. Thousands of spiritual seekers from across the world reach Rishikesh during the International Yoga Festival held every year in March. 

A visit to Rishikesh is a must to breathe some fresh mountain air and take your soul away from all the chaos.

Watch Ganga Arti in Haridwar and Rishikesh

The famous Ganga Aarti of Uttarakhand, particularly in Rishikesh and Haridwar, is a mesmerizing sight to behold. It’s a deep, spiritually significant ritual performed every evening on the banks of river Ganges.   

Just after the sunset, when darkness engulfs the river banks, a group of priests clad in traditional dhoti-kurtas wave huge oil lamps in a well-synchronized manner, chanting mantras and worshiping the mother river Ganga (Ganges). A massive crowd of devotees gather on the river banks to observe this spectacular visual. It’s a must-see experience for everyone visiting Uttarakhand.

Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar and Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh (where three rivers, the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati converge) are the most sacred and most famous ghats (river banks) to witness this heavenly view.

Temples and pilgrimages

Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand is a pious land of gods and goddesses. This holy land of the mighty Himalayas brims with thousands of temples and pilgrimages. Exploring these temples and pilgrimages in Uttarakhand is not just a religious journey but a journey of a soul to reconnect with nature, culture, and spiritual divinity.

Some of the most significant temples and pilgrimages are Char Dham (including Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath), Hemkund Sahib, Panch Kedar, Mukteshwar Mahadev, Neelkanth, Gorakhnath temple and many more.

Skiing

If one thing sets Uttarakhand apart, it’s the adventure! The winter months bring a blanket of snow to the hills and lofty meadows of the state. Uttarakhand suddenly becomes an icy wonderland!

It’s not just a sight to inspire, but also a lavish range of winter sports activities also take place during this time- skiing, ice skating, snowboarding, ice climbing, winter trekking, heli-skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, sledding, ice hockey and more.

Auli, Dayara Bugyal, Munsiyari, and Mundali have the best skiing spots in India. Good winds, sturdy slopes, and well-maintained skiing resorts make Auli the skiing capital of India. Auli offers skiing for both tourists and seasoned skiers.

Camping

Uttarakhand is the hub of outdoor activities. From high-altitude campsites in Auli to the camps of Rishikesh beside the river Ganges, and from luxury camps with good comforts to rough camping with more challenges, Uttarakhand has some awesome places for camping.

Dhanaulti, Chopta, and Pangot are some of the most popular camping sites in Uttarakhand, with breathtaking Himalayan views all around you.

Sometimes, we all want to disconnect from our busy lives and soak in the calmness of nature. Camping offers that great opportunity to us.

Lie on your back under the starry skies, sit near a bonfire, and wake up with morning’s first light when thousands of mountain birds are chirping from the bushes.

Camping in Uttarakhand can be an experience of a lifetime!

Sightseeing in unbelievable Uttarakhand

Exceptional beauty flows through every landscape of the ever-glowing Uttarakhand. Its views are a paradise for sightseeing enthusiasts. With a blend of greenery, hills, snow-capped peaks, adventure, and spirituality, Uttarakhand has astounding natural views and an array of places to behold.

The natural core of Uttarakhand is found in the imposing white Himalayas and the green hilltops. You can glimpse peaks like Nanda Devi and Trishul from far away or cherish panoramic views from high altitudes.

You can also trek to the snowy peaks and glaciers itself.

The banks of river Ganga at Haridwar, Rishikesh and Devprayag are a sight to marvel at, along with the cultural heritage of its Aarti.

Uttarakhand has significant spiritual landmarks to see, like Kedarnath temple, Badrinath temple, Rishikesh yoga centers, Mukteshwar and more. Hill Stations like Almora and Ranikhet have a lovely mix of natural and cultural heritage.

Let’s not forget the adventure sights. Uttarakhand excels in water, air, mountain, and snow sports. Tehri Artificial Lake is an adrenaline capital. 

Tehri Dam is the new water adventure haven to see. Some other major adventure hotspots are Rishikesh for sky-diving and rafting, Auli for skiing, trekking at UNESCO world heritage site Valley of Flowers, Wildlife exploration at Binsar and Jim Corbett, and ice-skating and ice-hockey in Mussoorie.

Some more things to do

The list of things to do in Uttarakhand seems to be never-ending.

A trip to Uttarakhand stays incomplete without taking the iconic boat ride in Nainital. Surrounded by the captivating hills and vast blue sky above, the boat rides in Nainital are just a complete rejuvenation.

Try cable car rides from various locations of Uttarakhand to feel a slight chill in your spine while you zip through the cable and see the panoramic views of the mountains.

Bungee jumping is another popular sport of Uttarakhand loved by heart travelers.

Recently, Rappelling has become popular among young travelers. When tied to a rope, you climb down hard mountain rocks.