This is a combination of sacred rivers, sacred temples, alpine meadows and beautiful Himalayan peaks that Chetram Holidays organizes as a Uttarakhand tour. The plan begins with the holy plains of Ganges and then goes through the forest and high-meadows of Chopta and then to the mountain tops in the Auli area. Each day consists of a spiritual time, a walk in the nature, and a common trekking, comfortable accommodation, local guides, and safety considerations being made. The point is to permit escaping the routine of the city life in the city and into the calm landscape of Uttarakhand, spirituality, and mountain air without effort.
Come to Haridwar in the morning, or in the early afternoon. On reaching Chetram Holidays office, arrive at the hotel. On arrival and some rest, lunch and visit Har Ki Pauri the sacred ghat of the Ganges upon which pilgrims gather and the air of the river is something very spiritual. Tour temples such as Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi are located on hills and command a view of the river and the hills surrounding. Evening is reserved for the popular Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri; lights, sangeet, and reflections in the river all make it an emotive ceremony. Evening, dinner and go to Rishikesh and get into your hotel, spend the time in stillness on the river, or you can have a meditation lesson or yoga lesson by the Ganges. Overnight stay in Rishikesh.
It is best to break your breakfast at Rishikesh, and then begin to drive to Chopta, with its mountain top-views and its forest-bound roads, alternating scenery with river valleys and then with the alpine. Arrive in Chopta in the early afternoon, enter a mountain lodge, eat lunch and get ready to take out on a trek. Hike to Tungnath, considered to be among the highest Shiva temples on earth; the hiking will be organized in pine, oak, rhododendron forests, maybe little cascades, etc. After paying your visit at Tungnath as time and strength will allow you do so, go up to the top and Chandrashila Peak, and the sunset or people of the early evening of the snow-capped mountains are wonderful. Go to dinner at Chopta lodge. A stay in Chopta, which is at least a one-night stay, and the quiet and stars up in the alpine skies will make you calm.
Breakfast, and send Chopta to Jobimath, the mouth of Auli. Mountain roads, snow peaks and glaciers, rivers flowing in valleys all are included in the drive in the landscape. On reaching Joshimath, have lunch and refreshments and proceed to Auli either by cable car /ropeway or road, as per road. At Auli, the moment you have been fixed in your lodge, somewhere on a commanding view of alpine meadow, may walk the meadows, between the prospect of Nanda Devi, Trishul, and other mountains. In case there is time, it can be recommended to take a ride in a short cable car and watch the panoramics. Evening leisure time to get some fresh mountain air, sunset on the mountain, dinner leisure in the evening and time in the mountain in Auli.
Wake up early enough to watch the sun come up at Auli, the golden snow fall light on mountains is not to be forgotten. Rise early in the morning following breakfast and choose the activities: hiking in the alpine meadows, without difficulty; riding in the cable cars; going to the lakes or the sights of the environs. Visit local temples in Joshimath. Lunch in Auli or Joshimath. Then after lunch commence the descent to Rishikesh or Haridwar (where you wish to be dropped), and of the villages, views, gorges of the river, cascades where practicable, take picturesque interludes. Report to your drop-off base, evening, dinner, sleep, and leave preparation.
It is a buffer/ leisure day in Haridwar / Rishikesh so long as one has time to travel. Chance to go to the ghats of the Ganges, last Ganga Aarti, go to local markets, or have spa / yoga / wellness. Lunch and final local sightseeing and subsequently a transfer of train station or airport to your next destination.
