Nainital

Nainital, also known as the lake city and lake district of Uttarakhand, is located around the Naini Lake. This place is named after the Goddess Naini Devi, the presiding idol of the area. It is situated at a height of 1,938 mts. Surrounded by huge mountains and spread with bright coloured holiday homes, lodges...



Nanital Tourism And Travel Guide

Nainital, the enchanting paradise lake city that lies amidst the mighty Himalayas is a world famous hill resort that captivates every bit of you, leaves you completely spellbound and thirsting for more. 'Lake City' of India, 'Lake Paradise' of India or the 'Lake District' of India, all these names justify every persona of this tourist Lake Destination that nestles in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas in Uttaranchal. Its Characteristics can be compared with the beautiful Dal Lake of Kashmir; however, Nainital is naturally sprinkled with many smaller lakes all over which includes the 'Naini Lake','BhimTal', 'SaatTal' also spelled as 'Sattal','NaukuchiaTal' and 'KhurpaTal' which have recently developed themselves to offer tourist more holiday splendour and activities like boating, canoeing, yachting and more.

Nainital is also known as the best hill resort of India that beckons tourist to visit here all-year-round to witness its striking and photogenic natural beauty from across the globe though springtime, summers and autumns form the peak seasons and finding accommodation can be difficult unless you book in advance. It offers a panoramic view of the snow capped Himalayas perched at a height of 1938 mts above sea level dressed with lush green forests that has a host of vibrant Flora and Fauna. You can take a leisure walk over the lake bridge connecting 'Mallital', the northern and upper end and 'Tallital', the southern and lower end dividing the district into two parts or alternatively you can enjoy a pony ride through the tall Pine Trees surrounding the area.



The most famous amongst the Lakes in Nainital is the Naini Lake from where this town inherits its name with a circumference of about 2 miles and almost 28 mts deep cocooned within seven hills known as 'Sapta-Shring' namely, Naini Peak or Cheena Peak at 2611 mts, Laria Kanta [named after a Goddess] at 2481 mts, Deopatta [Camel's Hump] at 2273 mts, Alma Peak [Snow View] at 2270 mts, Aryapatta [Complete Blackout] at 2235 mts, Sher-Ka-Danda [Tiger Ridge] at 2217 mts and Handi-Bandi [Devil's Laughter that can actually be heard from here] at 2139 mts. From an aerial view, Naini Lake looks like the Green Emerald eye of Nainital and is almost pear-shaped encircled with many small cottages, shops, restaurants and hotels. The lights at night add more glamour and give the Lake an ethereal look of a sparkling gem necklace worn by the Himalayan ranges.

Nainital was once covered with thick and dense forests before it was converted into a holiday destination before 1839 and mainly inhabited by Tribal people of the Kumaoni race. It was initially developed as the summer retreat for the British and post independence became the summer destination of work from April to October of the Uttar Pradesh State Government; however the State Government ceased its function in 1963 and the Secretariat got converted into a High Court of this District.

Uttarkashi

Uttarkashi is the district headquarters.This district is more famous among the pilgrims rather than tourist because it is a district of many prominent temples such as Gangotri and Yamunotri temples with glaciers which leads on to several major peaks of Himalayan mountain range .Uttarkashi is also a favorite trekking and mountaineering place as an adventure sports center.




Sites and Temples In Uttarkashi

Nachiketa Tal

Nachiketa Tal is at a distance of 29 km from the heart of Uttarkashi town .It is believed taht this lake is created by the ,Nachiketa, the devout son of saint Uddalak, that's why it is called Nachiketa taal.
The lake has a magneficient ,scenic surrounding .The greenery all around Nachiketa Taal is enchanting and there is a small temple on the site of this lake gives it a more serene look .


Dodi lake

Situated at an altitude of 3307 mts. from the level this e calm lake owing its origin to several natural springs and it is filled with fish, including the rare himalayan trout and is a haven for anglers. The permission of fishing in Dodi lake is necessary .

Gangotri

Situated at an altitude of 3140 mts from the sea level this place is believed to be the birth place of the holy river Ganga . According to the religious scriptures, the great goddess Ganga manifested herself in the form of a river to absolve the sins of King Sagar's sons on the prayer of Bhagirath. Here the Goddess Ganga is worshipped as a deity. The Gangotri temple ,here, is dedicated to the Goddess Ganga and it is said that it was built in the early 18th century by Amar Singh Thapa and later it was rebuilt by the Maharaja of Jaipur.

Gomukh is the source of the river Ganga, Hindu believe a dip in this holy place is must for them.Gomukh is further 18 kms far from Gangotri .
It is also a favourate treakking among trekkers .

Vishwanath Temple

The tample is dedicated to Lord Vishwanath and it has a magneficient trident on the top of the tample

Saat Tal(seven lake)Saat tal is situated at a distance of 75 Kms. from Uttarkashi, on the way to Gangotri.It is a cluster of a group of lakes.The site is worth visiting and memorable.

