Is Pipalkoti an alternative to Mussoorie? It looks so, as is evident from the surge of tourists’ preference to Pipalkoti of late.
Before I describe further about Pipalkoti, I get to its basic.
Where is Pipalkoti?
It is located on the banks of the Alaknanda River at an elevation of 4100 feet. However it is a layover place for pilgrims to the two most important temples in the Garhwal Himalayas namely:
- Badrinath
- Hemkund Sahib
There are numerous temples to see if you make it your base.
How to reach this hill station?
The road is the only way to go up on the Garhwal Mountain region. You can either start from New Delhi or from Haridwar.
Delhi is 455 km south of it, whereas Hardwar is 240 km.
You must hire a taxi from your starting lace because only highly experienced drivers can navigate this section of the Himalayas.
The nearest airport is in Dehradun, the gateway to Mussoorie. The distance between the two places is 255 km.
Comparison between Mussoorie and Pipalkoti.
The diehard fans of Mussoorie as one of the beautiful hill stations in India would not agree with me if they read this blog post on “Is Pipalkoti an alternative to Mussoorie”. They would claim Mussoorie is incomparable. I must give in to their claim but still want to highlight the advantages of choosing Pipalkoti as a cheap alternative to Mussoorie.
- The food is rather authentic Garhwali in this hill station whereas, in Mussoorie, you are likely to get a range of Indian cuisines because Mussoorie is a very popular hill station.
- The number of hotels, resorts, and guesthouses are more in Mussoorie than here.
- However, Pipalkoti’s staying options are less but much cheaper than Mussoorie hotels.
- The places to see and adventures are definitely many more in Mussoorie but Pipalkoti has its own natural beauty and walking trails. In addition, it is the gateway to the ‘Valley of Flowers’ one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in India.
- It is the untouched virgin beauty of Garhwal whereas Mussoorie is crowded and highly urbanized.
Now, let us explore the places to see and around.
- Badrinath (75 km) is undoubtedly the foremost attraction near this hill station. It is a highly revered Hindu religious center in India.
- Joshimutt (36 km ), the gateway to Badrinath, and the final stopover before leaving for Badrinath is another important place to see near this hill side town.
Joshimutt
- Hemkund Sahib, a very important pilgrimage to the Sikhs, is only 35 km away from it.
Hemkund Sahib
- The Valley of Flowers, a place of incredible beauty is located only 50 km to the north of it. The Valley of Flowers is a highly protected attraction and is declared as a National Park by the Indian Government. As a matter of fact, the Valley of Flowers is part of the Nanda Devi Bio Reserve.
The trekking trail to the valley rugged and strenuous. I think it involves more than two days of trekking.
- Tapovan is just 50 km away. You have to go to Joshimutt first to reach Tapovan. River Douliganga flows near Tapovan.
Tapovan
A few natural hot springs are a big attraction for the tourists to tapovan. The mountain slopes that surround the tapovan are cultivated with potato and rice. These are known as terrace fields.
- Lakes around this hill station are beautiful. The trekking trail that leads to the lakes is scenic and peaceful.
Where to Stay.
The tourist bungalow maintained by the GVMN is the best place to stay in. I must admit it lacks aesthetics but the rooms are definitely comfortable and the vegetarian food is just top class. Call +91 96341 12318 to book your stay.
Hotel Sudarsan Palace offer luxury accommodation and It facing the ferocious Alaknanda River.
I highly recommend Hotel Dauliganga to stay.
It may not be another Mussoorie but it is certainly a wonderful hill station in the Garhwal Himalayas and close to the Valley of Flowers.
The best time to visit
From May to September is the best time to visit. Afterward, the place gets very cold due to heavy snow.
