Offers

Best of Garhwal and Kumaon(10 Nights)

New Delhi, Nainital, Corbett, Kausani, Auli, Rishikesh, New Delhi

for Family Traveller

Holiday Overview

Laxman Jhula
Ganga River as seen from Rishikesh
Ram Jhula (Photo Courtesy: Asis K. Chatterjee)
White Water Rafting (Photo Courtesy: Daniel Echeverri)
Sunset at Auli (Nivalink Trip Dated - 26 March 2010)
Views at Auli (Nivalink Trip Dated - 26 March 2010)
Kausani Views in Winter (Nivalink Trip Dated - 27 February 2007)
Ramgamga River
Photo Courtesy Vikram Gopchup
Boating in Nainital Lake
Tourst area near lake
Lake view atop a hill
Tiger seen near Ramganga
Sambar in Bijrani area
Elephant Safari
Inside Durgadevi Range (Nivalink Trip Dated - 19 March 2015)
Bijrani range Forest (Nivalink Trip Dated - 19 March 2015)
Himalayan Griffon Vulture on Corbett - Pauri highway (Nivalink Trip Dated - 19 March 2015)
Grey Hornbill in Garjia area
Great Hornbill in Durgadevi area (Nivalink Trip Dated - 19 March 2015)

Best of Garhwal and Kumaon is a classic sector visit itinerary for Uttarakhand that allows guests to visit best of Garhwal and Kumaon and while doing that offers a wholesome hill station, riveriside, Himalayan, pilgrimage and wildlife experience.

Route

Nainital(2) - Corbett(2) - Kausani(1) - Auli(3) - Rishikesh(2)

Summarised Itinerary
  • Day-1 Arrive at Nainital. Sightseeing in and around Nainital
  • Day-2 Day viist to Bhimtal / Sattal / Naunchiatal and Ramgarh / Mukteshwar
  • Day-3 Nainital - Corbett. Evening Safari.
  • Day-4 Morning and Evening Safaris
  • Day-5 Corbett - Kausani via Ranikhet
  • Day-6 Kausani - Auli
  • Day-7 In and Around Auli
  • Day-8 Badrinath Excursion OR Explore area around Auli Further OR Just relax and enjoy himalayan views
  • Day-9 Auli - Rishikesh
  • Day-10 In and around Rishikesh OR White water rafting / Adventure at Rishikesh OR Visit to Rajaji National Park
  • Day-11 Departure
Sightseeing Summary

Auli - Skiing at Auli (0.50 kms), Nandadevi Views in Auli (0.50 kms), Badrinath Dham (47.00 kms)

Corbett - Wildlife and Bird Watching in Corbett (0.50 kms)

Nainital - Naini Temple (0.50 kms), Naini Lake (0.50 kms), Snow View Point Nainital (0.50 kms), Pt. G.B. Pant High Altitude Zoo (2.00 kms), Hanumarngarhi (3.50 kms), Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple (48.00 kms)

Rishikesh - Triveni Ghat (2.00 kms), Rishikund (2.00 kms), Ram Jhula (4.00 kms), Lakshman Jhula (5.00 kms), Neelkanth Mahadev (30.00 kms)

Preferred Arrival /Departure Destination
Arrival - New Delhi Departure - New Delhi
Best Season to Travel
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Popular Extensions to the Itinerary

The itinerary long enough. However to complete the sector coverage, Mussoorie could be an addition at the end for a relaxed couple of days stay.

Distances
  • New Delhi to Nainital -300 kms (7 hrs)
  • Nainital to Corbett -60 kms (2 hrs)
  • Corbett to Kausani -150 kms (5 hrs)
  • Kausani to Auli -188 kms (6 hrs)
  • Auli to Rishikesh -280 kms (9 hrs)
  • Rishikesh to New Delhi -250 kms (6.5 hrs)
Route

New Delhi - Nainital(2) - Corbett(2) - Kausani(1) - Auli(3) - Rishikesh(2) - New Delhi

Detailed Itinerary

Day-1 Arrive at Nainital. Sightseeing in and around Nainital Arrive at Nainital. Nainital (6500+ ft asl) is a renowned lakeside Hill station in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. Visit Naina Devi temple / Hanuman Garhi temple / High Altitude Zoo. Enjoy boat ride at Naini Lake and / OR take a cable car ride to visit snow view point. Enjoy walk on the mall in evening.

Day-2 Day viist to Bhimtal / Sattal / Naunchiatal and Ramgarh / Mukteshwar Half-day excursion of the lake tour visiting Lake district of Kumaon (i.e. Sattal / Bhimtal / Naukuchiatal) (25 - 35 kms from Nainital). Enjoy boating in serene Bhimtal lake. Visit Bhimtal Shiva temple. Travel to Orchard areas of Ramgarh / Mukteshwar (40 kms - 1.5 hours). Visit Mukteshwar Shiva Temple. Return by evening.

Day-3 Nainital - Corbett. Evening Safari. Depart for Corbett (75 kms - 2 hours). Reach by afternoon. Corbett is a renowned wildlife, bird watching, walking / trekking and nature centric getaway. Take an evening safari or walk by the river in the evening.

