My Weekend Getaway to the Kumaon Hills

This media-rich blog post is the result of my four-day long jaunt into the lofty hills of Kumaon, covering some pristine and unexplored destinations of the more magnificent part of Uttarakhand. The blooming spring adds to the beauty of the mountains, and I bring along with me captured memories that will be cherished forever.

The journey seemed more amazing than the destination itself, with verdant forests and lush green vegetation climbing up to the horizon. I witnessed some of the most scenic Himalayan cedar and pine tree jungles in and around it, and a mild drizzle towards the evening made it one of my most memorable drives ever.

Our route was well-planned; we headed from Delhi to Nainital and then Almora. After a halt in Almora, we headed to Chaukori, then to Pithoragarh, and later covering Champawat on the way back. I would personally recommend this route to anyone who wishes to tour through Kumaon. Without much ado, let me showcase my road trip to Kumaon in pictures:

With only an extended weekend in hand, we left early from Delhi, and decided to make Nainital our first stop. The drive took almost seven hours, and after a short rest, lunch and some local sightseeing, we were off to Almora, another hill station in the quaint hills of Kumaon.

After a stopover at Almora, we were off to Chaukori, a peaceful hill station in the few uninhabited hills of Uttarakhand. Chaukori is a 120-kilometre drive from Almora. The cottages at the Tourist Rest House are the best place to stay, as you can grab a glimpse of the Panchachuli Mountains right from these cosy abodes.

Next, we headed to Pithoragarh, a picturesque town nestled in the foothills of the heavenly Himalayas, which I have mentioned in my previous blog post. Pithoragarh lies 96 kilometres away from Chaukori, and 118 kilometres from Almora. It also marks the Indo-Nepal border, and it was here that we decided to head back.

While on our way back, we decided to halt at Champawat, a small but scenic hill town located 70-odd kilometres from Pithoragarh. Champawat boasts of vast expanses of natural beauty and several holy temples.

That sums up my short excursion to the hills of Kumaon. One last word of caution from my side, take along an experienced driver or drive very carefully as some of the roads in the remote areas are in an extremely bad condition and there are no parapets on most of them, so lest you wish to take the leap, stay cautious!