Devprayag, Nainital & Jim Corbett – 7 Days in Uttarakhand

A slow, spiritual day in Devprayag. After a good breakfast at the hotel, you visit the Raghunath Temple, dedicated to Lord Rama and one of the oldest temples in the region, built of large stone blocks above the confluence. Pilgrims believe Rama performed penance here, and the temple has a quiet, old-world feel away from the bigger pilgrim routes.

Then walk up to Dashrathshila, the rock where King Dashrath is said to have meditated, which gives a peaceful spot and a fine view over the town and the rivers. For those who are interested, there is an optional trip to the Chandrabadni Temple, set on a hilltop with wide views of the Garhwal peaks. Spend the evening by the banks of the Ganga, watching the light fade over the water.

At a glance: Time needed: ~5–7 hrs sightseeing · Travel: Short drives; optional hill drive · Pace: Moderate

Schedule

• Morning: Breakfast at the hotel, then the Raghunath Temple, about 1 hr.

• Late morning: Dashrathshila, about 1 hr including the walk.

• Noon: Lunch in town (own cost) and rest.

• Optional: Chandrabadni Temple on its hilltop, about 3–4 hrs round trip including a short uphill walk.

• Evening: Free by the banks of the Ganga, about 1 hr.

• Night: Dinner at the hotel.

Travel for the day

• Short drives and walks around Devprayag; the optional Chandrabadni trip is a longer mountain drive by private car.

Tips & what to carry

• Remove footwear before entering temples and dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered.

• The lanes of Devprayag are narrow and stepped; leave larger bags at the hotel.

• Monkeys gather near temples. Keep food and glasses out of sight.

• Carry small notes for offerings and prasad.

Included today

• Meal Plan : Breakfast & Dinner

Overnight: Devprayag

Today is the longest drive of the trip, so begin with an early breakfast before checking out. The journey to Nainital covers about 300 km and takes around 8 to 9 hours, winding through valleys, pine and oak forests and terraced hillsides as you cross from Garhwal into Kumaon. Your driver will stop for meals and tea breaks along the way; lunch is at your own cost.

Nainital is built around a green, eye-shaped lake ringed by hills, with Mall Road running along one side. Once you arrive, check in at your hotel and relax after the long drive. Later, take a stroll along Mall Road, full of shops, cafés and local life, or, if you prefer, go for a quiet boat ride on Naini Lake as the lights come on around the shore.

At a glance: Time needed: ~1–2 hrs sightseeing · Travel: ~8–9 hrs driving · Pace: Full

Schedule

• Early morning: Early breakfast and check out.

• Morning / Noon: Drive towards Nainital, about 300 km, with a lunch stop (own cost).

• Afternoon: Continue the drive with tea breaks, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening.

• Evening: Check in and stroll along Mall Road, about 1 hr.

• Optional: Boat ride on Naini Lake, about 30 min (paid locally).

• Night: Dinner at the hotel.

Travel for the day

• Devprayag → Nainital ~8–9 hrs by private car (about 300 km).

Tips & what to carry

• Take a motion-sickness tablet before you start and sit in the front seat if you get carsick.

• Carry snacks, water and a small pillow; the drive is long.

• Nainital is cold after sunset in most months. Keep a jacket within reach.

• Mall Road is closed to cars in the evening during peak season; it is easiest on foot.

Included today

• Meal Plan : Breakfast and Dinner

Overnight: Nainital

A full day of Nainital sights after a good breakfast. Start at the Naina Devi Temple on the northern shore of the lake, one of the Shakti Peethas, where you can seek blessings in a quiet setting. Then the Eco Cave Gardens, a set of small interconnected rock caves on the hillside that you squeeze and crawl through, which children love.

Take the cable car up to Snow View Point for a wide view of the snow-capped Himalayas on a clear day, including Nanda Devi. Lands' End, on the edge of a steep cliff, looks out over the valleys and Khurpatal Lake far below and is good for photographs. In the evening, watch the sunset from Hanuman Garhi, a temple on the edge of town, or enjoy an easy walk along Thandi Sadak, a quiet road with lake views.

At a glance: Time needed: ~7 hrs sightseeing · Travel: Short town drives and a cable car · Pace: Moderate

Schedule

• Morning: Breakfast, then the Naina Devi Temple, about 45 min.

• Late morning: Eco Cave Gardens, about 1 hr (entry paid locally).

• Noon: Cable car to Snow View Point, about 1.5 hrs including queues (tickets paid locally). Lunch on Mall Road (own cost).

• Afternoon: Lands' End and the Khurpatal view, about 1 hr.

• Evening: Sunset at Hanuman Garhi, about 45 min, or a walk along Thandi Sadak.

• Night: Dinner at the hotel.

Travel for the day

• Short drives around Nainital by private car, 15–30 min between stops.

