I hope you have enjoyed going through my Kumaon trip blogs, as much as I have enjoyed writing them.As I always do with my major travel blogs I always keep the last blog for summing up, so this trip will also be no exception.
Kumaon is a heavenly region in the foothills of the Himalayas.In summers the place beams with life and greenery.One can see a part of the snow clad Himalayan range in the background.The rivers are sapphire, the lakes are emerald and there is a burst of colour all around you. So many flowers,so many birds and butterflies the place turns into a naturalist's heaven.
Winter paints a different picture. Whatever was green in summer turns white in winter. The lakes also get frozen partially or fully. The coniferous trees stands lonely on the bed of snow, their branches and twigs covered with snow.It is another beauty to behold, though travelling becomes a constraint.
Monsoons should be totally avoided as there can be fatal landslides.
The best time to visit is either summer, if you do not mind the excessive tourist rush or from September till December.
Below was our itinerary for the trip:
DAY 1| Reach New Delhi
Night train to Kathgodam
DAY 2| Reach Kathgodam at 5:05 am
Reach Nainital
Hotel Check in
Full day sight seeing
Night Halt
Nainital Blog : http://thetravellerweare.blogspot.in/2015/10/nainital-land-of-lakes-part-1.html
DAY 3| Head to Binsar
On the way visit Katarmal Sun Temple
Full day rest
Night halt
Binsar Blog : http://thetravellerweare.blogspot.in/2015/11/binsar-idyllic-himalayan-forest.html
DAY 4| Full day at Binsar
Visit Binsar Wild Life Sanctuary
Visit Jageshwar group of temples
Night Halt
DAY 5| Head to Chaukori
Enjoy nature
Night Halt
Chaukori Blog : http://thetravellerweare.blogspot.in/2015/11/chaukori-hidden-beauty-of-kumaon.html
DAY 6| Head to Munsiyari
Enjoy nature
Night Halt
DAY 7| Sightseeing at Munsiyari
Night Halt
Munsiyari Blog : http://thetravellerweare.blogspot.in/2015/11/munsiyari-kohinoor-of-kumaon.html
DAY 8| Head to Kausani
Visit Baijnath on the way
Enjoy nature
Night Halt
Kausani Blog : http://thetravellerweare.blogspot.in/2015/11/kausani-nostalgia-kept-me-calling.html
DAY 8| Head to Nainital via Ranikhet
Lake tour
Evening shopping
Night Halt
Nainital Concluding Blog : http://thetravellerweare.blogspot.in/2015/11/nainitalconcluding-our-kumaon-trip.html
DAY 9| Nainital sight seeing
paragliding/rest/shopping/boating/zoo
OR can go to Corbett for a day
Night Halt
DAY 10| Return to Kathgodam
Night train to New Delhi
DAY 11| Return to Bangalore
In Nainital there are shops that give bikes on rent.
Staying:
Except for Nainital we stayed in KMVN guesthouses all the way. The staffs are good and friendly.
KMVN Deenapani is a little less maintained but that is compensated by the graceful staffs.If are planning to stay at KMVN Binsar then please keep in mind that do not provide electricity after sunset except for half an hour of dinner time.The reason is since Binsar KMVN is located inside the Binsar wildlife sanctuary so they do not disturb the natural wildlife. A good alternative is to stay at Deenapani which is 16 km before Binsar.In KMVN Binsar and Deenapani breakfast and dinner are complimentary. In all the other KMVN guesthouses only breakfast is complimentary.
All KMVN guesthouses can be booked online.
I booked from here:
http://www.kmvn.gov.in/
Just a word of advise: If you are reaching any of the KMVN late say after 12:30 pm and you intend to have dinner after reaching then call up the reception and let them know that you will be late and wish to have lunch. Else you may not get lunch once you reach.
In Nainital we stayed at Alka and Prasanth Hotel.
Alka is very good but expensive, Prasanth is okay but have nice views of the lake.
Driver:
Jivan : 9411198443 / 969068194
A very good and reliable driver and is knowledgeable about the places.
He was also one of the key factors why our trip was so good.
Always bargain with drivers for the price they quote.It will always come down.
And the most important thing that I believe is we all should be responsible tourists. We must not litter or throw garbage anywhere. After all our country is beautiful and it should be kept like that.
Some of the random clicks from Kumaon
