The Most Awesome Summer Getaways In Uttrakhand

River Rafting - Shivpuri

For the laptop chained and desktop bound, the adrenaline rush of river rafting could be just the thing to set your spirit free. The Byas-Shivpuri-Rishikesh stretch of the River Ganga offers thrills to convert even landlubbers into addicts.

Early summer is ideal for a weekend trip or slightly longer getaway. In this river valley, sal trees cling to sheer limestone cliffs that drop into the waters of Ma Ganga. The rocky shore is interspersed with soft, white sand beaches. The many campsites that have sprouted on these offer tented accommodation as well as equipment, guides and advice for river rafting.

You could of course, attain nirvana just sitting on the beach, gazing at the softly rippling green waters . But Ganga is a goddess of varied moods – hop onto a raft and you’ll know just how many!

Your initial encounter with the rapids feels like a cross between a rollercoaster ride and the first time you fell in love – breathlessness, soaring joy, fear and delight all colliding together! But this is nature in all her raw power – one reason why rafters respectfully invoke her name before setting off, with cries of “Ganga mata ki jai!” The rapids have interesting names – Sweet Sixteen, Marine Drive, Black Money, Cross-Fire and Mala’s Curves (after the mountaintop village of Mala!); between them are long, calm stretches where you can hit the water and float on your back…bliss!

Trekking, beach volleyball and the romance of a bonfire by moonlight – there’s all this too, only hours away from New Delhi. Truly, a getaway you’ll want to come back to, again and again!

Himalayan Gateway – Pithoragarh

Velvet green meadows and the intoxicating freshness of mountain air – you almost expect a chiffon-clad heroine to come running down the alpine slopes of Pithoragarh!

Located 1615 m above sea level, this quaint, scenic hill district borders Nepal and Tibet and is surrounded by five Himalayan peaks - Chandak, Kedar, Thal, Dhwaj and Kundre.

Pithoragarh offers something for both the curious and the adventurous. It’s been a historic stopover for pilgrims en route to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet. Pithoragarh Fort, built in the Chand era, houses a women’s college today. The stamp of British colonialism still remains in the town’s army cantonment, missionary school and church. Among the ancient temples scattered over the district, must-see’s are the underground caves of Patal Bhubaneswar, the Sun Temple and the pine tree encircled Maha Kalika Shaktipeeth.

‘Little Kashmir’, as Pithoragarh is known, is a trekker’s delight. The 7 km hike up to Chandak ends with a superb view of the massive Panchachuli mountain. Pay your respects at the Chanda Devi temple here. Drive to Munsiyari (literally, “place of snow”), an unspoilt stretch of Himalayan forest at 2,200 m above sea level. Apart from the magnificent views of snow-clad peaks, this is a treasure trove of wildlife. Musk deer, leopard and mountain bear; also wagtails, falcons, serpent eagles and whistling thrushes.

Itching for action? Go river rafting on the Goriganga or skiing, higher up the alpine slopes at Betulidhar and Khaliatop. Jhulaghat, 33 km from Pithoragarh near the Nepal border, gets its name from the hanging bridge over the Kali river. The little town of Chaukori, 85 km away, has divine mountain views, fruit orchards and tea gardens to explore.

Come summer, if you’re looking at the road less travelled, Pithoragarh is where you should be headed.

Kumaon’s Fruit Bowl – Ramgarh

Family holiday spots are all about good times, easy accessibility, a dash of adventure and some creature comforts. You can’t go wrong on any of those counts with Ramgarh, just 300-odd kilometres from New Delhi.

The British had a knack for picking out India’s most salubrious watering holes. Ramgarh was once their army cantonment, a green heaven surrounded by magnificent, icy ranges, where officers, gentlemen and ladies could escape from the nasty rigours of summer in the plains.

When you’ve soaked up the admittedly spellbinding view, there’s plenty to do. Explore Ramgarh’s famous orchards, rich with apple, plum, peach and pear trees. Go fishing at the Kosi and Kalirao rivers – with luck you could nab a mahseer. Bring out the adventurer in you with rappelling or rock climbing – your hotel or local tour operator will make all the arrangements. Go camping with the family on the River Kosi’s banks; wake early to catch a glorious sunrise, drown in the moonlit beauty of the shore at night. Pack a picnic and head to the Khairna Bridge for a fun day out.

This summer, leave the scorching plains behind for a chilled out getaway at Ramgarh.

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