Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand - the Land of the Gods - sits at the threshold where the Indo-Gangetic plains surrender to the mighty Himalayas. The state is the source of India's two holiest rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna, and its ancient temples have drawn pilgrims for millennia. Rishikesh, the Yoga Capital of the World, combines spiritual energy with adrenaline: meditate at dawn in an ashram, then raft Class IV rapids on the Ganga by afternoon. Haridwar, just downstream, hosts the nightly Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri with a fervour that rivals Varanasi. For nature lovers, the state is a treasure chest. Jim Corbett National Park - India's oldest - shelters Bengal tigers, elephants, and over 600 bird species. The Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, blooms in a kaleidoscope of alpine wildflowers every monsoon. Nainital and Mussoorie offer colonial-era lakeside charm, while Auli provides some of the best skiing in India with panoramic views of Nanda Devi. The spiritual heart of Uttarakhand beats strongest at the Char Dham - the four sacred shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath - a pilgrimage that traverses some of the most spectacular mountain scenery on earth. Whether your journey is inward or outward, Uttarakhand has a path for you.