One of the most serene and tranquil of national parks in the country, the Nanda Devi National Park in Uttarakhand is a paradise for nature lovers and those who seek to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature. Covering an area of more than 630 square kilometers, the Nanda Devi park, when combined with the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, is 2,236 square kilometers. Notified as a national park in 1982, Nanda Devi National Park covers the area around the Nanda Devi Peak which is 7,817 meters high. The adjoining Valley of Flowers National Park and this park were recognized as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. The park was further notified as World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO in 2004. Nanda Devi National Park is protected by a buffer zone covering more than 5,000 square kilometers.
Uttarakhand
A Complete Tour Guide To Pithoragarh Hill Station
Pithoragarh is a hill town located in the eastern most regions of the Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand. The town was the headquarters of several medieval Indian kingdoms like the Pal and the Chand dynasty. It was taken over by the British after signing the Sugauli Treaty with Nepal, and it was developed as a cantonment town. The town is located at an elevation of 1,514 meters above sea level and is known for its views of the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas and provides entrances to several valley passes, meadows, waterfalls and forests. It also has several glaciers, rivers, and a variety of flora and fauna species. The pilgrimage route to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarover in Tibet passes through Pithoragarh and makes it an important rest stop for the pilgrims. The town is also close to the international borders with Nepal, China and Tibet.
A Complete Tour Guide To Lansdowne Hill Station
Known for its striking sceneries, Lansdowne is located in the Pauri Garhwal district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The name was kept after the British Viceroy of India, Lord Lansdowne who served at the position during 1888 till 1884. The town was developed by the British as a cantonment town to train recruits for the Garhwal Rifles regiment. He visited the place in 1884 and founded it as a cantonment town and hill station. Situated at 1700 meters above sea level, the town is built entirely by the British and features a lot of British Colonial architecture. Unlike other tourist hill towns in Uttarakhand, Lansdowne is surprisingly quaint and is only visited by tourists who seek solace or adventures like trekking, as it is also known to be the gateways to the Himalayas.
A Complete Tour Guide To Valley of Flowers Hill Station
If visiting paradise was your idea of a holiday then Valley of Flowers national park cum hill station is the best place for your vacation. The park is located in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and is home to vast flowery meadows filled with a wide array of colorful endemic alpine flowers and other flora. The region has also been declared as a protected national park which has a variety of fauna and a number or rare high altitude birds. The spot is located in the valleys between the Great Himalayas and the Zanskar mountain ranges and covers an area of around 87.50 sq kilometers.
The valley of flowers national park and the Nanda Devi national park both are a part of the larger Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO. The park sits atop an average altitude that ranges between 3352 meters and 6,719 meters above sea level. The park was almost inaccessible to the rest of the world before it was discovered by 3 British mountaineers in 1931.
A Complete Tour Guide To Rishikesh
Whenever someone says white water rafting in India, we all know what place can quench their thirst adventure. Rishikesh is a municipal hill town located in the Dehradun district in Uttarakhand. The town is located in the Himalayan foothills and also one of the most revered tourist places for the Hindus. The name ‘Rishikesh’ is derived from the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu and also translates to ‘lord of the senses’. The place is also related to Lord Agni and is also called Agni Teertha which was once used by the fire god Agni to pray for the forgiveness of his sins. Rishikesh is also known for sharing its banks with the holy river Ganges which passes through the Shivalik Mountains and is just an hour’s drive away from Haridwar. While the average elevation of Rishikesh doesn’t allow it to be a proper hill station but its location in the Himalayan Foothills, lets it enjoy a similarly mild weather.
A Complete Tour Guide To Ranikhet Hill Station
One of the most beautiful hill towns of Uttarakhand, Ranikhet is located in the Almora district of the state. It is a cantonment town which was developed by the British and is entirely managed by the Indian National Army and serves as a home to the Kumaon Regiment, Naga Regiment and the Military Hospital. The name Ranikhet literally translates to the ‘Queen’s Meadow’ and is connected to a legend that describes the town as being the residence of Rani Padmini, however there are no archeological findings that support this story. Ranikhet was once also chosen to be the summer capital of the British Government instead of Shimla but things didn’t really work in its favor and the proposal was shelved. The town is situated in the Kumaon Hills at an elevation of 1,869 meters above sea level and is surrounded by a thick cover of Oak and deodar forests that house several rare and endangered wildlife species. The town is spread across 2 ridges with varied attitude. The upper area is known as the Chaubatia ridge which sits at an elevation of 2,116 meters above sea level.
A Complete Tour Guide To Mukteshwar Hill Station
Located in the immensely majestic and beautiful Nainital district, Mukteshwar is a picturesque hill station in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand. It is located at an average elevation of 2286 meters above sea level and was named after the 350 year old temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. Mukteshwar which is also a revered pilgrim spot for the Hindus was developed as a town by the British as a research and educational center and is covered with coniferous forests and Fruit Orchards. This hill town is known as a haven for the hikers and trekking enthusiasts. Rock climbing and rappelling are also a few popular adventure sports that are offered to the visitors here.
A Complete Tour Guide To Kausani Hill Station
Please do not confuse this place with the one named Kasauli or Kasol which is another picturesque hill station located in Himachal Pradesh. Kausani however, is a similarly picturesque hill town which is located in the state of Uttarakhand. The revered Indian freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi also happened to stay here once and even compared the surroundings to that of Switzerland. The hill town is characterized by a peaceful and serene aura and not overly crowded unlike other popular hill stations in India. Kausani sits atop a mountain ridge which is around 1890 meters above sea level in the Himalayan foothills and is surrounded by a thick cover of pine trees. The town overlooks Someshwar Valley from one side and also provides some marvelous panoramic views of the surrounding peaks.
A Complete Tour Guide To Auli Hill Station
Several people might not have even heard this name before but talking about some great ski destinations in India, Auli might top the list. The place is located in the mighty Himalayan Mountains in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Auli – one of the skiing hill destinations of India is also known by the locals as Auli Bugyal or simply Bugyal which translates to meadow in the local language. Most ski lovers in earlier times hardly knew about Auli as other destinations like Shimla, Manali or Gulmarg were chosen instead. It was only after the creation of the state of Uttarakhand, did Auli gain some significance. Being located in the region referred to as the Dev-Bhoomi or the Land of the Gods, Auli is also an important pilgrimage destination for the Hindus. For the ski lovers, Auli offers slopes that provide adventure from experts to beginners. Auli is also surrounded with tall oak and coniferous forests and is situated at around 2050 meters to 3050 meters above sea level.
A Complete Tour Guide To Almora Hill Station
Located in the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand, Almora is the place you want to be if you want to experience the Kumaon culture, handicrafts, wildlife and most importantly, the mouth watering cuisines. Unlike other hill stations in Uttarakhand, which were developed by the British, Almora was founded by the ruler of the Katayuri Dynasty around the 9th century AD. The king then donated a large portion of the region to the Chand Dynasty who founded the town and named it Rajapur. It was then captured by the Gorkhas and subsequently the British after the Anglo-Gorkha wars. Almora was also the place where the Indian freedom fighter and politician Jawaharlal Nehru was imprisoned by the British. The town lies on a ridge shaped hillock which is nearly 5 kilometers long and around 1700 meters above sea level. The town is also a pilgrimage spot and also referred to as the town of temples.