If you are planning a road trip through the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand covering Gwaldam, Munsiyari, Dharchula, and Chaukori, this detailed itinerary and road conditions guide will help you plan every day of the journey. I covered this entire circuit with my family over 8 days in winter, and it turned out to be one of the most scenic drives we have done in the Himalayas.
It was that time of the year when I plan a trip to Uttarakhand, especially the Kumaon region, for sighting the clear skies and views of the mighty higher Himalayas including Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, and Panchchuli ranges. With this trip, I planned to close down the majority of Kumaon region covering the leftmost belt of Manila and Ranikhet, the rightmost belt of Pithoragarh and Lohaghat, along with the topmost belt of Munsiyari and Dharchula.
Let's quickly dive into the details:
How Did We Plan This 8-Day Kumaon Road Trip?
The center belt of Nainital, Mukhteshwar, Almora, Binsar, and Chaukori was already covered in previous years. I was eyeing experiencing the snowfall, so I planned the trip right in between the festive season of 25th December to 1st January. We were a group of 3 families and three boys, a total of 9 people split into two cars.
There was no luck on fresh snowfall, but we could find plenty of snow all around right from Kausani and Gwaldam to Munsiyari and Chaukori, with Dharchula being a little disappointment apart from crossing the border into Nepal. The plan was to cover Lohaghat and Abbott Mount but we could not cover it due to last-minute plan changes.
What Is the Best Time to Visit Gwaldam, Munsiyari, and Chaukori?
The best months for this Kumaon circuit are April to June and September to November. These months offer clear Himalayan views, pleasant weather for driving, and open roads without snow or monsoon disruptions. If you want to see snow, plan for December to February, but keep in mind that roads near Kalimuni Top and higher stretches above Thal can get icy and require careful driving.
Avoid the monsoon season (July to mid-September) entirely for this route. The stretch between Munsiyari and Dharchula runs along steep gorges, and landslides are very common during the rains. The Gori Ganga river swells during monsoon, making the water crossings on the Munsiyari to Jaulijibi road dangerous.
We did our trip in late December, and the conditions lived up to expectations. It was quite cold at nights, but the scenic views of the higher Himalayas at sunset and sunrise right from the hotels were absolutely worth the effort.
Practical Information for This Kumaon Road Trip
Route: Delhi, Manila, Kausani, Gwaldam, Munsiyari, Dharchula, Chaukori, Delhi
Total Distance: Approximately 1,535 km round trip
Duration: 7 to 9 days (8 days is ideal)
Best Time: April to June, September to November (December to February for snow)
Nearest Railway Station: Kathgodam (275 km from Munsiyari)
Nearest Airport: Pantnagar (249 km from Munsiyari)
Road Conditions: Mix of excellent to poor. A high ground clearance vehicle is recommended for the Munsiyari to Dharchula section.
Mobile Network: BSNL has the widest coverage in Kumaon. Jio and Airtel work in most towns but drop on remote stretches.
What Was the Day-by-Day Itinerary for Gwaldam, Munsiyari, Dharchula, and Chaukori?
I had 8 days in hand for this Kumaon circuit including a couple of buffer days. Here is the itinerary I followed.
Day 1 | Delhi to Manila (365 km)
Started the drive from Delhi via Moradabad, Kashipur, Jim Corbett, Mohaan, Marchula, and Maulikhal to reach Manila. Stayed at the KMVN Rest House at Manila, an offbeat place located in the Ranikhet region of Kumaon. The route from Mohaan to Manila is 60 km: Mohaan to Marchula (14 km) to Maulikhal (35 km) to Dotiyal (51 km) to Manila (60 km). We started at 6:30 AM and reached by 3:30 PM.
Day 2 | Manila to Kausani to Gwaldam (152 km)
Resumed the drive from Manila through Jainal, Masi, Chaukotiya, Dwaraghat, Someshwar, Kausani, and Baijnath to Gwaldam. Stayed at Nature’s Treat Resort at Gwaldam (altitude 5,577 ft). The detailed distances: Manila to Jainal (22 km) to Masi (40 km) to Chaukotia (51 km) to Dwaraghat (69 km) to Someshwar (102 km) to Kausani (113 km) to Gwaldam (152 km).
Keep in mind, from Dwaraghat you need to take a left road from the main bazaar towards Dunagiri/Someshwar. There will be a Y-fork after about 5 to 6 km from where you take the road to Someshwar. Then you reach a place called Binta, and from there take another left to Someshwar. After reaching Someshwar, take a left towards Kausani. We started at 10:00 AM and ended at 5:00 PM.
Day 3 | Gwaldam to Munsiyari (185 km)
The longest driving day of the trip. Route was Gwaldam to Baijnath to Bageshwar to Chaukori to Thal to Birthi to Kalimuni Top (2,700 m) to Munsiyari (altitude 7,200 ft). Stayed at the KMVN Rest House Munsiyari. Gwaldam to Bageshwar is 42 km, and Chaukori is 91 km from Gwaldam. From Chaukori, Munsiyari is further 94 km.
The route from Kapkot that bifurcates from Bageshwar is shorter and meets near a police checkpost between Tejam and Qwity/Birthi ahead of Thal. However, locals advised us not to take that route and follow the longer route from Chaukori due to terrible roads. The Kapkot route is about 30 km shorter but mostly used by high ground clearance vehicles only. We started at 10:25 AM and ended at 7:00 PM.
Day 4 | Rest Day and Munsiyari Sightseeing
We went to play in the snow towards Kalimuni Top and explored the snow trek to Thamri Kund. The trek took us about 3.5 hours to complete up and down. The total length of the trek is about 6 km, 3 km each side from the Hanuman temple near Kalimuni Top. The Panchchuli peaks look stunning from Munsiyari, especially at sunrise and sunset. If you have time, also visit the heritage village of Darkot, which is 8 km ahead of Munsiyari.
Day 5 | Munsiyari to Madkote to Dharchula (96 km)
Took the upper route from Munsiyari to Darkot (8 km) to Madkote (22 km) to Jaulijibi (66 km) to Dharchula (96 km). Stayed at the KMVN Rest House at Dharchula (altitude 3,084 ft). After playing in the snow for an hour, we started for Dharchula at 11:30 AM from Munsiyari and ended at 6:00 PM with an hour break at the heritage village of Darkot. There is a waterfall near Bangapani, about 46 km from Munsiyari.
This stretch along the Gori Ganga river is one of the most scenic drives I have done in Uttarakhand. It reminded me of driving through Kinnaur Valley with the Sutlej flowing beside. However, the road quality is poor for a good portion, so keep that in mind.
Day 6 | Dharchula to Chaukori (109 km)
Dharchula sits on the banks of the Kali River, which forms the India-Nepal border here. We crossed into Nepal on foot over the bridge, which was a nice experience. However, Dharchula itself was a bit disappointing as it is more of a market town without much natural scenery. Since there was not much to explore, we dropped our second day booking and headed to Chaukori via Askote, Didihat, and Thal. Stayed at Ojaswi Resort, Chaukori.
