Nainital - Nainital is a glittering jewel in the Himalyan necklace, blessed with scenic natural spledour and varied natural resources. Dotted with lakes, Nainital has earned the epithet of 'Lake District' of India. The most prominent of the lakes is Naini lake ringed by hills.
Ranikhet - In the midst of dense pine forests in the Kumaon Hills of Uttaranchal is the sylvan cantonment town of Ranikhet. Set at a height of 1,829 meters, this hill station has an old world charm with graceful churches and sprawling colonial bungalows fronted by flower-bedecked gardens. The town is spread over a series of ridges and pretty, tree lined paths wind into the surrounding alpine forests from where leopards make occasional appearances. In spite of being one of the most beautiful hill resorts in the Kumaon region, Ranikhet still retains its laidback, unblemished charm and is not spilling over with visitors.
Corbett - Located in the foothills of the Kumaon Himalayas close to Ramnagar, Corbett National Park was the first Reserve forest of its kind, established in 1936 through the efforts of Jim Corbett, the conservationist. Stretching over 520 sq km with a core area of 330 sq km, the Corbett National Park consists of mixed deciduous and sal forests and stretches of Savannah grasslands where antelope, chital, hog deer and sambar graze. The Rhesus monkey and common langur are ubiquitous, while the long-snouted gharial, marsh crocodile, cobras and pythons can be seen on the mud banks of the Ramganga.
Shopping in Uttarakhand is a pleasurable experience. Some of the important shopping hubs are as follows:
Nainital - Nainital is flushed with choices on what to buy having exclusively the 'made-in-Nainital' stamp. There is an assortment of alternatives for shopping in Nainital. It offers a variety of goods that you can buy for yourself as well as for your beloved ones. Nainital is known for its handmade candles throughout the country. The best part is that they are made of eco-friendly material. For foodies, the place is a paradise. It has a number of retail shops selling home-made jams, squashes, fruit preservatives and juice concentrates. You can also relish juicy fresh fruits from the orchards. Apples, cherries, strawberries, peaches, blueberries, and even mulberries are bound to tempt you to gorge on them. Local handicrafts in the form of home décor items and ornaments are also popular with shopping lovers. Handmade masks are especially beautiful and reflect the authentic taste of the locals. It is a popular buyers' choice. You need to visit the market places of Bhotia Bazaar, Mallitaal, The Mall Road, and Bara Bazaar for all your shopping needs.
Dehradun - Shopping in Dehradun, Uttarakhand's capital city, with well stocked markets and shopping complexes, is an absolute delight. When you happen to visit Dehradun, don't forget to look for traditional Dehradun basmati rice which is world famous for both, its aroma and taste. Also the delicious Chakarata Rajma is available in the markets here that you can take home. The famous Paltan Bazaar near the Clock tower is one such place where you are sure to find whatever you want. The famous Rajpur road is one of the most popular market places in the city. Lined with retail outlets of all major brands of apparels, besides cafés, food courts and restaurants, Rajpur road offers a grand welcome to all who love to spend time shopping around in urban glitter.
Mussoorie - The main shopping areas in Mussoorie are the Library, Kulri Bazaar and Landour Bazaar that sell curios, ethnic jewellery, as well as antiques. Beyond Kulri Bazaar a road goes 5 kms up to the old cantonment area of Landour. Shops in the market sell Raj memorabilia, silver jewellery and books. You can pick up beautifully handcrafted walking sticks among other things from shops on the Mall Road. Just below the mall Road is a Tibetan market where one can buy sleeping bags, windcheaters, sweaters and shawls at very reasonable prices.
**Almora **- The main shopping areas in Almora - Lala Bazaar and Chowk Bazaar are steeped in traditional atmosphere, with traditional houses lining cobbled alleys. Shops sell woollens, the traditional tamta or copperware and locally woven tweeds. Sweaters and shawls made from angora wool are also available here.
**Haridwar **- Shopping in Haridwar includes buying religious implements, brassware, cane and bamboo products, semi-precious stones, vermilion powder, herbal medicines, spices and pickles. The Bara Bazaar, Moti Bazaar and Jwalapur areas of Haridwar are the main shopping places. The sacred rudraksha garland, made from strings of the rudraksha seed and used by religious men, is also sold here.
**Ranikhet **- Shopping in Ranikhet can be fun and interesting because of the variety of things that you can buy here, ranging from food items to woollen garments, you have lots of options. You can visit the Mall in Ranikhet which is well-known for shawls, woollen fabrics, kurtas and jackets. The other option would be to head to the Sadar bazaar of Ranikhet that comprises of small shops. You can buy embroidered clothes in this market. You can also visit Ranikhet Tweed and Shawl Factory to buy woollen handloom products.
**Money **- The currency of India is Indian Rupees (INR). The currency exchange departments are present in almost every Indian city. You can also exchange your currency in 5 star and 4 star hotels, no other currency is valid except for Indian currency (INR).
**Best time to Visit **- Uttarakhand is a year-round destination, depending upon where you decide to go.
**Travel Kit **- Comfortable clothing, walking shoes and sunglasess.
**Drugs - Heavy penalties including imprisonment for possession of narcotic drugs. **
**Temple Codes **- Dress conservatively in Temples.
**Smoking **- Smoking is banned in public places.
**Uttarakhand Festivals & Fairs **- Festivals and fairs are celebrated throughout Uttarakhand on a large scale. Some of the important fairs and festivals are as follows:
• Many villages and towns in Uttarakhand celebrate seasonal fairs and festivals. The most important and well known of the religious events are the Ardh Kumbh and the Maha Kumbh Melas, at Haridwar; this event attracts millions of devotees from all across the world.
• January : Uttarayani Mela (Rameshwar, Chitrashila, Bageshwar,Hanseswar)
• March : Jauljibi Mela, Poornagiri Mela (Pithoragarh), Jhanda Fair (Dehradun)
• April : Thal Mela (Pithoragarh), Dwarahat Mela, Somnath Masi Mela (Almora)
• July-Aug : Shravan Jhoola Mela (Jageshwar, Almora), Kavand Mela (Haridwar)
• August : Devidhura Mela (Pithoragarh)
• September: Nandadevi Mela (Roopkund, Almora, Nauti, Dandidhara, Munsyari)
• October : Gananath Mela (Almora)