Day-4 Morning and Evening Safaris Morning safari in Corbett. Bijrani, Durgadevi, Sitabani and Jhirna are 4 ranges. Based on area of interest (Bijrani is best for having a chance to sight a tiger. Sitabani and Durgadevi are good for Bird watching) and location of the jungle lodge one can pick. Evening do a nature walk, river crossing or do bird watching.

Day-5 Corbett - Kausani via Ranikhet Proceed to Kausani (6000+ ft asl - 150 kms - 5 hrs) enroute visiting Ranikhet. Ranikhet (6000+ ft asl) is an idyllic Himalayan hamlet / Cantonment Town. Apple Orchards at Ranikhet is worth a visit in Summer. Kausani is a Himalayan Hamlet in Kumaon area known for its Himalayan views in Winter (Oct - March) and is a stopover on itineraries that combine Garhwal and Kumaon areas.

Day-6 Kausani - Auli Reach early for Joshimath (188 kms - 6 hrs - base town to reach Auli) to reach before 4:30 PM to catch the last Cable Car to reach Auli. Auli (8000+ ft asl), a destination renowned for skiing in Winter and sporting excellent close range himalayan views all round the year.

Day-7 In and Around Auli At Auli enjoy magnificent 180 degrees view of the Nandadevi Peaks. During winter beginners start skiing at the Baby slopes before graduating to higher and more adventurous slopes. Experienced skiers straightway use ski lifts to reach higher slopes. During Summer, enjoy close range Himalayan beauty. Explore the area around on a walk / trek. Hikers/ Trekkers will find numerous marked walks and there are also mountain bike trails. at the backdrope of the resort lies the famous high altitude Gorson Reserve forest (part of Nanda Devi National Park ) richly habitated by rare Himalayan wildlife.

Day-8 Badrinath Excursion OR Explore area around Auli Further OR Just relax and enjoy himalayan views May - Oct period guests can undertake an excursion to Badrinath (9000+ ft asl, 50 kms from Joshimath base), one of the Char Dhams and prime Lord Vishnu pilgrim centre. Adventure oriented / Experiential guests can continue hiking / trekking around Auli. Guest may also just sit and enjoy 180 degrees snow views.

Day-9 Auli - Rishikesh Travel to Rishikesh (2000 ft asl - 270 kms - 8 hours). Rishikesh is a Ganga riverside destination, renowned for its riverside and spirituality experiences that it offers.

Day-10 In and around Rishikesh OR White water rafting / Adventure at Rishikesh OR Visit to Rajaji National Park Visit to Ram Jhula, Laxman Jhula, Triveni Ghat, Rishikund and other Ghat areas of Rishikesh. Guests can also visit Neelkanth Mahadev (30 kms - 1 hour one way), time permitting. Alternatively Guests can opt for White water rafting (Half day) or visit adventure sports centre here that offer Bungee Jumping or opt for a a Visit to Rajaji National Park (Park Closes April 16th onwards. Rajaji is considered excellent for bird watching).

Day-11 Departure Depart for onward journey.

Detailed Sightseeing

Auli :

  • Skiing at Auli - Auli is Indias premier Ski destination and offers excellent facilities for Skiing and excellent slopes which are considered second best after Gulmarg.

  • Nandadevi Views in Auli - Auli at 10000 ft asl offers the very best close range views of Nandadevi range on a clear day any time of the year. Auli can be visited ex-Joshimath via a very scenic cable car ride.

  • Badrinath Dham - Badrinath (11000+ ft asl) is home to Badrinath Dham, one of the most visited Hindu pilgrimage centre. It is the most visited of the four sites in Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. The temple is surrounded by spectacular views of the mountain ranges. The access is difficult in high season and there are traffic regulations to control the movement. Temple is open between May - Oct. Exact opening and closing dates vary each year.

Corbett :

  • Wildlife and Bird Watching in Corbett - Corbett offers one of the best nature centric experiences in India and is renowned for its riverside beauty, Mahaseer / Catfish angling, walking, wildlife and Bird watching. Jeep safaris are on offer from 4 ranges (popular being Birjrani, Durgadevi, Jhirna). Corbett is home to the highest number of Bird species (resident as well as migratory) among all other parks and areas in India. Wildlife here comprises elusive Tiger, Leopard alongwith a range of well sighted deer species.

Nainital :

  • Naini Temple - Naini temple is located on the northern shore of Naini lake. The presiding deity of the temple is Maa Naina Devi and is considered one of the Shaktipeetha temples.

  • Naini Lake - Naini Lake is situated in centre of the Nainital and is a prime attraction where tourists enjoy a bit of boating.

  • Snow View Point Nainital - Snow View point is approached via a cable car ride from Mall area of Nainital. Its a popular ride with tourists.

  • Pt. G.B. Pant High Altitude Zoo - Pt. G.B. Pant High Altitude Zoo is a popular tourist visit option. The zoo has several endangered species of animals in the Himalayas, and animals like Snow Leopard, Tibetan wolf, Sambar, Leopard Cat and Himalayan Bear.

