Enthralling Places For Camping in Uttarakhand

Auli is a Bugyal or a meadow which is surrounded by oak and coniferous trees and offers breathtaking of the Himalayas. You can set up camp in the vast bugyal and sleep under the starry night and wake up to a fantastic view. In the mornings, you can take hikes through the forest, trek to the nearby lush green Gurso Bugyal and the Chattrakund lake which is located amid the woods. Some campers also indulge in night jungle walks, although it is advisable not to do this alone. If you are an adventure enthusiast, visit this place during winters to take part in winter activities like skiing. Auli offers one ample places to explore on your own.

Best time to visit: All year round; For winter sports, November to March
Approximate cost: (per person)
INR 5000 for 3-4 days

3. Chopta

Located at the height of 8,790 feet in the Rudraprayag district, Chopta is a small unexploited area in the Himalayas which has been nicknamed as 'Mini Switzerland'. It consists of meadows and pine, deodar, and rhododendron trees and is also the starting point of many popular treks.

It is a perfect place for camping in Uttarakhand. You can set your camp up in the green meadows and wake up to a fantastic view of Nanda Devi and Chaukhamba range. It will be a fresh breath air from city life to watch the sunrise, and the birds chirp while sitting up high in the mountains. You can sit next to a bonfire at night, take photographs, do yoga or take part in rock climbing.

Best time to visit: April to November
Approximate cost: (per person)
INR 2000 for two days

4. Rishikesh

Located in the Dehradun district, Rishikesh is a popular pilgrimage site. It is steeped in myths and is believed to be the site of penance for Lord Rama. It is visited by many for its holy places but is also a beautiful place to go camping in.

Being the 'Yoga Capital of the World', Rishikesh had many ashrams and is visited by many tourists. You have an option to either camp in luxurious tents or camp next to the river Ganga. While in Rishikesh, you can take part in the adventure sport of river rafting, cliff jumping, practice yoga or visit the holy sites and be a part of Ganga Aarti. One thing to remember is - do not pollute the river or litter the area, as waste management has been an issue in Rishikesh camps in the past.

Best time to visit: October to November, March to April
Approximate cost: (per person)
INR 3000 for one night

5. Deoria Tal

Situated at a height of 7,999 feet, Deoria Tal is a lake which is surrounded by green forest. This is a wonderful location for camping in Uttarakhand, as one can set up camp beside the lake with a panoramic view of the Chaukhamba, Nilkantha, Kalanag and Kedar mountain ranges.

The lake has a legend attached to it, according to which gods used to bathe in the waters of the lake. The lake is close to the Saari village, and it is a perfect place from where you can gaze at nature's wonders, take photographs, go on forest trails and indulge in star watching.

Best time to visit: March to Mid June
Approximate cost: (per person)
INR 500 for one night

6. Nainital

Located at the height of 6,837 feet, Nainital is a town in the Nainital district. It is visited by many people from across India and is one of the most popular hill stations. The town was founded in 1841, but it is believed that this was the site where parts of Sati's body fell while Lord Shiva was carrying her.

Nainital is also a great place to camp in. There are ample places to camp in and a multitude of activities to indulge in. Although the main town is situated around the mango shaped lake in the valley, the adventure camps are set up on the outskirts. Here, you can take parts in night treks, rock climbing, bird watching, rappelling, paragliding, sit beside the bonfire, and take photographs of the beautiful surroundings.

Best time to visit: March to June
Approximate cost: (per person)
INR 2000 to INR 3000

7. Dhanaulti

Located close to Mussoorie, Dhanaulti is a hill station which offers a magnificent view of the Gangotri - Yamunotri glaciers.

Dhanaulti is surrounded by deodar, oak, and rhododendron trees. You can stay in luxurious tents which are very comfortable, and adventure camps also provide you with various activities to indulge in like paragliding, rappelling, zip swing, rock climbing, and explore the nearby forest trails. It is an ideal spot to camp in, as it is serene and allows one a break from the everyday city life.

Best time to visit: May to August
Approximate cost: INR 4000

8. Binsar

Binsar is a located on Jhandi Dhar hills and is known for its spectacular view of Kedarnath Peak, Nanda Devi, Trisul peaks, and Shivling mountaintop. It is a wonderful site to camp in, being surrounded by rhododendron and oak trees.

Binsar is also home to the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary which has a huge variety of flora and fauna. There is a multitude of adventure camps to choose from which provide you basic as well as luxurious camping options. You can pitch your tents in the jungle and go for hikes, paragliding, bird watching, valley crossing, rock climbing, and rappelling

Best time to visit: October to November
Approximate cost: INR 3500

9. Chaukori

Located in the Pithoragarh district, Chaukori is a hill station that falls in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. Chaukori is situated at the height of 6,594 feet and offers enthralling views of the Himalayan peaks of Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, and Panchachuli.

Chaukori is a small village that has recently garnered a lot of attention, and thus the tourist population going to this place has increased. If you choose this site for camping in Uttarakhand, you are guaranteed to be amid tea gardens and orchards, take photographs, go on hikes and witness beautiful views of sunsets and sunrises.

Best time to visit: April to June

10. Dayara Bugyal

Dayara Bugyal is a high altitude meadow situated at the height of 11,000 feet. It a lush green meadow which is covered where you can spot shepherds grazing their cattle. It is known for having one of the best ski slopes in India which stretch up to 28 square kilometres. Dayara Bugyal is also the campsite for many treks in Uttarakhand, and there are many closeby meadows which you can explore like Siyaari, Devi Kund, and Dodital. The bugyal is surrounded by the beautiful Himalayas thus allowing you to snap a photo as a souvenir. You can also camp here in winters when the bugyal is covered in a thick blanket of snow.

