Uttarakhand
The sources of the Ganga and Yamuna, the Char Dham shrines, and India’s best first treks.
About Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand, the land of the gods, holds the sources of the Ganga and Yamuna, the four shrines of the Char Dham and some of India’s best first treks, from the Valley of Flowers to the snows of Kedarkantha.
It is the most varied of the Himalayan states, with pilgrimage, gentle walks and winter summits all within a day’s drive of Dehradun.
When to go
Best from May and June, September and October.
- January: good
- February: good
- March: good
- April: good
- May: best
- June: best
- July: good
- August: good
- September: best
- October: best
- November: good
- December: good
Journeys in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand11 daysModerateChar Dham Yatra by road
From Haridwar · best May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Highest point Kedarnath, 3,583 mfrom ₹46,900 per person
Uttarakhand6 daysModerateValley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib
From Rishikesh · best Jul–Aug
Highest point Hemkund Sahib, 4,329 mfrom ₹18,900 per person
Uttarakhand6 daysEasyKedarkantha winter trek
From Dehradun · best Dec–Apr
Highest point Kedarkantha summit, 3,810 mfrom ₹14,900 per person
Before you go
- Getting there
- Fly to Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport, or take the train to Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun. Pantnagar airport serves the Kumaon hills.
- Permits
- Char Dham registration is mandatory and free. Treks inside national parks, like the Valley of Flowers, need entry permits, which we arrange.
- What to eat
- Kafuli (leafy greens curry), aloo ke gutke, bhatt ki churkani, mandua roti and bal mithai.
- Char Dham temples open in late April or May and close around Diwali.
- Book Kedarnath helicopters only on IRCTC HeliYatra; fake sites are common.
- Avoid July and August for road travel, except for the Valley of Flowers.
- Winter treks run from December to April.
Questions about Uttarakhand
When is the Char Dham Yatra season?
From late April or May to around Diwali. May, June, late September and October are the best months.
Which is the best first trek in Uttarakhand?
Kedarkantha in winter, or the Valley of Flowers in July and August.
Can I see the Himalaya from Uttarakhand without trekking?
Yes. Auli faces Nanda Devi, and the hill towns of Kumaon have views across the Garhwal and Kumaon peaks.