Off the beaten path
Beyond the famous shrines and popular treks lie valleys, meadows and villages that most travellers never find. We know the way.
Uttarakhand's fame rests on its great pilgrimage circuits — Char Dham, Panch Kedar, Panch Badri. But the state holds hundreds of quieter places: high meadows called bugyals where shepherds graze their flocks in summer, ancient temples that receive a handful of visitors a year, and villages where the old Garhwali and Kumaoni ways of life continue undisturbed.
These are the places we love most. Getting to them takes local knowledge, the right season, and a willingness to walk. We can arrange all three.
Alpine meadowOne of the finest high-altitude meadows in the Garhwal Himalaya. In summer the grass is emerald green; in winter it becomes a natural ski slope. The views of Bandarpunch and Draupadi ka Danda are unobstructed.
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Village retreatA quiet hilltop village surrounded by oak and rhododendron forest, with sweeping views of the Himalayan range from Trishul to Chaukhamba. Almost entirely free of tourist infrastructure — which is precisely the point.
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Sacred meadowA sacred meadow on the route to Roopkund, ringed by a small lake and a temple to Nanda Devi. At dawn the Trishul massif turns gold above the mist. One of the most beautiful campsites in India.
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Mountain townThe gateway to the Johar Valley and the Milam Glacier, Munsiyari sits at the foot of the Panchachuli peaks. The town itself is small and unhurried; the surrounding forests hold monal pheasants and Himalayan black bears.
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Temple trekThe only temple in India dedicated to Kartikeya, perched on a ridge above the Kedarnath range. A short but steep climb through rhododendron forest rewards with a 270-degree panorama of peaks including Kedarnath, Chaukhamba and Nanda Devi.
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Forest & wildlifeA dense oak and rhododendron forest above Almora, home to leopard, barking deer and over 200 bird species. The Zero Point viewpoint offers one of the longest unbroken Himalayan panoramas in Kumaon — 300 km of peaks on a clear day.
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Border valleyA restricted inner-line valley on the Tibet border, dotted with ancient villages, hot springs and the ruins of a once-thriving trade route. Permits are required; the reward is a landscape almost entirely unchanged for centuries.
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Ancient templesA cluster of 124 ancient Nagara-style temples hidden in a deodar cedar forest, some dating to the 7th century. One of the twelve Jyotirlinga sites, yet remarkably peaceful. The forest walk between the two temple groups is among the most atmospheric in the hills.
Enquire about this placeTell us which places interest you and when you can travel. We'll put together a route that fits.