This Uttarakhand trip was not planned with military precision. It was more of a “let’s go, we’ll figure it out” kind of journey, and honestly, that is what made it fun. From long train rides and random conversations to uphill walks that made us question our fitness, this trip had a bit of everything.

Train Journey to Uttarakhand

Our journey started early on a Monday morning from Bandra Terminus, where we boarded the Swaraj Express at 11 a.m. Like most Indian train journeys, things got social very quickly. The uncle and aunty seated next to us turned out to live quite close to where I stay back home, which instantly broke the ice.

They had brought a lot of food. And by a lot, I mean we were being offered something every few minutes. Snacks, homemade items, and constant “yeh bhi try karo” moments. Conversations flowed easily, jokes were cracked, and before we knew it, hours had passed.

We reached New Delhi Railway Station at around 5:30 a.m., perfectly on time. Stepping out of the train was a shock. The cold hit immediately, and out of curiosity I checked the AQI. It was around 600. Yes, 600 in the morning. Delhi was struggling.

From there, we boarded the Shatabdi Express to Kathgodam. Compared to the overnight journey, this one felt quick and comfortable. By around noon, we had reached Kathgodam, the official entry point to the hills.

Reaching Bhowali and Our Hotel

Our hotel was in Bhowali, chosen mainly because it sat right in the middle of all the places we wanted to visit. Instead of taking a cab, we decided to save some money and took a local bus right outside Kathgodam station.

The bus ride was an experience. Narrow roads, sharp turns, zigzag climbs, and barely enough legroom. At some points it felt like we were glued to the side of the mountain. But the conductor and locals were extremely polite and helpful, which made the journey much easier.

We finally reached Bhowali, and thankfully our hotel was very close to the bus stand. After checking in, we found the room neat, clean, and well maintained. Hot water worked, electricity was stable, Wi-Fi was decent, everything you actually care about after a long journey. The ambience and decor were simple but pleasant, and we felt comfortable right away.

First Stop: Kainchi Dham

After freshening up and taking a quick shower, we headed out to our first destination, Kainchi Dham. We caught a local bus from Bhowali, which dropped us close to the temple.

The place was beautiful. Surrounded by mountains, with a small water stream flowing below the bridge leading to the temple, it had a calm yet lively atmosphere. There were many devotees around and quite a few monkeys too. Very alert monkeys. People were offering them bits of prasad while carefully guarding their bags.

After darshan, we went to a nearby hotel for lunch. The restaurant had large windows and was located right next to the temple, offering a great view of both the stream and the mandir. We ordered kadhai paneer and butter roti, and it was genuinely delicious. Good food with a mountain view just hits differently.

Post lunch, we returned to our hotel and decided to rest. The day had already been long, and calling it early felt like the right decision.

Nainital Day: Temples, Views, and Too Much Walking

The next day, we left early for Nainital. A shared taxi from Bhowali got us there within an hour. From Nainital, we took another short taxi ride to Hanuman Garhi temple.

When we reached, the morning aarti was going on, so we joined in. Walking barefoot in the cold with water on the floor was not exactly pleasant. My feet were freezing. Still, the views from the temple made it worth it.

After that, we headed back to Nainital city center. We spent time around Naini Lake, walked along Mall Road, and soaked in the usual hill-station vibe. From there, we went to Naina Devi Temple nearby for darshan.

Breakfast time came, and I went for the classic choice, maggi. Eating maggi in cold weather with a lake view is one of those simple joys that never fails.

While roaming around, we were approached by someone offering a local sightseeing tour covering seven popular points around Nainital. We agreed, and it turned out to be a good decision. The highlight was Himalaya Darshan Point. It was uphill, but the view was unreal. Snow-covered Himalayan peaks stretched across the horizon, and for a moment everyone just went quiet.

After completing the tour, we came back to Mall Road and decided to visit the Nainital Zoo. This was probably the most physically demanding part of the day. We chose to walk, forgetting that it is literally called a high-altitude zoo. The uphill walk was exhausting, but once inside, it was worth it.

The biggest highlight was the Bengal tiger. We were lucky enough to see it from just a few meters away, calmly roaming behind the fence. There were also red pandas, Himalayan bears, leopards, and more. Being at such a height, the views from the zoo were stunning as well.

Ghorakhal Golu Devta Temple

By afternoon, we returned to Bhowali and had lunch. Since we still had time and energy left, we decided to visit Ghorakhal Golu Devta Temple, which was around 4 km away and uphill.

We took a taxi to go up and planned to walk back down. The temple is famously known as the Bell Temple, and once inside, it was clear why. People tie their written wishes inside the temple, and once fulfilled, they return to tie a bell. Thousands of bells hung everywhere. It was fascinating and slightly overwhelming.

After darshan, we started walking back. On the way, the sun began to set. The sky slowly changed colors, the air got colder, and the view was unreal. We stopped midway, stood silently for a few minutes, and just took it all in before continuing back to the hotel.

We reached, ordered food, and called it a day.

Lakes Day: Bhimtal and Naukuchiatal

The third day was deliberately kept chill. We left after 9 a.m. and took a taxi to Bhimtal. The place was quiet and peaceful. The lake was large, calm, and sparkling under sunlight.

We decided to go boating, which turned out to be a great experience. There was an aquarium café in the middle of the lake, and ducks swimming around added to the vibe. After boating, we visited the nearby Bhimeshwar Temple, which was small, quiet, and serene.

Breakfast followed, this time pahadi maggi and momos near the lake. Both were excellent.

Next on the list was Naukuchiatal. The lake is located at a higher elevation, and we decided to walk nearly 5 km uphill to reach it. It was tiring, no doubt, but absolutely worth it. On the way, we passed a temple with a huge and impressive Hanuman statue overlooking the area.

Naukuchiatal was even quieter than Bhimtal. Clean water, minimal crowd, and a peaceful atmosphere. Sitting there felt incredibly calming. After spending a few hours, we took a taxi back to Bhimtal and then returned to our hotel in Bhowali.

Journey Back to Mumbai

On the final day, we checked out around 10 a.m. and headed back to Kathgodam by bus, once again navigating the winding mountain roads.

Before leaving, we decided to have lunch at the IRCTC canteen at the station. Surprisingly, it was excellent. Clean place, fresh food, and proper home-style taste. Definitely not what one expects at a railway station.

After that, we boarded our trains from Kathgodam to New Delhi and then back to Mumbai.

And just like that, the Uttarakhand trip came to an end. Tiring, fun, peaceful, and absolutely worth it.