Nainital Corbett Lansdowne Rishikesh Mussoorie – 10 Days Itinerary

by - March 15, 2019


Mumbai – Delhi – Nainital – Jim Corbett – Lansdowne – Rishikesh – Mussoorie 
Duration: 10 days

My family and I had not been together on a long duration trip since our trip to Dubai back in 2012. Though we had been on several weekend getaways, the happiness and satisfaction of staying together and travelling for ten days straight were lacking on those short trips. I was ecstatic. Having been travelling alone or with friends was not as cosy as travelling with family. We planned on visiting the two famous hill stations of Uttarakhand – Nainital and Mussoorie – along with Jim Corbett, Lansdowne (it's an absolute offbeat place), and Rishikesh.


We took a Mumbai to Delhi domestic flight and after travelling for 10 days, we flew back to Mumbai from Delhi. Here's how we managed to cover five places in 10 days.

The Nainital Corbett Rishikesh Mussoorie Itinerary – 10 days tour


DAY 1: Mumbai to Delhi – via flight
Touring Delhi
Delhi to Kathgodam – via train
Kathgodam to Nainital – via taxi

➢ Mumbai to Delhi: The Mumbai to Delhi GoAir flight departs at 9:50 am. For the same, we had booked tickets five months ago thereby getting a one-way ticket for less than Rs 3000 per person.



After reaching Delhi at 12:05 pm, we had about 10 hours to kill before our train to Kathgodam. The best option was to tour Delhi and have some local dishes like gajar ka halwa, rabdi, paratha at Chandni Chowk as lunch.


India Gate, Delhi

We kept our luggage at a friend's office and you can keep yours at the airport/railway cloakroom. Once our luggage was taken care of, we toured Delhi by Ola and Uber. Some of the must-visit spots are Red Fort, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Amar Jawan Jyoti, Qutub Minar, etc.

➢ Delhi to Kathgodam: The Ranikhet Express departs at 10:22 pm from old Delhi station and reaches next morning to Kathgodam at 5:05 am. We had booked sleeper class general tickets for Rs 190 per person.


➢ Kathgodam to Nainital hotel: After reaching Kathgodam station at 5:05 am, we booked a taxi to our Nainital hotel for Rs 400. Don't worry about cab bookings as there are plenty waiting for you right outside Kathgodam station. 


DAY 2: Touring Nainital

We checked in early to our hotel in Nainital and after breakfast, left for the local sightseeing. We booked one of the cabs at Mall Road and you can easily find one there. (However, it is advisable to pre-book during peak season.)



Tiger Cave at Eco Cave Garden, Nainital

For local sightseeing, we paid Rs 600 and covered seven points. I recommend boating at Naini Lake, shopping and dining at Mall Road, visiting spots such as Naina Devi Temple, Eco Caves Garden, Naini Zoo, Naini Lake Viewpoint, and experiencing the Nainital ropeway and cycle rickshaw. 


Traditional boats at Naini Lake, Nainital

The gorgeous Naini Lake as seen from the hotel we were staying at

You will require a few more hundreds for entry tickets and the ropeway and boat rides. Consider a maximum of Rs 500 per person for the safer side.


We had lunch at Hotel Abhishek at Mall Road and dined at the hotel we were staying at. Apart from touring Nainital, you can shop near Naini Lake and at Mall Road. You'll get everything from woollens to pahadi goods here.


DAY 3: Touring Nainital's outskirts (Mukteshwar, Bhimtal, etc.) 

When you visit a place, don't just limit yourself to its boundaries. Nainital has some beautiful offbeat places and many of those can be covered in one single day. Private taxis take you to these places for about Rs 1500 (food not included). They usually tour you to Ghorakhal, Mukteshwar, Bhimtal, and if time permits, a couple of more lakes.

