I want to go to Uttaranchal and especially at a time when it snows. I have been to Shimla some 8 years back and myself and my friends absolutely loved the snow sports and the whole atmosphere of the snowy season, maybe because of the hot part of India I come from. It has not been decided to where in Uttaranchal we would travel, but it would be good to know what parts get snow. Just provide a list of places where it snows in Uttaranchal and if there is any extra information like any snow sports or activities conducted please mention those as well. Another important point also mention what time of year it would be best to visit the places listed.
Apart from snowy mountains Uttaranchal has many beautiful tourists spots and landscapes. Uttaranchal is famous for its beauty. It has magnificent glaciers, majestic snow-clad mountains, gigantic high peaks, valley full with flowers, skiing slopes, big and dense forests and many shrines and places of pilgrimage. Famous hindu pilgrimages badrinath, kedarnath, haridwar, rishikesh and many more make uttaranchal Adobe of God.
Hello there! Welcome to the forum! When it comes to snow, places like Manali, Shimla, Gulmarg and Sonamarg come to mind. They are commonly visited especially during summer as they provide some relief to the heat. However, there are also places in Uttarakhand that have snow. Perhaps the most popular one is Auli, the skiing destination of Uttarakhand. But there are many more places that you can visit in Uttarakhand that has snow as well. Here they are: Places With Snow in Uttarakhand 1. Chopta -From Delhi, the distance covered to reach Chopta is about 450 kms. Chopta is a small region of meadows, covered with forests of rhododendron, pines and deodars. It is usually the base camp to reach Tungnath and Deoria Tal. From the village of Chopta, you can view the mountain ranges of Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba and Trishul. Chopta is also about 2,680 metres above sea level. Here are some of the activities that you can do in Chopta: Trekking - This is one of the most popular activities in Chopta. You can either trek to reach Deoria Tal or Tungnath. However, most trekkers follow this route: Kund > Deoria Tal > Tungnath > Chandrashila. Deoria Tal is also known as Devaria Lake, as the Devas were believed to have bathed here. It's about three kms from from Sari and offers panoramic views of the mountain ranges of Chaukhamba, Nilkantha and Bandarpunch. On the other hand, Tungnath is visited because of the highest Shiva Temple in the world located here. Lastly, Chandrashila is the highest summit here, about 4,000 metres above sea level. You can avoid Chandrashila and drop it off the list during the winter as it's not passable during this time. Camping - Trekking can last for 3 to 5 days, hence camping is another popular activity in Chopta. There are several tour companies that can arrange the camping process for you and even provide the meals needed. However, you can also bring your own tents and cooking equipment if you're up for the challenge. Snow Skiing - You can also try snow skiing in the slopes of Chopta. However, it's not as well-maintained as the slopes of Auli or Gulmarg. You might also need to bring your equipments as I don't know of any shops renting them out in there. Best time to visit Chopta: Summer Season - From March to June, this is considered the summer season in Chopta. For trekkers, this is the best time to visit the region. Temperatures are between 10°C to 30°C which are pleasant and cool. It's also the best time for sightseeing and exploring the village. You would need to bring light woollens as the nights can get chilly. Monsoon Season - This is from the months of July to September. The region receives mild rain showers so it's also a suitable time to visit Chopta. Just make sure that you carry your umbrella and rain gear. There's lush greenery all around as well during this time. Winter Season - This is between October to February. If you'd like to see snow, then this is the best time to visit Chopta. To access Chopta though, you'd need to go through Sari as the roads to reach Chopta directly are blocked. 2. Chakrata - This is a cantonment town in Dehradun in Uttarakhand. It is about 2,118 metres above sea level. It is 98 kms away from Dehradun and 73 kms away from Mussoorie. The town is a military cantonment, hence foreigners might have a harder time to go through it. It's also not that developed so the roads aren't that good and you won't find as many accommodation options in the region. Here are some of the activities that you can do in Chakrata: Trekking - There are many places in Chopta to do some short trekking. The most famous attraction in Chakrata is the Tiger Falls and it's a fairly easy 5 kms trek from the village. Another easy trek is the Chilmiri Neck, which is about 4 kms from Chakrata. It's the highest point in the village and you can view the mountain ranges of Bandarpunch, Rohini and Swarg from it. Snow Skiing - About 36 kms away from the village of Chopta, you can find Mundali. It is covered with snow during the winter season. There is a school here offering courses for tourists as well as equipment rentals. Best time to visit Chakrata: Summer Season - From March to June, this is considered the summer season in Chakrata. Temperatures are between 12°C to 32°C. It's a good time for sightseeing and trekking. Monsoon Season - This is from the months of July to September. It's not recommended to travel to Chakrata during this time due to landslides caused by rainfall. Autumn Season - This is between October to November. Just after the monsoon season, the Tiger Falls become alive as it was fed by the monsoon rain. Also, the whole village is transformed into lush greenery which would be quite beautiful to see. Winter Season - This is between December to February. If you'd like to see snowfall and participate in snow activities, then this is the best time to visit Chakrata. Temperatures range between -5°C to 10°C so bring your thicker woollen clothes. Some routes for trekking might be closed though due to heavy snowfall. 