munsiyari trip from delhi

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Travel blog by an Indian travel blogger.

A One Week Road Trip Itinerary For Uttarakhand: Delhi To Munsiyari

This Delhi to Munsiyari trip was the best Uttarakhand Road trip I have ever had. If you will follow this itinerary too, it will take you across many highlights in Uttarakhand!

Since I bought a motorbike in April 2019, I have been planning road trips across the Himalayas. Where these road-trips surely fall under the category of a ‘road-trip’ the fact that I travel very slowly is what differentiates them from other similar road-trips or the road trip itineraries you find online.

These itineraries will take you across a place in a much detailed and orderly manner.

I also make sure that I convey only real feelings and do not promote a trip even if I don’t like it. Eg, 4 years ago, Manali to Leh road was one of my favourites, but now, it’s not. So I wrote a detailed guide condemning it.

Similarly, if you hear me talking too much about Delhi to Munsiyari route, there is a reason for it. And we will explore that reason as we will read this blog.

Delhi to Munsiyari

So, following the same ‘slow-travel’ approach, last month, in June of 2019, I did a 20-day trip from Delhi to the Munsiyari road trip.

During those 20 days, I stayed at 11 different locations and drove nearly 2000km. I rented guest houses, stayed in backpacker hostels and even camped on the way. Sometimes, I stayed on the main Delhi-Munsiyari connecting road, while at other times, I took a detour and stayed at someplace totally offbeat.

So out of my 20-day Delhi to Munsiyari road trip itinerary, if I were to suggest a quick 1-week trip that promises not only a picturesque drive but many different experiences to this is what I will recommend.

From exploring wildlife to temples to a local way of life, this journey had it all.

1 Week Delhi to Munisyari Road Trip Itinerary

If you wonder which motorcycle I ride, it is a Jawa 42 . Now, let’s get started…

Day 1: Delhi to Kalagarh | 230 Km

If you’ve never heard of Kalagarh, imagine it as an unpopular Jim-Corbett.

Located some 50km west of Ramnagar and Kotdwar (where most people visiting Jim Corbett stay) Kalagarh is one of the closest natural wildlife habitats from New Delhi and offers an offbeat and peaceful location – with villages to explore, other than some wildlife and migratory birds, of course.

The drive from Delhi to Kalagarh is moreover an enjoyable one, that, if nothing else, keeps you away from traffic (other than the frequented Delhi-Rishikesh or Delhi-Jaipur routes) and takes you from Delhi to Kalagarh in less than 6 hours.

Spend a night at one of Kalagarh’s wildlife resorts watching the beautiful Himalayan range in the backdrop and prepare yourself for driving in the mountains from tomorrow.

I stayed at ‘Upvan Wildlife Resort’ and can recommend a stay there.

Further Reading: Kalagarh from Delhi

Day 2: Kalagarh to Almora | 200 Km

Kalagarh to Almora is again a 6-hour drive, but a rather picturesque one. You will bypass Nainital where the weather will start getting colder. As you will leave Nainital, the temperature will rise again before it starts dropping near Almora.

Now, remember that there are two parts of Almora: the crowded and bustling part, and the quieter and greener part.

The latter is located close to Mata Kesar Devi Temple. So, if you will ask me, I will suggest you stay near Mata Kesar Devi Temple. Visit Mata Kesar Devi Temple and Neemkaroli Baba temple (on the way from Nainital and Almora) to complete your temple experience on Delhi to Munsiyari road trip.

I stayed at ‘The Himalayan Woods’ in Almora and can recommend a stay there.

Here are more Travel Tips For Almora , and a video from my Youtube Channel for my Nainital to Almora ride…

Another offbeat destination between Kalagarh and Almora is Jangalia Gaon Ganja (located 15km from Bhimtal). If you appreciate a village-like setting and enjoy exceptionally peaceful and offbeat destinations, you will love Jangalia Gaon.

Day 3: Almora To Village Naikana | 50 Km

If you’re one of those people who are into local experiences and want to see the local way of life – at least in the Kumaon region in Uttarakhand – Kot Naikana, in Village Naikana, Jageshwar, is the place to be, and that’s why I suggest you stay there for a night during your one-week road trip to Munsiyari.

Kot Naikana is an old Kumaoni house furbished with new-age comfort, located in the middle of a small village. To make the experience more local, the daily activities at Kot Naikana include a village tour, a jungle trek, and lunch in one of the village houses.

To get there, just Google Map Navigate for ‘Kot Naikana’. From Almora, it will take about 3 hours to get there.

Since Kot Naikana is not connected to the road, you can either park your vehicle at Jageshwar temple or trek from there. Or, you can go to the other side of the circle (imagine Kot Naikana as the center of a circle, and you’re on the other side now) at Sankar Jaim Temple (which can also be Google navigated) and follow a more rural and smaller trail to Naikana Village (3-5km from Sankar Jaim temple). From this point, your stay is about a 3-minute walk.

Read more about the place here: Village Experience In Uttarakhand .

Or watch the video:

Day 4: Naikana to Munsiyari | 180 Km

From Naikana to Munsiyari will again be about a 6-7 hour ride, but it will be the highlight and the most eye-pleasing part of the journey.

The best part will start from Tejam village which is a 50km stretch to Munsiyari, with a couple of high mountain passes and hairpin bends.

Munsiyari, as a place, holds not have much charm but the drive to Munsiyari does. So take your time getting there, and stop at beautiful locations on the way – particularly the Birthi Waterfall.

For your stay, I suggest you do not go into the main town of Munsiyari but rather stay at Mayank Homestay which is located well outside of the crowded Munsiyari and gives beautiful views of Panchachuli Peaks from its backyard.

It is also possible to camp in Munsiyari if you’re carrying a tent with you.

Note: There are two routes to explore Panchachuli Peaks, one is in Munsiyari and the second is from the other side of the Panchachuli in Darma Valley .

Day 5: Munsiyari to Golana | 140 Km

On day 5, your Delhi to Munsiyari ride officially comes to an end and the journey back to New Delhi begins. If you’re carrying a tent, just Google Maps navigate to this town called Golana (located only 20km before Bageshwar) and camp there.

Watch the video below and see where I camped and how the location actually looks like:

The place is rather safe and the local villagers are very friendly. Camping in Golana will complete your dream of camping in the wilderness (not literally though but to some point). There are local shops nearby where you can eat.

Day 6: Golana to Nainital | 130 Km

From Golana, Nainital is about 6 hour’s drive and less than 150 km.

It is possible to do Golana to Delhi in a day if you’re driving a car. But those riding a motorbike, however, should split the journey into two halves and stay in Nainital. Nainital, moreover, remains a popular place for anyone doing the Delhi-Munisyari route so a stay in Nainital can be a good idea.

When it comes to accommodation, Nainital has no dearth of options. Stay on Mall Road if you want to experience Nainital closely, but be warned that Nainital can be quite crowded.

It is also a good idea to stay outside of the Nainital, do a day trip to Nainital, and leave the next morning without any risk of getting stuck in traffic. Nainital can be quite crowded sometimes.

Here’s a quick video of my Golana to Nainital ride and where I stayed:

Day 7: Nainital to Delhi | 350 Km

Nainital to Delhi is again only a quick 6 to 7 hours drive that takes you to Ramnagar and Moradabad on the way, and gives you not much to marvel at!

Delhi to Munsiyari Is Offbeat

No wonder, road trips are the best way to travel, given they give you full control over your journey. Want to stop? Stop. In a hurry? Drive fast. Fancy taking a detour? Do it.

What’s better is, road trips bring you closer to your family and friends. And if you’re doing it solo, you will have the best time introspecting yourself and coming out of your comfort zone. So yea, everything about road trips is just perfect if only you drive to the right place. If, however, you ended up visiting a place that is rather crowded, your journey is going to feel less like a holiday and more like a tiresome job, where you’re commissioned to drive and drive more.

So yea, for a road trip to be enjoyable it’s important to have an itinerary that is rather offbeat, and that’s what this Delhi to Munisyari road trip itinerary is going to offer – if only if you’re not doing it as the usual hurried weekend drive.

So find yourself some time, follow this one-week Delhi to Munsiyari road trip itinerary and complete your Uttarakhand experience in a single journey!

Also Read: Spiti Valley Road Trip Itinerary

Nice post .. if someone is in search of peace and tranquility, uttarakhand is best place to itinerary.

VERY NICELY SAID YOUR MIND IS AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS. KEEP UP THE BEAUTIFUL WORK, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE MORE PLACE FROM INDIA. WE ARE PLANNING TO VISIT INDIA .lOVE FROM ENGLAND.

really awesome man! wen I see this type of travel blog from India it really excites me. love from London

Nice coverage of the place, Very informative blog and suggestion for travelers. I really like to this blog its very interesting and informative, all pictures are extremely beautiful.

bro love this part of life let me know whenever you go to any place I will try my best to catch you

very scenic location.

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Journey toward half of the world: Munsiyari

In everybody’s life there are some journeys which never end, but are played over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from these journeys.

One of such journeys of mine started in this summer of two thousand and fourteen. Delhi , our national capital was boiling with the heat of election and sun and frequent power cuts added to the woes. On one such evening, I packed my bag with a few books and clothes to keep both my mind and body warm for a month and I decided to go to Kumaon Himalayas and booked a night bus ticket from Delhi to Haldwani . Kumaon is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand , a mountainous state of India , the other being Garhwal. Kumaon Himalayas are relatively less elevated than other Himalayan series but not in beauty.

My bus to Haldwani left Delhi around 11pm. After 6hrs of half-asleep journey as one can imagine in a bus, I reached Haldwani at the sunrise. Haldwani is called “The Gateway of Kumaon” and is at the elevation of 424m (1,391ft) from sea level. Now, I had to decide whether to stay in Haldwani for some time or go further. Haldwani being an industrial city and at little height, I settled against staying and decided to board the next passenger vehicle to further into Kumaon. After waiting for some time, a jeep, only with two other passengers halted in front of me and I climbed inside, the jeep was going to Almora .

In an address to people of Almora Swami Vivekananda had said, “…..this is land of dreams of our forefathers, in which was born Parvati, Mother of India. This is holy land where every ardent soul in India wants to come at the end of its life and the last chapter of its mortal career….. ”. Almora is 98kms from Haldwani and at the elevation of 1,646m (5400ft). In hilly areas 90kms are equivalent to 150kms of plains, so I decided to complete my sleep but sleep was far off, river flowing at one side and beautiful trees on the other refreshed me. It was during these 3hrs from haldwani to Almora that I first time heard about Munsiyari, driver of my jeep told me that visit to Kumaon is incomplete without Munsiyari, till then I didn’t know that I would be spending my next 20 days in that little village near  India- Nepal border. I reached Almora around 9am and took a hotel near bus stand. I was in Kumaon for a long haul, so after a bath and breakfast I decided to explore Almora and at the same time to look out for a nice room on rent out for a month, because hotels didn’t seem both economical and quieter for such a long stay.

Almora is a municipal board, a cantonment town and a district headquarter. It is a serene little town, nothing like plains which are bustling with crowd. Buildings of Almora reminded me of Ruskin bond stories, small cottages of wood with a garden full of plants outgrowth, small pavements and an old church at the heart of town. Actually, it was hard to find out Almora’s heart; wherever I went it seemed like a center with small arteries like pavements going in all direction. Another thing about this city which attracted me was its jail, currently in shambles but many freedom fighters were jailed here, including our first prime minister and Swami Vivekananda. As I was admiring the beauty of Almora, I was also seeking out for the cottages to spend next one month. I found many such cottages at the edge of hill and in the heart too, but none were available on rent. After exhausting all my energy in a futile search for a nice room, I returned to hotel and sat in lobby brooding about next destination.

It was in the lobby of the hotel that munsiyari was mentioned second time. Next to my chair was sitting a photo journalist who had worked for BBC for some time, he seemed a man of wisdom who had seen many winters. He told me that real Uttarakhand can be experienced only in small towns and villages and munsiyari is the best place amongst them. He showed me some photographs of munsiyari and seed was sown. I slept thinking about munsiyari and how my rest of the journey will turn out to be.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.  Discover.                                                                 –H. Jackson Brown Jr.                                   

Next morning, I decided to leave for munsiyari and checked out. Munsiyari is located in the district of Pithoragarh . From Almora there are two routes to munsiyari, direct one is via Thal ; I had already missed the only direct public transport which leaves Almora around 5am and private cab was out of my budget, so I decided to take the less direct route. The route I chose is via Pithoragarh and is extra 60kms. I boarded an Uttarakhand parivahan bus from Almora for Pithoragarh. This route is full of beautiful sceneries and rivers full of meandering courses. It took me 7 hours to reach Pithoragarh.

Pithoragarh is set in a valley popularly known as “soar” (root meaning is cool) and lies in the center of four hills Chandak, Dhwaj, Kumdar and Thal kedar. Pithoragarh is known as the gateway to the Himalayas from the north, as pilgrims trek through this town to the Kailash, Lake Mansarovar and Om parvat. I reached pithoragarh after sunset, so I had little time to explore pithoragarh because the only shared transport that goes to munsiyari leaves at the dawn. I booked my seat for the morning ride to munsiyari, which was a ten seater SUV and checked in at the K.M.V.N. rest house, which is located on the top of pithoragarh near revered Ulka Mata Temple. In whole Kumaon region K.M.V.N. rest houses are at best locations because of being oldest and government financed. After dinner I went to the Ulka Mata temple and prayed for the peace of heart and mind. Whole town, glittering in lights was visible from there. Sleep after a prayer is always an untroubled one and mine was no different.

My morning ride arrived at the promised time and final leg of my journey started. It took four and half hours of chilling and dangerous road along with Gori Ganga river to reach munsiyari. Finally I reached munsiyari; a small hamlet nestled among snowcapped mountains from three sides. There is a saying in pahadi language, “Ghumyo munsyaro, ghumyo aadho sansaro”, which means if you have been to munsiyari, it’s equal to travelling half of the world. Nothing else could have been truer to the spirit of Munsiyari. I was there, with both heart and mind at peace.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ……..To be continued

Part 2 link: http://www.tripoto.com/trip/i-was-in-munsiyari-8098

Pithoragarh

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Further Reads

Munsiyari Travel Guide – How to Plan your Trip and Explore

I was once asked by a friend to suggest him some of the best places to visit in Uttarakhand. I was not really able to answer this question then and I do not think I have an answer to it still. Why? Because the entire state is a tourist destination in itself. You can start driving in any direction and every town or village you come across can be termed as a tourist spot. What is more? All of these places are equally scenic and picking one over another is really tough. Some of these are very well known like Mussorie, Rishikesh, Nainital, Dehradun, and Gangotri, etc. However, there are numerous other tiny hamlets that may be smaller in size but are a giant in natural beauty. One such offbeat and lesser known town of Uttarakhand that I will talk about in this post is Munsiyari.

Located about 100 kilometers from India Nepal border, Munsiyari is one of those places that is bound to leave you charmed and wanting to come back for more. Nestled in the snow-capped peaks at an altitude 2,298 meters, it is a paradise for nature lovers and adventurous souls; offering splendid vistas and mesmerizing views all around. The name Munsiyari literally translates as “Place with snow” due to which, it is often termed as “Little Kashmir”. It also serves as a base for trekking to Milam and Ralam Glaciers and Nanda Devi peak; and a center for skiing and other winter sports.

Below is a quick navigation menu of details on Munsiyari that we will be covering in this article.

Quick Navigation

Know Munsiyari

Where is munsiyari located.

Munsiyari is located at a distance of 135 kilometers from Pithoragarh, 200 kilometers from Almora and about 600 kilometers from Delhi. It is considered as the gateway to the Johar valley of inner Himalayas and sits at an ancient trade route between India and Tibet.

Why visit Munsiyari

Munsiyari is not really for everyone. There are no shopping malls here, no fancy restaurants to eat at and no large markets to go shopping in. If your idea of a vacation is places like Shimla and Manali then Munsiyari will definitely disappoint you. But if you are someone who likes to visit offbeat destinations and not so crowded places then Munsiyari will suit you just fine. It is a perfect destination for anyone interested in photography, trekking, enjoying snow, skiing or just relaxing in a serene and tranquil place. Surrounded with mighty snow-capped peaks and dense forest, Munsiyari offers natural beauty at its best without asking its visitors to go too remote.

Also Read: 12 Scenic and Offbeat Places in Uttarakhand

How to reach Munsiyari

Until some time ago, Munsiyari was a restricted area due to its close proximity with the border. But now it is emerging as a popular offbeat destination and connectivity also has improved tremendously. Depending on your preference, you can reach here either by your own vehicle or public transport.

How to reach Munsiyari from Delhi by Road

I will begin by first explaining the journey for someone traveling by their own vehicle. For the sake of the route, I will assume Delhi as your starting point. However, even if you were coming from a different city, the information below should still be able to help you understand the best way to reach Munsiyari.

Starting from Delhi, the route to Munsiyari will be as mentioned below.

