6 Best Places to Visit in Uttarakhand with Char Dham Yatra

Best Places to Visit in Uttarakhand

Thinking of visiting some of the charming locations of Uttarakhand, then we have got you covered as Uttarakhand is a land of magnificent Himalayas, mystical stories and thrilling adventures that prepare a comfy blanket of spirituality and nature for the pilgrims planning a trip to Chardham. Uttarakhand is tucked in the northern part of India which offers a surreal landscape and is combined with two pleasing and beautiful regions which include Garhwal and Kumaon. The calming destination of Uttarakhand provides a respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life and heals one's body and mind.

People while travelling towards the sacred spots of Chardham get to visit some of the popular and eye-catching hill stations in Uttarakhand as it contains numerous holy destinations, religious temples, hill stations, sacred rivers, serene lakes and breathtaking mountains. Gifted by the gods, Uttarakhand is often referred to as Devbhoomi by the locals or the country of Gods as it is a doorway to the Char Dhams. Chardhams include India's four most holy pilgrimage sites namely Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. One will come across several nature sightseeing and adventurous places during their Uttarakhand tour along with the Char Dham pilgrimage.

Here are some of the must-visit popular and offbeat destinations during the Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand.

Haridwar

Haridwar is one of the oldest living cities of Indian civilization as the sacred city is a perfect blend of ancient mythological stories, sacred temples and holy rivers. Haridwar is situated on the banks of River Ganga surrounded by Shivalik ranges in Uttarakhand which gained the title of 'Gateway of Gods'. Doing justice to its title, the city is indeed the gateway to gods as pilgrims visit to immerse the ashes of their deceased family members in the River Ganga. The sacred city is also the base point for Hindus' most important Char Dham Yatra in the Himalayas.

Haridwar is filled with numerous temples, ghats, ashrams and yoga centres and is considered one of the holiest places in India. Haridwar is the land of gods where tourists and pilgrims travel from all over the world to find peace and enjoy morning and evening aartis while taking a breathtaking view of the city. Haridwar, being a prime location for Kumbh Mela, celebrates the festival every 12 years where pilgrims travel from far off places to take a dip in holy.

Things to Do in Haridwar:

Enjoy the Ganga Aarti at the ghats of Har ki Pauri in the evening.
Visit the ancient and holy temples of Haridwar.
Do trekking and river rafting.
Explore the bird watching sites of the sacred destination.
Experience the ayurvedic treatment at the meditation centres.
Enjoy the ropeway rides at higher altitudes.
Witness the famous festival, Kumbh Mela.

Best Time to Visit : October to February

Chopta Tungnath

While exploring Uttarakhand, travellers usually come across the beautiful village of Chopta. The little village of Chopta Tungnath is a hiker's paradise and is also a significant Hindu religious destination where people come to worship Lord Shiva. Religious significance and breathtaking natural beauty are the main draws of Chopta Tungnath which includes the river valleys of the Alaknanda and Mandakini. Pilgrims are strongly advised that while travelling towards Chopta one should pay a visit to Lord Shiva's temple at Tungnath as it is the tallest Kedar of the five. The Tungnath temple is also known as the "Lord of Peaks" whose atmosphere calms the mind and the body as the air in the environment sings songs of spirituality. The wide green fields of Chopta offer an incredible view of the Himalayas to the travellers that awe them.

Chopta is a great birding paradise where tourists can see over 250 species of birds including resident and migratory birds named Himalayan Monal, Himalayan Swiftlet, scarlet finch, hill partridge and many others. Chopta guarantees a transformative expansion of the view of the world as it is declared an important bird watching site by national and international conservation and biodiversity organisations.

Things to Do in Chopta Tungnath:

Trek towards the Chandrashila top.
Encounter the Himalayan wildlife of the region.
Visit the highest temple of Shiva.
Explore the Deoria Tal nearby.

Best Time to Visit : March to May

Rishikesh

Rishikesh is called Hrishikesh which is a perfect blend of adventure sports, ancient structures, great cafes, and yoga centres. The Hindu pilgrimage destination is located in the foothills of the Himalayas where both rivers Ganga and Chandrabhaga meet in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. Rishikesh is also a base point to start several Himalayan treks as the town is widely known around the world for its adventure sports and owns the title of being 'the adventure sports capital of India'. Rishikesh also gained a name for itself as 'the yoga capital of the world'.

'The Beatles' visit to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in the 1960s made Rishikesh well-known around the globe. The ashram is now popularly known as The Beatles Ashram where tourists visit from international destinations to witness its beauty along with the tranquillity of the town. The place is serene and less crowded which gives the chance to the tourists to enjoy the beautiful aartis along the ghats of the ashrams.

The town is the hub of Sadhus (saints) which include various ashrams where visitors are taught yoga, meditation and Ayurvedic facts. Every year in the first week of March, the International Yoga Festival is organised which attracts yoga enthusiasts and fitness freaks to travel from all over the world and participate in the event.

