1. Kasar Devi/Crank's Ridge, Almora
If you're interested in the hippie-way of life but are tired of the huge number of tourists in Himachal Pradesh, you need to make it a point to visit Kasar Devi village near Almora in Uttarakhand. Crank's Ridge, or Hippie Hill as the locals call it, on the way to Kasar Devi temple is also a historical place for hippies. Legends like Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens are some of the few people who visited this place during the peak of the Hippie movement in the sixties.
2. Bedni Bugyal, Gwaldam
Gwaldam is at an average elevation of 2000 meters. Gwaldam is about 20 km away from the Bajinath which was once the capital of medieval Katyuri monarchs. The place Gwaldam is also 25 km away from Kulsari which is one of the famous camps of Nanda Devi. Gwaldam is actually at the junction of Grahwal and Kumaon. Trekkers who come trekking from near Kathgodam also target Gwaldam. The trekking trail leads to Kuari Pass, Roop Kund and Nanda Devi Raj Jat. There are so many devotional spots here like Badhangari, Angyari Mahadev and Gwaldam Naag which tourists can explore and the main village of this area i.e. Atal Adarsh Gram is filled with British Memorabilia. This area also has a rich reserve of flora and fauna which is why it attracts nature lovers and botanists.
3. Kartik Swami, Rudraprayag
The Kartik Swami area is well known for the famous Kartik Swami temple which is dedicated to the eldest son of Lord Shiva; Kartikeya. The temple is situated in the middle of the serene beauty of Garhwal Himalayas in the district of Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand. The actual Kartikeyaswami temple is located at the side of a narrow ridge which has a deep valley situated around it and it is at an elevation of 3050 meters above the sea level. An amazing 360 degree view of the Himalayas can be found from the Kartik Swami temple. A naturally carved statue of Kartik is found inside the temple.
4. Auli
We Indians usually tend to associate snow with places like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir or Sikkim but did you know Uttarakhand actually has one of the most exciting ski destinations? The picturesque town of Auli hosts the National Championships of Snow Skiing and right next to the Clifftop Hotel, the town also has the world's highest artificial lake.
5. Jageshwar
Jageshwar is a small Hindu town that lies in the Almora district of Uttarakhand. Jageshwar is also called the temple city because of its strong religious lineage. The Nagesh jyotirlinga which is devoted to Lord Shiva is situated in Jageshwar. There are more than 125 stone temples situated there all of which belong to the period 9th to 13th A.D. and it is declared a heritage site by Archeological Survey of India. The Chandi Maa temple, Dandeshwar temple, Surya Temple and Pyramidal temple are some of the principle temples in this area. Mahamrityunjay temple that is situated near the junction of two holy streams Nandini and Surabhi is the most famous. The Jageshwar Monsoon Festival is held every year between 15th July to 15 AUGUST and it is a good experience for tourists who visit at that particular time.
6. Askot, Pithoragarh
Located at an elevation of around 1106 m, Askot is former a princely state in Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand. A perfect pick for the traveller in you who always look for a destination to beat the heat of sweltering summer, Askot is an ideal spot to let yourself loose. Askot lies on a ridge between Dharchula and Pithoragarh on the way to the famous Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. This small town is surrounded by lofty mountain peaks of Kumaon Himalaya and River Kali flows close to it. The main attraction of this lesser known travel destination is the Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary that reaches a height of 6904m and encloses some of the best Himalayan peaks within its boundary such as Najrikot, Panchuli, Chiplakot and Naukana.
7. Bajinath
Bajinath is well known to history lovers for being the capital of Katyuri Monarchs who ruled the area from between the time 7th century to 11th century A.D. and it was then known as Kartikeyapura and it lies in the center of the valley of Katyur. The Bajinath temple which stands on the bank of the river is rumoured to be built by the Kumaon Katyuri monarch around 1150 A.D. and it was also the capital of the dynasty of Katyuri. The Bajinath temple is very famous as it was believed to be the point where Lord Shiva and Parvati Mata got married at the confluence of Gomati River and the Garur Ganga River. The Kot Bhramari Mandir is also one of the important temples around that area. Booking for accommodation at Bajinath can be done from KMVM Delhi office. Tourists can also explore the Garur market nearby which is one of the oldest in the region.
A small quaint hill station that offer you a retreat from the mundane life, Chaukori is counted among the most unexplored tourist places in Uttarakhand. It is located in Pithoragarh district of Kumaon Himalaya and known for its tea gardens which were established by the British colonial rulers. Chaukori is the best place in Uttarakhand for witnessing the enchanting views of morning sun rays kissing the snow clad peaks of Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot and Panchauli Group of mountains.
9. Munsyari
Munsyari (Munsiyari), the name refers to a place with snow. Mountaineers, glacier enthusiasts and high altitude treekers should certainly visit this place. One of the key attractions here is the trek to Khalia top, and the route is simply magnificent!
10. Pangot
About a mere 15 km away from the gorgeous hill stations of Nainital lies Pangot which is a relatively undiscovered yet very beautiful spot. The drive to Pangot passes through the forested areas of the Peak of Cheena via the Snow View Peak and Kilbury which are both lovely spots for Birding. The main feature of Pangot are the birds including the Lammergeier, minta with blue wings, Himalayan Griffon, Forktail with slate backs, wood peckers with Rufus bellies, khaaji peasants, variety of thrushes. The yellow throat Himalayan Marten, leopard, sambhar and barking deer are other animals which are found in this area. Ornithologists say that 150 different bird species are recorded in Pangot and surrounding areas. Bird watching camps are held regularly to train amateur bird watchers.
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