Gifted with natural beauty, magnificent glaciers, majestic snow-clad mountains, gigantic and ecstatic peaks, valley of flowers, skiing slopes, dense forests, and spiritual bliss, this Abode of Gods includes many shrines and places of pilgrimage.
Chamoli Hill Station
Chamoli, the abode of Gods, reputed for its shrines and temples, birth place of ‘Chipko Movement ‘ with its strategic significance is one of the hill district of Uttaranchal, India. Chamoli proved itself the most impressive in its natural assets; be it maintain scenery, valley aspects, water-edges, floristic varieties, dramatic landform or the climatic cardinalities. In the arms of the heavenly Himalayas lies the enchanting land of Chamoli, which seems to be a blessing of earth. A blessed spot the place seems to have been particularly dear to Lord Shiva. There are hundreds of shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, the most important of all being the shrine of Badrinath.
The other shrines of religious importance are Hemkund Saheb, three out of five Panch Kedar and Panch Badri, which are spread over the hills of Chamoli. During the monsoons, thousand brilliant blooms burst forth in the fascinating “Valley of flowers”. The place reverberates with spirituality and is associated with a number of legends. It is said that Hanuman found the Sanjeevani herb here to revive the unconscious Laxman. It is believed that Ved Vyas composed his immortal epic, the Mahabharata here.
Guru Gobind Singh is also believed to have meditated here. Surrounded by Tehri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, Rudrapryag., Ptihoragarh, Almora and pauri Garhawal districts and with Tibet lying to its north, Chamoli attracts tourists and invites trekking enthusiasts from all over the world to discover the fullest potential of their body & mind. Chamoli, a hill district of U.P., has immense geographical, historical, religious and cultural importance.
Dehradun Hill Station
Dehradun is the capital of newly formed Indian state of Uttranchal. Dehradun is one of the oldest cities of India. It is one of the most famous & developed cities of India. Also known as the Abode of Drona, Dehradun has always been an important centre of the Garhwal rulers which was captured by the British. The headquarters of many National Institute like ONGC, Survey of India, I.I.P. etc. are located in the city. Dehradun has a string of premier educational institutes like the forest Research Institute, Rashtriya Indian Military College and the Indian Military Academy.
It is favoured tourist destination as it attracts tourists, pilgrims and enthusiasts from various walks of life to its serene environs. Add to this the abundance of special Basmati rice, tea and leechi gardens which contribute in turning the city into a paradise. The city is known as the gateway of many famous tourist destinations like Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Badrinath, Kedarnath and more.
Mussoorie Hill Station
Mussoorie is located at an attitude of 2550.5m in the lush green Garhwal Hills in the lower Himalayas. This city is known as the Queen of Hill Stations. The climate of Mussoorie is pleasant all round the year. The excellent climate makes it a fascinating hill resort. It presents a superb view of the Himalayan snow ranges to the north-east and the Doon Valley., Roorkee, Saharanpur and Haridwar to the South, creating an almost serene atmosphere for the tourists. Mussoorie was discovered by Captain Young, an adventurous military officer in 1827. He was lured by the extraordinarily beautiful ridge and laid the foundation of it. Mussoorie is also a Gateway to the “Gangotri” and the “Yamunotri” shrines.
Thronged by holidayers; it vibrates with gaiety and merry making during the summer season. There are no steep inclines and the more adventurous can undertake enjoyable excursions to various beauty spots in the surrounding area like Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Naga Tibba etc. Mussoorie affords glorious views of the mighty Himalayan peaks.
The major attraction of Mussoorie are : –
- Kempty falls – It is about 11 kms from the town attracts hundreds of people every day. Kempty falls has distinction of being the biggest and prettiest waterfall in the valley.
- Bhatta falls – It is also famous for eye-catching scenic beauty.
- Depot Hill(Lal Tibba) – It is the highest point in the Mussoorie and beautiful Himalayan panorama is visible on all clear days from this post. The Badrinath, Kedarnath, Bandar-poonch, Sri Kantha and Nanda Devi peaks can be seen from here. On can enjoy a horse-ride or electric trolly to reach at the peak.
- Gun Hill – Gun hill is the second highest peak of Mussoorie and the most famous tourist attraction in Mussoorie.
- Municipal Garden – It is a beautiful garden with artificial mini lake that offers enjoyable boating facilities. Mussoorie is well connected by roads with Dehra Dun, Delhi, Roorkee and Saharanpur. There are some good hotels, recreation clubs and restaurants to cater to the needs of the tourist.
Nainital Hill Station :
Nainital is a glittering jewel in the Himalyan necklace, gifted with picturesque natural grandeur and diverse natural resources. Dotted with lakes, Nainital has earned the epithet of ‘Lake District’ of India. The most prominent of the lakes is Naini Lake ringed by hills. Nainital has a diverse topography.
Some of the important places in the district are :-
Nainital , Haldwani , Kaladhungi , Ramnagar , Bhowali , Ramgarh , Mukteshwar , Bhimtal , Sattal and Naukuchiatal-Nainital’s unending expense of scenic beauty is nothing short of a romance with awe-inspiring and pristine Mother Nature.