Things to Do in Rishikesh :

Enjoy adventurous activities like whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, mountain biking, trekking and camping.
Visit the captivating cafes to taste the delicacies.
Enjoy the Ganga aartis along the ghats in the morning and evening.
Explore the ashrams and meditation centres.
Visit the sacred destination during the Yoga festival to experience the positivity in nature.

Best Time to Visit : November to March

Valley of Flowers

Valley of Flowers provides an unforgettable experience for the visitors by showcasing its flora and fauna which makes it one of the best tourist places in Uttarakhand, located at a height of 3,600 metres above sea level. Mountaineer Frank S Smith in 1931 discovered the region which is now listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While taking a pilgrimage journey towards Chardhams, Valley of Flowers falls on the way and forms one of the core zones of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve which is spread over an area of 87 square kilometres.

As the name of the place suggests, Valley of Flowers is a magnificent location which consists of 600 flower species including Orchids, Poppies, marigolds, Daisies, Anemones and several others. The area of the region is surrounded by forest birches, rhododendrons, stunning waterfalls and rushing streams. The Valley of Flowers is also home to diverse wildlife species like Grey Langur, Flying squirrels, the Himalayan weasel, Black bear, Red fox, Lime Butterfly, Snow Leopard and many others.

Things to Do in Valley of Flowers :

Explore the diverse range of wildlife in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.
Witness the unique and rare flower species.
Spend time in the streams and lakes near the valley.
Experience trekking journeys to high points.
Enjoy bird watching along the captivating views of the mountains.

Best Time to Visit : July to mid-August

Tehri Lake

Tehri Lake is an alluring destination of Garhwal which is located at a height of 770 metres above sea level. Tehri Lake is one of the greatest tourist destinations which is surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, stunning hilltops and lush green trees. The Tehri Lake is a place of true delight as the site was constructed during the making of Asia's largest dam. Close to Tehri town, a hydroelectric project of the dam provides irrigation facilities and municipal water supply in the area. There is a wide variety of plants and animals in the reservoir region. Numerous aquatic species are likely to be found around the lake, and the richness of the area increases the lake's ecological value.

Tehri Lake is said to be among the best places to visit in Uttarakhand by travel bloggers as it is the largest man-made lake in Asia which is widely known for its adventure tourism where people come to explore the beauty of the region while touring for Chardham yatra.

Things to Do in Tehri Lake :

Visit Asia's largest dam, Tehri Dam.
Explore the alluring temples near the lake.
Experience adventurous activities like jet skiing, hot air balloon rides, boating, zorbing, paragliding, hotdog rides, bandwagon boat rides, banana boat rides and many others.
Nature photography can be experienced in its greatest form.

Best Time to Visit : March to June and September to December

Kartik Swami Temple

Uttarakhand's Kartik Swami Temple is situated on a Kronch Parvat close to Kanakchauri village of Rudraprayag is among the offbeat destinations to visit in Uttarakhand as the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva's son, Kartik. The temple is also known by the names of Lord Muruga and Lord Murugan by people of diverse cultures. Pilgrims while visiting the Devbhoomi Uttarakhand during the Chardham Yatra can explore the majestic temple covered with Himalayan ranges and breathtaking scenery. Witnessing the Kartik Swami Temple during monsoon provides a surreal view to the travellers. Pilgrims usually trek for 3 kilometres and climb 80 steps to reach the temple beautifully decorated with thousands of bells.

People visiting the place enjoy the evening aarti, mantra recitation and the grand feast with full devotion. The region of the Kartik Swami temple is home to various flora and fauna. It includes avian species of around 150 which include both residential and migratory birds such as golden eagle, black eagle, steppe eagle, bearded vulture, Himalayan snowcock, monal, and many more.

Things to Do in Kartik Swami Temple :

Enjoy trekking from Kanakchauri village to reach the temple.
Relish the grand feast and special evening aartis in the temple.
Capture the breathtaking beauty and tolling of bells.
Birdwatchers and photographers will get to see some rare Himalayan avian species in the area.
Camping grounds are also present near the temple region.

Best Time to Visit : October to June

Devbhoomi Uttarakhand gives you a detailed and fair glimpse of spiritual places and thrillful activities that should be explored in Uttarakhand while doing the Chardham Yatra in the Himalayas. People always wonder when is the best time to visit and how to profoundly explore, well, there is no better time to visit Uttarakhand's hill stations and sacred destinations yet summer can be the ideal time to explore. The scenic beauty of Devbhoomi will fill your soul with ample memories and will provide a worthy natural charm of the state in the minds of tourists.

The breathtaking locations of Uttarakhand will take visitors on a great spiritual journey where they can soak their spirits in true devotion and enlightenment. Besides this, one will get to explore a roller coaster ride in some of the top visiting places in Uttarakhand where they will get to experience and enjoy adventurous activities in the hill stations. For more information, you are most welcome to raise your queries and enquiries on our blog.