Khurpatal Lake from top

Stunning valley view from Ghorakhal temple

I honestly enjoyed my second day in Nainital as I love offbeat places over the touristy ones any day. I recommend Ghorakhal Temple (which is adorned with over a thousand bells hung by devotees), Ghorakhal Tea Factory and Garden (definitely recommend sitting here peacefully with a book and buying green tea from their little shop), Mukteshwar (for its beautiful views), Khurpatal (which lies on the way to these places). Other offbeat places around Nainital include Pangot, Kilbury. 



Tea plants at Ghorakhal Tea Garden and Factory

DAY 4: Nainital to Jim Corbett – via cab

After spending two nights in Nainital and touring in and around the city, you get a satisfactory taste of the culture and the overall vibe of this hill station. Next on the itinerary is Jim Corbett; brace yourselves! 

The exotic Corbett Falls


The best way to travel to this area is via a cab. We paid around Rs 3200 for 80.5 km. We had booked a larger car to accommodate all the luggage. 

Leave early morning to get the best out of the day 4. On your way to Jim Corbett hotel, you shall come across the Corbett Falls and the Jim Corbett Museum. Both of the spots are a must, especially the falls. The area surrounding the falls is beautiful, with dense trees around, and a picturesque sight throughout. 



Refreshing green view from my window at our hotel in Jim Corbett

Reach your hotel by noon or early evening. Rest of the day you can spend relaxing at your hotel. Another option is to book a safari ride for the evening. You can opt for a morning slot or the evening slot. You can do it either on the day 4 evening or the day 5 morning. (If you're a wildlife enthusiast, then you can go on the safari twice!) The cost per jeep is Rs 5000 approx.



DAY 5: Safari               

Jim Corbett to Lansdowne – via cab

Lansdowne is an offbeat place that you must visit for relaxation and incredible valley views. You can either give this place a miss and extend your stay at Jim Corbett or at Rishikesh (or nearing towns), depending on your preference. I visited it because I prefer lesser known places over popular ones. 





All set for the safari!

➢ Jim Corbett to Lansdowne: After your morning safari, have breakfast at the hotel and leave for Lansdowne. The distance between Jim Corbett and Lansdowne is approx 194 km and for that, the cab cost us Rs 4500. Again, we had booked a larger car to accommodate our luggage. 

You shall reach your Lansdowne hotel late evening if you had a safari on day 5 morning or else by early evening if you leave early morning. Relax and have dinner at the hotel. Pre-book a cab for touring Lansdowne. 



DAY 6: Touring Lansdowne
Lansdowne to Rishikesh – via cab

Lansdowne is a place to relax and I believe it is more for doing nothing and just enjoying it as a part of a staycation.



Enjoying amidst pine trees near Tarkeshwar temple; we were blown over by the tranquility

The most recommended thing to do in Lansdowne is visiting the Tarkeshwar mandir not very far from the town. Located at a distance of 37 km, it is one of the most popular places of worship in the neighbourhood. Though popular, it is also one of the most peaceful places you will ever visit. Engulfed with more than a thousand trees and a forested path with not a single soul around, the Tarkeshwar Mahadev mandir will boost your spirituality, without a doubt. I request you take out at least 30 minutes for meditation here. (Avoid Mondays and Mahashivratri to beat the crowd.)

Apart from the Tarkeshwar mandir, there are a few more things to do in Lansdowne such as Bhulla lake, Garhwali Museum and Mess, Snow Viewpoint, Tip n Top, Kalagarh Tiger Reserve, etc.


➢ Lansdowne to Rishikesh: After touring Lansdowne in the first half of the day, start for Rishikesh. You can even go for Haridwar or Dehradun instead of Rishikesh as these three places are close by. For both, touring Lansdowne and travelling to Rishikesh, you'll have to book (preferably pre-book) a taxi. The distance between Lansdowne and Rishikesh is 101 km and the taxi can charge you somewhere between Rs 3000 to Rs 3500


DAY 7: Touring Rishikesh
Rishikesh to Mussoorie – via cab



Rishikesh is a place of adventure for a few, a place of worship for a few, and a place of spirituality and yoga for a few. Whatever is your preference, Rishikesh is a place for everyone. From the famous river rafting to other adventure activities such as bungee jumping, mountain biking, ziplining, trekking, camping, etc., adventure enthusiasts love being here. For devotees, there is Ram Jhula, Laxman Jhula, Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Triveni Ghat, Tryambakeshwar mandir, etc.