YamunotriYamunotri is the source of the holy river "Yamuna" and it is situated at an altitude of 3235 mts above the sea-level.The tample of Yamunotri is believed to be built in the last century and later it was rebuilt in 1923.The tample of Yamunotri is the western most shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas and it is located on a flank of the Bandarpunch peak. Yamunotri is one of the ?four dhams? of Uttaranchal. The source of the holy river "Yamuna" lies just 1 km. ahead at an altitude of about 4421 mts. Accessibility to this place is extremely difficult and dangerious and pilgrims therefore offer their prayer at the temple of Yamunotri.The best time to visit this place is May-June and September-October.Suryakund and Divyashila are other near by places where pilgrims offer prayer during their visit.

Distance From Uttarkashi

Nearest Railway Station:-
Rishikesh ,Connected by rail major cities of India.

Nearest airpoint:-
Jollygrant in dehradun

Road :-
Uttarkashi is well connected by road with nearby districts and has a regular bus service toDehradun,Rishikesh,Haridwar etc.

Excursions around Uttarkashi

Gomukh

Gomukh, the source of the river Bhagirathi and Gangotri glacier ,is located at an altitude of 4,200 Mts. above the sea level.The trekking to Gomukh is very adventurous and dangerous but those who love adventure should once go for it.

Dayara Bugyal

Dayara Bugyal, a long stretched green meadow , is situated at an altitude of 3,048 Mts. above the sea level .A meadow located at a high altitude is called Bugyal in Garhwali .The meadow is covered with snow in the winter and becomes a boon for snow skiing .It is approx. 35 Kms. from Uttarkashi including a 6 Kms. walking trek from Barsu.
dayara Bugyal is worth visiting place.

Harsil

Situated at an altitude of 2,620Mts. above the sea level ,"Harsil" is famous for it's natural beauty and tranquility.harsil is also famous for the gardening of apples.
Saattal
Situated at a distance of about 2 Kms. from harsil ,"Saattal" is famous tourist destination. As the name suggest this place has seven lakes at a place which makes it more beautiful.

Yamunotri

Yamunotri is the source of the river "Yamuna" .It is located on a flank of the Bandarpunch peak, at an altitude of 3,322 Mts. above the sea level and the trek to Yamunotri goes along the river bank .The trek to Yamunotri is adventurous , magnificent and offers wide panorama of snow clad mountains of the Himalaya.

Nandanvan Tapovan

Nandanvan Tapovan is situated opposite to the gangotri glacier at a distance of 6 Kms. from gangotri. Nandanvan Tapovan lies on the foothill of Bhagirathi mountain peaks and offers a majestic view of the peaks of the Himalayan Mountain range and a panoramic view of the Gangotri Glacier.

Miscellaneous

Uttarkashi is a place to xplore as it is surrounded by the Himalaya and it's peaks from all around it has a lot to offer toevery one.There are several unseen and unspoiled places in Uttarkashi which are one of the most beautiful and fascinating places on this earth.

Travel Garhwal Destination

Garhwal in the northern state of Uttranchal is an exceptional destination with charming surroundings. Garhwal is smack in the middle of the Himalayas, with Himachal Pradesh in the West and North-West; Tibet in the North; the plains of Western Uttar Pradesh in the South and Kumaon in the East. Garhwal is an administrative division of the raising state of Uttaranchal, comprising the districts of Chamoli, Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri and Uttarkashi. The history of Garhwal is older than that of the Ramayan and Mahabharata. Garhwal is a storehouse of antiquity a Mecca for the devout and a heaven for adventure sports like river rafting, aero sports & skiing. Making it an essential on the itinerary of adventure lovers, pleasure seekers and pilgrims alike.

The snow-wrapped mountains, luxuriant meadows, high-altitude lakes and impenetrable forests in the hills of Garhwal support exotic wildlife, bird life and plant life. The beautiful creations of nature in the Garhwal region add a bit of splendour to nature's wealth that dwells in its surrounding.

Garhwal comprises of the seven districts - Dehradun, Haridwar, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pauri, Tehri and Rudraprayag. The region is a unique mix of diverse geographical, demographic and social characteristics, heightened by an intensified sense of religiosity. Garhwal is the supreme haven for the devout, and the home of varied flora & fauna. Garhwal also has immense scope for adventure sports like river rafting, aero-sports and skiing. There is ample scope for wildlife watching also, making it an essential entry on the itinerary of adventure lovers, pleasure seekers and pilgrims, alike.

The sacred shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri & Yamunotri are located here and so are the source of the most revered rivers Ganga and Yamuna. The legendary valleys of Garhwal blooming with natural beauty, also offer an unique style of hill temple architecture and fantastic handicrafts.

