How to Reach Uttarakhand – Travelling Inside Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is Dev bhoomi, land of Gods. On the one hand it has hundreds of pilgrimage spots such as the famous Chardhams, Panch Badris, Panch Kedars and numerous other temples. On the other hand there are beautiful resorts. This is from where the holy Ganga originates and this is the land of legends and myths. Cradled by the mighty Himalayas, the land is bewitchingly attractive and sometimes inhospitable. Travel to Uttarakhand and you enter another world.

char dham road project

Getting There

There are different modes of transport you can use to reach Uttarakhand.

Train: travel by train is one of the easiest and comfortable ways to reach Uttarakhand. Haridwar is the main junction in Haridwar connected to the rest of India by a rail network. Once you reach Haridwar you can take another train to reach Rishikesh and then switch to road travel for journeys to various destinations in Uttarakhand. You could also reach Dehradun or Nainital depending on where you wish to go. For char dham yatris Haridwar is the starting point. There are minor train stations at Kotdwar, Kathgodam, Pauri and Udham Singh Nagar.

Air: Being a mountainous area, Uttarakhand has only a few airports. The most popular airport is Jolly Grant at Dehradun and the other is Pantnagar airport at Nainital

Road: Travel by road is another good way to reach Uttarakhand and also for travel within the state. There is a network of roads leading to Uttarakhand from Delhi, from the southern side and from the eastern sides. Some people prefer to travel by private buses or by state transport buses operating between Delhi and Nainital or Haridwar. There are also organized tours starting from Delhi to various destinations.

Travel Inside Uttarakhand

However, if you wish to travel at your leisure and convenience the best way is to travel in a car or SUV. Instead of taking your own car it is better to hire a car with a driver because drivers here are familiar with the mountainous roads and drive safely. With a rented car you do not have to worry about maintenance or repairs should it break down. It is easy to get an SUV or car from a car rental in Haridwar for all your journeys inside Uttarakhand. Whether you go on a pilgrimage or tour resorts, a car with a driver gives you freedom of travel.

Keep in Mind:

• Pick a trustworthy car hire agency in Haridwar and hire a larger vehicle even if it costs more because you will have ample space for luggage and to stretch out.
• Decide on the route before hand and make a plan and confirm it with the car hire people. Fix rates, usually on a per kilometre basis or per day basis.
• Clarify even the most minor point and make sure the driver understands the terms because they may refuse at some point and you would be left stranded.
• Pack plenty of woollens, bottled water and thermosful of hot coffee or tea along with something to eat.
• Avoid travel by night on the roads, especially in mountainous areas.
• The best season is undoubtedly summer. Monsoons may cause landslides and roadblocks in some areas and winter is when it becomes quite chilly. Roads higher up in the mountains may be closed.

There is nothing like having a car with you because you can come across many beautiful scenes where you may wish to stop, alight from the car and admire the scenery. You may wish to rush through to some place or linger at a roadside Dhaba. You can do all these and visit your favorite spots when you travel by a hired car in Uttarakhand.