Top 10 Hill Stations of Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is the home of Gods but also the home of Mother Nature. It has some of the best views of the mighty Himalayas, starting right from the foothills of Himalayas at Haridwar it is the home to the highest peak in India, the Nanda Devi Peak.

Uttarakhand is a land of fairy-tales and fairies and is so addictive that once you visit this place there won’t be returning back; don’t tell us we didn’t warn you.

Here is the list of some of the best hill stations of Uttarakhand listed on the basis of popularity.

1. Mussoorie

Known as the queen of hills, Mussoorie is the only place after Switzerland in the world which witnesses the spectacular winter line formation. It is the nearest hill station to Delhi and is located at an altitude of 2000 metres above sea level.

2. Nainital

Src: flickr

One of the most beautiful hill stations in India, Nainital is popular for its majestic eye shaped Naini Lake which is spread over an area of 49 hectares at an astonishing elevation of 1980 metres above the sea level.  Frequented by couples, Nainital is one of the most romantic hill stations.

3. Auli

Ranging between astonishing elevations of 2519 metres to 2310 metres above the sea level, Auli is the most popular skiing destination of India. With lush green meadows in the summers which converts into a sheet of white during the winters, Auli is a must visit destination for people who love the thrill of chill. It also has a 4 kms long cable car one of the longest in Asia connecting it with Joshimath.

4. Lansdowne

One of the most well planned and beautiful Hill stations of India, Lansdowne is the center of the Garhwal rifles of the Indian army and has a glorious past. The place is so serene and captivating that you will never wish to leave it and would be left longing for more.

5. Ranikhet

Golf Course in Ranikhet

Developed by the British, Ranikhet is a cantonment town nestled in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand. Situated at an altitude of 1829 metres it is one of the best places to beat your city blues and feel rejuvenated. During the summers the temperature here can go as low as 10°C, now that is something we all would love to experience.

6. Kausani

Anashakti Ashram in Kausani

Who would have thought that the British will introduce us to such beautiful places in the Himalayas which are no less than the mountains of Alps or the Switzerland. Located at an altitude of 1890 metres Kausani is a land of lush green mountains with a panoramic view of the 350 km wide Himalayan range. Now Mahatma Gandhi was so impressed by the beauty of Kausani that he gave it the title of Switzerland of India.

7. Kanatal

Src: Flickr

Located at an altitude of 2600 metres above the sea level, Kanatal is one of the untouched destinations of Uttarakhand and is very calm and pristine unlike other hill stations. Although it is less travelled it is well connected to other regions of the hills and is accessible all year round. There is no dearth of facilities as there are luxury resorts available at Kanatal.

8. Chopta

One of the hidden jewels of the Himalayas is the tiny hamlet of Chopta located at an altitude of 2700 metres. The best thing about Chopta is that you can reach from a height of 2700 metres to 4000 metres with just a trek of 3.5 kms to Chandrashilla and get the 360° view of the vast Himalayan range.

9. Almora

Almora is a quaint and calm hill station set up at height of 1683 metres above the sea level. With one the finest views of Himalayas, Almora can easily brag the title of best place to see sunset in the Himalayas. Praised for its beauty by the likes of Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekanand, Almora should definitely be there on your bucket list.

10. Chakrata

Located at the boundary of Uttarakhand and Himachal, Chakrata is near Mussoorie but far less crowded than its counterpart. It’s a lesser know destination popular with people who want to avoid the rush and crowd of popular Hill stations. Being a cantonment area, foreigners need a permit to visit this beauty.

Now all said, close your eyes, hover your finger over the screen and pick one random destination from the above, you will never be more amazed and wonder that why all these years you never visited these places.

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