Inputs needed for an Uttarakhand road trip

[Anurag Dabral]

Just signed up.
Doing a road trip after many years. And so, a bit of a trepidation. But the excitement is more.
Realised I need to prepare thru it in a more structured manner that just a Jio connection with Google maps. And so, shout out to anybody who has done it before.
1. May. 13 days. Driving in a i20. Children in family.
2. Gurgaon- corbett- nauchukiataal-binsar-pauri- Dehradun.
3. The above are my sleeping points. Have a few days in each stop. And the idea was to cover locally.
4. My specific questions are as under...
a. A lot of friends and family are discouraging me on self drive. And want me to take a taxi. The itenerary above is made with the idea that except the binsar-pauri leg, there are only short drives. And I don't intend to do any night driving. Any thoughts?
b. Will the Jio and Google maps combination be enough to navigate thru the above? Or I need an alternative network? Or a paid maps app? Or I need to research routes the old way?
3. What are the logical coverages I can do from each location? For e.g. Nainital, Almora, Ranikhet, chopta, Haldwani, munsiyari.
The hills are so beautiful but just wanted some feedback on what all are possible good locations I must bear in mind and try to cover if possible.
Many thanks if you have reached this far in the mail.
Super super thanks if you choose to contribute.
God speed.

 

[Yogesh Sarkar]

You can download and save offline maps in Google Maps. I suggest you do that. This is something I do, even in Delhi, since network connection at times not fast enough.

Any particular reason you want to head to Pauri and Dehradun instead of continuing to explore Kumaon?

Munsiyari will take a full day’s drive to reach from Binsar. Rest can be covered as a day trip or en route to Binsar.

 

[Anurag Dabral]

You can download and save offline maps in Google Maps. I suggest you do that. This is something I do, even in Delhi, since network connection at times not fast enough.

Any particular reason you want to head to Pauri and Dehradun instead of continuing to explore Kumaon?

Munsiyari will take a full day’s drive to reach from Binsar. Rest can be covered as a day trip or en route to Binsar.

Thanks Yogesh for the inputs.
1. Offline maps is good idea. Will do that.
2. Pauri/Dehradun is a part of another prior plan that has dovetailed into this trip.

 

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Ok, then after how many days are you planning to head to Pauri?

Also instead of staying at Binsar, it would be a good idea to spend a day or two there and then head to other places in Kumaon before heading to Pauri.

 

[Anurag Dabral]

Ok, then after how many days are you planning to head to Pauri?

Also instead of staying at Binsar, it would be a good idea to spend a day or two there and then head to other places in Kumaon before heading to Pauri.

Sorry for the delayed response.
Binsar is planned to be about 5 days. Nainital is 3 days. And the idea was to cover places around from there as day trips. Or like you suggested on the way there.
For now, all I have on board is Ranikhet, Almora, kausani, haldwani (?).
Never been that side of Uttarakhand and so, happy to hear any must do places or itenerary you recommend.
Thanks.

 

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Spending so many days at one place isn’t going to be all that great and in an attempt to cover nearby places, you will end up travelling more (to and fro journey). Better bet would be to do something like this:

Nanital and Bhimtal: 1 or 2 days

Mukteshwar: 1 day

Binsar: 2 days en route to Binsar you can cover Almora or spend a night there as well.

Chaukori: 3 days, en route Chaukori you can cover Bageshwar and from Chaukori you can cover Gangolihat and Patal Bhuvneshwar.

Kausani: 1 or 2 days, en route to it you can cover Baijnath.

From Kausani you can head to Garhwal.

Have a look at the places I have suggested above, that would help you make up your mind .

 

[Anurag Dabral]

Spending so many days at one place isn’t going to be all that great and in an attempt to cover nearby places, you will end up travelling more (to and fro journey). Better bet would be to do something like this:

Nanital and Bhimtal: 1 or 2 days

Mukteshwar: 1 day

Binsar: 2 days en route to Binsar you can cover Almora or spend a night there as well.

Chaukori: 3 days, en route Chaukori you can cover Bageshwar and from Chaukori you can cover Gangolihat and Patal Bhuvneshwar.

Kausani: 1 or 2 days, en route to it you can cover Baijnath.

From Kausani you can head to Garhwal.

Have a look at the places I have suggested above, that would help you make up your mind .

Inputs indeep comprehensive. Let me research the places and discuss with my family. many thanks.

A specific question that still bothers me... How are the roads? And the driving? Any particular bad sectors? Or one way traffic (gate system)..like they have in the chakrata and Leh sides?

 

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Roads are a mixed bag, good at most places with a few bad sections. However, roads in Kumaon are a little narrow, so driving speed is generally slower than in Himachal. Last few kilometers to Gangolihat were under construction when I visited it, not sure if that has been fixed.

No one way system.

 

[Anurag Dabral]

Roads are a mixed bag, good at most places with a few bad sections. However, roads in Kumaon are a little narrow, so driving speed is generally slower than in Himachal. Last few kilometers to Gangolihat were under construction when I visited it, not sure if that has been fixed.

No one way system.

Many thanks Yogesh. Much appreciate. Wishing you safe travels.