Other sights in Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal)
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Forest Research Institute Museum
The prime attraction of this museum is the building itself. Set in a 500-hectare park, the institute – where most of India’s forest officers are trained – is larger than Buckingham Palace and is one of the Raj’s grandest buildings. Built between 1924 and 1929, designed by CG Blomfield, this red-brick colossus has Mughal towers, perfectly formed arches and Roman columns in a series of quadrangles edged by elegant cloisters. Six huge halls have rather old-fashioned and dry displays on every aspect of forestry in India. Highlights include beautiful animal, bird and plant paintings by Afshan Zaidi, exhibits on the medicinal uses of trees, and a cross- section of a…
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Ram Rai Darbar
This unique mausoleum is made of white marble, and the four smaller tombs in the garden courtyard are those of Ram Rai’s four wives. The entrance gate is adorned with colourful murals. Ram Rai, the errant son of the seventh Sikh guru, Har Rai, was excommunicated by his father. He formed his own Udasi sect, which still runs schools and hospitals. When Ram Rai died in 1687, one of his supporters, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, ordered the building of the mausoleum. As in other gurdwaras (Sikh temples), a free communal lunch of dhal, rice and chapatis is offered to anyone who wants it, although a donation is appreciated.
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Mindrolling Monastery
The region around Dehra Dun is home to a thriving Tibetan Buddhist community, mainly focused on the Mindrolling Monastery, about 10km south of the centre in Clement Town. Everything about the monastery is on a grand scale: it boasts a large college, manicured gardens and the five-storey Great Stupa. At over 60m tall, it’s believed to be the world’s tallest stupa and contains a series of shrine rooms displaying relics, murals and Tibetan art. Presiding over the monastery is the impressive 35m-high gold Buddha Statue, dedicated to the Dalai Lama.
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Corbett Tiger Reserve
This famous reserve was established in 1936 as India’s first national park. Originally called Hailey National Park, then Ramganga National Park, it was renamed in 1957 after legendary tiger hunter Jim Corbett (1875–1955), who put Kumaon on the map with his book The Man-Eaters of Kumaon. The British hunter was greatly revered by local people for shooting tigers that had developed a taste for human flesh, but he eventually shot more wildlife with his camera than with his gun.
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Tapkeshwar Temple
In a scenic setting on the banks of the Tons Nadi River, is an unusual and popular Shiva shrine inside a small, dripping cave. The shrine is the site of the popular annual Shivaratri festival. Turn left at the bottom of the steps for the main shrine, and cross the bridge over the river to visit another cave shrine. Squeeze through a narrow cave to see an image of Mata Vaishno Devi. The temple is about 5km north of the centre.
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Rajaji National Park
This unspoilt park, covering 820 sq km in the forested foothills near Haridwar, is best known for its wild elephants, numbering around 450 to 500 at last count. Within the Rajaji National Park there are nine historical but basicforest rest houses at Asarohi, Beribara, Chilla, Kansrao, Kunnao, Motichur, Phandowala, Ranipur and Satyanarayan. To book a forest rest house, contact the director (0135-2621669) at the Rajaji National Park Office.
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Mansa Devi Temple
Take the cable car to the crowded hilltop temple of Mansa Devi, a wish-fulfilling goddess. The path to the cable car is lined with stalls selling packages of prasad (food offering used in religious ceremonies) to take up to the goddess on the hill. You can walk up (1.5km) but beware of prasad-stealing monkeys. Photography is forbidden in the temple.
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Raj Bhavan
About 4km south of Tallital, Raj Bhavan is the official residence of the Governor of Uttarakhand. Styled on Buckingham Palace, it’s an impressive castlelike building set in extensive grounds. Tours of the grounds are available but the residence is only open when the governor is out. In the grounds is a lovely 18-hole golf course. Club hire and caddies are available.
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Valley of Flowers National Park
To reach the 87-sq-km Valley of Flowers National Park requires a full-day trek from Govindghat to the village of Ghangaria, less than 1km from the park. Just 2km from the ticket office, the fabled valley begins and continues for another 5km. Tracks are easy to follow. No overnight stay is permitted here (or at Hem Kund) so you must stay in Ghangaria.
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Panchachuli Weavers Factory
The Panchachuli Weavers Factory, off Bageshwar Rd, employs some 300 women to weave woollen shawls. The shop here has a wider range of products than at the small shop in the Mall. Taxis charge Rs120 return to the factory, or you can walk the 3km – follow the continuation of Mall Rd to the northeast and ask for directions.
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Museum
About 1km uphill from the bus stand, Anasakti Ashram is where Mahatma Gandhi spent two weeks pondering and writing Anasakti Yoga in 1929. It has a small museum that tells the story of Gandhi’s life through photographs and words. Visit at 6pm to attend nightly prayers in his memory.
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Govind Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park
The wonderfully remote Har ki Dun (3510m) is a botanical paradise criss-crossed by glacial streams and surrounded by pristine forests and snowy peaks. The area is preserved as Govind Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park. You might be lucky enough to glimpse the elusive snow leopard above 3500m.
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Kausani Tea Estate
At Kausani Tea Estate, a tea plantation that involves private enterprise, the government and local farmers, you can look around and sample and buy its products, which are exported around the world. It’s 3.5km north of this village on the road to Baijnath, an easy and scenic walk.
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Neer Garh Waterfall
An easy walk to two small waterfalls starts 3km north of Lakshman Jhula bridge on the south side of the river Ganges. On the other side of the river, it’s about 2km north to the signposted walk to lovely Neer Garh Waterfall.
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Jawahar Aquarium
Just up from the cable-car station, this aquarium is Mussoorie’s newest attraction. What may be Uttarakhand’s only escalator takes you to eight modest but well-presented tanks containing tropical fish, tiny sharks and red piranha.
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Kumaon Regimental Centre Museum
The Kumaon Regimental Centre Museum, located off the Mall, is stuffed full of photos and military memorabilia relating to the Kumaon regiment. These include weapons captured in various battles, and the coffin of General TN Raina.
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Nainital Zoo
This high-altitude hillside zoo has some large enclosures containing Himalayan animals, Siberian tigers, leopards and lots of pheasant species. It’s a steep 20-minute walk from the Mall or a Rs50 taxi ride.
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Geology Museum
The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology has a small museum that covers local rocks, glaciers and earthquakes. Fossils include a dinosaur egg and stacks of teeth.
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Anasakti Ashram
You can stay at the Anasakti Ashram for a donation but you must respect ashram rules, including attending evening prayers. Meals cost Rs30.
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Museum
If you’re interested in the life of Jim Corbett, his former house at Kaladhungi, 26km southeast of Ramnagar, is now a museum.
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Pt GB Pant Museum
The small Pt GB Pant Museum houses local folk art and ancient Hindu sculptures.
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