Pauri

Nearby highlights

Why Pauri is worth the detour

Pauri offers genuine Garhwal administrative-town character and wide Himalayan panoramas within a region most Uttarakhand travelers skip entirely in favor of Mussoorie or Nainital, worth prioritizing for those wanting a more grounded, less touristy hill-town experience.

What a day looks like

A walk to Kandoliya Temple, through forest on the hill above town, rewards with genuinely wide Himalayan views before returning to explore Pauri's own market streets. Given the town's position within the wider Pauri Garhwal region, most visitors combine it with Khirsu or a stop at Devprayag's river confluence on the way from Rishikesh.

Finding a working Garhwal hill town off the tourist trail

Pauri's identity as a genuine administrative and educational center, rather than a resort town, is worth appreciating specifically — this is Garhwal as it actually functions day to day, a useful counterpoint for travelers who've only experienced Uttarakhand's more commercially developed hill stations.

How to reach Pauri

Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, approx. 155 km via Rishikesh-Srinagar. Nearest Railway Station: Kotdwar Railway Station, approx. 108 km. By Road: From Dehradun, drive via Rishikesh and Srinagar (Garhwal) to Pauri, roughly 155 km, taking approximately 5-6 hours.

Best time to visit

March–June and September-November for clear mountain views.

Where it is

Frequently asked questions