The route with distances: Dharchula to Jaulijibi (30 km) to Askote (43 km) to Narain Nagar (50 km) to Didihat (56 km) to Thal (83 km) to Chaukori (109 km). From Askote, you take a right like a U-turn from a place where there is a signboard to Pithoragarh. After reaching Askote village, take a U-turn to Narain Nagar and Didihat on your left. Narain Nagar offers amazing views of Nanda Devi. We started at 12:30 PM and ended at 6:30 PM with more than an hour’s break at Thal.
Day 7 | Chaukori Rest Day
Rest day at Chaukori (altitude 6,594 ft). We visited Patal Bhuvaneshwar, the famous underground cave temple which is 38 km from Chaukori. The cave is genuinely impressive with its limestone formations. We celebrated the New Year night at Chaukori with views of the snow-capped Panchchuli and Nanda Devi ranges.
Day 8 | Chaukori to Delhi (513 km)
The weather at Chaukori turned upside down on our last day, but we had to leave for Delhi. Took the route Chaukori to Berinag to Sheraghat to Dhaulchinna (77 km) to Barechinna (91 km) to Almora to Bhimtal to Kathgodam (197 km) to Haldwani to Rampur to Moradabad to Delhi (513 km). We started at 8:30 AM and were at Kathgodam by 4:15 PM, almost 8 hours after starting from Chaukori. If you have time, there is a Jageshwar Temple diversion at 17 km from Barechinna.
The total drive over the trip was 1,535 km. Overall it was quite a nice family vacation in Uttarakhand, and the best part was the little one enjoyed the snow and the snowman. We enjoyed the snow trek in Munsiyari and the drive over the lovely roads through the jungles.
What Are the Road Conditions on the Delhi to Munsiyari to Dharchula Route?
Road conditions vary significantly across this circuit. Here is a section-by-section breakdown based on my experience. Keep in mind that road conditions can change year to year due to ongoing construction and monsoon damage. The data below reflects the condition during my trip, and I recommend checking locally for the latest status before starting.
- Delhi to Moradabad: Excellent highway, smooth sailing.
- Moradabad to Kashipur (via Thakurdwara parallel road): Mostly single lane with 2 to 3 km of horrible road. There is a shortcut after Moradabad, take a left to Kashipur and after 3 to 4 km, take a right at the Nainital board. This saves you from the mess of the main Bazpur and Kashipur roads.
- Kashipur to Jim Corbett to Mohaan to Marchula: Mostly good with some bad patches.
- Marchula to Maulikhal to Manila: Excellent, smooth sailing.
- Manila to Masi: Good roads mostly.
- Masi to Chaukotia: Mostly bad, pavement work was underway.
- Chaukotia to Dwaraghat to Kausani to Gwaldam: Very good roads.
- Gwaldam to Bageshwar to Chaukori to Thal: Very good but single-lane with quite many curves. If anyone in your group has motion sickness, this stretch needs attention.
- Thal to Munsiyari (via Tejam, Birthi, Kalimuni Top): The road deteriorates after Thal. About 30 to 35 percent of the road is in poor condition with some steep stretches. The rest is manageable. We found some hard ice after Kalimuni Top in December, but it was drivable.
- Munsiyari to Darkot: Good tarred road.
- Darkot to Madkote to Jaulijibi: Mostly bad roads but very scenic. About 60 percent of the road is poor with 12 to 15 percent being very bad. Multiple landslide points, water crossings, and old wooden bridges. In summers/monsoon, the water crossings become dangerous due to swollen Gori Ganga. A high ground clearance vehicle is strongly recommended for this section.
- Jaulijibi to Dharchula: Mostly bad and broken road.
- Jaulijibi to Askote to Didihat: Mostly bad with some good patches.
- Didihat to Thal to Chaukori: Mostly good and very good.
- Chaukori to Berinag to Almora: Mostly excellent with lovely dense forests. Only the stretch between Golu Devta Temple and Barechinna was poor.
- Chaukori to Patal Bhuvaneshwar: Very bad after Raigara. Butter smooth from Berinag to Chaukori.
- Almora to Kathgodam to Haldwani: Very good, smooth sailing.
- Rudrapur to Moradabad: Mix of bad and average with potholes.
How Is the Mobile Network Coverage on This Kumaon Route?
I was carrying Airtel and BSNL postpaid SIMs, and friends had Vodafone (now Vi). Here is what we observed for mobile connectivity.
- All three networks worked through most of the journey except Dharchula.
- At Dharchula, Airtel picked up Nepal international roaming. Vodafone was dead. BSNL was the only one working as a local connection.
- On remote road sections, Airtel and Vodafone dropped frequently. BSNL had the widest coverage among all.
- Data connectivity was mostly 2G wherever signals were present. In larger towns like Gwaldam, 3G/4G was available.
- As of 2026, Jio and Airtel 4G have expanded coverage in many Kumaon towns, but for the Munsiyari to Dharchula section, BSNL postpaid remains the most reliable option. Keep in mind that only postpaid SIMs of other states work in border areas.
What Are the Accommodation Options and Budget for This Trip?
Here is a rough budget breakdown for this 8-day Kumaon road trip for a family or small group traveling by self-driven car.
Accommodation: KMVN and GMVN rest houses are available at Manila, Gwaldam, Munsiyari, Dharchula, and Chaukori. Expect to pay Rs 900 to Rs 1,500 per night for a double room at government rest houses. Private hotels and resorts like Ojaswi Resort in Chaukori cost Rs 2,500 to Rs 6,000 per night depending on the season. Budget homestays start from Rs 800 per night in Munsiyari and Chaukori.
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Food: Simple meals at dhabas and local restaurants cost Rs 150 to Rs 300 per person per meal. The JJ Hotel and Restaurant at Thal (right next to the petrol pump) serves quite nice food.
Fuel: For a petrol car doing around 12 km/l, expect to spend approximately Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 on fuel for the complete 1,535 km circuit (at Rs 100 per liter, as of 2025). Make sure you fill up at Thal as there is no fuel pump after Thal towards Munsiyari. Dwaraghat also has a petrol pump on the Manila to Kausani route. There is a petrol pump 5 km before Dharchula.
Estimated Total Budget: Rs 25,000 to Rs 45,000 for a couple over 8 days, depending on your accommodation and food choices. For a family of 4, budget Rs 40,000 to Rs 70,000.
What Are the Important Travel Tips for This Kumaon Circuit?
- If you are particular about brands in liquor, carry your own as availability is limited in these small towns. We ended up shocked with even no availability of Old Monk at some places. 🙂
- While in Uttarakhand, buy some packets of buns every day you start. They are quite a good partner for tea at a roadside tea shack.
- Maulikhal has an ATM on the way to Manila.
- Dwaraghat has a petrol pump on the way to Kausani from Manila.
- Fill fuel at Thal. There is no fuel pump after Thal towards Munsiyari. At times, even at Thal, the supply is limited and they give only limited fuel.
