After our last quest in Gujarat, we began brainstorming our 2024 trip around November. But to my disappointment, this time we opted for flying instead of hitting the road. Despite the setback, we dove into planning mode. After exploring Orissa in the east and Gujarat in the west, we were craving the grandeur of the Mighty Himalayas. Just like before, I favored immersing ourselves in one state rather than darting across multiple cities. Our choices boiled down to Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim. Personally, I preferred a more expansive 10-day itinerary over a shorter one. With this in mind, we meticulously charted out each option.

Following extensive consideration, we settled on Uttarakhand. It boasted more tourist destinations than the other contenders. However, even with our selection, our planned duration barely stretched to 7 days. We had penciled in Mussoorie, Nainital, Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Dehradun, but something felt amiss. There were numerous discussions between Preethi and me as we tried to pinpoint the absent piece of the puzzle.

That’s when inspiration struck. I decided to delve deeper into Uttarakhand’s offerings and propose an additional destination. And just like that, the final puzzle piece revealed itself: Auli. Preethi immediately agreed, and our itinerary felt complete.

With everything falling into place, we kicked off the bookings as early as December, ensuring we secured our stays well in advance. The planning process, with its final nitty-gritty details, carried us through until March. However, amidst all this excitement, there was another event on the horizon: my nephew’s upanayam in Hyderabad, scheduled around the same time as our trip.

Given this, we decided on a dual strategy. We’d journey to Hyderabad by train to attend the ceremony, then catch a flight from there to our first destination: Dehradun. It seemed like the perfect way to blend family obligations with our eagerly anticipated adventure.

Our excitement reached new heights as we made a crucial addition to our itinerary: Jim Corbett National Park. This decision extended our escapade to a 13-day journey. One of our family friends helped us book a cab that became our faithful companion throughout the trip, from picking us up at Dehradun airport to safely delivering us back there at the end of our adventure.

Dehradun’s sparkling city lights as seen from the serene hills of Mussoorie at night.

Our vibrant and colorful retreat in the enchanting hills of Mussoorie

The majestic Kempty Falls roaring in full splendor, with ice-cold water cascading down.

The serene Ganges gracefully flows into the plains at Haridwar after its tumultuous journey through the hills.

The sacred confluence where Alaknanda and Bhagirathi merge to form the mighty and holy Ganges.

The snow-capped majesty of the Nanda Devi hills, as seen from our stay in Auli. A breathtaking view to wake up to.

It snowed just a couple of kilometers from our stay. How could we resist? Time to build a snowman!

The majestic gopuram of Lord Badrinath’s winter abode, set against the splendid and mighty Himalayas.

Sunset over the mountains and waters of Naini Lake, where all the natural wonders converge.

The picturesque Jama Masjid framed against the stunning backdrop of Nainital, captured from the serene waters of Naini Lake.

Jim Corbett did not disappoint. Unfazed by the 15-20 jeeps trailing behind, he walked off majestically.

As this prologue draws to a close, consider this a mere teaser of the adventures that were awaiting us. In the days to come, we’ll delve into each destination, sharing detailed accounts of our explorations in Mussorie, Nainital, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Auli, Jim Corbett, and beyond. Stay tuned for the full journey!