Tips & what to carry

• The Himalayan view from Snow View is clearest in the morning, especially from October to March.

• The cable car queue can be long on weekends; try to reach early.

• Eco Cave passages are tight and low. Wear clothes you do not mind getting dusty.

• Entrance tickets are not part of the package; carry cash for small fees.

Included today

• Meal Plan : Breakfast and Dinner

Overnight: Nainital

After an early breakfast you check out and drive down from the hills to Jim Corbett National Park, about 85 km and 2.5 to 3 hours. The road drops through pine forest into the warmer sal forest of the Kosi River valley, and the change in air and scenery is quick.

Check in at your resort and unwind. If you are interested, visit the Garjia Temple, a small shrine on a rock in the middle of the Kosi River reached by a footbridge and steps, or the Corbett Museum at Kaladhungi, the former home of Jim Corbett, the hunter-turned-conservationist the park is named after. Otherwise, enjoy the rest of the day at the resort or take a stroll through the surrounding countryside.

At a glance: Time needed: ~2 hrs optional sightseeing · Travel: ~2.5–3 hrs driving · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning: Early breakfast and check out. Drive to Jim Corbett, about 2.5–3 hrs (85 km).

• Noon: Check in at your resort. Lunch at your own cost.

• Optional: Garjia Temple, about 1 hr, or the Corbett Museum, about 45 min (entry paid locally).

• Afternoon / Evening: Free — pool, resort grounds or a walk nearby.

• Night: Dinner at the resort. Early night before tomorrow's safari.

Travel for the day

• Nainital → Jim Corbett ~2.5–3 hrs by private car (about 85 km).

Tips & what to carry

• Keep your original photo ID ready; the safari booking and gate entry need it.

• The steps up to Garjia Temple are steep; the river around it can rise fast in the monsoon.

• Carry insect repellent; the forest area has mosquitoes in the evening.

• Lay out your safari clothes the night before; the pickup is before sunrise.

Included today

• Meal Plan : Breakfast and Dinner

Overnight: Jim Corbett

The big day. Before sunrise you set out on a jeep safari into Jim Corbett National Park, India's oldest national park, with a forest guide. As the light comes up through the sal trees and grasslands, you have a chance to spot tigers, wild elephants, spotted and sambar deer, and birds such as hornbills, eagles and kingfishers. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the forest at dawn, with alarm calls echoing, is an experience in itself.

After the safari you return to the resort for a hearty breakfast. The rest of the day is yours to relax at the resort or explore nearby. The Kosi River is a lovely spot for a quiet walk, and you may even see birds and small wildlife along the riverbank in the late afternoon.

At a glance: Time needed: ~3–4 hrs safari · Travel: Short drive to the safari gate · Pace: Moderate

Schedule

• Early morning (around 5:30–6:00 AM): Pickup for the jeep safari, with a forest guide, about 3–4 hrs.

• Morning: Return to the resort for breakfast.

• Noon: Free — rest after the early start. Lunch at your own cost.

• Afternoon: Free — walk along the Kosi River, about 1–1.5 hrs.

• Evening / Night: Relax at the resort. Dinner at the resort.

Travel for the day

• Resort → safari gate by jeep, about 15–45 min depending on the zone.

Tips & what to carry

• Wear earth-coloured clothes (green, brown, khaki) and avoid bright colours and perfume.

• Mornings in an open jeep are cold from November to February. Carry a jacket, cap and gloves.

• Stay seated and quiet in the jeep and never get out in the forest.

• Most zones close in the monsoon (roughly mid-June to mid-October); during that time only certain zones stay open.

• Carry binoculars and a zoom lens if you have one.

Included today

• Note: Jeep Safari in National Park is Covered

• Meal Plan : Breakfast and Dinner

Overnight: Jim Corbett

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the resort before checking out. Your driver then takes you back to Dehradun Airport, about 200 km and around 5.5 to 6 hours, through the Terai plains and the edge of the Rajaji forests, with a lunch stop on the way at your own cost.

Arrive at the airport in time for your onward journey. Plan your flight for the late afternoon or evening so the drive does not feel rushed.

At a glance: Time needed: Travel day · Travel: ~5.5–6 hrs driving · Pace: Moderate

Schedule

• Morning: Breakfast and check out.

• Noon: Drive to Dehradun Airport, about 200 km, with a lunch stop (own cost).

• Departure: Reach Dehradun Airport at least 2 hrs before your flight.

Travel for the day

• Jim Corbett → Dehradun Airport ~5.5–6 hrs by private car (about 200 km).

Tips & what to carry

• Book a flight after about 4:00 PM to leave enough time for the drive.

• Carry snacks and water; good food stops are spaced out on parts of the route.

• Traffic around Haridwar can be heavy on weekends and festival days.

Included today

• Meal Plan : Breakfast