- Darkot is a heritage village 8 km ahead of Munsiyari. You can get yourself the Pasham (Mountain Rabbit) wool shawls, cardigans, and caps, crafted by hand. These are available from Prema Ji who is the mother of Raju guide, a well-known guide of this region. The white ones are pure Pasham while the grey ones are a mix and come a bit cheaper. Contact Raju at 08958687822.
- Local herbs from Darkot include Jambo (used to flavor dal), Thoya (like kala jeera), Tehmur (like kali mirch, great for warmth in cold weather), and Gandraini sticks (bitter but good for digestion).
- Munsiyari sells quite famous local Rajma (kidney beans) and potatoes. Pick some up if you like them.
- Jaulijibi and Dharchula have ATMs.
- Didihat to Thal is a lovely road through dense forest where you can spot many birds.
- Ahead of Almora while coming from Chaukori, Kakrighat to Khairna is 10 km. At Kakrighat, you can go inside the village and sit by the river on the opposite bank from the road.
- Do not forget to check this list of things to carry on a road trip to the Himalayas.
- If you plan to go for any treks or hikes, then check my list of things to carry on trekking and hiking trips.
Can You Do This Trip in a Sedan or Hatchback?
Yes, you can do most of this circuit in a regular sedan. The Delhi to Gwaldam to Munsiyari (via Chaukori) route is manageable in a sedan, though the 30 to 35 percent bad patches after Thal need careful driving. However, the Munsiyari to Dharchula stretch via Madkote and Jaulijibi is where I strongly recommend a high ground clearance vehicle like an SUV. This section has water crossings, broken culverts, and steep descents where a sedan’s underbody can take damage.
If you are in a sedan, you can skip the Munsiyari to Dharchula section and instead go directly from Munsiyari to Chaukori via the Thal route (backtrack the same road). Dharchula is not a must-visit unless you are interested in crossing the Nepal border or heading to Adi Kailash/Om Parvat.
What Are the Key Places to Visit on This Route?
- Manila: Offbeat hill station in the Ranikhet region. Good overnight stop to break the Delhi journey.
- Kausani: Famous for its panoramic Himalayan views. Worth a stop for tea and photos.
- Gwaldam: Quiet town at 5,577 ft with views of Trishul and Nanda Ghunti. Makes a good base for exploring the area.
- Munsiyari: The crown of Kumaon at 7,200 ft. Panchchuli peak views, Thamri Kund trek, Darkot heritage village, and Darma Valley treks.
- Dharchula: Border town on the Kali River. Starting point for Adi Kailash and Om Parvat yatra. You can walk across to Nepal.
- Chaukori: Peaceful hill station at 6,594 ft. Tea gardens, sunrise/sunset views of Panchchuli and Nanda Devi.
- Patal Bhuvaneshwar: Ancient underground cave temple, 38 km from Chaukori. A must-visit if you have a rest day at Chaukori.
Conclusion and My Recommendation
As always with my year-end trip, this Kumaon road trip to Gwaldam, Munsiyari, Dharchula, and Chaukori was a fantastic family break. Away from the crowds, the Kumaon hills offer a very different experience compared to the busy Garhwal circuit. The Panchchuli views from Munsiyari alone make this trip worth every kilometer of the drive.
My recommendation: if you have 8 days, follow this exact itinerary. If you have only 5 to 6 days, skip Dharchula and spend an extra day each at Munsiyari and Chaukori instead. You can also check my list of offbeat places in Uttarakhand and easy treks in Uttarakhand to plan side activities.
If you are planning a trip to Kumaon in the upcoming season, feel free to follow the above itinerary. In case of any doubts, feel free to reach out in the comments or connect with the DwD community. We are always happy to help fellow travelers plan their Himalayan adventures. 🙂
Have a travel question?? You can subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment to ask your travel questions about traveling to the Himalayas.
Last Updated: February 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need for a Gwaldam Munsiyari Chaukori trip?
You need a minimum of 7 days for this circuit. An 8-day trip is ideal as it gives you buffer days for rest at Munsiyari and Chaukori. If you skip Dharchula, 5 to 6 days are sufficient to cover Gwaldam, Munsiyari, and Chaukori comfortably from Delhi.
What is the best route from Delhi to Munsiyari?
The most common route is Delhi to Moradabad to Haldwani to Almora to Bageshwar to Thal to Munsiyari (approximately 560 to 600 km). An alternate scenic route goes via Manila, Kausani, and Gwaldam, which adds about 100 km but covers more diverse landscapes and avoids the crowded Nainital belt.
Is the road from Munsiyari to Dharchula safe?
The road is safe but challenging. About 60 percent of the Munsiyari to Jaulijibi section is in poor condition with landslide-prone areas and water crossings. A high ground clearance vehicle is recommended. Avoid this stretch entirely during monsoon (July to September) due to flooding and landslides.
Can I cross the border to Nepal from Dharchula?
Yes, Indian nationals can cross the Kali River bridge to the Nepal side of Dharchula on foot. No passport or visa is required for Indians to cross into the Nepali town on the other bank. It is a casual walk across the bridge and back. The two towns share similar culture and traditions.
What is the altitude of Munsiyari and Chaukori?
Munsiyari sits at an altitude of 7,200 ft (2,200 m) in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. Chaukori is at 6,594 ft (2,010 m) in the same district. Gwaldam, another stop on this route, is at 5,577 ft (1,700 m). None of these altitudes cause altitude sickness for most people.
Is there a petrol pump between Thal and Munsiyari?
No, there is no petrol pump between Thal and Munsiyari. The next fuel stop after Thal is either back at Bageshwar or forward at Dharchula (5 km before the town). Always fill your tank at Thal before heading to Munsiyari. Thal sometimes has limited supply, so plan accordingly.
Which mobile network works best in Munsiyari and Dharchula?
BSNL postpaid has the widest coverage across the entire Kumaon circuit including remote sections and Dharchula. Jio and Airtel 4G work in most towns as of 2026, but drop on remote road stretches. At Dharchula specifically, Airtel may pick up Nepal roaming. Carry a BSNL postpaid SIM as backup for uninterrupted connectivity.
126 Comments
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Hello Dheeraj,
While searching on internet for munsiyari trip, i saw DoW and i was so excited. I thought your posts were limited to spiti and ladakh.
I am big fan of you, and had done both spiti and ladakh with guidance from you.
Now i have 4 days (30th Aug – 2nd Sept) and i want to make a trip to Munsiyari and binsar from delhi. Please suggest an itinerary so that we can make most from the trip.
We are three, riding on two bikes. Also suggest, if we need to prepare specially for monsoon, if it is not over by 30th Aug.
Thank you..
