Our tour begins at the picturesque hamlet of Pangot. Located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, Pangot is a birder’s paradise. There are over 240 species of resident and migratory birds that can be spotted here. There are also plenty of amazing nature trails around the hamlet that are worthy of being explored.
Mukteshwar is a spectacular hill station situated at an altitude of 2,286m in Uttarakhand. It is just 51km from Nainital. This place is associated with a legend that Lord Shiva gifted immortality or “mukti” to a demon that he slew.
In the lap of nature in the Kumaon Himalayas, overlooking the world’s longest, highest, widest mountain range lies Abbott Mount. On top of Abbott Mount is a big playground and on its slopes are European bungalows with well-maintained gardens and orchards, the best among them being Abbott Mount Cottage where we stay.
Munsiyari, sometimes known as “Little Kashmir”, is a cozy hamlet at an altitude of 2298 metres, known for its panorama of the snow-capped Himalayan Range, including Panchachuli (the five peaks), Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot. Near the borders of India, Tibet, and Nepal, it is a base for three glaciers—Namik, Milam and Ralam— and the Johar Valley which was an ancient trade route between Tibet and India.
Ranikhet is a place related with the legends of Himalayas. Historical accounts tell us the Queen Padmini of Kumaon was enchanted by this tiny hill paradise. King Sudhardev obliged her, by building a palace here for the queen and named the place Ranikhet. Lost in oblivion for long, the picturesque hill station was rediscovered by the British and has been a popular holiday retreat ever since.
Our final destination is the Corbett National Park. Established in 1936 by hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett, Corbett National Park has been a safe haven for Tigers ever since. Besides Tigers the park also plays host to over 600 species of birds and is therefore, one of the highlights of our trip.