Delhi – Ghaziabad – Amroha – Bazpur – Nainital – Almora – Binsar – Kapkot – Munsiyari

There can be several different variations of this route but the one I suggested above is the quickest one. Traveling this way, total distance covered will be about 580 kilometers and it will easily take you 15-16 hours to cover. If you were coming from a place around Chandigarh (or from that direction); you will have to take the route via Paonta Sahib, Dehradun, Srinagar, and Bageshwar. From Chandigarh, Munsiyari is about 630 kilometers and 19-20 hours journey. From Dehradun, it is 450 kilometers and around 15-16 hours of travel time.

How to reach Munsiyari by Bus

There are regular buses to Munsiyari from nearby towns of Pithoragarh, Almora, and Haldwani but the frequency is very less. In most cases, it is just one bus a day and if you missed that, shared cabs will be the next choice. These are easily available, are more regular but charge way more than a Bus. Also, the shared cab will not move unless it is has been stuffed breathless, no matter how long that takes.

If you were coming from Delhi, you can first board an overnight bus for any of these three towns and then catch a bus to Munsiyari from here. Another option would be to board a shared taxi which too is easily available and even more frequent than a Bus. It will cost about Rs. 200 from Pithoragarh, Rs. 400 from Haldwani and Almora for a shared cab to Munsiyari.

As far as I know, due to the distance and long journey, there are no direct buses from cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, etc. to Munsiyari. Your journey must be broken into parts and you will have to change buses. There is a daily morning Bus from Munsiyari for Haldwani.

Also Read: Best Hill Stations for Honeymoon in India

How to reach Munsiyari by Train

Nearest railway station to Munsiyari is located at Kathgodam at a distance of about 270 kilometers. The next closest train station is at Tankapur at a distance of about 290 kilometers. From both these places, you can get buses and taxis for your final leg of the journey.

Nearest airport to Munsiyari

The nearest airport to Munsiyari is at Pantnagar at a distance of 250 kilometers. You can get private taxis for Munsiyari from the airport itself. For budget travel, you can take a cab from the airport to Almora and then board a Bus for Munsiyari from there. The nearest international airport, however, is in Delhi, 580 kilometers away.

Best way to reach Munsiyari

The best way to reach Munsiyari would definitely be by your own vehicle and breaking the journey in 2 days. If traveling by Bus, best would be to board an overnight bus for Pithoragarh and then travel to Munsiyari from there. For moving locally in the region from one town to another, shared cabs are the best option.

Best Vehicle

I have been to Munsiyari in a Maruti Swift so there is really no vehicle required as such. I have seen local here riding around on automatic scooters like Activa as well. All that is needed is that your vehicle is well maintained and serviced.

Local Transport

Munsiyari is just a small town best covered on foot. You do not really need a mode of transport to move within the town here.

Also Read: Chakrata Travel Guide – How to Plan your Trip & Explore?

What to see in Munsiyari

Munsiyari maybe just a tiny hamlet but there are plenty of places for sightseeing here. If you were visiting here for 2-3 days, then rest assured that your schedule will remain full and you will hop from one place to another all day long. Mentioned below is a list of a few must-visit places in Munsiyari. I will recommend all of them but how many you are able to cover will entirely depend on your mode of travel and time in hand.

Panchchuli Peaks

It is a series of five snow-capped high mountains that is visible from everywhere in Munsiyari. The altitude of the peaks ranges from 6,334 meters (20,781 ft) to 6,904 meters (22,651 ft). The word ‘Chuli’ here means Chulha, a cooking hearth. So Panchchuli literally translates as ‘Panch Chulha’. It is said that this is where the Pandavas cooked their last meal before reaching heaven and hence the name. The imposing peaks are a sight to behold and the greatest attraction of Munsiyari. The best view is at the time of sunrise when the sun comes up from behind the peaks.

Birthi Falls

It is a huge waterfall located about 35 kilometers from Munsiyari on Munsiyari – Thal road. To reach the waterfall, you will have to leave your vehicle near KMVN Tourist lodge before the village of Birthi and walk a short and easy trek. The waterfall is surrounded with thick forest and is a popular tourist spot.

Balanti Potato Farm

Also simply known as Balanti Farm, it is more of a viewpoint for tourists. It is actually both potato and apple farm and you will have to trek for about 2 kilometers from Munsiyari bus stand to get here. This is the best spot in all of Munsiyari to get the best and a spectacular view of Panchachuli peaks.

Maheshwari Kund

It is a small lake located on Munsiyari – Madkot road. To get here, you will have to walk an easy trek of about 30 minutes from the main road. It is said that in ancient times, this lake was home to a Yaksha who fell in love with the daughter of the sarpanch of the village. The sarpanch, however, denied him his daughter’s hand in marriage and got the lake dried up. The Yaksha then cursed the village and a drought fell upon the region for many years to come. The villages later apologized to the Yaksha after which the drought ended.

Also Read: Dhanaulti – A Complete Travel Guide, Road Map & Itinerary

ThamrI Kund

Thamri Kund, also known as Thamri Tal, is another small lake located about a 3 kilometers long trail from Munsiyari. It is not much of a lake to be honest but more of a small pond. The trek, however, is a very scenic one and is worth trying if you had the time. The small lake and the nearby areas are also famous as a natural habitat of Musk deer which can be of interest to wildlife enthusiasts.

Khaliya Top

Khaliya Top is a mix of many things in Munsiyari. It is an easy trek, viewpoint, a camping ground, a beautiful meadow, and a sunrise point. The meadow is surrounded by snowy peaks and provides a stunning view of the majestic Panchachuli, Rajrambha, Hardeol and Nanda Kot peaks. It is a 6 kilometers long trail that starts from Balanti Farm and climbs gradually. You can attempt the trek on your own as well but the forest at some places quite dense and the path is not well laid out. It would be better to hire a local as a guide for a few hundred bucks for this trek.

Nanda Devi Temple

This is a temple dedicated to Goddess Nanda or Parvati and can be reached after an easy trek of 3 kilometers. Apart from a sacred and important Hindu religious site, it also provides a great view of the peaks around. It is a very small temple built on the edge of a cliff, offering a great view of the slopes and surrounding mountains. This is one of the most important temples in Munsiyari and the trek starts from the main town itself. Just ask any of the locals and they will point you in its direction.

Kalamuni Temple

This is a temple dedicated to Goddess Kali and is located about 16 kilometers from Munsiyari. There is no trekking involved to get here and a motorable road leads all the way to the entrance of the temple.

If you were visiting Munsiyari in winter, then a trip to Betulidhar cannot be missed. It is a large garden full of Rhododendrons that serves as an ideal skiing slope in winters. It is also an ideal spot for viewing both sunrise and sunsets, showcasing beautiful hues of nature.

What to do in Munsiyari

Apart from the sightseeing at all of the above-mentioned places, listed below are some other activities that you can indulge in while visiting Munsiyari.

As you can guess from the details above, Munsiyari is a heaven for trekkers. There are all sorts of treks starting from this small town, including short ones that can be covered in a matter of hours to long and serious ones that can last for a few days. Khaliya Top and Nanda Devi Treks are the two most popular easy ones. If you are into trekking and needs a bit more of a challenge, then you can try the treks leading to Milam and Ralam Glaciers. Another 10 days long but tough and least explored trek is the one leading to Nandadevi East Base Camp.

This is another great activity that people look forward to while visiting Munsiyari. The best place to get camping here is Khaliya Top.

Photography

I think this one goes without saying. It does not matter what kind of a photographer you were, you will have ample of opportunities to click thousands of pictures including natural landscape and wildlife both. The pollution-free clear skies of Munsiyari provide great opportunity to click some stunning night skies and star trails.

Also Read: Best Honeymoon Destinations in Uttarakhand

Where to Stay in Munsiyari

Munsiyari may not be one of the crowded ones but still is a well-known tourist destination. There are numerous hotels here and you will easily find one suiting your need. There are numerous hotels near the Bus stand itself as a matter of fact. During the tourist season, expect the price to be around Rs. 1500 (could be higher depending upon the hotel). During the off-season, you can easily get a room anywhere between Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000, depending on your negotiation skills.

Camping in Munsiyari

Khaliya Top is again the best camping spot if you were carrying your own gear. Surprisingly I did not notice any campsites here but I visited in the off-season so that could be the reason. There may be operational campsites in the tourist season but I cannot really confirm that.

What & Where to Eat

Like shopping, options to eat at Munsiyari too are limited. There are no fancy restaurants here and the food you can get will be quite basic. You can either eat at your hotel or in any of the small restaurants. Some of the local items that you can try are rice and mutton curry, runny gravy, Bhang Ki Chutney, Kukla and Bhuta Aalu. Other than this, almost every simple north Indian dish can be made on order.

Also Read: Mana Village – How to Plan your Trip & Explore

What to Buy in Munsiyari

Shopping in Munsiyari is not really a choice because it is not much of a shopping destination. It is just a small town with shops selling some day to day commodities and groceries. If you do want to buy something as a souvenir for your trip, you can buy some handicraft items like shawls and caps, hand-woven carpets and woolen items.

Due to its high altitude, the weather of Munsiyari ranges from being pleasant to very cold. It snows here in the month of January and February and at such times, the temperature drops close to 0 degrees at night. Spring arrives towards the end of March and officially marks the beginning of tourist season in Munsiyari. The following months of April, May, and June are considered to be the best time for a trip because the weather in these months is very pleasant. Days will remain moderately warm and nights will be pleasantly cool.

July and August is the time of monsoon and it rains here a lot in these months. Sometimes the rain continues for days altogether causing landslides and can force you to remain indoors throughout the duration of your trip. The rain gods depart in the month of September but leave plenty of greenery behind to enjoy.

October is when the Autumn season begins and all that was green in September now turns orange. This is another good month to visit but the weather starts to get cold again by the end of the month. The months of November and December is the driest time of the year during which the temperature again drops below 5 Degrees Celsius. Snowfall starts towards the end of December and lasts until early February.

Temperature

Below is how the temperature in Munsiyari ranges. Please note though that these are just average numbers and the temperature can vary during noon and at night. The months of May and June are the warmest time of the year and January is the coldest.

• Munsiyari in Winters: The average temperature in the months of November, December, January, and February ranges between -5 Degrees Celsius at night; and 15 Degrees Celsius in the day.
• Munsiyari in Summer: In the months of May and June, the average temperature ranges between 20 to 30 Degrees Celsius. It gets a little warm here at this time and you may not even need a jacket during the day.
• Munsiyari in Monsoon: The average temperature in July and August ranges between 15 to 25 Degrees Celsius.
• Munsiyari in Spring Season: This is the most pleasant time of the year with temperature fluctuating between 10 to 20 Degrees Celsius in March and April. Weather remains clear with sunny skies and clear views of the peaks around.
• Munsiyar in Autumn Season: The temperature in September and October too ranges between 10 to 20 Degrees Celsius.

Best time to visit Munsiyari

Now considering the information above, I think it is safe to say that the months of April, May, September, and October are the best times to visit Munsiyari. But it also will depend on your reason to visit. For example, if you wanted to see snow and possibly catch a live snowfall as well; then you should plan in January and February. For a family trip, April and May are the best time to go. For photography, September will be a good time but if you are ready to risk the rain, July and August will be the best months.

November is generally considered a bad month to go because the vistas at this time are very dry and dull; and there won’t even be any snow around. For a budget trip, plan in July, August, November or December. If you do not like the cold weather; do not go between October to March. If you are not too fond of the rainy season; then avoid the period between late June to early September. If you want to visit when there aren’t many people around, then you should not plan in April, May or June.

Also Read: Nainital – How to Plan your Trip & Explore

Clothes to Pack

What clothes you should be packing on the time of your travel. For a trip from April to September, just carry your regular cotton clothes with some light woolens or a jacket; and that will suffice. For July and August, pack clothes that can dry faster, like Polyester. For a trip in winter, from October to March, you must bring heavy woolens, windproof jacket, cap and gloves. Also pack other items like some basic medicines, lip balm and cold cream etc.

Munsiyari Tour Itinerary

Let me also suggest an example of an itinerary that you can follow for visiting Munsiyari. For the sake of the itinerary, I will assume Delhi as your starting point. However, if you were coming from a different place, only the journey on 1st and last day will be different. Rest of the details will still apply.

Delhi to Nainital / Almora / Binsar / Haldwani – Day 1

Delhi to Munsiyari by road is about 16-18 hours of drive, depending on your speed and breaks. So unless you started from your home in Delhi by midnight and are ready to drive non-stop, getting to Munsiyari in a day will be very difficult. Hence, you will have to break your journey at either of the 4 places I mentioned above. I personally will recommend that you stay for the first night at Binsar which is about 11 hours’ drive from Delhi. If you were traveling by Bus, then the best way is to catch an overnight Bus for Haldwani. This starts from ISBT Delhi by evening and drops you at Haldwani early in the morning the next day.

Nainital / Almora / Binsar / Haldwani to Munsiyari – Day 2

Start early in the morning and drive to reach Munsiyari by evening. If you were traveling by Bus, then on this day, you will catch the morning 6.30 bus from Haldwani. This Bus will drop you at Munsiyari sometime in the evening. If you missed the Bus, then the next best thing is to board a shared cab from the Bus stand itself. The roads will be a mix of good, bad and ugly. Arrive at Munsiyari, check into a hotel and relax. You can step out to have dinner outside and just walk leisurely in the place.

Sightseeing in Munsiyari – Day 3 & 4

Spend 2 days in Munsiyari and visit places that I listed above. On Day 3, you can trek to Khaliya Top and return by noon. Have lunch and then you can explore places like Balanti Farm and drive to Kalamuni Temple. Or if you were up for some more trekking, you can visit Birthi Falls. On Day 4, trek to Nanda Devi temple in the morning. Later in the day, you can go to Maheshwari Kund.

Munsiyari to Nainital / Haldwani – Day 5

If you were traveling in your own car, I will recommend driving down to Nainital and spend the evening there. If you were traveling by Bus, then catch the early morning Bus from Munsiyari to Haldwani. It will drop you at Haldwani Bus stand by late evening and from there you can then immediately board another overnight bus for Delhi.

Nainital to Delhi – Day 6

Spend some time in Nainital. Visit the lake and the local market and drive back to Delhi.

Also Read: Mussoorie – A Complete Travel Guide and Itinerary

Time Needed

A minimum of 2 days of stay is what I will recommend to explore Munsiyari and nearby areas. 3 days will be an ideal and even better time. And then you will have to add days that you will spend in reaching Munsiyari and then going back home. So for example, if a person was coming from Delhi, he would have to keep at least 5 days in hand for visiting here. Any less than this and most of the time will be spent on the road only and you will barely touch Munsiyari before heading back.

Also Read: Uttarakhand Roadways Bus Time Table

Places Near Munsiyari

If you had additional time in hand, then you can extend your trip to cover a few other nearby places as listed below.

Binsar: Binsar will be on your way to Munsiyari and I will highly recommend spending a day here either while on your way to Munsiyari or while returning. It is a very peaceful and scenic town known best for Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Bageshwar: This is another town located close to Munsiyari which is religiously very important. It is known for the Bagnath Temple and attracts a lot of devotees all year long.

Kausani: About 165 kilometers and 6 hours’ drive from Munsiyari is the scenic town of Kausani which is an awesome offbeat tourist destination. It offers a majestic view of various snow-capped mountains and is a great place to spend a few days in peace and serenity. Mahatma Gandhi visited here in 1929 and is said to have been very impressed and fascinated by the scenic beauty of Kausani.

Pithoragarh: Pithoragarh is also known as “Little Kashmir” and is a greatly scenic small town located with Nepal to its east and Tibet to the north. It is located about 135 kilometers from Munsiyari and is perfect for extending your trip for a couple of days more.

A couple of other nearby places are the village of Darkot, known for its weavers; and Mudkot, famous for a hot water spring with healing properties.

Below is some other useful information above visiting Munsiyari.

Banks and ATM

There are Banks and ATMs located in Munsiyari. I noticed ATMs of SBI and PNB when I was there and both were functional. However, I will still recommend that you completely rely on the ATM here and carry sufficient cash.

Mobile Network in Munsiyari

BSNL provides the best coverage here including the main town and nearby areas. However, other networks like Airtel and Vodafone too work fine, both prepaid and postpaid. Internet and Data connectivity was a little slow though.

Hospital in Munsiyari

There is a community Health center (Samudayik Swastha Kendra) in Munsiyari where you can seek medical assistance if required.

Petrol Pump / Mechanics

There is an HP petrol pump located in Munsiyari. You can find mechanics as well but only for some small fixes.

Also Read: Gaumukh Trek from Gangotri – A Complete Travel Guide

FAQs about Munsiyari

Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about Munsiyari.

1. Is Munsiyari worth Visiting?

Yes, Munsiyari is definitely worth visiting. The distance may sound a little too much but it is worth it.

