Uttarakhand, formerly Uttaranchal, is a paradise for nature lovers and adventure sports enthusiasts. Mussoorie, the 'Queen of Hills'; Nainital, the 'Lake District'; Kausani, the 'Switzerland of India'; Ranikhet, Pithoragarh, Pauri and Munsyari are just few highlights for the nature lovers. For adventure and excitement, one may choose Mountaineering, Trekking, Skiing (Auli, Dayara Bugyal, Munsyari, Mundali), Skating, Water Sports like rafting, boating and angling and Aero Sports like Hand Gliding, Paragliding (Pithoragarh, Jolly Grant, Pauri). The State is also a treasure house of exotic flora and fauna and is an ideal location for eco-tourism, as well as wildlife tourism. The world-famous Jim Corbett National Park is the pride of Uttarakhand. Other important sanctuaries are Rajaji National Park, Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Asan Barrage, Chilla etc. Last but not the least, the rich cultural traditions and the cool and invigorating climate of Uttarakhand sums up for a perfect holiday destination to relax and unwind.

General Information

Capital : Dehradun

Largest City : Dehradun

Area Rank (In India) : 18th

Total Area : Approx 51,125 sq kilometers (19,739 sq miles)

Languages : Hindi, Garhwali, Urdu, Sanskrit.

Climate : The climate of Uttarakhand is sharply demarcated in case of its two distinct divisions: the predominant hilly terrain and the smaller plain region. The most favorable time to visit Uttarakhand happens to be in the course of the summers when the weather is very clement and mild. Certain areas of the hills even become inaccessible in winter due to extremities of climate causing prolonged snowfall and landslide. Warm temperate conditions prevail in the Middle Himalayan valleys, with summer temperatures usually hovering about the mark of 25 degrees and cooler winters. Cool temperate conditions dominate the higher areas of the Middle Himalayas, where the summer temperatures are usually around 15 to 18 degrees and winters drop below the freezing point.

Best Time to Travel : The best time to visit Uttarakhand is between March to June.