3. Munsiyari - This is a small town in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. From Nainital, it is about 300 kms and can take you about 10 hours to cover the distance. The name Munsiyari means A Place with Snow and it's located next to the Goriganga River. It is about 2,298 metres above sea level. Munsiyari is also the base camp for many treks and it has just opened recently as it was a restricted area before. Here are some of the activities that you can do in Munsiyari: Trekking - As I've mentioned, Munsiyari is a popular base for treks such as the Namik Glacier, Panchchuli Peaks and Ralam Glacier. The Namik Glacier is the source of the Ram Ganga River. It is about 3,600 metres above sea level. The Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot peaks can be seen from the glacier as well. The Panchchuli Peaks are a group of five snow-capped Himalayan peaks at the end of the region of Kumaon. The peak is at about 6,904 metres above sea level. The Ralam Glacier is about 15 kms from Munsiyari. It lies at an altitude of 2,290 metres above sea level. Skiing - Khaliya Top is another popular trekking trail in Munsiyari. The best feature of the trek is that you can ski from the peak of it. It is about 3,500 metres above sea level and offers picturesque views of Nanda Kot and Panchchuli. Best time to visit Munsiyari: Summer Season - This is between March to June and is the best season for trekking and sightseeing. Temperatures range between 15°C to 30°C during these months. You can also clearly view the mountain peaks during these months. Monsoon Season - This is between July to September. It's best to avoid Munsiyari during this time as the heavy rains can cause landslides and road blocks. Winter Season - This is between October and February. It's the best time for seeing snowfall and engaging in winter activities. Snowfall happens between the end of December to February. Temperatures range between -12°C to 20°C. 4. Dayara Bugyal - This is in the Uttarkarshi district of Uttarakhand. The name Dayara Bugyal means High Altitude Meadow. It is about 3,408 metres above sea level. This has been developed as a ski slope and is a good alternative if you don't want to go to Auli for skiing. The nearest village to Dayara Bugyal is Barsu, which is about 454 kms from Delhi. Dayana Bugyal to Barsu is just about 9 kms. Here are some of the activities that you can do in Dayara Bugyal: Trekking - Dayara Bugyal is usually accessed through Barsu. The trek is easy to moderate and can take a day or two to cover. During the summer season, the beautiful meadows of the Dayara Bugyal come alive, as it's covered with colourful flowers and lush greenery. Skiing - The ski slopes in Dayara Bugyal are about 28 square kilometres. It has been developed so it has excellent slopes. There's also a plan of developing it into a ski resort although this hasn't been executed yet. Best time to visit Dayara Bugyal: Summer Season - This is between March to June and it's a great time for sightseeing or trekking in the region. Snowfall is rare during this time though although you might find snow during the earlier months of March and April. Monsoon Season - This is between July to September. It's not recommended to visit during this time as trekking is not possible. Landslides also occur as the rain gets stronger. Winter Season - Between the months of October to November, these are the best times to visit Dayara Bugyal. Snowfall occurs by mid-December and by January, the whole region is covered in snow. Winter activities are also best enjoyed during this time. 5. Auli - I'll end this list with the Skiing Destination of Uttarakhand, which is Auli. From Delhi, Auli is about 400 kms away. It is about 2,500 to 3,050 metres above sea level. The government has even created an artificial lake here that feeds the snow guns with water whenever snowfall isn't enough. Slopes here are in excellent condition for skiing especially during the winter season. Here are some of the activities that you can do in Auli: Trekking - Perhaps the most popular trekking route in Auli is the Kuari Pass Trek. The trek can take about 4 to 5 days to complete. Kuari Pass is about 3,650 metres above sea level and provides amazing views of the Himalayas. For the beginner trekkers, consider the trek to reach Gurso Bugyal which is just 3 kms from Auli. Trek another 1 km and you can reach Chattrakund, a sweet water lake in Auli. Snow Sports - Skiing is the most popular snow activity in Auli. You can rent equipments readily in the region. There are also courses that you can take to enrich your skiing skills. There are also other snow sports like snow scootering and snow boarding. Auli Ropeway - This is the second highest ropeway in the country, after the one in Gulmarg. They have ski lifts and chair lifts as well. It's a great way to view the city and the surrounding mountains. Best time to visit Auli: Summer Season - This is between the months of March to June. It's the best time for trekking and sightseeing in Auli. Temperatures range between 14°C to 20°C. Monsoon Season - This is from July to September and it's a great time to visit the bodies of water along Auli. Gurus Bugyal transforms into an area of lush greenery and colours during this time. Winter Season - This is between October to February. This is the time when Auli is covered with thick blankets of snow, especially by the end of December. Winter activities can also be done during this time. Temperatures range between -4°C to 10°C. I hope this helps.
Well, I really got interested in knowing what that place was about and looked it up on Google right away, it definitely looks like an amazing place, it's one of the places that I would go and host a tent to spend the night staring up the sky thinking about life and how great the snowfall looks, now I can see that India really has a lot of great potential, just as my motherland Venezuela, greetings from here my fellow Indian friends!