Hey Paramvir,
Yeah, Ladakh & Spiti kept me occupied so much that I could not explain my knowledge of Kumaon and Garhwal till now. But, have started expanding now 🙂
Bhai in 4 days it will be tough but if you are OK riding so much, then
Delhi – Binsar
Binsar – Munsiyari
Munsiyari – Chaukori – Kausani
Kausani – Delhi
Hello
I am planning to visit Munsiyari and other offbeat places in UK.
Would you please help me with itinerary and contact details of good driver with Car. I will be traveling with my kid (5 year old) in May.
Thanks again for all your blogs and emails.
Did you get a chance to look at: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/kumaon-uttarakhand-most-common-itinerary/
Thanks Sir, would you please help me with Car details please..and will summer be crowded there?
Here are some of the drivers from Uttarakhand: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/india/himalayan-travel-guides/list-taxi-drivers-for-uttarakhand-kumaon-gharwal-t5750.html
Hello Dheeraj!
I have been following your blog for quite sometime now. It is the one-stop information kiosk for Kumaon region, particularly for munsiyari trip. We are starting from Roorkee on 27th Feb. Will be there at Ram Nagar by night.
Next day onwards we will begin our trip to Munsiyari through manila- dwarghat-someswar-kausani route and plan to come back by berinath-sheraghat-binsar-almora route
Can you please give me some info abt. these routes
1. Will it be safe (roadwise) to take both these routes in feb last week/march first week this year?
2.It appears the manila- dwarghat-someswar-kausani route is much longer than the binsar -almora route. What will be the tentative difference in hours between these routes?
3. Can we get hotel booking on the spot at these places, particularly kausani, munsiyari etc.
4. Will it be biting cold or normal feb cold we experience in dehradun/haridwar?
5. suppose we start from ram nagar in early morning (6-6.30), will we reach kausani by late afternoon?
Please inform us. we will be very thankful.
Anindya
Thank you Anindya, it is quite a compliment and glad site is being helpful.
1. Last week of Feb should be fine for the trip.
2. If you measure it from Almora to Munsiyari, it is about 7 hrs of drive while Manila to Munsiyari is about 9 hrs of drive.
3. Mostly, you will get the hotels at these places without much issue.
4. Feb will be cold, nights/early morning will surely be cold. If you are not used to cold, it may feel quite cold.
5. It will take about 6 hrs to reach Kausani if you will go from Dwaraghat route else from Ranikhet around 5 hrs. I am just telling you the drive time only.
Regards
Dheeraj
Thanks a lot Dheeraj. The information you have provided will be of great help.If i have any other query in next 2,3 days, i am going to bother you again.
For sure, always happy to help 🙂
Hi Dheeraj
Really exciting and useful information. I would also like to follow the same plan in Dec. Please suggest how I book the car from Delhi for this trip and any contact information.
Do you need a taxi or self drive car?
Taxi
Dheeraj Sir it is very good information shared by you. I am going to Munsiyari from Delhi on 3rd July, 2017. But I came to know that the road conditions are not good from That to Munsiyari especially in monsoon. Will you please tell me about the road conditions from Thal to Munsiyari as I am travelling by bike.
Thanks
Well Vineet, most of the road conditions are fine but yes there are some sections between Thal to Munsiyari that gets some pot holes but nothing like you will not see back in town in some roads and with the bike they can easily be negotiated. You can confirm the conditions at Thal petrol pump where you will tank up the petrol and then decide else make the trip up to Chaukori.
Hi Dheeraj.. How would be Binsar Munsiyari and choukori trip in First week of July? Will it be rainy and cloudy hiding the views? We have 8-9 days in hand..Is valley of flowers with Badrinath a better option to do at this time? Or any other place You can suggest except ladakh spiti and kinnaur…i have already covered them!! Thanks
You will have pleasant time up there in Kumaon, just check the weather updates and avoid in case of heavy rain predictions. In general, rains starts from mid of July to August.
Hello Dheeraj ji
We are planning trip to Kumaon for 8 days and 9 nights in october 17. we will not visit Jim Corbett. Could u suggest some “must see” places ?
We had visited Kalpa-Kinnaur- Chhitkul
I will suggest to take a look at: Kumaon, Uttarakhand – Most Common Itinerary
Thank you : )
Superb pics !! and nice info. Thank you.
We are planning trip to nainital, ranikhet Kausani Munsiyari in October 2017.
Thank you, feel free to post any questions you may have for your trip to Kumaon. You may also check: Kumaon, Uttarakhand – Most Common Itinerary
Dheeraj Bhai,
i am Bhaskar, from Chandannagore, W. Benal, want to visit munsiyari at 20th Dec ’17 . Can i travel this area at this time. i read your post and interested to visit the kumaon. where we found snow in this time? please guide me.
thanks in advance.
Bhaskar Acharyya.
9903696949
Unless it snows, heavily during those days, yes, you can travel to Munsiyari during last week of December. You will be able to to find snow at Munsiyari in case it has started snowing in hills by that time else in case snow has not started, then in Kumaon you will not see snow.
Dheeraj Bhai,
Hello once again, but on a different forum. 🙂
My cousin wants to cover Almora & Pithoragarh districts backpacking in the month of July (His Semester break). I adviced him against as it shall be Monsoon Season. What do you think??? Can it be done??? He basically wants to cover Munsiyari, Binsar, Chaukhori, Almora, Ranikhet, Kaushani. He & 3 of his friends are planning for a max of 10 days (Excluding days of transit from Delhi).
I have been to these places but in the winters, so no idea of the monsoon season. There is no better than you to help. He being a student shall be on a shoestring budget opting for Public Transportations, KMVN/GMVN Guesthouses & stuff. I can help with Guest Houses, Hotels, Guides & stuff, but not with weather conditions.
Thanks in Advance.
🙂
July is still a good time and Kumaon is OK to travel as the hills are much stable as compared to Gharwal region. You can also refer: Kumaon, Uttarakhand – Most Common Itinerary
Just ask him to go as early in July as he can go and avoid last week of July when the monsoon actually begins to pour down heavily.
Hi Dheeraj,
First of all thanks a tonne for the detailed post.
We will be traveling from Bageshwar to Munsiyari on 25th of January 2017. We will be staying at KMVN rest house at Munsiyari. Since we have a kid with us, and it is not a trekking trip; can you suggest any places near the rest house where we might find snow for playing with the kid?
Hello Nidhi,
well, on the way down to Munsiyari you will pass by Kalamuni Top. You will find plenty of snow around it during that time. Also, in coming weeks more snow showers are expected.
Thanks. This helps a lot.
Best wishes for your trip 🙂
hi Dheeraj,
I am planning a road trip from Mumbai with 2 friends to Kausani via nanital, ranikhet and almora I dont know much about the region as this is my 1st trip there while reading and exploring came upon your blog and now want to add munsiyari also to the itinerary as it seems we do not want to miss it.
we have around 10 to 11 days for this trip.
we will be starting our travel by 28th or 29th of Jan 2017 from mumbai and want to be back by 6th or 7th Feb 2017.
Can you help me out with the planning and the itinerary and also if its a good time to visit.
we want to be away from the noise and hustle bustle and enjoy the beauty of the mountains and snow.