2. Is Munsiyari safe?

Yes, Munsiyari is a very safe place to visit as long as you act responsibly and do not take any unnecessary risks or put yourself in harm’s way. It is a popular tourist destination that gets a lot of visitors including families and couples. The locals are very simple-minded and humble people.

3. When does it snow in Munsiyari?

It snows in Munsiyari between last week of December to early February.

4. Is there a taxi for local sightseeing available?

Yes, you can book a local cab in Munsiyari to show you around. It is greatly beneficial for people who arrived in Munsiyari by Bus. How much the cab will cost will entirely depend on how many places you wish to cover.

Also Read: Gangotri – A Complete Travel Guide and Itinerary

I hope the information above on visiting Munsiyari, what to see there and the best way to plan your journey was of help. If you have any questions; or need any other details; please feel free to ask in the comments section below; or at our Community Forum ; and I will be glad to answer.

Vargis.Khan

Not much to write about me really except for that I love to travel around whenever I can and to wherever I can. This blog is just a small attempt to share my travel experiences with the world. Hope you like it !!!

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You are funtastic after seeing your beautiful writing on tourisum it looks I was there. Thanks Ramesh

Thanks Ramesh Bhai

Hi Mr Khan greetings from London i think this is one of the best ( if not THE BEST) detailed description about Munsiyari , Pithoragarh. I and a friend of mine are planning to be there in the 3rd / 4th week of March 2022. Can you please recommend any birding guide who we can contact and retain his services for bird watching .Thanks a lot in advance. if you wish you may reply to my e mail id [email protected] Best wishes sammy London

Hello Mr. Satsangi – Thank you for your kind words. Unfortunately, I do not have any contacts to recommend. Sorry.

Hii..will it be safe to travel with our daughter who will turn 1&1/2 years old in may. We are thinking of travelling in May 2021

Pls tell me another places like Munsiyari ,long drive.not too much rush.small places are very beautiful like munsiyari.pls tell me where i can go like Munsiyari place.Only in Uttarakhand.

Perhaps the best info on the web on Munsiyari. Appreciate the minute details covered in the article. Please keep sharing mire info on off the track tourist places

Thank you Brajesh Bhai

Yes Kapil has planned v good. I do agree. I will follow similar. Kathgodam to Almora to Chaukor, to Munsiyari.

May be I will hire innova car or if er r 10 then tempo traveller . Are KMVN rest houses are easily available or other places. I found that kmvn test houses r located on a good scenic place. Although I had been to Almora, Bhimasen Pithoragarh during my Kailash mansarovar yatra in 2022

Hi Vargis, I will be travelling to Uttarakhand this March just wanted some help planning the itinerary.. I will be der for 10 days planning to start at Rishikesh.. I just wanted to know how can I get to Munsiyari from auli using public transport ? And Can I get a bus from Jim Corbett to Delhi??

Hi Vargisji pls help me with my itineary. Planning a 10 days trip to Garhwal. Haridwar (2), Rishikesh, Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Chopra, Khirsu, Pauri, Lansdowne, back to delhi and mumbai. Pls advise is this possible. Priority is divine destinations and himalayan view.

Hi, Vargis Ji,

Your blogs are always helpful to us while planning our trips to Himalayas. This year March 2nd week we are planning to visit Munsiyari and Chaukori and we need your suggestion. we are 1 couple (back packers)

this is our plan for 5 days. plz suggest if it is ok or not day 01- Arrival haldwani bus stop early morning, take shared taxi for Almora. rest of d day exploration around. night stay at Almora. day 02- Almora to munsiyari by shared taxi/ bus( we have no idea whether direct taxi /bus available or we need to break journey in 2- 3 places but we need to reach same day to munsiyari, please advise). night stay munsiyari. day 03- munsiyari/ kaliyatop/ . night stay munsiyari. day 04- Munsiyari to chaukori (shared taxi/ bus). night stay at chaukori. day 05- chakori to kathgodam/ haldwani by shared transport.- night bus to delhi.

pleas advise if it is possible in 5 days. is bike rental available in almora??

Thanks, Binita

I am not Vargis but since I returned from a trip to Kumaon last week, I am reply with my inputs in case you find it useful. I am sure Vargis ji can add more useful information.

My experience with shared taxis has not been very good in all my trips to Uttarakhand. They try to overload the Sumo as much as possible with more passengers than one is supposed to carry. In one stretch, an 8 seater was carrying 13 people believe it or not. The journey was extremely painful for 2 hours. Besides, shared taxis will make you wait until all seats are filled up which can take a long time depending on the place. So my suggestion is to take bus wherever possible as journey is very comfortable and not like in the cities. They are rarely overcrowded and they don’t waste any time here and there.

If you start from Haldwani very early morning, you can get direct bus to Munsiyari but you will have to endure a 13 hour journey. If you want to avoid that, atleast try to reach Pithoragarh on the first day and not Almora. You can break at Almora but then the next day journey will be really long and hectic. From Pithoragarh, you can get bus to Munsiyari. Always start early morning. If you can’t get direct bus anywhere, keep moving forward by doing break journeys by whatever means of transport available. Don’t get stuck at a place by waiting endlessly for direct transport.

Chaukhori to Haldwani is doable but again it will be a very long and tiring journey and as far as I know there is no direct means of transport from Chaukhori to Haldwani either by bus or taxi. You have to reach Bageshwar by shared taxi to further get connecting bus to Almora. You may even have to break at Udiyari Bend to reach Bageshwar as shared taxi from Chaukhori to Bageshwar may not be available. From Almora, you can easily take bus to Haldwani. Try to stay overnight in Almora this time if journey becomes too hectic. This will also allow you to start late from Chaukhori and explore the place a little more.

Lastly, I would like to say that Munsiyari is too far away and you can never really appreciate the place unless you keep atleast 7 days with you for the vacation. 4 days are spent on the road just to travel from Haldwani to Munsiyari and back. What will you do there in just 1 day? That’s not the kind of vacation I would recommend to anyone. If you cannot spare more than 5 days at any cost, then you pick from places like Bhimtal, Sattal, Mukteshwar, Nainital and Pangot instead.

Dear Anjan Bhai, Thanks a lot for your valuable suggestions. yes even I have same experience with shared vehicle while travelling to Garhwal region. But Uttrakhand Road journeys are so beautiful that i can spend whole day in travelling. 😀

Is direct taxi/ buses available from haldwani for pithoragarh ( 6- 7 am) and how long does it takes. Is direct transport available from udiyari bend to almora/ haldwani. ( our return bus for Delhi is at 10 pm) Is Bike rental available in Almora.

Hi Vargis. This is a very informative and detailed post. I’m planning to do Nanda Devi East basecamp trek in May 22 for which I need to reach Munsiyari (the base for trek). My plan is to take overnight train from Delhi to Kathgodam/Haldwani which reaches at 5am and then leave from Haldwani by private taxi around 6am and aim to reach Munsyari by 6pm.

I wanted to ask if this is feasible in your view. I also wanted to ask if you can share contact details of any cab service from Kathgodam/Haldwani to Munsyari. Thanks

Thanks Anjan Bhai. I really appreciate you takin the time to drop a note.

Hello Binita Ji – For 5 days, I will not recommend Munsiyari at all, especially by public transport. You must plan for somewhere else or add at least 3 more days.

Hi Vargis Ji, and Anjan Ji,

Thank you so much for your valuable suggestions. Will re plan the trip.

You are welcome !!!

I really love how you mention the options to travel by public transport. This is a key piece of information that is missing in almost all other blogs as they assume all tourists will take a private cab. I am someone who prefer to travel by bus and shared taxis because I am always on a budget and this allows me to travel more throughout the year. Knowing how to do break journeys and where to get off and how much it costs is invaluable information and I am really grateful to you for providing this information. Quite often in the mountains, unless you know bus timings in advance, it’s impossible to catch them as frequency is very less.

Your blog posts are also the most comprehensive of any travel blogs I have found on the Internet. You present information in such a clear and concise manner instead of narrating your own story that it really makes for easy reading.

Thank you so much Anjan. I really appreciate your kind words.

मुनस्यारी बहोत ही खूबसूरत हिल स्टेशन है पूरा मुनस्यारी हिमालय से घिरा है 3 बार जा चुका हूं 4 बार लास्ट दिसंबर 2019 को

Thanks Arman

Thanks for such a quick reply! My tentative itinerary is as below- Day 1 – Reach Nainital from Pantnagar and hire a bike Day 2 – Nainital to Binsar, visit Binsar wildlife sanctuary and stay at Binsar overnight Day 3 – Binsar TO chaukori and stay at Chaukori Day 4 – Chaukori to munsyari, local sightseeing and overnight at Munsyari Day 5 – Visit Khaliya top, stay at Gmvn guest house on top overnight Day 6 – Visit nanda devi temple and birthi falls and stay at Munsiyari overnight Day 7 – Ride to Kausani, local sight seeing and overnight at Kausani Day 8 – Ride from Kausani to Nainital via almora Day 9 – Return to Dehradun

Let me know how the itinerary sounds and also if I can include something else since I have one more day in hand! Thanks in advance!

Hi Kapil – Your itinerary is perfect brother, I couldn’t have planned it better myself. Don’t add anything more, it will just make the trip hectic.

Hi Vargis bhai, I am planning to visit Munsiyari in first week of December. I am planning to hire a bike from Nainital and complete the journey in 2 days (first night half at Chaukori). Is the bike ride safe considering condition of roads there? I will be travelling with my wife. Also, if I travel upto Munsiyari by bus, .can I get bike on rent at Munsiyari for local sight seeing? I am planning to spend 3 days there. I would appreciate any inputs from your side!

Hi Kapil Bhai,

I do not think you can get a bike on rent in Munsiyari. At least I didn’t notice. You should get it from Nainital only but just be prepared for the cold. It will be OK if you have decent enough riding experience.

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An unforgettable drive to the snowscape of Munsiyari

Nidhi Tiwari Nidhi Tiwari | Guest Contributor | THINGS TO DO , MUNSIYARI Updated : Apr 6, 2016, 02.48 PM IST

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Beat Off The Track Through Munsiyari Road Trip

• Picturesque snow capped Himalayan ranges
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• 552 kms from Delhi 

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Munsiyari: The Gateway to the Mighty Panchachuli Peaks

• Hill Stations Adventure

Munsiyari is located in the Kumaon Hills and is known for its scenic beauty and untouched landscape. This small hill town in the Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand and is often compared to Kashmir for its natural beauty.

Situated at 2298 meters above sea level, this gorgeous hill station boasts breathtaking views of the Panchachuli Peaks, including Nanda Devi and Nandakot. Its scenic surroundings and picturesque landscape make it a sight to behold!

Munsiyari offers natural beauty and adventurous activities in the Kumaon Hills. Visitors can enjoy trekking on lesser-known trails, taking in scenic views, skiing, and even embarking on a Snow Leopard Trek during winter .

This travel destination is the ‘Gateway to Johar Valley’, home to famous explorer Nain Singh Rawat.

Munsiyari, located between the borders of India, Tibet, and Nepal, serves as a base for three glaciers: Namik, Milam, and Ralam Glaciers. The village offers picturesque views and pleasant weather all year round, with the stunning backdrop of Panchachuli, Nanda Devi, and Nanda Kot. Additionally, Munsiyari marks the beginning of the Johar Valley, which historically served as a trade route between Tibet and India.

Our Munsiyari travel guide is filled with information on the top places to visit and things to do, making it essential for travellers seeking a flawless travel experience.

Places to see in and around Munsiyari

Munsiyari is known for its snowy landscapes, making it an exciting destination. The town of Munsiyari offers a beautiful landscape for nature lovers to enjoy. It also provides great opportunities for adventure enthusiasts, especially during the winter season when it is covered in snow and offers activities such as skiing and snow leopard sightings.

Madkot Hot Water Springs

Madkot is a hamlet 22 km from Munsiyari and a popular destination for photography enthusiasts. In addition to its picturesque surroundings and diverse plant life, Madkot is renowned for its healing hot springs. 

Madkot hot water spring is a must-visit spot. It is situated on the banks of the Gori Ganga River, between Jaulijibi and Dharchula. The spring is believed to heal various ailments such as joint pain, muscle pain, skin eruptions, fibrous tissues, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. So, if you are in Munsiyari, why not take advantage of the healing properties of the Madkot hot water spring?

Nanda Devi Temple

The Nanda Devi temple is a magnificent and sacred place of worship for pilgrims seeking blessings. It is an ancient temple, around 1000 years old, dedicated to Ma Nanda Devi, also known as the ‘Destroyer of Evil’. According to popular belief, Nanda Devi is the Goddess of the Chand Dynasty, which ruled the Kumaon region for many years.

Temple is located in Dharanaula – Almora city, Uttarakhand. It is just 3km from Munsiyari and can be reached by a short trek. The temple sits at an elevation of 7,500 ft. You can see the Panchachuli peaks directly from the entrance, making it a beautiful sight.

The Nanda Devi temple has a captivating architecture with conical shape walls, stone carvings, wooden roofs, and life-like figures. There is also an annual Nanda Devi fair in late September where you can interact with many people.

In addition, Almora is renowned for its historical temples and beautiful landscapes that are worth a visit.

Khaliya Top

Khaliya Top is famous for its breathtaking hiking and trekking destination . You’ll be treated to stunning panoramic views of valleys and peaks like Nanda Devi, Hardeol, Panchachuli, Nandakot, and Rajrambha.

Don’t miss the chance to experience the awe-inspiring 360-degree views of snow-capped mountains from Zero Point, which sits at an impressive altitude of 4000m. And if that’s not enough, you might spot exotic Himalayan animals like the Bharal and barking deer.

Khaliya Top is considered a great tourist destination due to its adventurous activities such as paragliding and skiing. Many people would enjoy experiencing these daring activities in life.

Birthi Falls

Near Munsiyari, there are several waterfalls, but the most impressive and accessible one is Birthi Falls. To reach it, you can take a short trek from Kalamuni Pass. Birthi Falls is 14km from Tejam and 35km before the Munsiyari-Thal road in Pithoragarh district.

Birthi Falls has a height of 126m. The stunning Himalayas, picturesque views, and lush green forests surround it. This attracts many tourists, both national and international. If you enjoy taking photos, Birthi Falls offers the perfect views to capture.

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Dharchula is a city or town in Bijou that shares borders with India and Nepal, making it a unique location. It is situated 95km away from Munsiyari.

It is situated on the banks of the Kali River in Pithoragarh district. The route of the Kailash Mansarovar and Chhota Kailash Yatra passes through here. The river is also called Sharda River or Kali Ganga in Uttarakhand. It is located at an elevation of 940m above sea level. You can enjoy breathtaking views of surrounding peaks, such as Panchachuli Peak in the west.

Dharchula is known for its diverse culture and traditions, with various ethnic groups such as the Kumaoni and Shauna, also known as Bhotiyas. They are typically reserved and friendly, offering a unique cultural experience worth exploring.

Milam Glacier

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Milan Glacier is a glacier treks in Uttarakhand. It is accessible and beautiful. It is ideal for those interested in glaciers and trekking. The glacier is located 60km away from Munsiyari. The altitude gain ranges from 3,870 meters to 5,500 meters. The Gori Ganga River originates from Mila Glacier and flows into the Kali River. Mount Trishuli’s core is also found here. The trek covers about 120km and takes approximately 8 hours to complete. It is considered a moderate to difficult trek.

The route leading up to Milam Glacier passes through various terrains and landscapes, including forests, villages, snow-covered areas, bridges, rugged paths, waterfalls, streams, grasslands, and mountains.

Peaks such as Deo Damla (6,640m), Sakram (6,255m), Mangraon (6,570m), and Hardeol (7,150m) are visible from Milam Glacier, offering breathtaking views that are awe-inspiring.

Chaukori is a beautiful destination in Uttarakhand, India. It is located at an elevation of 2010m in the Kumaon Region of Pithoragarh District. This charming place is just 97 km away from Munsiyari. If you love nature, Chaukori is the perfect place for you . You will be mesmerized by the stunning views of Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi and Panchachuli Peaks.

Chaukori has a lot of major attractions. You can visit the Kapileshwar Mahadev Temple, Nag Mandir of Berinag, Gangolihat’s Mahakali Temple, Ghunsera Devi Temple, Arjuneshwar Temple, and Chineshwar Waterfall. Don’t forget to explore the Tea Estate and the beautiful tea gardens of Chaukori.

Chaukori is a must-visit destination near Munsiyari, offering breathtaking views of sunsets and sunrises. Don’t miss out on this beautiful experience while you’re there!

Tribal Museum

The Tribal Heritage Museum was established in 2000. You can locate it in Nanasen Village on Surender Singh Pangtey Road. Surender Singh Pangtey is the creator and owner of the museum. You can reach the museum easily by taking a short trek, just 2 km from Munsiyari’s main market. There is no entrance fee to explore this museum.

The Tribal Heritage Museum is known for its collection of artefacts, including wooden utensils, brass hookahs, yak skin bags, spoons, bowls, kettles, cooking pots, saucers, dispensers, Tibetan Brick tea, and Himalayan flowers.