  • Hanumarngarhi - Hanumangarhi also known as Hanuman Garh, is located at an altitude of 6000+ ft asl and is home to Lord Hanuman temple and excellent views of the area.

  • Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple - Mukteshwar gets its name from an 350-year-old temple to Shiva known as Mukteshwar Dham, situated atop the highest point in the town. The area offers excellent Himalayan views in Winter (Oct - March)

Rishikesh :

  • Triveni Ghat - Evening aarti is performed at Triveni Ghat. Ashes of the dead and ceremonies related to Shradh are performed here. Triveni is also a bathing Ghat where pilgrims take a dip in holy Ganga River.

  • Rishikund - Rishikund is a holy pond and where Shani temple is situated. Rishikund is a popular pilgrim visit option.

  • Ram Jhula - Ram Jhula is a bigger and more picturesque than Lakshman Jhula but surprisingly lesser known. It leads to a few known Ashrams in the area.

  • Lakshman Jhula - Lakshman Jhula (1939) is a 450 ft hanging rope bridge on river ganges near Tapovan area in Rishikesh. It connects guests arriving on the other side of the river to the bathing ghats area. Its believed at this place Lakshman (Brother of Lord Rama) build a jute bridge to cross over the river and therefore the spot is also considered holy. A five storey temple is built on the other side of the bridge.

  • Neelkanth Mahadev - Lord Shiva temple at 30 kms from Rishikesh, set on a hill offering good views. This is the place where Lord Shiva is believed to have drank the venom produced during Sagar Manthan

Destination Overview

New Delhi - Delhi is the capital city of India and a major International arrival point and a major tourist destination. Red Fort, Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple, Jama Masjid, India Gate, Birla Temple, Mughal Gardens, Lodi Gardens, Rail Museum, Doll Museum, Zoological Park etc remain major tourist attractions of Delhi.

Nainital - Nainital is colonial era hill station (6500 ft asl) that is set around the lake Naini. Nainital offers good weather in summer and a popular ex-Delhi weekend Getaway.

Corbett - Corbett experience is one of the best wildife expereinces in India alongwith Kanha, Nagarhole and Kaziranga. Corbett is good for bird watching and Wildlife.

Kausani - Kausani (6,075 ft) is a small hamlet offering 300 km-wide views of the Himalayan snow-peaks in Winter (Oct-March). During summer its often used as a transit point enroute Garhwal region areas (Karnaprayag / Rudraprayag).

Auli - Auli is a Ski resort, one of the highest in the word located at about 50 km from Badrinath and accessible by a cable car ride and also by Road (during Summers and monsoon period) from Joshimath.

Rishikesh - Rishikesh is a situated on the banks of River Ganges (Ganga) and staying on the banks of the River and a base point to visit many destinations around the area including Rajaji National Park, It is also access point to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri (known collectively as the Chaar Dham).

Access
Prefered Arrival : No ImageNew DelhiNo ImageNew Delhi
Prefered Departure : No ImageNew DelhiNo ImageNew Delhi
Distances
  • New Delhi to Nainital -300 kms (7 hrs)
  • Nainital to Corbett -60 kms (2 hrs)
  • Corbett to Kausani -150 kms (5 hrs)
  • Kausani to Auli -188 kms (6 hrs)
  • Auli to Rishikesh -280 kms (9 hrs)
  • Rishikesh to New Delhi -250 kms (6.5 hrs)

Ready Cost estimate for this itinerary is not available.

However Nivalink would be able to readily offer a cost estimate or customise the itinerary as per specific requirements.

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Call 022-6150 6363 to speak to our travel planner or email ut-74@nivalink.co.in to connect with our travel planner for details on the itinerary: Best of Garhwal and Kumaon.

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Travel Ideas incorporated in the itinerary

Lines indicate the best available driving routes.
Arrows indicate connectivity other than Road (e.g. Waterways or Air).
Please click on the markers for more detailed Information.

Distances
  • New Delhi to Nainital -300 kms (7 hrs)
  • Nainital to Corbett -60 kms (2 hrs)
  • Corbett to Kausani -150 kms (5 hrs)
  • Kausani to Auli -188 kms (6 hrs)
  • Auli to Rishikesh -280 kms (9 hrs)
  • Rishikesh to New Delhi -250 kms (6.5 hrs)

Expert Speak

Garhwal and Kumaon are best visited as individual sectors and it could be an arduous journey doing both together. Guests looking for less touristy options may opt for Bhimtal / Sattal / Naukuchiatal instead of Nainital.

Expert Connect

Nivalink has taken over 300 trips across India and select destinations overseas over last 10 years to verify hotels, evaluate destinations and understand its suitability with different profiles of customers across different seasons.

At Nivalink you are able to connect directly with experts who have travelled to these destinations and are able to offer novel ideas, honest perspectives and help you narrow down choices.

Email to expert@nivalink.co.in to connect with sector expert for specific ideas and recommendations.

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