Thank you in advance.
Mustafa, I will suggest that you plan the trip as: Kumaon, Uttarakhand – Most Common Itinerary. Based on more days at hand, you can place them on your choice and preference.
hi Dheeraj, Nice post. I am planning to travel on 31st December from Delhi by Bike. Is it possible to have a 4 days round trip.
Tarun, it will be very hectic to do Munsiyari in 4 days. Better plan up to Chaukori for the 4 day trip only.
thanks Dheeraj then i,ll plan for Chaukori itself. How’s the place?
Place is very lovely and offer 180 degree views of mighty Himalayas. You can check some pictures at: Chaukori – A Rendezvous with Musk Deer & Mythology | Candid Kumaon
thanks Dheeraj i’ll plan for chaukori then.
Best wishes for your trip Tarun 🙂
Thanks a lot Dheeraj 🙂 🙂
Hi Dheeraj,
Nice Travelogue !! I am Planning to travel with my wife from delhi to kathgodam(train) in last week January ’17 and then plan to hire bike to Munsiyari covering chaukori ,almora etc….
Is it Feasible to travel/cover the area from Kathgodam to Munsiyari on Bike ..
Any Risk Involved due to ice etc….other factors..
regards
Nishant
Nishant, you can surely travel by bike but the problem is I am not sure if you will get bike on hire in Kathgodam area. I never heard of it.
Hi Dheeraj,
Can u pls suggest a travel plan to munsyari with 7 days in hand. We (5 Families) are travelling by our own car
1) Best route to munsyari from kashipur/ramnagar
2) break up of journey
3) Where to expect the snow fall as we are planning to go in end of Dec
4) Any other suggestion you wish to provide
Thanks
Rakesh Khatri
Hello Rakesh,
1. Well, you can follow two routes, the one I explained above that goes from Manila – Ranikhet/Kausani – Chaukori or go from Almora – Binsar side.
2. You should plan as per below suggestion
3. You should expect snow in Munsiyari especially at Kalamuni Top and towards Thamri Kund trek
4. Do read the article above.
Here is the suggested plan for you:
Day 1 | Ramnagar – Manila – Kausani/Gwaldam
Day 2 | Kausani/Gwaldam – Chaukori
Day 3 | Chaukori – Munsiyari
Day 4 | Munsiyari rest day and around
Day 5 | Munsiyari – Patal Bhuvaneshwar
Day 6 | Patal Bunvaneshwar – Nainital/Mukteshwar/Binsar (Do cave visit in the morning)
Day 7 | Reach back Ramnagar
Hi Dheeraj,
First of all thanks a lot for running this “one stop shop” kind of blog which is extremely helpful while planning a trip to Himalayas.
I am travelling to Dharchula–Nepal via Dehradun—Rudrapraya—Karnaprayag—Gwaldam—Bageshwar—Chaukori—Munsyari on 25th November 2016.
It will be a bike trip with my 3 friends and we have decided to make this trip a “no hotel only tent” type.
Could you please guide me the safe and good tenting/camping places in Garhwal as I will be covering it till Karnaprayag.
I am very much confident in Kumaon but not Gharwal.
Pit-stop will be like:-
Day 1:- Karnaprayag
Day 2:- Chaukori
Day 3 :- Munsyari.
Thank you Rajeev 🙂 🙂
Well, it will come down to an open space somewhere nearby a village or a home in the village with outside lawn. I do not have specific idea about a camping site at Karnprayag but well most of the villages have these farming fields where you can ask for permission or at max pay a tip of Rs 100 or so to the villager to allow you to pitch the tent.
hi Dheeraj,
After reading your blogs, i m now tempted to take a road trip starting 28th of October from Delhi to Munsiyari via Nainital, Binsar and return to delhi via Kausani Ranikhet with a stay at Corbett to cap the trip. Me and my son (20 yrs) are planning to take a self driven car from delhi for this trip. Your suggestions would be highly appreciated.
1. Is taking a self driven car advisable or a taxi with a driver from kathgodam is ideal?
2. where are the breaks we need to take and places to stay.
3. Places we should visit along this route.
we have time till the 5th of November.
thanks in adance
best regards
-Adolf
Hello Adolf,
Great to know that and Munsiyari including whole of Kumaon is an amazing place to be at.
1. Yes, take a self drive car as most of the roads are very good barring few bad patches.
You have about 9 days and I will sugggest that you plan as per below itinerary
1. Delhi to Nainital / Pangot / Mukteshwar
2. Nainital / Pangot / Mukteshwar – Chaukori via Sheraghat route
3. Chaukori – Patal Bhuvanehwar – Chaukori
4. Chaukori – Munsiyari
5. Munsiyari rest day
6. Munsiyari rest day
7. Munsiyari – Bageshwar – Kausani/Gwladam (long drive so start early)
8. Kausani/Gwladam rest day
9. Kausani/Gwladam – Delhi
Thanks so much Dheerj for your valuable input.
We will keep you posted when we take the trip.
best regards
-Adolf
Sure, mostly welcome. Have a great trip 🙂
Hi Dheeraj,
I am planning to travel to Munsiyari from 7th October to 11th October.Plan is to leave Delhi on 7th Evening.Please suggest the beat route.I am currently planning through Delhi-Rudrapur-Naramata-Tanakpur-Champawat-Lohaghat-Reetha Sahib-Pithoragarh-Thal-Munsiyari as one the member suggested in the forum.
Please advice.
Thanks,
Shantanu
Shantanu, you can take that route and come back from Chaukori – Sheraghat – Almora route. Please note that it will be hectic trip for just 5 days in hand.
Thanks Dheeraj..Yes the same will be hectic..could not manage more leaves.. 🙁
Hmmm, then just be prepared and have a shot at it 🙂
Hi Shantanu,
I am from Hyderabad, I will also be traveling to Munsyari on 7th Oct 2016. How are you traveling? if you are alone, can I tag along, If you are going by your Car, can i tag along? we can share the expenses… If interested you can mail me shravanmuppidi@yahoo.com
Hi Shravan,
I will be driving my i20….please mail me your itinerary @ shantanurc1968@gmail.com.We can plan.
Thanks,
Shantanu
Hi Dheeraj,
I will be landing in Delhi by 3:00 PM on 7th Oct and i would like to travel onwards on the same day to either Chaukori, Askote or Munsyari.
I need to be back in Delhi by 15th Night and catch a flight back early 16th morning
I haven’t booked or planned anything yet… just looking for best way to reach there…
I want to be at once place and relax, probably do daily short treks to the nearby villages if any…
Whats the mode of transportation that you suggest or what is the best way to reach one of these places and which place would you suggest.
Thank you
Shravan
PS: I have been following your site since 2011, and it has been a big source of inspiration and information when i was traveling through Himachal and J&K. Thanks a lot for that 🙂
Shravan, thank you for such warm words and been following the DoW for almost last 5 years. Well, you can take the direct bus from Delhi Anand Vihar ISBT to Munsiyari that starts at 4.30 PM and will reach earl morning next day. Then you can spend your days up there and take rides on shared jeeps to come back or may be the same route.