Darma Valley

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Darma Valley is located between Kuthi Yangti Valley and Lassar Yangti Valley, offering direct views of Panchachuli Peaks at an altitude of 3,470m.

The Darma Valley has a village called Dawe at its base. It is located on the Sino-Indian Border. The village has a small population of less than 1000 people. They mainly engage in rearing, trading, and farming. Due to the low population, you can experience rural diversity more clearly. The valley is surrounded by rich biodiversity, abundant flora and fauna, and various flowers and orchids.

Darma Valley is famous for its scenic landscapes, vibrant meadows, and camping sites. Perfect for short treks and creating unforgettable memories.

Thamri Kund

Thamri Kund, also known as Thamri Taal, is a small lake or pond in the Munsiyari region’s dense forests. It is about 10 km from Munsiyari and can easily be accessed through a short trek or hike.

Tharmi Kund offers great serenity and is considered one of the best places to rejuvenate your spirits . It takes you through various landscapes, including lush green vegetation, forests, and snow-clad mountains, particularly the Panchachuli Peaks.

Activities in Munsiyari

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Adventure and leisure activities, such as river rafting in the Gori Ganga River, skiing in Khalia Top, trekking, bird watching, and camping, are available.

Trekking in Munsiyari

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Munsiyari is a paradise for high-altitude trekkers. It offers a variety of treks, ranging from moderate to high altitude. It serves as the base for numerous majestic Himalayan mountain ranges.

Munsiyari offers some incredible treks that are worth exploring. Some of the famous treks in Munsiyari are:

• Khalia Top Trek – via Balanti ( Half Day ) • Khalia Top – via Kalamuni (same-day return ) • Nanda Devi Temple Trek – via ITBP Danadhar Ridge ( 3-4 Hours ) • Thamri Kund ( 3-4 Hour Trek ) • Masterjis Museum & Darkot Handicraft Village ( 3-4 Hours ) • Maheshwari Kund Trek ( Half Day ) • Madkot Hot Water Spring ( Half Day trek to Matkot Village ) • Kalika Pass Trek ( 2700 meters ) • Trek to the alpine meadows of Chiplakot Bugyal ( 30 km )

Long treks from Munsiyari

• Milam Glacier ( 8 days ) • Ralam Glacier ( 8 days ) • Nanda Devi East Base camp ( 8 days )

Where to Stay in Munsiyari?

Munsiyari has only a few hotels; However, camping is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a unique experience.

The best place to stay for tourists is in Pithoragarh. You can enjoy the cosy atmosphere and excellent hospitality in the town. Waking up in the morning and seeing the hills from your room is a captivating experience.

Pithoragarh offers accommodations ranging from 3-star to 1-star, with good amenities and a great experience. Camping is also possible in Pithoragarh and the surrounding areas, where you can enjoy the open sky filled with stars and the beautiful Himalayan range.

Best time to visit Munsiyari

The best time to visit Munsiyari is between March and June and September and October. During these months, the temperature is pleasant, with October being a beautiful month to witness the different shades of the fall season.

In summer, Munsiyari experiences pleasant temperatures with a maximum of around 27°C during the day and a minimum of around 7°C at night.

The monsoon season in this area occurs from July to September, resulting in the suspension of many activities due to heavy rainfall. The month of August typically experiences the highest levels of rainfall. Following the monsoon season, the weather conditions in October and November are pleasant, and the temperature remains low.

The winters in Munsiyari are characterized by extremely low temperatures, occasionally dropping to -3°C. However, if the sky is clear during the daytime, the temperature can rise to 15°C, making the daytime relatively warm.

How to Reach Munsiyari?

Munsiyari is conveniently connected to nearby towns such as Pithoragarh, Lohaghat, Champawat, Tanakpur, and Almora through roadways. Travelling by road is the most suitable option to reach this destination.

Pithoragarh has an airport called Naini Saini, which is currently under development and will be operational in the near future. The closest airport to Munsiyari is Pantnagar, approximately 188 km away. To reach Munsiyari from Pantnagar, one must arrange for transportation, such as booking a cab.

There are two nearest railheads to Munsiyari: Kathgodam and Tanakpur. The distance from Kathgodam railway station to Munsiyari is 276km, and from Tanakpur railway station to Munsiyari is 285km.

There are three daily direct trains available from Delhi to Kathgodam.

• Shatabdi Express
• Uttar Sampark Kranti Express
• Ranikhet Express

There is one daily train from Delhi to Tanakpur.

• Delhi Tanakpur Express

Taxis, personal vehicles, or public transport can be hired from Kathgodam or Tanakpur to Munsiyari.

The road connectivity in the area is satisfactory, and state-run buses are available to Pithoragarh that operate regularly from Haldwani/Kathgodam and Delhi. Taxis are also a convenient option for reaching Munsiyari.

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Scenic Munsiyari Pithoragarh Tour

Delhi - Kathgodam - Munsiyari - Pithoragarh - Delhi

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Enjoy 4 nights 5 Days in the best places of Uttarakhand. Munisyari and Pithrgarh Tour Package from Delhi offers you a trip for those who love to stroll around in pleasant breeze, behold the sight of gigantic mountains as the birds chirp the song of love in the background. Kathgodamm, Munsiyari and Pithorgarh are those towns of Uttarakhand, which their visitors speak highly of. This trip will take you far beyond the confinement of office desks, to the world filled with nothing less than bliss.

Note: This is just a suggested itinerary indicative of what could be possible. We tailor holidays for your specific needs. Contact us if you want modifications so that we could tailor a holiday to suit your need for an unforgettable India tour.

• Sight-seeing in Munsiyari
• City tour in Pithoragarh
• Road trip from Kathgodam to Munsiyari

On your arrival in New Delhi, our representative welcomes you and assists you to board a train for Kathgodam. And from Kathgodham, there is a drive to Munsiyari. In Munsiyari, you check-in to your room and stay overnight, after dinner.

After breakfast, you get ready to leave for sightseeing in Munsiyari. The vicinity is a blessing for nature-lovers. Some of the major attractions of Munsiyari are, Thamari Kund, Nanda Devi Temple, Betuli Dhar and Birthi fall. This sightseeing session will help you heal your exhaustions, thanks to the refreshing breeze and magnificent panorama. By late evening, you get back to the room and stay overnight.

Upon refreshing breakfast, you set to leave for a drive to Pithoragarh. This two and a half hour drive will take you through amazing landscapes. After reaching Pithoragarh, you check in to your pre-booked hotel room. You are free to stroll and explore the town at your own leisure. Then, you stay overnight in your room.

After breakfast, rest of the day is dedicated to visit best attractions of Pithoragarh. The green mountains covered with clouds draw a cherishing panorama. Popular sight-seeing spots of the town are Gangolihat, Kapileshwar Mahadev, Thal Kedar, Patal Bhuneshwar, etc. After a tiring but enthusiastic day, you come back to the room and stay overnight.

After breakfast, you leave for Delhi, via Kathgodam. And this is how this soulful journey ends.

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Munsiyari Tourism

Often referred to as "Little Kashmir", Munsiyari is a cosy hamlet located in the Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand. Situated at an altitude of 2298 metres, the pretty little hill town is known for its panorama of snow-capped Himalayan Range and some adventurous trekking trails.

Perched between the borders of India, Tibet and Nepal, Munsiyari is a base for three glaciers namely Namik, Milam and Ralam Glaciers. The scenic village is often seen romancing with brilliant weather throughout the year and the stunning backdrop of Panchachuli (the five peaks), Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot. Also dubbed 'Gateway to Johar Valley', Munsiyari is the starting point of Johar Valley which was the ancient trade route between Tibet and India.

Places To Visit In Munsiyari

Birthi falls

Maheshwari Kund

Panchachuli Peak

Thamari Kund

Kalamuni Top

Khaliya Top

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Munsiyari – a peek into the soul of rural India!

Munsiyari located in the Greater Himalayan range in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand (India) is like a Black Hole.

Why Black hole?

Because this scenic little village enthralls you with its captivating view of the Panchachuli Range and uniquely salubrious climate and you discover that your three-day trip has suddenly turned into eleven.

In this blog post you will find all the details on Munsiyari, weather, best time to travel, where to stay, what to eat, places to visit and More.

It’s not only the majestic view that’s dazzling but the way the communities have come together to conserve the environment and ensure a sustainable livelihood for people which makes it awe-inspiring!

Life is slow moving in this quaint hill-station and you are caught in the beautiful web of stunning views and inspirational people. Don’t be surprised if you feel inspired to do some impromptu painting!

How to Reach Munsiyari

Go to Munsiyari by Air – ‘ Delhi’ is the closest International airport at a distance of 535 km from Munsiyari. The nearest operational Domestic airport from Munsiyari is ‘Pantnagar’ which is at a distance of 310 km from Munsiyari. Private cabs are available outside the airport.

Go to Munsiyari by Rail – At a distance of 280 km, Kathgodam is the nearest major railhead to Munsiyari. From here you can either book an entire cab for yourself (costs approximately Rs. 5000/-) or take the shared taxi (approximately Rs. 500 per person). It is advisable to alight at Haldwani, as it is better connected via transport than Kathgodam.

Go to Munsiyari by Road – Munsiyari is well-connected by road to major cities in Uttarakhand and Northern India cities. Alight at Haldwani to get cabs for Munsyari which tend to leave as early as 5 am.

Go to Munsiyari by Heli Taxi – Under the ambitious Himalaya Darshan scheme, Uttarakhand Tourism had started heli-taxi, a helicopter service between the city of Haldwani and Munsiyari in January 2016.

The distance of 283kms (by road) which usually takes around 11 hours could be covered in 45 minutes (air distance is 117kms). The cost of a return trip was Rs. 15,000 and Rs 8,000 for a one-way trip.

The Heli-taxi service, however, has been suspended due to lack of passengers

How to reach Munsiyari : Travel tips

• The 10 to 11 hours journey from Haldwani to Munsiyari is very tedious. The serpentine road can cause you nausea so remember to take Avomine (or similar medicine). You can also consider breaking the journey at Almora.
• The KMVN Tourist Rest house in Almora is strategically located on the mall road and it is advisable to book it in advance.
• None of the shared taxis/cabs that run on this route have seat belts (at least none that I came across). All that holds you on your seat is the fact that the cabs are too crowded to give you the space to move.
• If possible try to book a seat in a traveler. If an SUV is all you can hire, then opt for the front seat or else be prepared to tuck up your knees right up to your chin (Pun unintended)in the crowded cab.

The following posts will be helpful for your travel to the mountains of India.

• 17 Curated Evergreen Hindi Melodious songs that will get you grooving.
• Driving 101: How To Drive In The Hills in India!
• 10 tips for trekking with children – The more you go on regular hikes or treks, the more the chances of your children bonding with nature! It doesn’t matter where you are located!

Mythology about Munsiyari

The group of five snow-capped Himalayan peaks forms the Panchachuli range. ‘Panchachuli’ is derived from two Hindi words – ‘Pancha’ means Five and ‘Chuli’ means Chimney.

The legend is that the 5 peaks represent the five cooking hearths (chuli) of the five Pandav brothers who cooked their last meal on these peaks before proceeding for heaven and hence the name ‘Panchachuli’.

Another theory is that this region was once part of the old Nepal Kingdom and in the Nepalese language ‘Pancha’ means Five and ‘Chuli’ refers to peaks, hence the 5 peaks were named Panchachuli.

History of Munsiyari

The Sino-Indian War of 1962 led to the closure of the Indo-Tibetan border. This resulted in the end of the thriving lifeline of the Bhotiyas whose main occupation was trading with the Tibetans.

The loss of trade brought about drastic changes in the transhumant (seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures) lifestyle.

Since then, the Bhotiya tribes have generally adopted semi-agrarian and semi-nomadic lifestyles.

The folklore is that Johar valley was inhabited by the great serpents called ‘Nagas’. All but one of the serpents were martyred by the Garuda, a hawk who is the mount and insignia of Lord Vishnu!

Before it could kill the last Naga, Garuda was struck down by an envoy of Shaukya Lama. Taken by the beauty of the place, the wise guru, decided to make the valley his abode ( Source ).

Thus, the Shaukya tribe originated and are still its inhabitants.

best time to visit Munsiyari

Munsiyari with its enchanting views romances splendid weather throughout the year. The best time to visit Munsiyari is from March to June and from Mid September to October end.

This period is also ideal for trekking to the nearby glaciers.

Spring / Summers – Days are very pleasant in Munsiyari during Spring and summers ( March to early June) and light woolens during the night will suffice. It is surreal to walk through flowering rhododendron forests.

Summers offer unobstructed views of the peaks of Rambha, Shiplakot, Nandakot, Nandaghungti, and Panchachuli. It is probably the best time to visit Munsiyari.

Monsoon – Monsoon in Munsiyari is very intriguing. The moment you decide to bask in the bright sun the next moment your plans might get dampened by rain clouds taking over the sky.

Monsoon, therefore, is not the best time to visit as owing to the heavy rainfall and landslides, traveling and sightseeing becomes quite difficult during this season not to forget the unwanted visit by the bloodsucking leeches.

Travel tip for Munsiyari

Precaution is better than cure and so it would be advisable to wear closed shoes and full pants to protect from Leeches.

Remember to tuck in your pants inside your socks and carry salt with you. In case you end up becoming an involuntary blood donor to these leeches, immediately spray salt over them to get rid of them.

Carrying a Travel First Aid Kit is always helpful.

• Travel First Aid Kit : Advice from a Wanderlust Doctor.
• Travelers Diarrhea is a threat to all travelers – Read causes, symptoms, how to avoid and recommendations by a Doctor on if infected how to treat the Delhi Belly.

Winter is coming – If you are a ‘Game of Thrones’ fan (or not) you will probably love the snow-covered hamlets of Munsiyari. Heavy woolen clothing is necessary to protect yourself against the biting cold.

Given the beauty of Munsiari, I would highly recommend carrying your travel sketching kit.

If you love slow travel, try your hands at Travel Sketching, Painting, even Yoga. The following 3 posts will keep you creative in your Sojourn.

• How To Travel Sketch? Tips, Tricks, & Techniques For Beginners
• Are You Embarrassed By Your Painting Skills? Here’re Easy Painting ideas & Tips!
• Are you bored? Looking for ideas to fill in your blank journal? Don’t’ get intimidated by blank papers staring back at you. I teamed up with the talented artist Malabika Saikia and here are 15 of our favorite notebook ideas! 15 Awesomely Creative Things To Do In Your Blank Notebook.
• How about keeping fit while you travel? Here is a curated list of 10 Yoga asanas or postures that are as good for the beginners as for the advanced practitioners.

Typical Cost of travel to Munsiari

transportation in Munsiyari

Short distances in Munsiyari villages is best explored on foot. If you want to go further away, shared cabs can be found near the Munsiyari Bus stand, though be sure to negotiate a price in advance (usually not more than Rs. 500 for a shared cab depending on the distance).

Renting a driver/ exclusive cab for the day will set you back between Rs. 2000 – 5000 and most hotels can help you in finding one.

munsiyari hotel

Dorm rooms in hotels start at around Rs.100 per night.

Private rooms in hostels and guesthouses generally go for Rs. 1000 – 4000 (plus taxes) per night for lodging. Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd (KMVN) in Munsiyari has affordable rooms and a 16-bed dormitory.

Homestays in Munsiyari

We stayed in Sarmoli Homestays run by Maati Sangathan. Starting at Rs. 1350 per person per night, inclusive of food and shelter, the ‘Maati home-stays’ are not for the low budget travelers.

They are undeniably for a particular niche in the market – the ever growing Indian urban middle class seeking experience beyond the concrete walls of resorts and hotels.

If you want to experience village life, these home-stays offer the perfect opportunity. All 3 meals inclusive in the package comprise of local cuisine.

You can also check out 1 BR Guesthouse in Munsiyari, Pithoragarh (1678), by GuestHouser which is rated 9.2 for a one-person stay on Booking.com. This property is also rated for the best value in Munsyari!

Shopping in Munsiari

You can buy some phenomenal hand-woven carpets or daals, hemp seeds or jams, and jellies from the markets of Munsiyari.

‘Maati’ a women’s collective in Sarmoli sells locally made wool work, carpets, angora socks, Juices and locally produced spices, herbs and agricultural produce.

Food in Munsiyar, Pithoragarhi

Food is cheap in Munsiyari. Local street vendors/ Dhabas mostly serve delicious Indian and Kumaoni cuisines and a meal for one can cost anywhere between Rs. 80 -150.

Basic restaurants offer Indian, Chinese, continental and Kumaoni cuisine and a meal for one can cost anywhere between Rs. 200 – 500.

To be on safer side, stick to local cuisine, it’s locally grown hence fresh, healthier and of course cheaper.

It is interesting to note that with an influx of tourists from Bengal, few hotels, lodges, and restaurants are carrying signs and information in Bangla. Expect to find quite a few Bengali dishes and delicacies on the menu.

bhang ki chutney

Try out the rustic taste of “bhang ki chutney” which is a popular Kumaoni side dish.

