Uttaranchal (officially Uttarakhand since 2006) occupies the Himalayan foothills and mountains of northern India, bordering Tibet and Nepal. It is one of the most important pilgrimage regions in the Hindu world — the Char Dham (Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri) draw millions of pilgrims each year, and Haridwar and Rishikesh are among the holiest cities in India.
The landscape is extraordinary: the Garhwal and Kumaon Himalaya rise steeply from the Gangetic Plain, and the state contains some of the most accessible high-altitude trekking in India. The Valley of Flowers National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, blooms with alpine meadows in July and August. Jim Corbett National Park in the foothills is one of India's best tiger reserves.
Dehradun is the capital and the most convenient base for the region. Mussoorie, on the ridge above Dehradun, is the classic hill station with views over the plains. Nainital, in the Kumaon hills, is another popular retreat. Rishikesh, on the Ganges, has become an international centre for yoga and adventure sports — white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and trekking are all based here.
Access has improved significantly with the All Weather Road project connecting the major Char Dham sites, though roads can be blocked by landslides during and after the monsoon.
