Uttarakhand Hills & Ganges Trail

Seven days through Devbhoomi — the Ganga aarti of Haridwar, the yoga and river cafés of Rishikesh, the colonial hills of Mussoorie, the lake town of Nainital, and a tiger safari at Jim Corbett.

7 daysMixedComfortable5 Cities covered

Duration: 7 days
Pace: Comfortable
Theme: Mixed
Cities covered: 5
Best season overall: March to June and September to November (clear hill weather; Corbett core zones open mid-November to mid-June); avoid the July-August monsoon, when hill roads are landslide-prone
Mid-range budget: ₹22,000 – ₹42,000

Uttarakhand, the "Land of the Gods," pairs the sacred Ganges as it leaves the mountains with a string of beloved colonial hill stations and India's oldest national park — and this seven-day trail weaves the spiritual, the scenic, and the wild together in one well-paced loop. It begins at Haridwar, one of Hinduism's seven holy cities, where the Ganges meets the plains and the nightly Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri sends hundreds of lamps floating down the river in one of India's most moving rituals. A short way upstream lies Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world, with its Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula suspension bridges, riverside cafés, ashrams, and the famous Beatles Ashram — and, as a holy zone, a strictly vegetarian and alcohol-free town. The trail then climbs into the Garhwal hills to Mussoorie, the "Queen of the Hill Stations," with its colonial Mall Road, the Lal Tibba viewpoint, Kempty Falls, and the literary lanes of Landour. It crosses east into Kumaon to Nainital, the lake hill station built around the sacred crescent of the Naini Lake, with its boating, the Snow View ropeway, and the Naini Devi temple. The journey ends in the Kumaon foothills at Jim Corbett National Park, India's oldest (established 1936) and its flagship Bengal tiger reserve, explored on dawn jeep safaris through sal-forest and grassland. Throughout, the food is the hearty vegetarian fare of the hills and the plains — the sattvik kitchens and river cafés of Rishikesh, Garhwali kafuli and aloo ke gutke, the Kumaoni bal mithai sweets of Nainital, and the resort buffets at Corbett. The best windows are March-June and September-November. The single long leg, from the Garhwal hills across to Kumaon, rewards an early start, and easy train connections to Haridwar and Kathgodam make the gateways simple to reach from Delhi. From Ganga aarti to tiger country, this is the essential introduction to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand.

Day-by-day timeline

1
Day 1
Haridwar
overnight
Arrive Haridwar. The Mansa Devi temple by ropeway; the sacred Har Ki Pauri ghat; the spectacular evening Ganga Aarti with its floating lamps. Overnight Haridwar.
Vegetarian highlight: Rabri at Mohan Ji Rabdiwale; jalebi-kachori at the ghaat stalls; sattvic thali at a Haridwar dharamsala.
2
Day 2
Rishikesh
overnight
Short drive to Rishikesh (~25 km). The Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula bridges; the Beatles Ashram heritage park; an evening Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan. The riverside café scene.
Vegetarian highlight: Israeli-style and sattvic veg at the Little Buddha and Madras cafés; the city is vegetarian by law; banana pancakes and ginger-lemon-honey tea.
Transit: Haridwar → Rishikesh · Road · 1 hour — Just ~25 km from Haridwar to Rishikesh along the Ganges; Dehradun (Jolly Grant) is the nearest airport, and Haridwar/Rishikesh are well-connected by train from Delhi.
3
Day 3
Mussoorie
overnight
Drive up via Dehradun to Mussoorie, the Queen of the Hill Stations (~85 km). The Mall Road and Gun Hill; the Lal Tibba viewpoint and the literary lanes of Landour; Kempty Falls. Overnight Mussoorie.
Vegetarian highlight: Garhwali dal and aloo ke gutke at Café Ivy, Landour; Char Dukan chai and pakoras; vegetarian Continental fare at the Savoy.
Transit: Rishikesh → Mussoorie · Road · 2.5-3 hours — About 85 km up via Dehradun into the Garhwal hills to Mussoorie; the ghat road climbs steeply in the last 35 km.
4
Day 4
Nainital
overnight
Long, scenic drive east into Kumaon to Nainital (~315 km). Evening on the Mall Road and at the Naini Lake; the lakeside Naini Devi temple. Overnight Nainital.
Vegetarian highlight: Bal mithai and singori at Laxmi Sweets; aloo ke gutke at a Kumaon café; lakeside chaat and hot chai.
Transit: Mussoorie → Nainital · Road · 7-8 hours — About 315 km — the longest leg — crossing from Garhwal into Kumaon, usually via Dehradun, Haridwar, and Haldwani; an early start is essential.
5
Day 5
Nainital
overnight
The Snow View ropeway for the Himalayan panorama (Nanda Devi and Trishul on clear mornings); Tiffin Top and the Naina Peak walk; boating on the lake. Optional Bhimtal and Sattal day-trip.
Vegetarian highlight: Kumaoni bhatt ki churkani and aloo ke gutke; evening chaat at Tallital; bal mithai for the road.
6
Day 6
Jim Corbett National Park
overnight
Drive down to Jim Corbett (~65 km), India's oldest national park (1936). Afternoon safari in the Bijrani or Dhela zone for tiger, elephant, and deer; a sunset walk by the Kosi river. Overnight resort.
Vegetarian highlight: Kumaoni bhatt ki churkani and aloo ke gutke at the resort; aloo paratha with white butter at the Ramnagar dhabas.
Transit: Nainital → Jim Corbett National Park · Road · 1.5-2 hours — About 65 km down from Nainital to the Corbett gates near Ramnagar; an easy descent from the lake town to the tiger forest.
7
Day 7
Jim Corbett National Park
transit
A dawn safari in Corbett, then a village walk by the Kosi. Depart by road to Ramnagar (railhead) and on to Delhi (~260 km), or fly from Pantnagar (~80 km).
Vegetarian highlight: Resort vegetarian breakfast; bal mithai and Kumaoni sweets to carry home; aloo paratha at a Ramnagar dhaba.