PAURI
One of the most beautiful hill stations of Uttarakhand surrounded by the luscious deodar trees with the magnificent views of the snow-covered Himalayas lies the city of Pauri. It is one of the most scenic hill stations in the Garhwal region known for its raw and captivating beauty. From trekking to idyllic waterfalls Pauri will never let you down.
It is one of the most prominent districts in Uttrakhand and a hidden gem that will not be much hidden because I’m here to give you all my knowledge, tips, and must-haves which will help you plan your trip to this enchanting hill station.
Location of Pauri
It is situated on the northern slopes of Kandoliya Hills and at an altitude of 1814 meters above sea level. The closest railway station is at Kotdwar around 108 km away. The Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun is situated at a distance of 105 km via Rishikesh-Srinagar.
How to reach Pauri? – getting there
- By Road : Pauri is well connected by roads with major destination of the Uttrakhand state. Buses and Taxies are available from major towns of Uttrakhand. Pauri is connected via National Highway 119.
2. Routes to reach Pauri from Delhi and NCR –
Route 1: Delhi ― Haridwar ― Rishikesh ― Devprayag ― Pauri
Route 2: Delhi ― Meerut ― Najibabad ― Kotdwar ― Jwalpa Devi ―Pauri
Note: It takes around 3-4 hours to reach Pauri from Kotdwar or Rishikesh.
- By Train : the nearest railway station to Pauri is situated in Kotdwar. Trains and Buses are also easily available from Kotdwar to Pauri. Kotdwar Railway station is 101km before Pauri.
- By Air : Jolly grant Airport is the nearest airport to Pauri with the distance of 133 kms. Jolly grant airport is well connected to Delhi via daily flights. Roads that lead to Pauri from the Jolly grant airport are traversable. Taxis are available from Jolly grant airport to Rishikesh , Devprayag and Pauri.
Why is it famous ?
Pauri is well known among visitors as a hill station. Its beauty is enjoyed by kids as well as adults. Tourists visit Pauri with friends and family to indulge in the beauty of this hill station.
The snow-capped Himalayan peaks, ancient temples, and serene river valleys attract tourists from far and wide. It is one of the most culturally rich places in Uttarakhand with an exotic range of flora and fauna. Pauri has one of the most beautiful sunsets in the whole Garhwal region.
Must visit places in Pauri –
- Khirsu : This breathtaking village in Pauri is known as the most peaceful picnic spot in the whole region. It takes around 50 minutes to reach Khirsu from Pauri. Views from this places shows you the most unseen side of the Himalayan range that has never been seen before. Upon reaching Khirsu you will find yourself on nature’s lap that you’d never want to leave.
- Kandoliya Temple : A holy shrine in the peaceful ambience of flourishing forest located just 2km from the main city of Pauri. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva also known as Kandoliya by locals. Panoramic views of the mountains and beautiful views of sunset are some of the distinctive features of the Kandoliya Temple.
- Chaukhamba View Point : The surreal landscape of the lust green hills with varied range of flora and fauna enchant many tourists for picnicking here. This view point is located 5 km from the town of Pauri and is enveloped with vast forests around it. The mountain tops that are noticeable from this view point have been named Chaukhamba Points.
- Kyunkaleshwar Mahadev Temple : This 8th century ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is believed to be build by Shankaracharya. Apart from the spiritual value Kyunkaleshwar Temple also attracts visitors because of its somewhat similar architecture to Kedarnath. It is located at 2km from the Pauri bus stand and devotees had to take an easy trek to reach the temple.
- Tara kund : it is located in the Chariserh Development area. It is surrounded by lush green trees and colorful flora. The environment around tara kund will rejuvenate your soul as there is a temple located near the vicinity of the lake. Adventure lovers can trek to this place. It is located in Kamargarh Village which is around 45km from Pauri city.
Activities to do in Pauri –
- Trekking – For trekking lovers there are few but beautiful treks all around Pauri. You can choose treks like Dudhatoli trek, Gujrugarhi treak or Tara kund trek which are worth all the effort.
