Uttarakhand Stories

8 Most Beautiful Villages of Uttarakhand that You must Visit Once

by Pragati Chauhan
Nov 10, 2016

The colossal hills of Uttarakhand have nestled many bijou hamlets that are so serene that one can think of spending the rest of their life there. With nature unraveling itself on every footstep, you can experience immense peace and tranquility here. So don’t wait any further and seek mental bliss in these 8 most beautiful villages of Uttarakhand.

1. Kalap village in Uttarkashi district-

In the upper reaches of the Garhwal Himalayas lies a fairytale village called Kalap, untouched by the hands of modernization. This picturesque village can be easily accessed by commencing a 4 hours trek from Netwar, a toy town located a few km away from Dehradun. You’ll be thrilled by the breathtaking scenery of Kalap village which is accentuated by its lush green grasslands, enveloping the Himalayas.

2. Kunjkharak village in Nainital district-

A mirror to the mighty Himalayas, Kunjkharak is perched at an altitude of 2,323 metres above sea level. This charming village is a home to the endangered Khoola moss which is used in making several cosmetic products. According to the famous legend, Bhojkahrak was the last place on earth where Lord Shiva was seen before making his way to heaven.

3. Pangot village in Nainital district-

A home to several paradise birds, the pristine village of Pangot is one such place where the nature worshippers, solitude seekers, writers, and poets would like to make their heavenly abode. This minion village boasts of its 580 species of birds which can’t be found anywhere else. Some of the commonly sighted Himalayan birds of this region are Lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, Rufous Bellied Woodpecker and the Blue-winged minla. One can easily approach Pangot as it is only 15 km drive from Nainital and offers spectacular views of the Cheena peak forested area.

4. Kalsi village in Dehradun district-

Peacefully snuggled between the lofty hills and plateaus, the tiny hamlet of Kalsi is positioned at the junction of the Yamuna and Tons river. This quaint village is situated at an average altitude of 780 metres and falls on the old route to Yamunotri, exhibiting its ethereal beauty.

5. Katarmal village in Almora district-

Cocooned in the rigid terrains of Kumaon, the Katarmal village is like a treasure trove in the Himalayas. It is known for housing the famous Katarmal Surya temple and offers an undulated experience in the hills, away from the maddening city life. Despite being crowned by thick conifer jungles, this village is easily approachable as it is located at a distance of 1.5 km from Kosi village, around 12 km from Almora and about 70 km from Nainital.

6. Khati village in Bageshwar district-

Away from the hustle-bustle of the crowded cities, Khati village is one of the best places to rejuvenate your senses amidst the benevolent hills. Having plush greenery, quaint locales, and sparse population, this minuscule village is located on the Pindari Glacier Trek. Kharkiya is the last road-head that leads to Khati and from here you need to start your trek that is outlined by scarlet rhododendrons and thick oak forests. Guest houses are also available for having a nostalgic stay here.

7. Askot in Pithoragarh district:

In the heart of Pithoragarh district you’ll find the charming village of Askot cradled on a ridge between Dharchula and Pithoragarh, on the way to the famous Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. Seated at an altitude of 1,106 metres, Askot village was a former princely state of Pithoragarh district and is one of the best places for having a summer retreat. Besieged by the majestic mountain peaks of Kumaon and river Kali flowing close to it, the village also houses the Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary that reaches up to 6,904 metres and encloses some of the best Himalayan peaks within the boundary such as Najrikot, Panchachuli, Chiplakot and Naukana.

8. Kartik Swami village in Rudraprayag district:

Celebrated for its empyrean beauty, this celestial village is dedicated to Kartikeya, the eldest son of Lord Shiva. The main attraction of this village is the famous Kartik Swami temple perched at an elevation of 3,050 metres above sea level. It is adorned on a narrow ridge, outlined by a deep valley and offers a splendid 360-degree Himalayan view.

Pragati Chauhan

A writer by profession, thinker by choice and a nature lover since birth. I have always loved expressing myself through words, I believe words have a certain kind of melody which can be understood by anybody.

23 Responses


Akash Tiwari Says

is it is good to go to kalap in the month of july and august..??

Amit bartwal Says

Kartik swami is not a village.it is a temple

Prem Uniyal Says

Tungnath, rudranath,, madmaheshwar ,dodital . Sahara bugyal ,pindari trackmilam track should also be included

Prakadh Raut Says

Hi Pragati ..Thank u so much for this information about this most beautiful villages..thanks

Bhuvan vikram singh Says

Beautiful write up. Just going through it made me reach a surreal tranquility. Many thanks and regards Pragati

Ravi joshi Says

Kalsi is not a remote village

Kishan Singh Says

How come Barsu is not in this list???

madhavi bhalerao Says

HI PRAGATI..villages described so beautifully.feel like visiting each one immediately. if you can give contact no.for homestays in these villages ,it will be very helpful to plan the trip

PRATICHI Says

Mam you should includ lata and dunagiri village in joshimath area.

bhola Sayal Says

Nice information given of these unknown villages, which are full of natural beauty.

P.K.SAHOO Says

Great revelations of Rural Uttarakhand indeed. The nature lovers these days are suffocated by bustling hill stations. These are true path finders for them.

Nitin Natani Says

Why did you leave Munisyari, one of the most breathtaking villages of Uttrakhand? Can an outsider buy property in Uttrakhand?

Siddharth Says

Great information about Heritage of Uttarakhand. Keep exploring

Kamal K. Pandey Says

Excellent work….
Thanks for nice presentation of these beautiful places.

PRADEEP Says

The picture you captured is wonderful , fantastic . I am also belong to uttrakhand

Dharampal negi ( Dhumakot Pauri garhwal ) Says

i love my uttarakhand

thanks .

Pragati Chauhan Says

Thank you :)

B S RAWAT Says

I really appreciate. Many more unexplored places in Uttarakhand where verginity of nature waiting for you to highlight them… Great job….

Pragati Chauhan Says

Thank you!

s.s.bisht Says

Wonderful.

Deeapk Singh Almiya Says

I love my uttarakhand

Pragati Chauhan Says

Thank you so much Saurabh, stay connected and happy reading :)

Saurabh Kaushik Says

Great Job Pragati, Thanks a ton for sharing and presenting these marvelous places for potential visitors. It’s like dream come true thing for a travelogue if he has access to some of these exotic & unbelievable beautiful places within one’s reach.