This sour-tangy chutney is made of roasted Bhang (Hemp Seeds) and jeera (cumin seeds), mixed with Pudina leaves and Lemon juice.

Unlike the plant on which it grows, Hemp Seeds are not at all psychoactive and are in fact an essential pantry item in the Kumaoni Kitchens.

I would also recommend the sweet and tangy Bhuransh juice ( Juice of Rhododendron flowers) made locally by the women of Maati and sold at the Sanghthan office in Sarmoli. It sure does have an overdose of sugar but it’s very refreshing.

• Should you drink Tap Water in India?
• 16 Tips on Eating Street Food in India & Not Getting Sick

Internet services in munsiyari

Free WiFi is not a norm at hotels around here.

I was lucky to have uninterrupted Airtel 3G connection in the home-stay we stayed in, which helped me start my website at this very place.

However, my friend who was staying in a close by home-stay had erratic Airtel mobile data connectivity.

Money Saving Tips in Munsiyari

Like any other village in India, food including fruits is cheap in Munsyari.

Shared Taxis A big money saving tip would be to go for shared taxis as that would considerably bring down your expenditure.

Accommodation You can usually negotiate a discount at a hotel if you stay for a week or longer. Most of the hotels will let your younger ones share the same room with extra charges for the mattress.

The Sarmoli Maati Sangthan home-stay program in which we stayed is very strict about its rates, however, if you are staying longer you can ask for a reduction in rent for your children.

The narrow road to Munsiyari in Uttarakhand

In this short video by Himalayan Roads , you can see the narrow and dangerous Himalayan road to Munsiyari in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

Top Things to See and Do in Munsiyari

There are many short and long trek and excursions that can be done from Munsiyari.

Frankly in our 11 days stay in Sarmoli, most of our time was spent interacting with locals, chasing butterflies or just lazying around reading and writing while soaking in the scenic view.

Mesar Kund Trek

A well-marked stone laid trail will lead you through the oak and Rhododendron trees to the Maheshwari Kund or Meesar Kund as it is called in the local dialect. An easy climb for fit and a little ‘huffing and puffing’ climb for the not-so-fit.

My 9 and 11-year-old complained a bit but climbed to the top without stopping at a reasonable speed ( 1 hour from Sarmoli). Consider carrying packed breakfast /lunch to have at the picturesque Mesar Kund.

This sacred forest pond is the venue for the annual Mesar Forest Fair or “Mesar wan koutik” as is called by the locals. The fair is held around the Budh Poornima (Full Moon) in the month of May. Around the same time, a festival by the local community called Himal Kalasutra is also held.

Birthi Falls

The magnificent Birthi Falls lies near Birthi Village on the main Thal-Munsiyari route and Falls from the height of almost 410 feet. It is 35 kms from Munsiyari and is one of the most popular picnic spots in the Kumaon valley.

Tribal Heritage Museum

Tribal Heritage Museum or as is locally (read fondly) called Masterji’s or Massab’s Museum is the labor of love and tireless efforts of a single person, Dr. Sher Singh Pangtey, a Ph.D. on Bhotia Tribes in Johar Valley.

Afraid, that the Bhotiya culture and its legacy would soon be forgotten, Dr. Pangtey took upon himself to record, document, and archive the community’s heritage.

There is an audio guide to help you understand the artifacts kept there. The entry ticket to this place is Rs.10.

(Side Note: My kids were excited to find the outdated Indian 500 and 1000 rupee notes in the collection of the museum . It was interesting to see how happy they felt to have been through that part of history.)

Birdwatching in Sarmoli Village

If you are a bird lover, then Sarmoli is the place for you. The region has 326 recorded bird species. You can find trained ‘Birder guides’ at ‘Maati Sanghtan’ in Sarmoli.

Thamri kund in munsiyari

This revered pond is believed to bless the region with rain when the rain gods turn hostile. Thamri Kund is approximately 10 km from Munsiyari on the Betuli Dhar ridge.

The picturesque trek through lush green forests starts at Hanuman temple and it’s 3 km unmarked route from here till the Thamri Kund. It is advisable to hire a local guide. The guide fees will be in the range of Rs. 500 to Rs. 700.

Alternatively, mark Thamri Kund on Google Maps and save it offline to guide you.

Delhi to Munsiyari | Munsiyari Travelogue |

This video by Ride To Xplore , explores the main places of Munsiyari like Khaliya Top, Nanda Devi Temple, Tribal Heritage Museum and Birthi Water Fall.

Visit Kumaoni Village homestays

Stay with a Kumaoni family in their traditional houses eating local cuisine.

Balati Potato Farm

The hike to the Balati Farm is an easy 2 km climb. The farm offers splendid views of the snow-capped Himalayas. It also happens to be the starting point of Khalia top.

Madkot ( Hot Spring Water)

Known for its healing properties, the natural hot sulfur springs of Madkot is situated at a distance of 22 km from Munsiyari on the Jauljibi road. The road to Madkot runs along the Gori Ganga River, making it a very picturesque drive.

Nanda Devi Temple

Nanda Devi is the head deity of the Shauka people. This sacred shrine of Nanda Devi is 3kms from Munsyari and is a comparatively easy trek.

Legend of Nanda Devi Temple

There was once a devotee of Nanda Devi who wanted to build a temple dedicated to her in his village.

One night, Nanda Devi came in his dreams and told him to build the temple at such a place from where she could see everyone and everything.

When the merchant retold this dream to the villagers, this place was chosen as the location.

Responsible Tourism

If you wish to be involved in some community work, you can help the villagers in collecting firewood, leaf litter, cattle management, sowing crops, digitalizing important information or any other talent that you have that you can pass on to others to equip them with more information.

Prakriti Kendra is an offshoot of Maati Sangathan.

We volunteered to digitalize the list of the books at the library and resource center called Prakriti Kendra.

I was in for a pleasant surprise to find the picture book, “ Veeru Goes to Circus ” authored by me and published by “Pratham Publications” in the library of this remote village.

Munsiyari located in the Greater Himalayan range in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand (India) enthralls you with its captivating view of the Panchachuli Range and uniquely salubrious climate. Here are 4 detailed posts that will help you in planning your Munsiyari Travel.

• Munsiyari (Detailed Guide) – How to reach, what to do, where to stay, what to buy and more.
• Where to Stay in Munsiyari: 7 things nobody tells you about Munsiyari (Sarmoli) homestay!
• What to visit in Munsiyari: The Tribal Heritage Museum, Munsiyari – One Man’s Effort To Preserve The Lost Bhotiya Culture.
• Where to Trek in Munsiyari: Mesar Kund – A perfect family trek in the Kumaon hills of Munsiyari!

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9 thoughts on “Munsiyari – a peek into the soul of rural India!”

You post helped me a lot while planning for Munisyari. I stayed with Mr. Pushker Ram`s family in their nicely maintained homestay and trust me their terrace room got the best view of the Panchachuli. One can reach him at 07351845018, he charges around 1000-1500 depending on availability and season.

Wow, that’s quite a good deal 🙂 Thanks for sharing Mr.Pushker’s contact details! And we are happy to hear that the post was helpful to you 🙂

Very informative post. We are planning a trip here soon. This will come in handy. Thanks for sharing!

Glad to hear you found it useful 🙂 Have a lovely trip!

Nice post !! Couple of years back, I got to know about Sarmoli & home stay program. This entire area seems to be perfect destination for nature and peace lovers. I would definitely like to stay here and enjoy the treks/nature walks. Your post will definitely help. One question – If we take a break at Almora, what are the travel options from Almora to reach Munsiyari next day?

I am glad you found the post helpful Abhijeet.

Buses and shared vans ply between Almora & Munsiyari. If you are already in Almora, I think any shop keeper will guide you about the timing of the bus and shared cab. You can even hire a private cab to drop you to Munsiyari though it would be a more expensive proposition. I would advise you to check the cab/bus timings as they have fixed departures. Do let me also know about the timing once you undertake the trip that way you can help other readers/travelers 🙂

It will take anywhere between 7 to 8 hours to travel 200 kms from Almora to Munsiyari.

Google suggests via Berinag Rd, Munsiyari-Thal Road to reach Munsiyari.

If you are heading to Sarmoli, You will find the following posts helpful:-

1. 7 things nobody tells you about Munsiyari homestay! 2. Mesar Kund – A perfect family trek in the Kumaon hills of Munsiyari! 3. The Tribal Heritage Museum , Munsiyari – One Man’s Effort To Preserve The Lost Bhotiya Culture

Hi, thanks for sharing my video “Delhi to Munsiyari | Munsiyari Travelogue” in your blog. I hope by this more people will able to know about this beautiful place. Thanks again!

Wonderful pictures! Nice coverage of the place, Very informative blog and suggestion for travelers. I really like to this blog its very interesting and informative. Thanks for your amazing travel guide and your photos are mind-blowing.

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Munsiyari From Delhi: Distance, Route and Travel Time

Are you seeking an adventure amidst the picturesque landscapes of Uttarakhand ?  Munsiyari lies in the Kumaon region, awaits with its breathtaking views and serene ambiance. While the journey to Munsiyari From Delhi may seem daunting, it’s a voyage worth embarking on, offering encounters with nature’s grandeur at every turn.

Let’s delve into the routes, modes of transportation, and essential tips for your journey from the bustling streets of Delhi to the tranquil vistas of Munsiyari.

Distance From Delhi to Munsiyari

The distance between Delhi to Munsiyari by Road is 626 Kms. The distance between Delhi to Munsiyari by Flight is 335 Kms. The Travel Time from Delhi to Munsiyari by Road is 13:23 hr.

Routes: Munsiyari From Delhi:

Delhi – Hapur – Gajrola – Moradabad bypass – Rampur – Haldwani-Kathgodam- Bhimtal- Bhowali – Khairna – Almora – Chitai Temple – Barechina- Dhaulchina – Sheraghat – Udiyari Bend – Thal – Birthi Fall – Kalamuni Top – Munsiyari.

Delhi – Hapur – Gajrola – Moradabad bypass – Kashipur – Kaladhungi – Nainital – Bhowali – Khairna – Almora – Chitai Temple – Barechina- Dhaulchina – Sheraghat – Udiyari Bend – Thal – Birthi Fall – Kalamuni Top – Munsiyari.

Delhi – Hapur – Gajrola – Moradabad bypass – Kashipur – Kaladhungi – Nainital – Bhowali – Khairna – Almora – Kosi – Someshwar – Kausani – Baijnath – Garur – Bageshwar – Vijaypur – Chaukori – Udiyari Bend – Thal – Birthi Fall – Kalamuni Top – Munsiyari.

Traveling by Public Transport:

From ISBT Anand Vihar, buses are available to Champawat, Almora, Tanakpur, Haldwani, and other destinations. From there, local cabs can be hired to reach Munsiyari. Alternatively, one can take a bus from Pithoragarh, which is 135 km from Munsiyari. For those traveling by train, Kathgodam and Tanakpur are the nearest railheads, with taxis and buses readily available to Munsiyari.

Air Travel Options:

The nearest airport to Munsiyari is Pantnagar Airport , situated 249 km away, offering taxis to Munsiyari via Pithoragarh, Almora, and Bageshwar. Additionally, Naini Saini Airport in Pithoragarh provides flights from Dehradun.

Distance and Travel Time:

The journey from Delhi to Munsiyari covers varying distances depending on the chosen route. While the road distance may be considerable, the awe-inspiring vistas along the way make every mile worth it. Break journeys at scenic spots like Vijaypur, Chaukori, or Almora are advisable , providing a chance to rejuvenate amidst nature’s beauty.

Conclusion:

Embark on a journey of discovery from the bustling metropolis of Delhi to the tranquil town. Whether you opt for the scenic routes by road or the convenience of public transport, each path promises unforgettable experiences.

So pack your bags, embrace the spirit of adventure, and set forth to explore the wonders of Munsiyari, where every twist and turn reveals a new facet of nature’s splendor.

Namaste! I am Om. I am a licensed Tourist Guide ( Approved by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India), I’m originally from Varanasi. Now, I am living in Rishikesh. I set up this blog to share my tips and experiences for traveling to inspire and help you to travel more. Hari Om

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Munsiyari, perched in the lap of the Himalayas, is renowned for its panoramic vistas, snow-capped peaks, and access to some of the most thrilling trekking routes in the region. The Munsiyari town serves as a gateway to the Milam Glacier Trek, drawing trekkers and nature lovers from far and wide. Munsiyari Travel Packages offers guided tours to local attractions and activities such as trekking expeditions to Khalia Top or the Milam Glacier are frequently part of the itinerary. Local transfers, permits, and entry fees are covered, providing a comprehensive and hassle-free journey.

Munsiyari Tour Packages offer an adventurous journey, making your holiday truly unforgettable. These packages include visits to nearby attractions, such as the Birthi Falls and the Maheshwari Kund , where the breathtaking Himalayan view of the Panchachuli peaks provides insights into the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the region. Explore the charming places of Munsiyari, including Madkot Village , Balanti Potato Farm , Betulidhar , Darkot Village , Nanda Devi Temple , Tribal Museum , Kala Muni Temple , and other captivating attractions.

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Munsiyari Village and Cultural Tour

Munsiyari is one of those gorgeous places which lies in the uppermost Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand. It is a picturesque place with an alluring valley surrounded by snow-capped peaks is something which everyone should experience at least once in their life. 

There are many treks and hiking trails which start from Munsiyari, you can also plan for various  trekking tours from Munsiyari.

Check out our best Munsiyari Travel Packages, Travel package of Munsiyari as listed below.

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We offer genuine and most authentic Munsiyari Packages for 2024 season. We also provide customized Munsiyari tours for family, groups, corporates, schools and colleges as well at best rates. You can also book Munsiyari package from Delhi NCR, Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun at best prices.

Latest Munsiyari tour packages for 2024. eUttaranchal Travel Network offers best Munsiyari tours with fixed departure, budget and low cost tours to Munsiyari, luxury and deluxe Munsiyari travel packages. Get best services from eUttaranchal for your Munsiyari visit.

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Whether you're inquiring about accommodation particulars, navigating trekking permits, or considering personalized options, this FAQ guide is your reliable source. Join us as we address common questions, ensuring that your Munsiyari expedition is not just memorable but also perfectly aligned with your preferences."

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Uttarakhand Road Trip Circuit: Delhi -Kausani – Munsiyari – Binsar – Delhi

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A road trip around “the Devbhoomi”, Uttarakhand, is the best way to experience the state’s geography and culture. With countless temples, sacred rivers, and glaciers Uttarakhand is home to some of the most frequently visited places in the country. Uttarakhand has something to offer to every type of traveler, from marvelous high-altitude treks to stunning camping grounds, to sites of pilgrimage, leisure and adventure sports destinations. You will definitely find something that catches your fancy here.

Also read: 24 Off-Beat Places In Uttarakhand Where Nature Is At Its Best

If you are looking for a relatively less crowded and peaceful road trip, then we have the perfect circuit and itinerary planned for you and your squad: Delhi – Kausani – Munsiyari – Binsar – Delhi

Delhi – Kausani

Sitting proudly at the top of the hills in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Kausani is a picturesque village that has not yet been hit by the wave of commercialism. It offers stupendous panoramic views of the snow clad Himalayan ranges. The Trishul, Nanda Devi, and Panchuli peaks being the most prominent ones. Kausani was dubbed as the ‘Switzerland of India’ by Mahatma Gandhi because of its similarity to the Swiss Alps. From Delhi, you can drive, or hire a cab, or take a bus to Kausani. Buses are slow, but they are reliable, and you may face some difficulty in navigating your car uphill.

The 400+ km journey from Delhi is long and arduous but your patience will be rewarded by the warm milieu and astounding natural beauty of this quaint hill town. There are many treks that begin in villages and towns near Kausani including the Pindari and Kafni Glacier treks and the Sunderdhunga trek. Kausani will have you pumped for the next destination in this itinerary.

Image Credits:   Wikimedia Commons

Located approximately 160 km from Kausani, Munsiyari falls in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. This pristine town is usually blanketed by clouds, and lush forests surround it. Munsiyari is a hidden paradise, that will take you extremely close to nature and Kumaoni culture. You can leave from Kausani at the break of dawn. The road journey can be covered in around 5-6 hours.

Drive slow and enjoy the serene hill roads, roaring gorges, dense forests and contrasting clear blue skies on the road to Munsiyari. Do visit the Birthi Falls situated just outside of Munsiyari. The place offers some of the most beautiful views of the Himalayas and the sunsets at Munsiyari are extremely beautiful and romantic. You could also plan your trek to Khaliya Top near Munsiyari to get the best views and panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges and witness the Panchachuli ranges in its full glory.

Image Credits:   Krisnendu Sar (Flickr)

Roads from Birthi Falls to Munsiyari. ( Image Credits: The Unruly Traveler)

Binsar is located about 170-175 km from Munsiyari and is a quaint hill town nestled among the dense evergreen forests of the Kumaon hills. The journey to Binsar from Munsiyari is truly marvelous and you will cross lush meadows and magical forests lined with gurgling streams and wildflowers.

