Capital: Dehradun, Location: North India
BEST TIME TO VISIT UTTARAKHAND:
Uttarakhand is a destination to be visited all through the year as each season has something special to offer.
WHY VISIT UTTARAKHAND?: For Hindu and Sikh pilgrimage journeys, skiing experience, wildlife tours, whitewater river rafting, yoga, honeymoon, enthralling trekking and peak climbing ventures, birdwatching, rural tourism, culture and heritage, photography tour and for organizing memorable destination weddings.
TEMPERATURE
17°C to 35°C Summer (April to Mid-June)
15°C to 30°C Monsoon (Mid-June to September)
12°C to 0°C Winter (October to March)
Uttarakhand Area: 53,483 sq.km
Uttarakhand Population:100.86 lakh
Uttarakhand Founded: 08 Nov 2000
Uttarakhand Capitals:Gairsain , Dehradun
Governer : Baby Rani Maurya
How to Reach Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is gradually developing its connectivity with all three means of transport, however, roadways still remain the best means to explore this hilly state. There is efficient road connectivity both intrastate and interstate, making it easy for people to visit Uttarakhand anytime of the year and that too comfortably. The state at the moment has two operational airports and a few railway stations as well.
BY AIR
The airports, where the flights from different states fly in, go by the name of Pantnagar Airport which is situated in the Pantnagar in Kumaon Region, Jolly Grant situated in Dehradun and Naini Saini Airport in the Pithoragarh. Jolly Grant is the most well-connected of the three airports in Uttarakhand and Pithoragarh is yet to open for public.
BY RAIL:
Easing up the connection for the tourists, Uttarakhand railways department is maintaining 16 big and small railway stations which connect Uttarakhand with Lucknow, Delhi, Kolkata, and to several other major cities, towns in India. Haridwar, Dehradun, Kathgodam, Rudrapur, Tanakpur, Pantnagar are a few railways stations that contribute in making travelling easy inside the state as well as from other parts of the country.
BY ROAD
Roadways offers the best connectivity in the state. There are well-connected highways like NH 108, NH 109, NH 119, NH 121, NH 123 and NH 72A that connect the state with other parts of the country. With an efficient bus unit, Uttarakhand offers excellent accessibility. Taxis are also available to most of the destinations in the state, and thus, is the best mode of transport.?
Winter Weather in Uttarakhand
The winter season in the state of Uttarakhand is quite long. It marks its beginning in the month of October and ends in March. The weather during these months can be chilly with the average minimum temperature of 5°C in most of the towns, villages, and cities. Besides, some high altitude destination like Auli touches the mark of sub-0°C keeping it a white winter to be relished by tourists. The early winter months between October and November are perfect for those heading for a cultural tour as the state celebrates a number of festivals that are worth witnessing. From December to February, most of the places are blanketed by the snow, and are thus perfect to plan a holiday with friends and family. Uttarakhand witnesses some most beautiful and astonishing scenic views in winter as well.
The snow-clad mountains, meadows, and rooftops all give a view that can mesmerize anyone. Winter is the perfect time to plan a honeymoon tour to Uttarakhand, the place in this season is nothing short of a heaven idyllic to spend some quality time with your loved one. Those who enjoy a little of adventure, this season is perfect to relish skiing in Auli, river rafting in Rishikesh and trekking to a number of places like Kedarkantha, Har Ki Dun, Chopta Chandrashila and Dayara Bugyal. Apart from becoming an ideal adventure destination in the winter season, Uttarakhand hosts a number of festivals and fairs during these months. International Yoga Festival, Basant Panchami, Ganga Dussehra/Dasara Festival, Jauljibi and Thal Fairs, Uttarayani Fair, Phool Dei Festival, and Holi are few other draws of Uttarakhand in the form of fairs and festivals.
Best Time to Visit Uttarakhand
Due to the diversity of topography in Uttarakhand, it remains accessible to tourists throughout the year. However, seasons of summer and winter are the most favourable. The summer season makes it an ideal time to find respite from the heat in other parts of the country and relish activities like trekking. On the other side, winters in Uttarakhand are perfect to enjoy the beauty of the state all blanketed by the snow.
SUMMER
The weather during summer season remains moderate in some places, whereas some towns and villages in the upper realm stay untouched from the heat of the sun. The temperature in summer in Uttarakhand ranges 20°C to 40°C (in Terai Region of the state) and April to June are the months of summer. It is during this time, a lot of devotees also perform the pilgrimage. The season is also ideal for trekking
MONSOON
During the period of July to September, the monsoon season marks the state of Uttarakhand. The temperature of Uttarakhand in monsoon ranges between 15°C and 25°C and the place receives heavy rainfall during this time. Thus, it is advisable to check the weather forecast before planning a trip.
WINTER
During the winter season, Uttarakhand looks most scenic as it snows at several places in the state. The temperature usually ranges between 0°C and 15°C. Additionally, October to March is considered as the months of winters in Uttarakhand. The weather during these months is chilly and snowfall is quite obvious.
Popular Tourist Attractions in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand’s main tourism attraction remains the sacred Hindu temples that bless the land abundantly. This North Indian state is an incredible tourism place for a hill station holiday and wildlife tours as it is home to popular tourism places like Nainital, Mussoorie, Corbett National Park and Valley of Flowers. Uttarakhand is also famed for its high altitude religious tourism attractions like Hemkund Sahib; Chardham Yatra Temples of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri; and has sacred rivers like Ganga and Yamuna flowing through its land. It also boasts one of the finest ski destinations, Auli, which is also one of state’s top popular adventure tourism places, and has some of the best trekking trails in India. Apart from best adventure trekking tours in Uttarakhand Himalayas, the state also flaunts one of world’s largest dam project in New Tehri, which is indeed a must-see attraction. This Northern state also takes pride in comprising a destination, Rishikesh that is dubbed the Yoga Capital of India. The state proffers a plethora of tourist attractions like Haridwar, Ranikhet, Dehradun, Dhanaulti that are a must visit during your trip to Uttarakhand.