Holy Ganges at Rishikesh as taken from Laxman Jhula

And as for yoga junkies, the world comes to India, especially to Rishikesh, to practice yoga and embrace spirituality. According to your preference, you can book various packages starting from early morning and wind them up by early evening. 

➢ Rishikesh to Mussoorie: The distance between Rishikesh and Mussoorie is 74 km and the cab charged us Rs 3500 for the same. As soon as you enter Mussoorie, you'll start getting good vibes of the hill station. You can reach as late as possible to your Mussoorie hotel as the touring starts the next day.  



DAY 8: Touring Mussoorie 

Mussoorie is yet another hill station in Uttarakhand known for its honeymoon status and beautiful views. The union of private cabs in Mussoorie make it quite an expensive destination for local touring. Therefore, keep aside Rs 5000 if you want to cover all the good spots that are spread across different directions. For instance, the cabs have certain packages that lie in one area and the cost is around Rs 2500 for one package. 

Buddhist temple in Mussoorie

I personally covered Santura Mata temple, Kempty Falls (they were a disappointment!), and a Buddhist temple. I recommend Santura Mata temple for its short easy hike and the best view! If you haven't visited a Buddhist temple yet,  then you can give this one a try. 



Such a splendid view from the Santura Mata temple, Mussoorie

Apart from that, Lal Tibba, Company Garden, Mussoorie ropeway, Mall Road, etc are a few more points you can visit.

DAY 9: Touring Landour & Dhanolti

Both Landour and Dhanolti are offbeat hill stations near Mussoorie but definitely recommended for its novelty. Landour lies on the way to Dhanolti and the total distance from Mussoorie to Dhanolti via Landour is 31 km. 



Landour is home to the famous Indian author Ruskin Bond and one can bump into him at Ivy Cottage. Landour's old world charm and the seclusiveness will surely lure you into visiting it. Have small meals at the Chaar Dukaan and simply unwind looking at tall deodar trees and crisp air. Other attractions include Robber's Cave, Nag Tibba, Tapkeshwar temple, Sir George Everest's house, Cloud End, etc.



On the other hand, two of the must visit places in Dhanolti are the eco-parks Amber and Dhara. Visit these parks to walk on a shadowy path which is outlined with tall winter trees and an aroma so fresh, you shall definitely cherish for a longer time. North India is famous for its apple orchards but how about visiting potato farms? Visit the unusual yet fascinating Alu Khet. Other attractions include the Chanderi town, Tehri Dam, etc.

DAY 10: Mussoorie to Dehradun – via cab
Dehradun to Delhi – via train
Delhi to Mumbai – via flight

Check out early from your Mussoorie hotel and leave for Dehradun airport/railway station for heading back home. Let's consider the railway option from Dehradun to Delhi. Catch a local taxi for Dehradun from Mussoorie and reach Dehradun railway station. 



➢ Dehradun to Delhi: From Dehradun railway station, catch the Dehradun Shatabdi Express train which departs at 4:55 pm and reaches New Delhi at 10:55 pm. 



➢ Delhi to Mumbai: From Delhi, catch the Air India flight to Mumbai which takes off at 3:50 am and lands at 5:55 am. 




Disclaimer: This Nainital-Corbett-Rishikesh-Mussoorie itinerary is ideal for people travelling in a group because you can divide your expenses accordingly and complete your trip in a lesser budget. For backpackers or people with a tight budget, you can look for public transportation alternatively.

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