Best Places to Visit in Uttarakhand
Rishikesh
Rishikesh is known as The Gateway of Garhwal Himalayas and is located at a distance of 25 km from Haridwar. However, the divinity of Haridwar is living here equally, as Rishikesh has sacred Ganga River flowing through it. The spiritual importance of Rishikesh is that people believed Lord Rama underwent penance and practiced for killing the demon Ravana. Famous bridges Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula are the highlights of the city. These bridges offer a magnificent view of the hillocks and the river. Over the years, Rishikesh came more into the limelight because of its river rafting activities; so today not just pilgrims but groups of adventurers too seek a visit to Rishikesh. Nainital is located on the foothills of Kumaon, in an elevation of 2048 meters above sea level. This location indeed owes to the awe-inspiring view of the giant mountains with iced top. The pear-shaped Naini Lake makes this hill station look even more magnificent. And boating in this clear lake is one favorite activity of the visitors. Let alone leading in the tourism industry, Nainital has India’s best educational institutes as well. What adorns the city further is the British architecture, standing strongly and alluringly for decades. Ranikhet has served as a summer retreat for the British, and they established their headquarters of the Kumaon Regiment here. It is situated at an altitude of 1869 meters and is brimming with Pine, Oak and Deodar Forests. These forests are the comfortable abode of red-faced monkeys, jackals, langur, red fox, porcupine, sambar, pine marten, barking deer, leopard, leopard cat, and mountain goats. Pilgrims visit Ranikhet to have darshans in the Rama Mandir and Jhula Devi Temple. Chaubatia Garden is a retreat having a plantation of apricots, peaches, almonds, chestnuts, apples and a wide variety of Himalayan flowers.
