Uttarakhand in June

The last comfortable town before Kedarnath — where smart pilgrims base themselves instead of suffering at 3583m.

One of Shankaracharya four mathas — and the town that is literally sinking since 2023.

One of the 12 Jyotirlingas, sitting at 3583m beneath a glacier — open only 6 months a year.

The Skeleton Lake — a glacial lake at 5,029m where hundreds of ancient human skeletons surface every summer. India's most haunting trek.

India's best (and basically only real) ski slope, with a front-row view of Nanda Devi.

One of the four Char Dham — a 1,200-year-old Vishnu temple at 3,133m that closes for six months because even the gods leave for winter.

Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand — rhododendron meadows, Himalayan views, and the easiest gateway to a 4000m summit.

The origin of the Ganges — a temple at 3,100m where Goddess Ganga descended to Earth, surrounded by deodar forests and Himalayan peaks.

Direct front-row seat to the Panchachuli range — Kumaon's most spectacular viewpoint that almost nobody goes to.

Where Alaknanda meets Mandakini — the confluence that routes you to either Kedarnath or Badrinath.

The highest Shiva temple in the world at 3,680m — a 3.5km trek through rhododendron forests with Chandrashila peak summit as the reward.

The Kashi of the North — a riverside temple town that doubles as basecamp for serious Himalayan mountaineering and the Char Dham circuit.

The least visited Char Dham — a 6km trek to the source of the Yamuna with hot springs where pilgrims cook rice in muslin cloth.