I WILL BE TRAVELLING IN MY CAR FROM KOLKATA STARTING 05.10.2016 .I WANT TO BE BACK IN KOLKATA
BY14/10/2016 NIGHT.I WOULD LIKE TO COVER KAUSANI,MUNSIYARI ,ALMORA AND MUKTESWAR.CAN YOU PLEASE SUGGEST ME AN ITENARY WITH EXCELLENT PLACE OF STAY ( WITH A VIEW) .WILL IT BE TOO CROWDED
DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU CAN SUGGEST LONELY & PEACEFUL PLACES.
ALSO COULD YOU PLEASE ADVICE ME ON THE CONDITIONS OF ROAD AFTER MONSOON.
REGARDS
Hi Suvajit,
Please share your itinerary and as I will be also travelling from Delhi on 7th Night heading for Munsiyari.
You can mail me shantanurc1968@gmail.com
Hi Dheeraj,
We are following Itinerary given by you https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/kumaon-uttarakhand-most-common-itinerary/ in this month end. can you please guide regarding road conditions specially between Binsar to Munsiyari.
Hello Dheeraj,
Me and my friends are planning a road trip from Delhi to Munsiyari, we are like 6-8 riders.
we have not yet planned the dates yet.. can you help me with the best time and route to visit Munsiyari and how much days do we need to explore this scenic beauty.
Just one add on, we all ride RE, so rough/bad roads wont be a problem for us.
Thanks A lot for sharing so much information, it really helps.
Bharat, I can suggest you refer for the plna: Kumaon, Uttarakhand – Most Common Itinerary
Best time will be towards end of December or January if you would like to see snow as well.
HI Dheeraj,
I am planning to do a road trip from Dehradun to Munsiyari in december to be specific from December 16th to 23th…
I just want to know how are the roads and i am travelling with my wife in My ALTO 800. will it be doable in the car?
Ice on road will be an issue or Not? IS it safe? do i need ice chains? etc.
Also can you suggest some places must visit in Route and halt places or location where i should stay for overhaul
Here is the route map
https://www.google.co.in/maps/dir/Dehradun,+Uttarakhand+248001/Munsyari,+Uttarakhand/@29.7751212,79.2088263,9.29z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x390929c356c888af:0x4c3562c032518799!2m2!1d78.0321918!2d30.3164945!1m5!1m1!1s0x39a6dc8d1ea9276d:0x5748adfabe56734!2m2!1d80.2373401!2d30.0715174!3e0
Thanks a ton
Parneet, it should be fine to travel. You may find some snow around Kalamuni top but rest should be good to travel. You can make a night halt at Gwaldam and next at Chaukori and then reach Munsiyari. Spend couple of days and come back the same route visiting Patal Bhuvaneshwar near Chaukori.
Hi Dheeraj
I want to travel Munsiyari with my family but I have Hyundai i10. My friends have a big time doubt that a small car can reach to that place without any hurdle.
Can you suggest something on this.
Vivek, you can easily make a trip to Munsiyari with i10. There was no such road that existed on that route which cannot be driven by any car. Of course, be careful and cautious at some section and you may ask someone to step down and guide the passage in case of doubt.
Hi Dheeraj..Do you have any idea about road conditions from Munsiyari -Lohaghat-Tanakpur. Want to do the return leg by this route. Plus how many days are sufficient for stay at munsiyari?
We went towards (almost half way) Pitthoragarh route as we were planning to come back from Lohaghat only. Most of the roads were OK and there were construction work going on at few inner roads. Apart from that mostly it was above average and good at many places.
hi dheraj,
wish you are in good health. i along with my wife nandita desired to go to kumaon on 19th June this time we start my journey from tanakpur and wish to visit shyamalatal, munsiary, birthi, kousani, chakouri, binsor and sattal and we havi 12 days excluding journey period. we like lonely placse, please guide us we have car with us.
You can follow something like below:
1. Delhi to Nainital / Pangot
2. Nainital / Pangot Exploration Day
3. Nainital / Pangot – Binsar
4. Binsar – Munsiyari from Berinag
5. Munsiyari
6. Munsiyari – Chaukori
7. Chaukori – Patal Bhuvanehwar
8. Chaukori – Kausani via Baijnath
9. Kausani – Almora – Mukteshwar / Ramgarh
10. Mukteshwar / Ramgarh (Day trip to Sattal / Bhimtal / Naukuchiyatal)
11. Mukteshwar / Ramgarh – Back to Delhi
Dhiraj, I like to visit Munsiyari during winter around Jan/Feb. What I need is clear sunny weather with snow all around. Please suggest when should I go and where to stay.
No one can guarantee what you are looking forward to except weather gods 🙂 .. But, chances are porbably higher when you are planning this trip. How many days you have in hand? mid Jan to Feb is a good time.
I want to visit by state bus – Nainital,Kausani,Munsiyari, choukori, Dharchula . I want to start from Kathgodam/ Haldwani and want to back to any railway station to catch train for Newdelhi .
You can surely do that. All these places are well connected with buses. Just that you need to match the timings.
Hi Dheeraj..
My itinerary goes like this..
Pantnagar to Corbett- Kausani – Munsiyari-Jhaltola -Ramgarh and then back to Pantnagar
Any suggestions for must see places between Corbett-Kausani.. Is Raniketh worth two nights stay?
Well, in between Corbett and Kausani, you can take the route from Corbett to Manila to Kausani. Gwaldam is an amazing place for breathtaking view of Trishul peak but choose one between Gwaldam or Kausani. The drive is very nice so better not to stay two nights in Ranikhet rather use one of them in Munsiyari.
I want to start from Kathgodam or Haldwani bu bus to cover Ninital, Kausani,choukori,Munsiyari, Patal bhubaneswar then back to kathgodam or any other railway station to go to Delhi. please suggest my tour map.
Replied above.
Hi Dheeraj,
Thanks for another inspiring trip to explore another side of Himalayas.
Will this track will be having open roads and access to snow during mid March ?
Dhiraj, no the road remains open all throughout the year to Munsiyari and Chaukori or Dharchula.
I hope this helps. Please let me know in case you have any queries or doubts.
Regards
Dheeraj Sharma
No or Yes boss. I am back confused. Will road be open during mid march??
Couple of more queries.. Will we be able to get closer to snow on this track and also is it possible to pass through Corbett park to reach Manila from Ramnagar?
Yes, road will be open
Snow in March around this region will be very tough to get, and yes you can drive through Corbett route reach Manila
Thanks Dhiraj.
I am now on my calendar and trying to block a week in last week March to cover this.
Cool, best wishes for your trip to Munsiyari 🙂
Thanks Dheeraj for the tips and we followed largely the similar itinerary and covered Kumaon in last week. Amazing place, amazing people and mind-blowing landscapes.