- Picnicking – Khirsu is famous for its picnic spot as people come here to rest their soul, mind and body. It’s picturesque scenery calms your senses and reliefs you from all the city stress.
- Fishing – The most thrilling activity you can do in Pauri is fishing in Nayar River, which is a tributary of River Ganga. It flows through Pauri.
- Photography – Pauri is photographers heaven. From Color changing sky to vibrant flora, from tall snow covered mountains to starry night sky it has everything a photographer is looking for in nature.
- Pilgrimage – Pauri is also famous for its primeval temples which are visited by devotees all year around. Kandoliya Temple and Danda Nagraja Temple are some of the few examples of it.
Best time to visit Pauri –
Pauri enjoys pleasant weather all year around. During summers the temperature ranges from 20℃ to 30℃. While exploring the town in the evening carry a jacket or light woolens as it could sometimes get cold.
Winters are freezing in Pauri as the temperature varies between 0℃ to 15℃. For snow lovers, this is the best time to visit. The whole town was blanketed in pure white snow. Now that’s the scene someone wouldn’t want to miss right!?
The monsoon in Pauri starts from July to September. It must be avoided as there is a chance of land sliding.
Note: Travelling from March – June or October – January is recommended.
Where to stay in Pauri –
Pauri has a variety of accommodation options for all price ranges. Whether it is luxury or budget-friendly it has everything you are looking for. You can look for 1 star to 3-star hotels on Badrinath Highway, Kandoliya Road. There are also tent houses, homestay, guest houses, and bungalows available for your cozy and peaceful stay.
1. Mumukshu Resort –
If you are looking for a place nestled in the cloud with splendid views mumukshu resort has it all for you. This resort offers a plethora of fun activities such as trekking to ojhli village in which a member of the staff accompanies you, bonfire, mountain biking, night safari, etc to make your stay memorable. It has deluxe rooms for ₹3000+GST and cottage rooms for
₹3500+GST which offers beautiful views of the mountains and sunsets.
Deluxe Room. View from the hotel
Address: Mumukshu Resort, Devprayag Road, Pauri Garhwal Uttarakhand
NOTE: It is Approximately 3kms from Kandoliya Ground and 4kms from the Pauri Bus stop. The resort is 305kms from Delhi and can be reached in 7-8 hours
2. Dreamz Resorts –
If you are looking for a budget-friendly place to stay this place is for you. Rooms start from ₹990 and onwards. There are 6 Deluxe rooms with attached bathrooms and rooms have all the necessary facilities and amenities. This resort has a multi-cuisine restaurant named Tulip Restaurant.
Dreamz Resort Reception area
3. Tulip Restaurant
Address: Starting of Kandoliya Road, Near Agency chowk, Pauri
NOTE: It is located in the main city of Pauri just 1km from the bus station on Kandoliya Road towards Devprayag. It is 300km from Delhi and can be reached in 7-8 hours.
4. Shail Shikhar
It offers panoramic views of the Himalayan Mountain Ranges. It has 14 spacious and furnished deluxe and semi-deluxe rooms. Rooms start from ₹2500. For adventurous people, Hotel Shail Shikhar also offers camping facilities with tents and other camping gear. The restaurant offers Indian and Chinese, Veg And Non-Veg dishes.
Shail Shikhar Hotel. Room in the Hotel
Restaurant in the Hotel
Address: Near Circuit House, Kandoliya Road, Pauri
5. Taj Himalaya –
Hotel Taj Himalaya is a deluxe hotel and offers serene views of the mighty Himalayas. It is located in Khirsu, Pauri. Authentic meals are served at the restaurant in the hotel that will satisfy your appetite
Hotel Taj Himalaya from the outside.Views from the Terrance Address: Near Khirsu Park, Pauri Garhwal
Other services in Pauri
- HOSPITALS –
- District Hospital – Kandoliya Road , Pauri Phone – 01368-222086
Credit: Aditi Rawat