Destinations in Uttarakhand

Nainital
Nainital: Among the popular hill stations in India, Nainital in Uttarakhand is gifted with natural splendour. Scenic hills, majestic mountains, lake and hills covered with greenery are some of the options for sightseeing in Nainital.

India’s answer to the Lake District, Nainital is set around Lake Naini. Boating and angling in the lake are some of the touristy things to do. Don’t forget to have Pahari cuisine or authentic Tibetan food.
Best time to visit Nainital is between March and May. Nainital hotels remain fully booked during the best season to visit the hill station.

Auli
Auli:  Known as a traveller’s paradise, Auli in Chamoli district is among the lesser known hill stations in Uttarakhand. Snow-capped mountains, forests of deodar and oak, and apple orchards add to the beauty of the hill station. Auli also offers majestic views of Mt. Nanda Devi, Nanga Parbat, Dungagiri, Beethartoli, Nikanth Hathi Parbat and Ghori Parbat.

Trekking in summer is the most popular activity and it provides a wonderful opportunity to explore the Garhwal Himalayas. The Auli to Joshimath trek is the most popular.

Skiing in Auli attracts large number of skiers. Skiing is done November to March.

There are several pilgrimage spots near Auli like Sankaracharya Tapastali at Joshimath, Nandaprayag and Rudraprayag.

The best time to visit Auli is between November to May.

Ranikhet
Ranikhet: Ranikhet in Almora district is yet another popular summer destination in Uttarakhand.  The Uttarakhand hill station is known for its ancient temples, picnic spots, trekking trails and mountain peaks.

It is also very popular with adventure junkies. Trekking, mountain biking, rock climbing, white water rafting and rappelling are popular activities. Camping is also a popular activity among tourists. The best time to visit Ranikhet is between March and May.

Pithoragarh
Pithoragarh: Known as the ‘Little Kashmir’, Pithoragarh in Kumaon region serves as the gateway to the Himalayan ranges and to the Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar pilgrimages.

Pithoragarh is a paradise for adventure sports enthusiasts. Hang gliding, paragliding, trekking, rock climbing, canoeing, river rafting and fishing are some of the activities to do this summer.

Among the Pithoragarh places to see, Pithoragarh Fort, Dhwaj Temple, Kapileshwar Mahadev, Chandak, and Thal Keda are the popular ones. The best time to visit Pithoragarh is between March and June.

Munsiyari
Munsiyari: Munsiyari in Pithoragarh district stands on the banks of River Goriganga on the ancient salt route that originates from Tibet. It serves as the base for high altitude treks in Himalayas and to Ralam and Milam glaciers.

Rafting in the Goriganga River is also a popular activity in Munsiyari. The hill station is also known for its wildlife.

Water Crisis Affects Villages in Uttarakhand, India

Villages in India's northern state of Uttarakhand are faced with limited water supplies.

Its forced residents to tread for miles to fetch a pot of water.

People have to travel for hours to fetch water.

Water Sports Camp in Uttarakhand, India

trekking, skiing

In India’s Uttarakhand state, the department of tourism is promoting adventure water sports among the youth by organizing a special camp.

Uttarakhand is a hilly state with numerous rivers and streams and is gaining prominence in adventure sports.

Canoeing and kayaking are the two adventure sports taught at the training camp. Besides encouraging youth to give them a try, the activity also attracts tourists.

"The main objective of the tourism department is that the youth should get inspired by water sports. This will further inspire them to participate in national and international tournaments.”

A total of 28 youngsters and enthusiasts from other parts of the country are enrolled.

"The government should organize these camps more frequently, so that the people interested in adventure sports can be trained properly and be able to compete in competitive tournaments."

Uttarakhand has huge potential for trekking, skiing and water sports.

Source:http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_life/2009-11-04/943760421399.html

Authorities promote blackberry production among Uttarakhand farmers

farmers, fruit, blackberry, india, europe, european

Nainital, Sep 9 - ANI: In an initiative to promote European blackberry production in Uttarakhand, the state government have authorities distributed saplings of the fruit among farmers across the street.

Blackberry is not sown in the country, but the prospect of rich dividends from international markets has made the authorities and farmers to adapt to the fruit.

Sudhir Chaddha, agriculture specialist and director of Floriculture Park located in Chafi, said that the farmers in the country were at an advantage, as the fruit could be reaped two months in advance as compared to their European counterparts.

Several European tourists when they visited India said that if we grow blackberries in India and send the frozen fruit to Europe it could be lucrative business, as the blackberries' were not grown in Europe at that time, Chaddha said.

We grow blackberries two months in advance as compared to the farmers in Europe. This will be a great advantage for the blackberry farmers in India, he added.

It is grown at an altitude of 2000-4000 feet. The fruit requires cold climate preferably less than 30 degrees centigrade for a healthy crop.

The best months for blackberry cultivation are February, March and April while the light soil is ideal for their cultivation. - ANI