Having your namesake also helped to get bookings at Manila, as Mr Bisht still remember you 🙂
Regards
That’s great to know Dhiraj bhai !! More glad to know that you had a wonderful trip. Any chances of sharing some photo tale or travel tale in DwD Community with all of us? 🙂 🙂
Will attempt doing same Sir.
Let me pick one of Sundays to pen down…
Thank you, looking forward to it.
Hi Dheeraj,
Came back last week after completing the whole circuit. Thanks a lot for your travelogue for all the help.!
Few things that I would like to mention which you can update here for fellow travelers.
1. Roads are in beautiful condition apart from a couple of places (mentioned below). Just loved driving on them.
a. Thal to Munsiyari road repair work is in progress and is broken at many places.
b. Road to Patal Bhuvaneshwar is in really bad shape after Berinag. The expansion work is going on over a 10-12 kms stretch which might stretch to next 7-8 months.
2. Petrol pumps
a. Thal now has 2 petrol pumps.
b. There is one in Munsiyari also though it is on opposite side of Madkot road which goes towards Nanda Devi temple
c. One more is there on way to Patal Bhuvaneshwar just before entering Berinag.
3. The restaurant at Thal has got its name changed to Rituraj Restaurant. The food served was still good. 🙂
Thank you Prateek for the updates brother, I will update them in the article. It will help a lot.
hi dheeraj, i just went to naggar and near by villages. many thanks to your detailed travelogues. Will write a detailed tale about it in the forum soon. However, i am planning for nanital and near by places with family in a day or two. the trip will be for two or three days.i wanted to ask that can munsiyari be covered in two days. Also, i will be starting from lucknow. My main thing is to cover munsiyari. i have thought of starting early and reach nanital and stay overnight and next day start early for munsiyari, reach there and next day start early morning for home. Please any advice on the itinerary. if i am not able to complete munsiyari, then can u suggest any places near by nanital for snowfall.please reply soon as will leave in a day or two.Thanks again for igniting the long lost love for travelling.
Good to know that Ankush, will wait for it in DwD Community!!
I am sorry for delayed reply and I am sure by now you would be on your trip 🙂
hello sir,
nice guideline u r giving
we want to visit corbett nainital almora munsiyari kausani and our dates are 1 march to 7 march plsguide the route
Parul since you have just 7days in hand there is no point running around the places. I will suggest make a trip to Munsiyari when you have time on hand or else skip Jim Corbett. Below is what I will suggest with Jim Corbett
1. Delhi to Jim Corbett
2. Jim Corbett
3. Jim Corbett – Kausani
4. Kausani – Chaukori
5. Chaukori – Patal Bhuvaneshwar – Chaukori
6. Chaukori – Binsar/Mukteshwar
7. Mukteshwar – Delhi
Hi,
Could you pls let me know the complete itinerary from Kolkata to cover up Pithoragarh, Darchula, Munsiyari, Pindari Glacier, Ranikhet and Almora and back to Kolkata in 10 days.
Pindari Glacier is a trek and is not suggested in winters. Are you sure you want to do it? Rest all will be accessible. The trek itself will take about 6-7 days
Hi Dheeraj,
Just read through your travelogue and it is very detailed and covers almost everything that one needs to know. I am planning a trip to the Kumaon region from 22.12 to 02.01. I will be travelling from Hyderabad by car along with my family.
We want to cover Nainital, Kausani, Chaukori and Munsiyari (any other places that you suggest).
Planning to reach Nainital by 23rd night and need to reach Agra on 31st Dec.
Can you please suggest an itinerary from 24th to 30th Dec. The aim of the trip is to enjoy the natural beauty of Kumaon region along with the views of the Himalayas and have some fun in snow.
Not too interested in visiting temples this time. But if something is on the way then definitely yes.
Please also suggest places to stay in these places since we have never been to UK.
We would like to stay away from the crowded places. What would be the temperature like during that time so that we can be prepared accordingly ?
Lastly, is it possible to reach Agra from Munsiyari on 31st Dec with an early morning start (say around 7 am) ?
Thanks in advance.
Sumit did you check: Kumaon, Uttarakhand – Most Common Itinerary
You can cover it I believe. From Munsiyari, max you will be able to stretch will be Kathgodam only by running over 12 Hrs
Very well written Dheeraj loved it!!
One thing if you can help me with. Could you give an idea about how long it takes to reach Almora from Munsiyari. I will be taking local transport.
Munsiyari to Almora will take around 9-10 hrs with breaks in between. In local transport it may be 10+ hrs with waiting and all.
Hi Dheeraj,
Can you suggest a comfortable itinery for Pancheshwar , Choukari, Munsiyari, Jageshwar from kathgodam. I have 6N7D in hand.
Hi Arpita,
I will suggest that you follow below plan for Kumaon. This is the best you can do in the amount you have in hand
1. Kathgodam – Jageshwar
2. Jageshwar – Chaukori
3. Chaukori – Patal Bhuvanehwar – Chaukori
4. Chaukori – Munsiyari
5. Munsiyari rest day
6. Munsiyari – Kausani
7. Kausani – Kathgodam
Can you suggest any other place instead of Patal Bhuvaneshwar and Kausani. I visited these two places earlier. Can we fit Pancheshwar in place of Kausani?
In that case you can drop Patal Bhuvanshwar and head to Munsiyari only to spend time up there. Instead of Kausani, you can go over to Gwaldam and stay overnight. Beautiful place to get more closer view of Trishul
Did Devbhoomi trip in month of May, 2015.
Route Taken: Blr-Delhi-Haridwar-chopta-karnaprayag-kausani-Munsyari-almora-bhimtal-Delhi-Blr
BLR – Delhi: NS Corridor buttersmooth
Delhi – Modinagar: Patchy, from modingar toll roads are good upto Rishikesh
Rishikesh-Ukhimat-chopta: Single but nice view and descent tarmac
Chopta-Karnaprayag (via gopeshwar bypass)- Descent tarmac
Karnaprayag-Munsyari: Upto Gwaldham horrible roads, after gwaldham rather better from dangoli smooth. Chaukori to thal smooth from thal upto birthi found landslides would be tricky if rains or snows. Doable by hatch but need to be carefull at water crossings.
Return leg, found snow in Munsyari-Birthi part rest well uptil almora.
Almora -bhimtal: smooth surface, Took Halwani bypass to avoid mad traffic, Halwani bypass is done well.
Thank you so much Aritra for updating us with the road conditions.
Hi Deeraj,
Please can you suggest me the best road route from Delhi to Munsiyari for May-15 3rd week.
1. Delhi -Kashipur-ranikhet-Munsiyari
2. Delhi-Rampur-Almora-Munsiyari
3. Delhi-Rampur-Champawat-Pithoraghar-Munsiyari
Please keep in mind about the road condition as well as scenic beauty on the way.