You can visit the Binsar Wildlife sanctuary or just take a long leisurely stroll on the streets of this picturesque hill town. Binsar also offers great views of the mighty snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. It is the perfect place to unwind and wrap up your road trip. From Binsar you can drop down to Kathgodam on your way back to Delhi.

Image Source:  Partha Chowdhury (Flickr) 

You will have to say goodbye to the places on this road trip circuit reluctantly and head back home. This Uttarakhand Road Trip circuit is best explored in the months of spring when the snow starts melting and the flowers start to bloom making the entire region resonate with a certain vibrancy and a mystical aura. Autumn is also a very good time for this road trip.

Do make the most out of this road trip with your squad and let us know about your experience in the comment section below.

One can usually find me in a corner listening to some Metal, or writing. A voracious reader and a Literature student at heart. Tea is my elixir and I try to find solace in the little things in life.

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Gwaldam – Munsiyari – Dharchula – Chaukori | Itinerary, Road Conditions & Updates

First and foremost “ A very very Happy New Year to you and your family ”… Also, apologies for missing out on articles for the last couple of weeks but I assure that things will be back to normal weekly articles right from this article itself 🙂

It was that time of the year when I plan a trip to Uttarakhand especially Kumaon region for sighting the clear skies and views of mighty higher Himalayas including Trishul – Nanda Devi – Nanda Kot – Panchchuli ranges. However, with this trip, I planned to close down the majority of Kumaon region covering the leftmost belt of Manila – Ranikhet, the rightmost belt of Pithoragarh – Lohaghat along with a topmost belt of Munsiyari – Dharchula.

Let's quickly dive into the details:

The Kumaon Travel Plan

The center belt of Nainital – Mukhteshwar – Almora – Binsar – Chaukori  was already covered in previous years. Also, I was eyeing on experiencing the snowfall hence planned the trip right in between holidays or festive season of 25th Dec to 1st Jan.

However, there was no luck on snowfall but we could find plenty of snow all around right from Kausani, Gwaldam to Munsiyari and Chaukori with Dharchula being a little disappointment apart from crossing the border into Nepal .

Also, the plan was to cover Lohaghat and Abbott Mount but we could not cover it due to last-minute plan changes.

How was the weather on the Kumaon trip?

Well, the conditions lived up to the expectations, quite cold especially at nights but scenic views of higher Himalayas especially at sunset and sunrise right from the hotels were WORTH the effort we put in.

The road conditions in most of the regions were quite excellent, barring few patches in between and the lonely roads to Dharchula and higher up roads from Munsiyari. We were a set of 3 families and three boys, in a total of 9 splits into two cars and it was one very nice vacation spent with the family in yet another winter.

Though I am going to write a detailed Travel Tale and reviews of the guesthouses I stayed in, but just before that I would like to share what itinerary I followed, the route I took and the updates on road conditions for reaching these places in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

Itinerary for Munsiyari – Dharchula – Chaukori Trip in December

Well, I had 8 days in hand for my Gwaldam – Munsiyari – Dharchula – Chaukori trip including a couple of buffer days and I followed the itinerary as below:

Day 1 | Delhi to Manila

Started the drive from Delhi – Moradabad – Kashipur – Jim Corbett – Mohaan – Marchula – Maulikhal – Manila. Stayed at KMVN Rest House at Manila, an offbeat place located in the Ranikhet region of Kumaon, Uttarakhand . Mohaan to Manila is 60 km . The route is Mohaan – Marchula (14 KM) – Maulikhal (35 KM) – Dotiyal (51 KM) – Manila (60 KM). Delhi to Manila is 365 KMs. We started at 6.30 AM and ended at 3.30 PM.

Dheeraj Sharma

You can check my detailed travel guide of Manila to know more about the place.

Day 2 | Manila – Kausani – Gwaldam

Resumed the drive from Manila to go through Jainal – Masi – Chaukotiya – Dwaraghat – Somehshwar – Kausani – Baijnath – Gwaldam . Stayed at Nature’s Treat Resort at Gwaldam. The route details are Manila – Jainal (22 KM) – Masi (40 KM) – Chaukotia (51 KM) – Dwaraghat (69 KM) – Someshwar (102 KM) – Kausani (113 KM) – Gwaldam (152 KM).

From Dwaraghat, you need to take a left road from the Main bazaar to Dunagiri / Someshwar. There will be a Y-fork after about 5-6 KM from where you need to take the road to Someshwar. Then, you will reach a place called Binta from there you need to take another left to Someshwar. After reaching Someshwar, take a left towards Kausani. We started at 10.00 AM and ended at 5 PM.

Day 3 | Gwaldam to Munsiyari

Completed the final leg of the drive to Munsiyari from Gwaldam – Baijnath – Bageshwar – Chaukori – Thal – Birthi – Kalimuni Top (2700 Mtrs) – Munsiyari = 185 KM. Stayed at KMVN Rest House Munsiyari . Gwaldam to Bagshwar is 42 km and Chaukori is 91 km. From Chaukori, Munsiyari is further 94 km.

The route from Kapkot that bifurcates from Bageshwar is shorter and meets near a police checkpost between Tejam & Qwity / Birthi ahead of Thal. However, locals forced us not to take that route and follow the longer route from Chaukori due to terrible roads. We started at 10.25 AM and ended at 7 PM.

Day 4 | Rest Day and Munsiyari Sightseeing

We went on to play in the snow towards Kalimuni Top and explored the Snow Trek to Thamri Kund. The trek took us about 3.5 Hrs to complete up and down. The total length of the trek is about 6 km, 3 km each side from the Hanuman temple near Kalimuni top.

You can check my detailed travel guide of Munsiyari to know more about the place.

Day 5 | Munsiyari to Madkote to Dharchula

Took the upper route from Munsiyari to Darkot (8 KM) – Madkote (22 KM) – Jaulijibi (66 KM) – Dharchula (96 KM). Stayed at KMVN Rest House at Dharchula. After playing in the snow for an hour started for Dharchula at 11.30 AM from Munsiyari and ended at 6.00 PM with an hour break at the heritage village of Darkot. There is a waterfall near Bangapani, which is about 46 km from Munsiyari.

Day 6 | Dharchula to Chaukori

Crossed the border into Nepal on foot. Dharchula was a bit disappointing as it was more of a market and a big town though besides the Kali river. Since, there wasn’t much nature we dropped our second day booking at Dharchula and went to Chaukori via Askote – Didihat – Thal route. Stayed at Ojaswi Resort . We started at 12.30 PM and ended at 6.30 PM with more than an hour’s break at Thal.

We kept deciding between Binsar and Chaukori. Since Binsar was a little farther away , we finalized Chaukori as our next destination.

The route with distance was Dharchula – Jaulijibi (30 KM) – Askote (43 KM) – Narain Nagar (50 KM) – Didihat (56 KM) – Thal (83 KM) – Chaukori (109 KM). From Askote, you take a right like a u-turn from a place where there is a signboard to Pithoragarh. After reaching the Askote village, take a u-turn to Narain Nagar – Didihat on your left.

The lovely road through the jungle to Gauchar, (2 KMs before Thal) on which you can spot many birds too. At Gauchar, if you take a right, then it goes to Munsiyari, and left goes to Thal – Chaukori. Narain Nagar offers amazing views of Nanda Devi.

Day 7 | Chaukori Rest Day

Rest day at Chaukori and we went to Patal Bhuvaneshwar which is 38 KMs and celebrated the new year night at Chaukori.

You can check my detailed travel guide of Chaukori to know more about the place.

Day 8 | Chaukori to Delhi

Chaukori weather turned upside down but had to leave for Delhi, so it was a bit disappointing on missing out the snowfall as had few days of a buffer. Took the route Chaukori – Berinag – Sheraghat – Dhaulchinna (77 KM) – Barechinna (91 KM) – Almora – Bhimtal – Kathgodam (197 KM) – Haldwani – Rampur – Moradabad – Delhi (513 KM).  We started at 8.30 AM and were at Kathgodam at 4.15 PM almost 8 hrs after the start of Chaukori. Jageshwar Temple diversion is 17 km from Barechinna.

The total drive over the trip was 1535 KM. Overall it was quite a nice family vacation in Uttarakhand and the best part was the little kiddo enjoyed the snow and the snowman. We enjoyed the snow trek in Munsiyari and the drive over the lovely, beautiful roads through the jungles.

Road Conditions for Delhi – Manila – Gwaldam – Munsiyari – Dharchula – Chaukori

Following is the breakdown of road conditions for the trip:

• Delhi – Moradabad : Excellent, smooth sailing.
• Moradabad – Kashipur via road parallel to Thakurdwara : 2-3 KMs of the road in horrible state rest mostly good though single lane. After crossing Moradabad, you take a left to Kashipur, and after driving for 3—4 KMs, you will see a board saying Nainital on the right. Take that right, that road will take you towards Baazpur. Do not go to Baazpur, but on that road, there will be one crossing after 6-7 KMs, where you need to take a left. That road is narrow and pathetic for 2-3 KMs. However, it will save you from a similar mess of 10-12 KMs on each Parallel road running towards Nainital via Baazpur and Kashipur via Thakurdwara, respectively. This road will take you to Kashipur from where you follow the route to Ramnagar and then to Jim Corbett – Mohaan . If it is night, it is better to take the route from Haldwani – Rampur, IMO.
• Kashipur – Ramnagar – Jim Corbett – Mohaan – Marchula : Mostly good roads with some bad patches in between.
• Marchula – Maulikhal – Dotiyal – Rakshthal – Manila : Mostly Excellent, smooth sailing.
• Manila – Jainal – Masi: Good roads mostly.
• Masi – Chaukotia : Mostly bad road, pavement underway.
• Chaukotia – Dwaraghat – Someshwar – Kausani – Baijnath – Gwaldam : Very Good roads mostly.
• Gwaldam – Bageshwar – Chaukori – Thal : Very Good roads mostly but single-lane having quite many curves. Guys with motion sickness take care on this route. Earlier, we planned to take Kapkot – Tejam route to Munsiyari, but locals asked us to go via the Chaukori route from Bageshwar as for small car Kapkot route was too bad in shape. Mostly High GC vehicles run over that route. However, the Kapkot route is about 30 KMs shorter than the Chaukori route.
• Thal – Tejam – Birthi – Kalimuni Top – Munsiyari : The road starts to deteriorate after Thal towards Munsiyari. There are some steep stretches where you need to push the vehicle though not physically ;), some bad stretches where if in the small car, then you need to be careful. About 30-35% of the road is in such a state. But the rest of the road is in good condition. Though we found some hard ice after Kalimuni Top, it was manageable.
• Munsiyari – Darkot : Good roads mostly being well tarred.
• Darkot – Madkote – Jaulijibi: Mostly bad roads but very scenic drive. I will say 60% of the road is quite bad with about 12-15% very very bad and rest 40% odd road is good and excellent in patches. It was one of the most beautiful roads with the unique scenic landscape around to drive in Uttarakhand . Gori Ganga river accompanies you up to Jaulijibi, adds the charm to the drive. There were multiple landslide points, water crossings, creaking wooden bridges. The Water crossings in summers/rains would surely mean trouble due to swollen water levels. If you have been to Kinnaur Valley up to Nako in Himachal Pradesh then you can co-relate the road conditions much to it as it made me remind of those roads & views in Kinnaur only with Sutluj flowing beside 🙂
• Jaulijibi – Dharchula : Mostly bad and very bad in shape, broken.
• Jaulijibi – Askote – Didihat : Mostly bad in shape with few good patches in between. Jaulijibi is a merging point where the road from Munsiyari and Pitthorgarh – Askote meets. We planned to go via Pitthoragarh – Lohaghat earlier, but then as Dharchula was not that good, we planned to go to Chaukori via Askote – Didihat road and rest there for a couple of days.
• Didihat – Thal – Chaukori : Mostly good and very good in shape.
• Chaukori – Berinag – Sheraghat – Dhaulchinna – Barechinna – Almora : Mostly excellent roads with lovely dense forests, totally loved the drive. The road between Golu Devta Temple and Barechinna was in bad shape, else like I said mostly perfect.
• Chaukori – Patal Bhuvaneshwar : Very bad in shape after Raigara. Butter smooth roads from Berinag to Chaukori.
• Almora – Bhimtal – Kathgodam – Haldwani – Rudrapur : Very good roads, smooth sailing.
• Rudrapur – Rampur – Moradabad : Mix of bad and average roads. The road between Rudrapur and Rampur has improved but still has a lot of potholes where the car gets some abuse as you tend to drive fast.

Travel Tip : Do not forget to check this list of things to carry on a road trip to the Himalayas .

Phone Signals & Data Connectivity on Kumaon Road Trip

I was carrying Airtel Postpaid, BSNL Postpaid and Vodafone Postpaid were with some friends. Following was the signal status:

• All three were working mostly through all the days except Dharchula.
• At Dharchula Airtel was having Nepal International Roaming. Vodafone was dead. BSNL was working as a local connection.
• Only a few sections of the roads were there where Airtel and Vodafone were not working. BSNL had the widest coverage among all.
• Data Connectivity was almost always available wherever the signals were present though it was mostly 2G and in some towns like Gwaldam even 3G was running :D.

Travel Tip : If you plan to go for any treks or hikes, then check my list of things to carry on trekking – hiking trips in the Himalayas .

Other Important Updates for Kumaon Trip

• If you are particular about brands in Liquor, then you should carry your own as we ended up shocked with even no availability of Old Monk 😉
• While in Uttarakhand, you can buy some packets of buns every day you start if you like them. They are quite a good partner for tea on a roadside tea shack 🙂
• While going to Manila, Maulikhal has an ATM.
• On the way to Kausani – Gwaldam from Manila, Dwaraghat has a petrol pump.
• While going to Munsiyari, make sure you have filled fuel at Thal as there is no fuel pump after Thal. At times, even at Thal due to shortage in supply, they give you only limited fuel.
• At Thal, just aside the petrol pump, there is a nice restaurant by the name JJ Hotel and Restaurant. The food served was quite nice up there.
• Darkot is a heritage village 8 km ahead of Munsiyari. You can get yourself the Pasham (Mountain Rabbit) wool Shawls, Cardigans, Caps, crafted by hand as a heritage run by an old lady Prema Ji who is the mother of a well-known guide of this region named Raju guide. You can reach him at 08958687822 . These are in the purest form of that woolen and crafted by hands only, so a bit costly but very, very warm & pure. The white one is pure while the grey one is a mix and comes a bit cheaper.
• You can also get some local herbs from Raju at Darkot Village such as Jambo used to flavor Dal, Thoya much like Kala Jeera, Tehmur like Kali Mirch (in case you need warmth in cold, you can drink a soup having lot of Tehmur in it), Gandraini sticks though bitter in taste but good for constipation.
• Munsiyari also sells quite famous local Rajma (Kidney Beans) & potato and you can get some of them for you in case you like them.
• The road from Darkot – Madkot – Jaulijibi runs along the Gori Ganga river. Also, offers views of Johar Ghati towards Milam which is surrounded by Tibet from one side and Nepal from the other if I am not wrong??
• There is a petrol pump 5 KMs before Dharchula.
• Jauljibi & Dharchula also have ATMs.
• Didihat to Thal is a lovely road through the forest where you can spot many birds too.
• Ahead of Almora while coming from Chaukori, Kakrighat to Khairna is 10 KM. At Kakrighat, you can go inside the village and then sit by the river on the opposite bank from the road.
• Udupiwala Restaurant at Kathgodam is expensive and service is not that great, quite slow in case it is full.

Travel Tip : You may also check these easy treks in Uttarakhand to be clubbed on your upcoming trip .

Toll amounts on a trip to Kumaon

• First toll after Gajraula : Rs 55
• Second Toll towards Moradabad : Rs 45
• Third toll : Rs 20
• Fourth toll at Moradabad : Rs 15
• Fifth toll at Moradabad just after the previous one : Rs 15

As always with my year-end trip, this trip was no surprise. Away from the crowd, this Kumaon trip to Gwaldam, Munsiyari, and Chaukori was a fantastic family break for me. I hope this detailed itinerary and road conditions updates will help you on your trip as well.

I will start sharing the detailed Travel Tale of this Munsiyari – Dharchula – Chaukori trip, the reviews of the properties I stayed and places at which I ate food, very soon. So, stay tuned guys 🙂

Have a travel question?? You can subscribe to my YouTube ch annel and leave a comment to ask your travel questions about traveling to the Himalayas.

If you are planning a trip to Kumaon in the upcoming season, well, you can follow the above itinerary except for Dharchula. Feel free to share this article with your friends and family.

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I am Dheeraj Sharma - a traveler, techie, and Himalayan lover. Since 2009, I have been helping thousands of travelers every year plan memorable & budget-friendly trips to the Himalayas - Smartly, Safely, and responsibly.

