🏔️ Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand sits at the head of the Ganga and Yamuna basins, where the Indian plains meet the great wall of the Himalayas. The state is split between two ancient cultural-geographic regions: Garhwal in the west, with deep forests, glacier-fed rivers, and the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites; and Kumaon in the east, gentler in landscape but home to some of the highest peaks in the Indian Himalayas including Nanda Devi (25,643 ft).

For trekkers, Uttarakhand is the most accessible Himalayan playground in India. Six hours from Delhi by overnight bus or train brings you to Dehradun, Rishikesh, or Kathgodam — the three roadheads from which almost every Garhwal and Kumaon trek begins. The trekking grades available range from gentle weekend hikes (Nag Tibba, Dayara Bugyal) to genuine high-altitude expeditions (Bali Pass, Lamkhaga Pass, Black Peak), with everything in between.

What sets Uttarakhand apart from the western Himalayan states is the combination of bugyals (high-altitude meadows) and a deep Hindu pilgrimage tradition. Dayara, Bedni, Ali, and Chaainsheel bugyals are among the largest alpine grasslands in Asia. Many treks pass through or near sacred sites — Kedartal feeds the Mandakini at Kedarnath, Satopanth Lake is a Hindu pilgrimage destination, and the Valley of Flowers sits beside the Hemkund Sahib gurudwara.

Best seasons: spring (March-May) for snow trails and rhododendron blooms, summer (June) for high passes opening, monsoon (July-August) for the Valley of Flowers, autumn (September-November) for clear skies and golden meadows, and winter (December-February) for snow treks like Kedarkantha and Brahmatal.