Thanks
Rajeev Goel
Rajeev, I will suggest that you take Delhi – Kashipur – Ranikhet/Manila – Kausani – Munsiyari on the way to Munsiyari and come back from Almora – Rampur route to enjoy the jouenry in both sections 🙂
Hello Dheeraj,
kindly help me out chalking a plan for a road-trip to Munsiyari from Delhi. Have already been to Ranikhet, Almora, Binsar and Jageshwar. Our probable time of visit is last ten days of May. Will be driving SX4.
Hi Parag,
You have sufficient number of days in hand and you can plan something like below:
1. Delhi to Nainital / Pangot / Mukteshwar
2. Nainital / Pangot / Mukteshwar – Chaukori via Sheraghat route
3. Chaukori – Patal Bhuvanehwar – Chaukori
4. Chaukori – Munsiyari
5. Munsiyari rest day
6. Munsiyari rest day
7. Munsiyari – Bageshwar – Gwaldam (long drive so start early)
8. Gwaldam rest day
9. Gwaldam – Kausani – Manila
10. Manila – Delhi
Thank U Dheeraj for your prompt reply…as always.
Your mention of “sufficient days” has made us bit greedy. Need your opinion if we can include Chopta as well.
We plan to visit Chopta first and then move towards Munsiyari. On our return journey
we plan to stay in Sattal and then proceed to Delhi.
If you suggest we can add 2-3 days to make the trip more relaxing.
Pl. suggest places to stay (Budget hotels) and how to pace our trip.
Thanx once again.
In such a case, you can follow something like below
1. Delhi to Rishikesh – Chopta
2. Chopta Rest day, either visit Tunganath temple or visit Deoria Tal
3. Chopta – Gopeshwar / Chamoli – Karnprayag – Gwaldam
4. Gwaldam – Chaukori
5. Chaukori – Patal Bhuvaneshwar – Chaukori
6. Chaukori – Munsiyari rest day
7. Munsiyari Rest day
8. Munsiyari – Binsar
9. Binsar – Mukteshwar / Sattal
10. Mukteshwar / Sattal – Delhi
You can add rest days in between as you like.
Within 10 days I want to cover Mukteshwar, Kausani, Chaukori, Munshiyari, Dharchula and Nainital if possible. We plan to hire a taxi from Kathgodam on a Thursday in May and come back to Kathgodam by next to next Saturday. Can anyone suggest the best itirenary
Hi Sb,
You can follow something like below for 10 day trip to Kumaon:
Day 1: Kathgodam – Mukteshwar
Day 2: Mukteshwar – Chaukori
Day 3: Chaukori rest day, a visit to Patal Bhuvaneshwar
Day 4: Chaukori – Munsiyari
Day 5: Munsiyari rest day and around Munsiyari. May be a hike to Thamri Kund
Day 6: Munsiyari – Chaukori – Kausani
Day 7: Kausani rest day
Day 8: Kausani – Binsar
Day 9: Binsar – Nainital
Day 10: Leave back home
I want to ask you that can we add Binsar in our trip somewhere. Which route should I take for Ranikhet, i.e. bhowali-khairna-ranikhet or ramnagar-corbett-mohan-ranikhet..?
You can stay at Binsar instead of Patal Buvaneshwar in my itinerary suggested before.
Day 1 | Delhi – Ranikhet
Day 2 | Ranikhet – Chaukori
Day 3, 4 | Chaukori – Munsiyari and rest at Munsiyari
Day 5 | Munsiyari – Patal Bhuvaneshwar – Binsar, start early though from Munsiyari
Day 6 | Binsar – Mukteshwar
Day 7 | Mukteshwar – Delhi
For Ranikhet, go via Bhowali – Khairna
Hello bro, first of all kudos to you for writing wonderful travelogues which are very easily understood. After going through your “munsyari-dharchula” travelogue, I also want to go to kumaon side of UK. It ll b a family trip of 5 adults and one 3yr old kid in my own car with at least 7 days in hand. Kindly suggest an itinerary for the same. I have tried to make one, kindly see and advice accordingly.
D1- Delhi-Ranikhet
D2- Chaukori
D3,4- Munsyari
D5- Almora, with a visit to patal bhuvneshwar on the way to almora
D6- Almora-Delhi
Thanks in advance
Regards,
Dr Darvesh
Hello Doc,
Musiyari to Almora can be done only alone not with a visit to Patal Bhuvaneshwar as it will add more drive time as well as visit time. Since you have 7 days, you can break it up from Munsiyari to Patal Bhuvaneshwar.
Next day drive through Shreaghat to Almora from Patal Bhuvaneshwar, in fact better go to Mukteshwar instead of Almora and stay up there. Final day, go over to Delhi from Mukteshwar. So, it will look like:
Day 1 | Delhi – Ranikhet
Day 2 | Ranikhet – Chaukori
Day 3, 4 | Chaukori – Munsiyari and rest at Munsiyari
Day 5 | Munsiyari – Patal Bhuvaneshwar
Day 6 | Patal Bhuvaneshwar – Mukteshwar
Day 7 | Mukteshwar – Delhi
Regards
Dheeraj Sharma
Thank you boss for your kind suggestion. We ll b going towards march end. Will there be rush at that time ? If possible, can you suggest some good staying options, family-types, according to the itinerary you have made. Thanks a ton in advance
Mostly KMVN are good at all these places. At Chaukori, you can check Ojaswi just aside KMVN, very nice. We stayed there this time and loved it in entirety. Munsiyari – KMVN, Patal Bhuwaneshwar – one falls on the route to it, some 7-8 KMs before it offering nice views, I forgot the name. Do not book KMVN there. Mukteshwar – Oak Chalet is nice, but you need to walk down a bit for it. I stayed there with family and loved it.
Hello bro once again. Actually I m very confused regarding choosing the places to visit and stay in Kumaon region. As we are having quite a no. of days i.e. 7 in total, I m not being able to finalize the itinerary. We, groups of 3-4 families, will be starting from delhi and the final and only confirmed destination is Munsyari. Rest of the places will revolve around it. Plz make an itinerary for us for making the journey unforgettable.
Thanks bro
drdb
I did suggest an itinerary for you previously, did not you get my reply?
Day 1 | Delhi – Ranikhet
Day 2 | Ranikhet – Chaukori
Day 3, 4 | Chaukori – Munsiyari and rest at Munsiyari
Day 5 | Munsiyari – Patal Bhuvaneshwar
Day 6 | Patal Bhuvaneshwar – Mukteshwar
Day 7 | Mukteshwar – Delhi
Thank you for the very informative article and the excellent tips Dheeraj! Hope to visit these places myself some day 🙂
Glad that you liked the info on Munsiyari and rest of the Kumaon explained in this article. Anytime you visit and have any queries for visiting this beautiful part of Himalayas then please let me know and I would be aable to help in whatever info. I know 🙂
i am driving a nano, going from kolkata up to Munsiyari….any thoughts / suggestions ?
Anindya, it will quite a fun brother. The roads are all fine, I think you shall be able to do it without much hassles.