Best time to visit: February to June, September to January

11. Bedni Bugyal

Bedni Bugyal is another high altitude meadow in the Chamoli district of Kumaon region. It is situated at the height of 11,004 feet and offers an unobstructed panoramic view of Trisul group of peaks and Nanda Ghunti peak. The bugyal is green with a variety of tiny colourful flowers blooming across it. You can pitch your tent beside the lake Bedini Kund and enjoy the fresh mountain air. You can go on nature walks, indulge in star gazing at night, and take photographs to your heart's content.

Bedni Bugyal is also a campsite for many treks. Therefore you will find other campers there.

Best time to visit: Mid June to November

12. Nag Tibba

Situated in the Dehradun district, Nag Tibba is a peak which is very close to Mussoorie. It is at an elevation of 9,915 feet and offers a breathtaking view of the entire Dehradun valley. You can spend one night in a tent here at the top of the peak and watch the illuminated night sky. Waking up to a spectacular view of the Bandarpoonch, Kedarnath, and Gangotri group of mountains is unlike any other experience.

You can trek up to the peak either with a group of trekkers or on your own. It is an easy climb.

Best time to visit: April to June, October to December
Approximate cost: (per person)
INR 3500 for two days

13. Dodital

Located at the height of 9,921 feet, Dodital is a lake which lies in the Uttarkashi district. It is a freshwater lake and is also visited by a lot of trekkers en route to Dwara Top.

The lake offers a magnificent view of the Bandarpoonch and Swargarohini ranges. It is named after the freshwater Himalayan trout, Dodi which is found in this lake. It is believed that Dodital was the birthplace of Lord Ganesha. You can trek up to this lake starting from Bhagirath valley, set up your camp amidst the pine and oak trees and breathe in the clean, fresh mountain air. You can also trek up to other nearby sites or sit and enjoy the beautiful landscapes at this camping site in Uttarakhand.

Best time to visit: Any time of the year
Approximate cost: INR 8000

14. Sattal

Located in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Sattal, as the name suggests, is a group of seven lakes which are connected. These are freshwater lakes and are situated at the height of 4,494 feet.

The Sattal area was once a tea plantation under the British colonial rule. Today, the lake is surrounded by beautiful oak and pine trees and is a perfect camping location. You can visit this lake, spend a night beside the lake, indulge in bird watching, boating, go on nature walks, hike up to the waterfall and enjoy the natural beauty.

Best time to visit: March to June, September to December
Approximate cost: INR 2500 per head

15. Kanatal

Named after a lake that isn't there anymore, Kanatal is a small village which is located close to Mussoorie. It is situated at the height of 2,590 feet and had pleasant weather throughout the year, except when it snows in winters.

Kanatal doesn't receive a crowd, and the area is less known. You can camp in this small village, take a hike through the Kodia jungle and visit the famous Surkhanda temple. Kannatal offers a beautiful view of the nearby mountain ranges, which makes it an ideal spot for photography enthusiasts and a great spot for camping in Uttarakhand, of course. Adventure camps also offer some activities to indulge in like zip-lining, valley crossing, Burma bridge, and other group activities and games.

Best time to visit: April to June, October to February
Approximate cost: (per person)
INR 2000 

16. Bhimtal

Located in Nainital district, Bhimtal is a town which is most famous for the Bhimtal lake. Mostly, tourists visiting Nainital come to this town only to gaze at the lake and indulge in boating.

The Bhimtal lake is named after the legend of Bhima, one of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata. There are many camping opportunities in Bhimtal and many adventure camps to choose from. Each of them offers a chance to camp in the jungle, indulge in bird watching and fishing, hiking and interact with other campers over a bonfire.

Best time to visit: March to June, September to December
Approximate cost: INR 5000

17. Pangot

Pangot is located in the Nainital district and is very close to the town of Nainital. It is situated at the height of 6,300 feet and is surrounded by oak, pine and rhododendron trees. It is a beautiful campsite and is ideal for sitting and listening to the chirping of birds.

Pangot is home to around 250 species of birds, many are indigenous to this area, making it a haven for bird watchers and photography enthusiasts. You can spot exotic species of birds like the Himalayan Griffon, Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktail, Khalij pheasant, among others. You can also indulge in many adventure activities, bike through the mountains, go on nature walks till the nearby waterfalls or photograph at the rhododendrons in full bloom. Camping in Uttarakhand amidst the natural beauty of Pangot away from the hubbub of city life is the ideal unwind scene. 

Best time to visit: March to July
Approximate cost: (per person)
INR 2500 

18. Tons Valley

Located at the height of approximately 9,000 feet, Tons Valley is a wonderful camping spot in the Jaunsar-Bawar region of Garhwal. This is a perfect getaway with family or friends from your everyday work life. The beliefs of the people of Toms Valley are steeped in the Mahabharata, and they believe themselves to be the descendants of Kauravas and Pandavas.

While here, you can take part in activities like rafting, trekking to nearby places, hiking in the jungle, and camping amidst the pine, oak, rhododendron trees.

Best time to visit: April to October
Approximate cost: (per person)
INR 6000

Camping is a wonderful way to connect with nature, take a break from the fast-moving city life, and spend quality time with friends, family or by yourself. The places mentioned above are some of the most enthralling campsites in Uttarakhand and must be added to your bucket list.