Garhwal is flourishing with natural resources, which can be seen especially in its surroundings. Nature is at its very best in the Garhwal Region. The entire region is blooming in abundance with varied vegetations. A large number of nature lovers, environmentalists and tourists descend upon the region every year. But, If you want to behold the beauty of Garhwal in a reserved region then visit Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Nanda Devi National Park, Rajaji National Park and Kedarnath Sanctuary.

Garhwal Trekking Tours

Garhwal himalayas is one of the most popular trekking destinations in India. Every year thousands of tourist came here for trekking and other adventure activities.

The beauty of Garhwal hills is picture perfect, a fusion of high mountain valley and lakes, of many streams and among India's greatest rivers. Carmine rhododendron blooms and scarlet flame of the forest blossoms are luminous in jungles of dense green, while the faith of an old people has kept alive a lifestyle that dates back by several centuries. In other words the Garhwal hills are a vertible paradise for trekkers.

Trekking in Garhwal.Com ( Subsidiary of Peak adventure tours ) provides all the trekking and adventure services regarding Trekking in Garhwal Himalayas, Trekking tours in garhwal, Mountaineering expeditions and mountain biking tours to Garhwal, Uttarakhand.

Garhwal Himalayas Region: Garhwal, is a region and administrative division of Uttarakhand state, India, lying in the Himalayas. It is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by kumaon region and on the west by Himachal Pradesh state. It includes the districts of Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal and Uttarkashi.

It is believed that Garhwal was named so because of the fact that it had 52 Garhs of 52 petty chieftainships, each chief with his own independent fortress (garh). Nearly 500 years ago, one of these chiefs, Ajai Pal, reduced all the minor principalities under his own sway, and founded the Garhwal kingdom.

Garhwal Himalaya has several wilderness trails through dense forests of Deodar, cypress, oak, pine and rhododendron that harbor a large variety of Himalayan faunas. These lead to lush verdant valleys and undulating green meadows carpeted with alpine flowers in summer. The blue and emerald lakes, majestic waterfalls, meandering rivers, rich thick forests, incredible mountains, green valleys and a wide range of flora and fauna including birds and butterflies, provide a glorious combination. The legendary Ganges, Yamuna and many rivers originate in the Garhwal Himalayas.

Famous trekking routes in Garhwal Himalayas :

• Chandrashila Summit Trek
• Dodital Trekking
• Dehradun Mussoorie Trekking
• Gangotri-Gaumukh-Tapoban Trek
• Gangotri-Badrinath Trekking
• Hem Kund-Valley Flowers Trekking
• Har Ki Dun Trek
• Kalindikhal Pass Trek
• Kedar Tal Trekking
• Khatling Trekking
• Kauri Tapovan Trekking Strenuous
• Kedarnath Vasuki Tal Trek
• Kempty Trekking
• Mussoorie Naqtibba Trek
• Nanda Devi Trek
• Outer Nanda Devi Sanctuary Trek
• Panch Kedar Trek
• Roop Kund Trekking
• Rishikesh Gopeshwar Trekking
• Rishikesh Pauri Binsar Trek
• Shivling Trekking
• The Source of the Ganges Trek
• Valley of Flowers Trekking
• Dayara Bugyal Trek

Hemkund Sahib In Garhwal

The high altitude Lokpal lake, known as Hemkund ( 4329 mts.) lies in heavenly environs. A steep trek from Ghangharia leads one to this spot in about four to six hours.

It is an important pilgrimage for both Hindus and Sikhs, as well as for people from other faiths. There is a Sikh Gurudwara and a Lakshman temple built on the bank of the lake.

Encircled by seven snow clad peaks and their associated glaciers, it reflects its surroundings enchantingly on its crystal clear serene waters. The glaciers from Hathi Parvat and Saptrishi peaks feed the lake and a small stream called Himganga flows out of this lake.

As alluded to, in the holy Granth Sahib, Guru Govind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikh faith had meditated on the bank of this lake in one of his earlier births. It is widely believed among Sikhs that Guru Govind Singh introduced the features now universally associated with Sikhism. On 15th April 1699, he started the new brotherhood called the Khalsa (meaning the pure, from the Persian word 'Khales') an inner core of the faithful, accepted by baptism (amrit).


The five K's' date from this period: kesh (uncut hair) kangha (comb), kirpan (dagger or short sword), kara (steel bangle), and kachh (boxer shorts). The most important is the uncut hair, adopted before the other four. The comb is sometime designated specially as wooden. The dagger and the shorts reflect military influence, while the bangle may be a from of charm.

It is believed that Lakshman, the younger brother of Ram, meditated by the lake and regained his health after being severely wounded by Meghnath, son of the demon Ravana, during battle.

Despite its ancient connections, Hemkund/Lokpal was discovered by a Sikh Havaldar, Solan Singh and became a major pilgrimage centre only after 1930.