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Hello Dheeraj,

While searching on internet for munsiyari trip, i saw DoW and i was so excited. I thought your posts were limited to spiti and ladakh.

I am big fan of you, and had done both spiti and ladakh with guidance from you.

Now i have 4 days (30th Aug – 2nd Sept) and i want to make a trip to Munsiyari and binsar from delhi. Please suggest an itinerary so that we can make most from the trip.

We are three, riding on two bikes. Also suggest, if we need to prepare specially for monsoon, if it is not over by 30th Aug.

Thank you..

Hey Paramvir,

Yeah, Ladakh & Spiti kept me occupied so much that I could not explain my knowledge of Kumaon and Garhwal till now. But, have started expanding now 🙂

Bhai in 4 days it will be tough but if you are OK riding so much, then Delhi – Binsar Binsar – Munsiyari Munsiyari – Chaukori – Kausani Kausani – Delhi

I am planning to visit Munsiyari and other offbeat places in UK.

Would you please help me with itinerary and contact details of good driver with Car. I will be traveling with my kid (5 year old) in May.

Thanks again for all your blogs and emails.

Did you get a chance to look at: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/kumaon-uttarakhand-most-common-itinerary/

Thanks Sir, would you please help me with Car details please..and will summer be crowded there?

Here are some of the drivers from Uttarakhand: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/india/himalayan-travel-guides/list-taxi-drivers-for-uttarakhand-kumaon-gharwal-t5750.html

Hello Dheeraj!

I have been following your blog for quite sometime now. It is the one-stop information kiosk for Kumaon region, particularly for munsiyari trip. We are starting from Roorkee on 27th Feb. Will be there at Ram Nagar by night.

Next day onwards we will begin our trip to Munsiyari through manila- dwarghat-someswar-kausani route and plan to come back by berinath-sheraghat-binsar-almora route

Can you please give me some info abt. these routes

1. Will it be safe (roadwise) to take both these routes in feb last week/march first week this year?

2.It appears the manila- dwarghat-someswar-kausani route is much longer than the binsar -almora route. What will be the tentative difference in hours between these routes? 3. Can we get hotel booking on the spot at these places, particularly kausani, munsiyari etc. 4. Will it be biting cold or normal feb cold we experience in dehradun/haridwar? 5. suppose we start from ram nagar in early morning (6-6.30), will we reach kausani by late afternoon?

Please inform us. we will be very thankful. Anindya

Thank you Anindya, it is quite a compliment and glad site is being helpful.

1. Last week of Feb should be fine for the trip. 2. If you measure it from Almora to Munsiyari, it is about 7 hrs of drive while Manila to Munsiyari is about 9 hrs of drive. 3. Mostly, you will get the hotels at these places without much issue. 4. Feb will be cold, nights/early morning will surely be cold. If you are not used to cold, it may feel quite cold. 5. It will take about 6 hrs to reach Kausani if you will go from Dwaraghat route else from Ranikhet around 5 hrs. I am just telling you the drive time only.

Regards Dheeraj

Thanks a lot Dheeraj. The information you have provided will be of great help.If i have any other query in next 2,3 days, i am going to bother you again.

For sure, always happy to help 🙂

Really exciting and useful information. I would also like to follow the same plan in Dec. Please suggest how I book the car from Delhi for this trip and any contact information.

Do you need a taxi or self drive car?

Dheeraj Sir it is very good information shared by you. I am going to Munsiyari from Delhi on 3rd July, 2017. But I came to know that the road conditions are not good from That to Munsiyari especially in monsoon. Will you please tell me about the road conditions from Thal to Munsiyari as I am travelling by bike.

Well Vineet, most of the road conditions are fine but yes there are some sections between Thal to Munsiyari that gets some pot holes but nothing like you will not see back in town in some roads and with the bike they can easily be negotiated. You can confirm the conditions at Thal petrol pump where you will tank up the petrol and then decide else make the trip up to Chaukori.

Hi Dheeraj.. How would be Binsar Munsiyari and choukori trip in First week of July? Will it be rainy and cloudy hiding the views? We have 8-9 days in hand..Is valley of flowers with Badrinath a better option to do at this time? Or any other place You can suggest except ladakh spiti and kinnaur…i have already covered them!! Thanks

You will have pleasant time up there in Kumaon, just check the weather updates and avoid in case of heavy rain predictions. In general, rains starts from mid of July to August.

Hello Dheeraj ji We are planning trip to Kumaon for 8 days and 9 nights in october 17. we will not visit Jim Corbett. Could u suggest some “must see” places ? We had visited Kalpa-Kinnaur- Chhitkul

I will suggest to take a look at: Kumaon, Uttarakhand – Most Common Itinerary

Thank you : )

Superb pics !! and nice info. Thank you. We are planning trip to nainital, ranikhet Kausani Munsiyari in October 2017.

Thank you, feel free to post any questions you may have for your trip to Kumaon. You may also check: Kumaon, Uttarakhand – Most Common Itinerary

Dheeraj Bhai,

i am Bhaskar, from Chandannagore, W. Benal, want to visit munsiyari at 20th Dec ’17 . Can i travel this area at this time. i read your post and interested to visit the kumaon. where we found snow in this time? please guide me.

thanks in advance.

Bhaskar Acharyya. 9903696949

Unless it snows, heavily during those days, yes, you can travel to Munsiyari during last week of December. You will be able to to find snow at Munsiyari in case it has started snowing in hills by that time else in case snow has not started, then in Kumaon you will not see snow.

Hello once again, but on a different forum. 🙂 My cousin wants to cover Almora & Pithoragarh districts backpacking in the month of July (His Semester break). I adviced him against as it shall be Monsoon Season. What do you think??? Can it be done??? He basically wants to cover Munsiyari, Binsar, Chaukhori, Almora, Ranikhet, Kaushani. He & 3 of his friends are planning for a max of 10 days (Excluding days of transit from Delhi). I have been to these places but in the winters, so no idea of the monsoon season. There is no better than you to help. He being a student shall be on a shoestring budget opting for Public Transportations, KMVN/GMVN Guesthouses & stuff. I can help with Guest Houses, Hotels, Guides & stuff, but not with weather conditions.

Thanks in Advance. 🙂

July is still a good time and Kumaon is OK to travel as the hills are much stable as compared to Gharwal region. You can also refer: Kumaon, Uttarakhand – Most Common Itinerary

Just ask him to go as early in July as he can go and avoid last week of July when the monsoon actually begins to pour down heavily.

Hi Dheeraj,

First of all thanks a tonne for the detailed post. We will be traveling from Bageshwar to Munsiyari on 25th of January 2017. We will be staying at KMVN rest house at Munsiyari. Since we have a kid with us, and it is not a trekking trip; can you suggest any places near the rest house where we might find snow for playing with the kid?

Hello Nidhi,

well, on the way down to Munsiyari you will pass by Kalamuni Top. You will find plenty of snow around it during that time. Also, in coming weeks more snow showers are expected.

Thanks. This helps a lot.

Best wishes for your trip 🙂

hi Dheeraj,

I am planning a road trip from Mumbai with 2 friends to Kausani via nanital, ranikhet and almora I dont know much about the region as this is my 1st trip there while reading and exploring came upon your blog and now want to add munsiyari also to the itinerary as it seems we do not want to miss it. we have around 10 to 11 days for this trip. we will be starting our travel by 28th or 29th of Jan 2017 from mumbai and want to be back by 6th or 7th Feb 2017. Can you help me out with the planning and the itinerary and also if its a good time to visit. we want to be away from the noise and hustle bustle and enjoy the beauty of the mountains and snow.

Thank you in advance.

Mustafa, I will suggest that you plan the trip as: Kumaon, Uttarakhand – Most Common Itinerary . Based on more days at hand, you can place them on your choice and preference.

hi Dheeraj, Nice post. I am planning to travel on 31st December from Delhi by Bike. Is it possible to have a 4 days round trip.

Tarun, it will be very hectic to do Munsiyari in 4 days. Better plan up to Chaukori for the 4 day trip only.

thanks Dheeraj then i,ll plan for Chaukori itself. How’s the place?

Place is very lovely and offer 180 degree views of mighty Himalayas. You can check some pictures at: Chaukori – A Rendezvous with Musk Deer & Mythology | Candid Kumaon

thanks Dheeraj i’ll plan for chaukori then.

Best wishes for your trip Tarun 🙂

Thanks a lot Dheeraj 🙂 🙂

Hi Dheeraj, Nice Travelogue !! I am Planning to travel with my wife from delhi to kathgodam(train) in last week January ’17 and then plan to hire bike to Munsiyari covering chaukori ,almora etc….

Is it Feasible to travel/cover the area from Kathgodam to Munsiyari on Bike .. Any Risk Involved due to ice etc….other factors..

regards Nishant

Nishant, you can surely travel by bike but the problem is I am not sure if you will get bike on hire in Kathgodam area. I never heard of it.

Can u pls suggest a travel plan to munsyari with 7 days in hand. We (5 Families) are travelling by our own car 1) Best route to munsyari from kashipur/ramnagar 2) break up of journey 3) Where to expect the snow fall as we are planning to go in end of Dec 4) Any other suggestion you wish to provide

Thanks Rakesh Khatri

Hello Rakesh,

1. Well, you can follow two routes, the one I explained above that goes from Manila – Ranikhet/Kausani – Chaukori or go from Almora – Binsar side. 2. You should plan as per below suggestion 3. You should expect snow in Munsiyari especially at Kalamuni Top and towards Thamri Kund trek 4. Do read the article above.

Here is the suggested plan for you:

Day 1 | Ramnagar – Manila – Kausani/Gwaldam Day 2 | Kausani/Gwaldam – Chaukori Day 3 | Chaukori – Munsiyari Day 4 | Munsiyari rest day and around Day 5 | Munsiyari – Patal Bhuvaneshwar Day 6 | Patal Bunvaneshwar – Nainital/Mukteshwar/Binsar (Do cave visit in the morning) Day 7 | Reach back Ramnagar

First of all thanks a lot for running this “one stop shop” kind of blog which is extremely helpful while planning a trip to Himalayas.

I am travelling to Dharchula–Nepal via Dehradun—Rudrapraya—Karnaprayag—Gwaldam—Bageshwar—Chaukori—Munsyari on 25th November 2016.

It will be a bike trip with my 3 friends and we have decided to make this trip a “no hotel only tent” type.

Could you please guide me the safe and good tenting/camping places in Garhwal as I will be covering it till Karnaprayag.

I am very much confident in Kumaon but not Gharwal.

Pit-stop will be like:-

Day 1:- Karnaprayag Day 2:- Chaukori Day 3 :- Munsyari.

Thank you Rajeev 🙂 🙂

Well, it will come down to an open space somewhere nearby a village or a home in the village with outside lawn. I do not have specific idea about a camping site at Karnprayag but well most of the villages have these farming fields where you can ask for permission or at max pay a tip of Rs 100 or so to the villager to allow you to pitch the tent.

hi Dheeraj, After reading your blogs, i m now tempted to take a road trip starting 28th of October from Delhi to Munsiyari via Nainital, Binsar and return to delhi via Kausani Ranikhet with a stay at Corbett to cap the trip. Me and my son (20 yrs) are planning to take a self driven car from delhi for this trip. Your suggestions would be highly appreciated.

1. Is taking a self driven car advisable or a taxi with a driver from kathgodam is ideal? 2. where are the breaks we need to take and places to stay. 3. Places we should visit along this route.

we have time till the 5th of November.

thanks in adance

best regards -Adolf

Hello Adolf,

Great to know that and Munsiyari including whole of Kumaon is an amazing place to be at.

1. Yes, take a self drive car as most of the roads are very good barring few bad patches. You have about 9 days and I will sugggest that you plan as per below itinerary

1. Delhi to Nainital / Pangot / Mukteshwar 2. Nainital / Pangot / Mukteshwar – Chaukori via Sheraghat route 3. Chaukori – Patal Bhuvanehwar – Chaukori 4. Chaukori – Munsiyari 5. Munsiyari rest day 6. Munsiyari rest day 7. Munsiyari – Bageshwar – Kausani/Gwladam (long drive so start early) 8. Kausani/Gwladam rest day 9. Kausani/Gwladam – Delhi

Thanks so much Dheerj for your valuable input. We will keep you posted when we take the trip.

Sure, mostly welcome. Have a great trip 🙂

I am planning to travel to Munsiyari from 7th October to 11th October.Plan is to leave Delhi on 7th Evening.Please suggest the beat route.I am currently planning through Delhi-Rudrapur-Naramata-Tanakpur-Champawat-Lohaghat-Reetha Sahib-Pithoragarh-Thal-Munsiyari as one the member suggested in the forum.

Please advice.

Shantanu, you can take that route and come back from Chaukori – Sheraghat – Almora route. Please note that it will be hectic trip for just 5 days in hand.

Thanks Dheeraj..Yes the same will be hectic..could not manage more leaves.. 🙁

Hmmm, then just be prepared and have a shot at it 🙂

Hi Shantanu,

I am from Hyderabad, I will also be traveling to Munsyari on 7th Oct 2016. How are you traveling? if you are alone, can I tag along, If you are going by your Car, can i tag along? we can share the expenses… If interested you can mail me [email protected]

Hi Shravan,

I will be driving my i20….please mail me your itinerary @ [email protected] can plan.

I will be landing in Delhi by 3:00 PM on 7th Oct and i would like to travel onwards on the same day to either Chaukori, Askote or Munsyari. I need to be back in Delhi by 15th Night and catch a flight back early 16th morning

I haven’t booked or planned anything yet… just looking for best way to reach there… I want to be at once place and relax, probably do daily short treks to the nearby villages if any…

Whats the mode of transportation that you suggest or what is the best way to reach one of these places and which place would you suggest.

Thank you Shravan

PS: I have been following your site since 2011, and it has been a big source of inspiration and information when i was traveling through Himachal and J&K. Thanks a lot for that 🙂

Shravan, thank you for such warm words and been following the DoW for almost last 5 years. Well, you can take the direct bus from Delhi Anand Vihar ISBT to Munsiyari that starts at 4.30 PM and will reach earl morning next day. Then you can spend your days up there and take rides on shared jeeps to come back or may be the same route.

I WILL BE TRAVELLING IN MY CAR FROM KOLKATA STARTING 05.10.2016 .I WANT TO BE BACK IN KOLKATA BY14/10/2016 NIGHT.I WOULD LIKE TO COVER KAUSANI,MUNSIYARI ,ALMORA AND MUKTESWAR.CAN YOU PLEASE SUGGEST ME AN ITENARY WITH EXCELLENT PLACE OF STAY ( WITH A VIEW) .WILL IT BE TOO CROWDED DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU CAN SUGGEST LONELY & PEACEFUL PLACES. ALSO COULD YOU PLEASE ADVICE ME ON THE CONDITIONS OF ROAD AFTER MONSOON.

Hi Suvajit,

Please share your itinerary and as I will be also travelling from Delhi on 7th Night heading for Munsiyari.

You can mail me [email protected]

We are following Itinerary given by you https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/kumaon-uttarakhand-most-common-itinerary/ in this month end. can you please guide regarding road conditions specially between Binsar to Munsiyari.

Me and my friends are planning a road trip from Delhi to Munsiyari, we are like 6-8 riders.

we have not yet planned the dates yet.. can you help me with the best time and route to visit Munsiyari and how much days do we need to explore this scenic beauty.

Just one add on, we all ride RE, so rough/bad roads wont be a problem for us.

Thanks A lot for sharing so much information, it really helps.

Bharat, I can suggest you refer for the plna: Kumaon, Uttarakhand – Most Common Itinerary

Best time will be towards end of December or January if you would like to see snow as well.

HI Dheeraj,

I am planning to do a road trip from Dehradun to Munsiyari in december to be specific from December 16th to 23th…

I just want to know how are the roads and i am travelling with my wife in My ALTO 800. will it be doable in the car?

Ice on road will be an issue or Not? IS it safe? do i need ice chains? etc. Also can you suggest some places must visit in Route and halt places or location where i should stay for overhaul

Here is the route map

https://www.google.co.in/maps/dir/Dehradun,+Uttarakhand+248001/Munsyari,+Uttarakhand/@29.7751212,79.2088263,9.29z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x390929c356c888af:0x4c3562c032518799!2m2!1d78.0321918!2d30.3164945!1m5!1m1!1s0x39a6dc8d1ea9276d:0x5748adfabe56734!2m2!1d80.2373401!2d30.0715174!3e0

Thanks a ton

Parneet, it should be fine to travel. You may find some snow around Kalamuni top but rest should be good to travel. You can make a night halt at Gwaldam and next at Chaukori and then reach Munsiyari. Spend couple of days and come back the same route visiting Patal Bhuvaneshwar near Chaukori.

I want to travel Munsiyari with my family but I have Hyundai i10. My friends have a big time doubt that a small car can reach to that place without any hurdle.

Can you suggest something on this.

