My New Year Escape to Uttarakhand

Suman Jat

With every passing day, the world feels more cluttered and rushed. I am from Jaipur in Rajasthan and working as an Assistant Manager with a real estate company in Noida. After long working hours, I feel I get more tired mentally than physically. Noida is a fast city compared to Jaipur, and it sometimes feels like I am stuck in a never-ending cycle of work and stress. I have friends who also feel the same. So, this New Year, three of us decided to take a small escape to the mountains in Uttarakhand, from December 29, 2025 to January 1, 2026.

t was my first planned trip after one and a half years of my stay in Noida, and it became one of my most memorable tours–a much-needed break from the noise, rush and pressure of daily life.

Heavenly road to the hills

e had already booked the train tickets, but on the very last day, we decided to go by car. We cancelled our train tickets and started the exciting journey by road. Our journey was amazing, with pleasant mountain scenery, giving full fresh vibes with a breathtaking experience. At that moment, I felt more alive. We covered Bhimtal, Mukteshwar, Nainital and Kainchi Dham.

A Quiet stay at Bhimtal

By evening, we reached Bhimtal and checked into a hotel near the lake. The rooftop room we stayed in gave us a clear view of the lake. The food in the hotel’s cafe was very expensive and so we decided to eat street food. Salad, snacks and roti-sabzi cost around ₹2,000 for all of us. It became a peaceful start to our trip.

Mukteshwar: The best part of my trip

Next morning, as we went higher up in the hills, the trees looked taller and thinner. Far away, from our hotel balcony in Mukteshwar, we were also able to see the white Himalayan peaks standing still like giants. And after some time, it became my favourite place. The roads in Mukteshwar are narrow and busy, but the mountain views make everything worth it. The weather stayed cold at around 3-5°C.

We also visited Mukteshwar Dham, where the temple has an old white Shivling. The temple was very quiet and peaceful, and both the local people and police were very kind. They said if you tie a coconut in the temple premises and make a wish, your wish would be fulfilled. We believed them.  

Mukteshwar felt pure, calm and beautiful. It was the best part of the trip.

Trip to Kainchi Dham

Our next destination was Neem Karoli Baba’s Kainchi Dham. We reached early in the morning, but we had to stand in a long queue for about an hour in the cold weather and take our shoes off for the darshan. We heard about the nearby Golu Devta Temple, or the Ghantio wala mandir, but we were too tired and had no energy to walk.

Nainital: Beautiful but Very Expensive

On the last day, we explored Nainital. Here, food is very costly. A simple roti-dal for two people costs around Rs 580, and the price of fast-food items ranges from Rs 200–Rs 250.

In the evening, we walked on Mall Road. There was music, shopping and a nice view of Naini Lake. We visited Eco Cave Garden and Naini Lake in the morning and evening. Also took a car tour for ₹1,800 to Snow View Point. Nainital is a nice place, but after seeing Mukteshwar, it feels less special.

For me, Mukteshwar makes the trip special with its roads, views, and kind people. Nainital spoiled some fun because of its high prices. If someone asks me, I will always suggest they visit Mukteshwar, instead of Nainital.

As told to Sonal Chikara

How to reach

By Road (Car/Taxi/Bus)

Noida → Bhimtal

●      Route: Noida → Ghaziabad → Moradabad → Rampur → Haldwani → Kathgodam → Bhowali → Bhimtal (via NH9 / NH109)

●      Transport Modes

○       Private car/Taxi: Most flexible and scenic

○       Bus: Take interstate buses from Anand Vihar ISBT (Delhi/Noida) to Kathgodam or Nainital, then take a taxi or local bus to Bhimtal.

Bhimtal → Mukteshwar

●      Route - (Bhimtal → Bhowali → Ramgarh → Mukteshwar via NH109 and local hill roads)

●      Mode of Transport: Taxi/Private Car

Mukteshwar → Nainital

●      Route: Mukteshwar → Ramgarh → Bhowali → Nainital (via NH109 and hill roads)

●      Transport Modes: Taxi/Private Car

Nainital → Kainchi Dham

●      Route: Nainital → Bhowali → Kainchi Dham via NH109

●      Transport Modes: Taxi/Car: Quickest way

By Train

There is no direct train to any of these hill towns. The nearest railway station is Kathgodam Railway Station (KGM), from where you can take a bus or taxi. The popular trains from New Delhi to Kathgodam are Kathgodam Shatabdi Express, Ranikhet Express, Uttaranchal Sampark Kranti Express, among others.

By Air

Take a flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport to Pantnagar Airport. Book a taxi from there to reach your destination.