Travel
Everyone knows Nainital. It usually comes up first. Mussoorie follows right after, and Rishikesh is almost always part of the plan somewhere. These places are popular for obvious reasons. Easy access, good views, plenty to do. Nothing complicated.
But that also means most trips start to look the same after a while. Same stops, same routes, same kind of experience. The interesting part of Uttarakhand is actually slightly outside all that. There are places that don’t show up much unless someone specifically points them out. No big promotion, no heavy development. Just smaller locations that haven’t changed too much yet. These hidden gems in Uttarakhand fall into that category.
Khirsu sits about 19 km from Pauri, at roughly 1,700 metres. It’s not built around tourism in the usual sense. No crowded markets or long lists of things to do. A few guesthouses, some orchards, a small temple. That’s about it. The view is what most people notice first. On a clear day, a wide Himalayan stretch is visible—from Kedarnath to Nanda Devi. Nothing is blocking it, which makes a difference. The rest of the experience is slower. Quiet roads, very little movement, long pauses in between. It’s the kind of place where time doesn’t feel structured. Some travellers like that. Some don’t. It depends on what is expected from the trip. Best time: March to June, September to November How to reach: Via Kotdwar or Pauri On the way to Munsiyari, there’s a tendency to keep driving without stopping. The destination takes priority. Somewhere before reaching town—about 35 km earlier—Birthi Falls appears along the road. It’s a tall drop, roughly 400 feet, surrounded by rock and forest. There’s a small place to stop and a short path leading closer. No structured entry, no organised viewpoint. It hasn’t been shaped much for tourism, which is noticeable. People usually spend some time here and move on. That’s enough. It works more as a break in the journey than a destination on its own. Best time: April to June, September to October How to reach: Thal–Munsiyari road Kanatal is located between Chamba and Dhanaulti, at around 2,590 metres. It doesn’t come up often in general travel lists. The setting is fairly straightforward—pine forests, scattered trees, and some open viewpoints. The Tehri reservoir is visible from certain points. For those searching for offbeat places to visit in Uttarakhand, this is one of the more consistent mentions. There are a few short walks nearby, including the Kodia Jungle stretch. Nothing too demanding. The place itself doesn’t require a plan. That’s probably the point. Best time: October to June How to reach: From Dehradun or Mussoorie Peora is a small village near Mukteshwar, at about 1,900 metres. Orchards, forest cover, and not much else in terms of built infrastructure. It stays quiet most of the time. No major attractions are pulling crowds. Accommodation is limited to homestays and small properties. Simple setups, usually. Seasonal changes are noticeable here. Spring looks different from autumn, and winter slows things down even further. It’s not a place where people rush through activities. The pace stays consistent throughout. Best time: March to May, October to November How to reach: Near Mukteshwar, via Kathgodam or Nainital Dhanaulti is not very far from Mussoorie, but the difference is clear once reached. Less movement, fewer crowds, more open space. It sits at around 2,250 metres, with deodar forests and mountain views similar to other hill stations in the region. There’s an Eco Park, which is often mentioned, but it’s not the main reason people prefer the place. The overall atmosphere is what stands out. Nothing too busy, nothing too structured. Best time: October to June How to reach: From Mussoorie or Dehradun Pangot is about 15 km from Nainital. Close in distance, but not similar in experience. The area is surrounded by forest—oak, pine, rhododendron. It’s known for birdwatching, with a large number of species recorded. Outside of that, it’s simply quieter. Mornings are usually the most active time in terms of natural sounds. The rest of the day stays relatively still. It has started to get more attention recently as one of the unexplored places in Uttarakhand, especially for travellers looking for less crowded options. Best time: November to April, March to June How to reach: Short drive from Nainital Uttarakhand isn’t limited to its popular destinations. Those are just the easier ones to reach. Places like Khirsu and Peora offer quieter settings. Kanatal and Dhanaulti provide similar mountain views without constant crowds. Birthi Falls works as a natural stop along the way. Pangot gives an alternative to staying in Nainital itself. These locations don’t need much planning. In fact, overplanning doesn’t really help here. These hidden travel spots in Uttarakhand are better experienced without trying to fit everything into a schedule.1. Khirsu
2. Birthi Falls, Munsiyari
3. Kanatal
4. Peora
5. Dhanaulti
6. Pangot
Conclusion