Vivek, you can easily make a trip to Munsiyari with i10. There was no such road that existed on that route which cannot be driven by any car. Of course, be careful and cautious at some section and you may ask someone to step down and guide the passage in case of doubt.

Hi Dheeraj..Do you have any idea about road conditions from Munsiyari -Lohaghat-Tanakpur. Want to do the return leg by this route. Plus how many days are sufficient for stay at munsiyari?

We went towards (almost half way) Pitthoragarh route as we were planning to come back from Lohaghat only. Most of the roads were OK and there were construction work going on at few inner roads. Apart from that mostly it was above average and good at many places.

hi dheraj, wish you are in good health. i along with my wife nandita desired to go to kumaon on 19th June this time we start my journey from tanakpur and wish to visit shyamalatal, munsiary, birthi, kousani, chakouri, binsor and sattal and we havi 12 days excluding journey period. we like lonely placse, please guide us we have car with us.

You can follow something like below:

1. Delhi to Nainital / Pangot 2. Nainital / Pangot Exploration Day 3. Nainital / Pangot – Binsar 4. Binsar – Munsiyari from Berinag 5. Munsiyari 6. Munsiyari – Chaukori 7. Chaukori – Patal Bhuvanehwar 8. Chaukori – Kausani via Baijnath 9. Kausani – Almora – Mukteshwar / Ramgarh 10. Mukteshwar / Ramgarh (Day trip to Sattal / Bhimtal / Naukuchiyatal) 11. Mukteshwar / Ramgarh – Back to Delhi

Dhiraj, I like to visit Munsiyari during winter around Jan/Feb. What I need is clear sunny weather with snow all around. Please suggest when should I go and where to stay.

No one can guarantee what you are looking forward to except weather gods 🙂 .. But, chances are porbably higher when you are planning this trip. How many days you have in hand? mid Jan to Feb is a good time.

I want to visit by state bus – Nainital,Kausani,Munsiyari, choukori, Dharchula . I want to start from Kathgodam/ Haldwani and want to back to any railway station to catch train for Newdelhi .

You can surely do that. All these places are well connected with buses. Just that you need to match the timings.

Hi Dheeraj.. My itinerary goes like this.. Pantnagar to Corbett- Kausani – Munsiyari-Jhaltola -Ramgarh and then back to Pantnagar

Any suggestions for must see places between Corbett-Kausani.. Is Raniketh worth two nights stay?

Well, in between Corbett and Kausani, you can take the route from Corbett to Manila to Kausani. Gwaldam is an amazing place for breathtaking view of Trishul peak but choose one between Gwaldam or Kausani. The drive is very nice so better not to stay two nights in Ranikhet rather use one of them in Munsiyari.

I want to start from Kathgodam or Haldwani bu bus to cover Ninital, Kausani,choukori,Munsiyari, Patal bhubaneswar then back to kathgodam or any other railway station to go to Delhi. please suggest my tour map.

Replied above.

Thanks for another inspiring trip to explore another side of Himalayas. Will this track will be having open roads and access to snow during mid March ?

Dhiraj, no the road remains open all throughout the year to Munsiyari and Chaukori or Dharchula.

I hope this helps. Please let me know in case you have any queries or doubts.

Regards Dheeraj Sharma

No or Yes boss. I am back confused. Will road be open during mid march??

Couple of more queries.. Will we be able to get closer to snow on this track and also is it possible to pass through Corbett park to reach Manila from Ramnagar?

Yes, road will be open

Snow in March around this region will be very tough to get, and yes you can drive through Corbett route reach Manila

Thanks Dhiraj.

I am now on my calendar and trying to block a week in last week March to cover this.

Cool, best wishes for your trip to Munsiyari 🙂

Thanks Dheeraj for the tips and we followed largely the similar itinerary and covered Kumaon in last week. Amazing place, amazing people and mind-blowing landscapes.

Having your namesake also helped to get bookings at Manila, as Mr Bisht still remember you 🙂

That’s great to know Dhiraj bhai !! More glad to know that you had a wonderful trip. Any chances of sharing some photo tale or travel tale in DwD Community with all of us? 🙂 🙂

Will attempt doing same Sir. Let me pick one of Sundays to pen down…

Thank you, looking forward to it.

Came back last week after completing the whole circuit. Thanks a lot for your travelogue for all the help.!

Few things that I would like to mention which you can update here for fellow travelers.

1. Roads are in beautiful condition apart from a couple of places (mentioned below). Just loved driving on them. a. Thal to Munsiyari road repair work is in progress and is broken at many places. b. Road to Patal Bhuvaneshwar is in really bad shape after Berinag. The expansion work is going on over a 10-12 kms stretch which might stretch to next 7-8 months. 2. Petrol pumps a. Thal now has 2 petrol pumps. b. There is one in Munsiyari also though it is on opposite side of Madkot road which goes towards Nanda Devi temple c. One more is there on way to Patal Bhuvaneshwar just before entering Berinag. 3. The restaurant at Thal has got its name changed to Rituraj Restaurant. The food served was still good. 🙂

Thank you Prateek for the updates brother, I will update them in the article. It will help a lot.

hi dheeraj, i just went to naggar and near by villages. many thanks to your detailed travelogues. Will write a detailed tale about it in the forum soon. However, i am planning for nanital and near by places with family in a day or two. the trip will be for two or three days.i wanted to ask that can munsiyari be covered in two days. Also, i will be starting from lucknow. My main thing is to cover munsiyari. i have thought of starting early and reach nanital and stay overnight and next day start early for munsiyari, reach there and next day start early morning for home. Please any advice on the itinerary. if i am not able to complete munsiyari, then can u suggest any places near by nanital for snowfall.please reply soon as will leave in a day or two.Thanks again for igniting the long lost love for travelling.

Good to know that Ankush, will wait for it in DwD Community!!

I am sorry for delayed reply and I am sure by now you would be on your trip 🙂

hello sir, nice guideline u r giving we want to visit corbett nainital almora munsiyari kausani and our dates are 1 march to 7 march plsguide the route

Parul since you have just 7days in hand there is no point running around the places. I will suggest make a trip to Munsiyari when you have time on hand or else skip Jim Corbett. Below is what I will suggest with Jim Corbett

1. Delhi to Jim Corbett 2. Jim Corbett 3. Jim Corbett – Kausani 4. Kausani – Chaukori 5. Chaukori – Patal Bhuvaneshwar – Chaukori 6. Chaukori – Binsar/Mukteshwar 7. Mukteshwar – Delhi

Hi, Could you pls let me know the complete itinerary from Kolkata to cover up Pithoragarh, Darchula, Munsiyari, Pindari Glacier, Ranikhet and Almora and back to Kolkata in 10 days.

Pindari Glacier is a trek and is not suggested in winters. Are you sure you want to do it? Rest all will be accessible. The trek itself will take about 6-7 days

Just read through your travelogue and it is very detailed and covers almost everything that one needs to know. I am planning a trip to the Kumaon region from 22.12 to 02.01. I will be travelling from Hyderabad by car along with my family.

We want to cover Nainital, Kausani, Chaukori and Munsiyari (any other places that you suggest). Planning to reach Nainital by 23rd night and need to reach Agra on 31st Dec.

Can you please suggest an itinerary from 24th to 30th Dec. The aim of the trip is to enjoy the natural beauty of Kumaon region along with the views of the Himalayas and have some fun in snow. Not too interested in visiting temples this time. But if something is on the way then definitely yes.

Please also suggest places to stay in these places since we have never been to UK. We would like to stay away from the crowded places. What would be the temperature like during that time so that we can be prepared accordingly ?

Lastly, is it possible to reach Agra from Munsiyari on 31st Dec with an early morning start (say around 7 am) ?

Thanks in advance.

Sumit did you check: Kumaon, Uttarakhand – Most Common Itinerary

You can cover it I believe. From Munsiyari, max you will be able to stretch will be Kathgodam only by running over 12 Hrs

Very well written Dheeraj loved it!! One thing if you can help me with. Could you give an idea about how long it takes to reach Almora from Munsiyari. I will be taking local transport.

Munsiyari to Almora will take around 9-10 hrs with breaks in between. In local transport it may be 10+ hrs with waiting and all.

Can you suggest a comfortable itinery for Pancheshwar , Choukari, Munsiyari, Jageshwar from kathgodam. I have 6N7D in hand.

I will suggest that you follow below plan for Kumaon. This is the best you can do in the amount you have in hand

1. Kathgodam – Jageshwar 2. Jageshwar – Chaukori 3. Chaukori – Patal Bhuvanehwar – Chaukori 4. Chaukori – Munsiyari 5. Munsiyari rest day 6. Munsiyari – Kausani 7. Kausani – Kathgodam

Can you suggest any other place instead of Patal Bhuvaneshwar and Kausani. I visited these two places earlier. Can we fit Pancheshwar in place of Kausani?

In that case you can drop Patal Bhuvanshwar and head to Munsiyari only to spend time up there. Instead of Kausani, you can go over to Gwaldam and stay overnight. Beautiful place to get more closer view of Trishul

Did Devbhoomi trip in month of May, 2015. Route Taken: Blr-Delhi-Haridwar-chopta-karnaprayag-kausani-Munsyari-almora-bhimtal-Delhi-Blr BLR – Delhi: NS Corridor buttersmooth Delhi – Modinagar: Patchy, from modingar toll roads are good upto Rishikesh Rishikesh-Ukhimat-chopta: Single but nice view and descent tarmac Chopta-Karnaprayag (via gopeshwar bypass)- Descent tarmac Karnaprayag-Munsyari: Upto Gwaldham horrible roads, after gwaldham rather better from dangoli smooth. Chaukori to thal smooth from thal upto birthi found landslides would be tricky if rains or snows. Doable by hatch but need to be carefull at water crossings. Return leg, found snow in Munsyari-Birthi part rest well uptil almora. Almora -bhimtal: smooth surface, Took Halwani bypass to avoid mad traffic, Halwani bypass is done well.

Thank you so much Aritra for updating us with the road conditions.

Hi Deeraj, Please can you suggest me the best road route from Delhi to Munsiyari for May-15 3rd week. 1. Delhi -Kashipur-ranikhet-Munsiyari 2. Delhi-Rampur-Almora-Munsiyari 3. Delhi-Rampur-Champawat-Pithoraghar-Munsiyari Please keep in mind about the road condition as well as scenic beauty on the way. Thanks Rajeev Goel

Rajeev, I will suggest that you take Delhi – Kashipur – Ranikhet/Manila – Kausani – Munsiyari on the way to Munsiyari and come back from Almora – Rampur route to enjoy the jouenry in both sections 🙂

Hello Dheeraj, kindly help me out chalking a plan for a road-trip to Munsiyari from Delhi. Have already been to Ranikhet, Almora, Binsar and Jageshwar. Our probable time of visit is last ten days of May. Will be driving SX4.

You have sufficient number of days in hand and you can plan something like below:

1. Delhi to Nainital / Pangot / Mukteshwar 2. Nainital / Pangot / Mukteshwar – Chaukori via Sheraghat route 3. Chaukori – Patal Bhuvanehwar – Chaukori 4. Chaukori – Munsiyari 5. Munsiyari rest day 6. Munsiyari rest day 7. Munsiyari – Bageshwar – Gwaldam (long drive so start early) 8. Gwaldam rest day 9. Gwaldam – Kausani – Manila 10. Manila – Delhi

Thank U Dheeraj for your prompt reply…as always. Your mention of “sufficient days” has made us bit greedy. Need your opinion if we can include Chopta as well. We plan to visit Chopta first and then move towards Munsiyari. On our return journey we plan to stay in Sattal and then proceed to Delhi. If you suggest we can add 2-3 days to make the trip more relaxing. Pl. suggest places to stay (Budget hotels) and how to pace our trip. Thanx once again.

In such a case, you can follow something like below

1. Delhi to Rishikesh – Chopta 2. Chopta Rest day, either visit Tunganath temple or visit Deoria Tal 3. Chopta – Gopeshwar / Chamoli – Karnprayag – Gwaldam 4. Gwaldam – Chaukori 5. Chaukori – Patal Bhuvaneshwar – Chaukori 6. Chaukori – Munsiyari rest day 7. Munsiyari Rest day 8. Munsiyari – Binsar 9. Binsar – Mukteshwar / Sattal 10. Mukteshwar / Sattal – Delhi

You can add rest days in between as you like.

Within 10 days I want to cover Mukteshwar, Kausani, Chaukori, Munshiyari, Dharchula and Nainital if possible. We plan to hire a taxi from Kathgodam on a Thursday in May and come back to Kathgodam by next to next Saturday. Can anyone suggest the best itirenary

You can follow something like below for 10 day trip to Kumaon:

Day 1: Kathgodam – Mukteshwar Day 2: Mukteshwar – Chaukori Day 3: Chaukori rest day, a visit to Patal Bhuvaneshwar Day 4: Chaukori – Munsiyari Day 5: Munsiyari rest day and around Munsiyari. May be a hike to Thamri Kund Day 6: Munsiyari – Chaukori – Kausani Day 7: Kausani rest day Day 8: Kausani – Binsar Day 9: Binsar – Nainital Day 10: Leave back home

I want to ask you that can we add Binsar in our trip somewhere. Which route should I take for Ranikhet, i.e. bhowali-khairna-ranikhet or ramnagar-corbett-mohan-ranikhet..?

You can stay at Binsar instead of Patal Buvaneshwar in my itinerary suggested before.

Day 1 | Delhi – Ranikhet Day 2 | Ranikhet – Chaukori Day 3, 4 | Chaukori – Munsiyari and rest at Munsiyari Day 5 | Munsiyari – Patal Bhuvaneshwar – Binsar, start early though from Munsiyari Day 6 | Binsar – Mukteshwar Day 7 | Mukteshwar – Delhi

For Ranikhet, go via Bhowali – Khairna

Hello bro, first of all kudos to you for writing wonderful travelogues which are very easily understood. After going through your “munsyari-dharchula” travelogue, I also want to go to kumaon side of UK. It ll b a family trip of 5 adults and one 3yr old kid in my own car with at least 7 days in hand. Kindly suggest an itinerary for the same. I have tried to make one, kindly see and advice accordingly. D1- Delhi-Ranikhet D2- Chaukori D3,4- Munsyari D5- Almora, with a visit to patal bhuvneshwar on the way to almora D6- Almora-Delhi Thanks in advance Regards, Dr Darvesh

Musiyari to Almora can be done only alone not with a visit to Patal Bhuvaneshwar as it will add more drive time as well as visit time. Since you have 7 days, you can break it up from Munsiyari to Patal Bhuvaneshwar.

Next day drive through Shreaghat to Almora from Patal Bhuvaneshwar, in fact better go to Mukteshwar instead of Almora and stay up there. Final day, go over to Delhi from Mukteshwar. So, it will look like:

Day 1 | Delhi – Ranikhet Day 2 | Ranikhet – Chaukori Day 3, 4 | Chaukori – Munsiyari and rest at Munsiyari Day 5 | Munsiyari – Patal Bhuvaneshwar Day 6 | Patal Bhuvaneshwar – Mukteshwar Day 7 | Mukteshwar – Delhi

Thank you boss for your kind suggestion. We ll b going towards march end. Will there be rush at that time ? If possible, can you suggest some good staying options, family-types, according to the itinerary you have made. Thanks a ton in advance

Mostly KMVN are good at all these places. At Chaukori, you can check Ojaswi just aside KMVN, very nice. We stayed there this time and loved it in entirety. Munsiyari – KMVN, Patal Bhuwaneshwar – one falls on the route to it, some 7-8 KMs before it offering nice views, I forgot the name. Do not book KMVN there. Mukteshwar – Oak Chalet is nice, but you need to walk down a bit for it. I stayed there with family and loved it.

Hello bro once again. Actually I m very confused regarding choosing the places to visit and stay in Kumaon region. As we are having quite a no. of days i.e. 7 in total, I m not being able to finalize the itinerary. We, groups of 3-4 families, will be starting from delhi and the final and only confirmed destination is Munsyari. Rest of the places will revolve around it. Plz make an itinerary for us for making the journey unforgettable. Thanks bro drdb

I did suggest an itinerary for you previously, did not you get my reply?

Day 1 | Delhi – Ranikhet Day 2 | Ranikhet – Chaukori Day 3, 4 | Chaukori – Munsiyari and rest at Munsiyari Day 5 | Munsiyari – Patal Bhuvaneshwar Day 6 | Patal Bhuvaneshwar – Mukteshwar Day 7 | Mukteshwar – Delhi

Thank you for the very informative article and the excellent tips Dheeraj! Hope to visit these places myself some day 🙂

Glad that you liked the info on Munsiyari and rest of the Kumaon explained in this article. Anytime you visit and have any queries for visiting this beautiful part of Himalayas then please let me know and I would be aable to help in whatever info. I know 🙂

i am driving a nano, going from kolkata up to Munsiyari….any thoughts / suggestions ?

Anindya, it will quite a fun brother. The roads are all fine, I think you shall be able to do it without much hassles.

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