About the Destination
Last updated: October 2026 by the SnazzyTrips planning team, Haldwani
Uttarakhand has long been a favourite holiday destination for travellers from Kolkata and West Bengal. Every year, families from Kolkata head to the Himalayas during Durga Puja holidays, summer vacations and the winter break. They come for the lakes of Nainital, the Himalayan sunrise at Kausani, the Char Dham and Kedarnath pilgrimages, and snow in Auli and Munsiyari.
SnazzyTrips is an Uttarakhand Destination Management Company (DMC) based in Haldwani, operating since 2003. We plan complete Uttarakhand holidays for Kolkata travellers: we help you choose the right train or flight, and arrange hotels, private cabs, sightseeing and local support on the ground. Because we're a local operator, not a reseller, you deal directly with the team that runs your trip.
Uttarakhand tour packages from Kolkata usually take 7 to 12 days including travel. Land packages start from about ₹[14000] per person, excluding train or flight fare. The most popular routes for Kolkata travellers are Kumaon (Nainital, Kausani, Ranikhet), Garhwal (Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mussoorie), and the Char Dham or Kedarnath yatra. The best times to travel are Durga Puja holidays in October, summer vacation in May–June, and the winter break from December to February for snow.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Distance (Kolkata to Uttarakhand) | Approx. 1,400–1,600 km by rail, depending on the route |
| Main Train Gateways | Kathgodam (Kumaon), Haridwar and Dehradun (Garhwal) |
| Main Air Gateways | Dehradun Jolly Grant (Garhwal), Pantnagar (Kumaon), or via Delhi |
| Train Journey Time | Approx. 25–40 hours, depending on the train and destination |
| Flight Time | Approx. 2–2.5 hours (Kolkata to Delhi or Dehradun) |
| Ideal Trip Length | 7–12 days including travel |
| Popular Seasons from Kolkata | Durga Puja (October), summer vacation (May–June), winter (December–February) |
| Land Package Price | From ₹[7000] per person (excluding train/flight) |
| Best For | Families, senior citizens, honeymooners, pilgrims, snow lovers |
Short answer: You can reach Uttarakhand from Kolkata by direct train from Howrah to Kathgodam, Haridwar or Dehradun, or by flying to Dehradun or Pantnagar, usually via Delhi. Choose Kathgodam or Pantnagar for Kumaon (Nainital, Kausani, Corbett), and Haridwar or Dehradun for Garhwal (Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Char Dham).
| Train | Route | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Bagh Express | Howrah → Kathgodam | Kumaon trips: Nainital, Ranikhet, Kausani, Corbett, Munsiyari |
| Kumbha Express | Howrah → Haridwar → Dehradun | Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Char Dham |
| Upasana Express | Howrah → Haridwar → Dehradun | Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Char Dham |
| Doon Express | Howrah → Haridwar → Dehradun | Garhwal trips on a budget |
Journey times range from about 25 to 40 hours. Some trains don't run daily, so check the latest schedules and days on IRCTC before booking.
Short answer: Choose Kumaon for lakes, forests, Himalayan views and a relaxed family holiday. Choose Garhwal for the Char Dham, Kedarnath, Rishikesh, Mussoorie and snow in Auli. Families with 7–8 days usually prefer Kumaon; pilgrims and adventure travellers prefer Garhwal.
| Factor | Kumaon | Garhwal |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival Point from Kolkata | Kathgodam (Bagh Express) or Pantnagar | Haridwar or Dehradun (Kumbha, Upasana, Doon Express) |
| Famous For | Nainital, Kausani, Ranikhet, Corbett, Munsiyari, Kainchi Dham | Char Dham, Kedarnath, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Auli, Chopta |
| Best For | Families, seniors, honeymooners, nature lovers | Pilgrims, trekkers, adventure and snow lovers |
| Crowds | Generally quieter | Heavy on the Char Dham route in May–June |
| Ideal Trip | 7–10 days | 8–12 days |
Explore both regions in detail on our Kumaon Tour Packages and Garhwal Tour Packages pages.
| Package | Duration | Starting Price (per person) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auli Tour Package from Kolkata | 6 Days / 5 Nights | ₹18,999 | Snow lovers, winter holidays |
| Mussoorie Tour Package from Kolkata | 6 Days / 5 Nights | ₹22,999 | Families, honeymooners |
| Munsiyari Tour Package from Kolkata | 6 Days / 5 Nights | ₹25,750 | Himalayan views, offbeat travellers |
| Uttarakhand Adventure Tour Package from Kolkata | 6 Days / 5 Nights | ₹26,999 | Rafting, trekking, adventure |
| Kedarnath Tour Package from Kolkata | [duration] | ₹[price] | Pilgrims |
| Adi Kailash Tour Package from Kolkata | 10 Days / 9 Nights | ₹57,500 | High-altitude pilgrimage |
Prices are for land packages from the arrival point (Haridwar, Dehradun, Kathgodam or Pantnagar) and usually exclude train or flight fare from Kolkata. Confirm the inclusions on each package page.
Fly or take the train to Haridwar. The route runs Haridwar → Guptkashi → Kedarnath (trek or helicopter) → Badrinath → Rishikesh → return.
Combine Mukteshwar or Munsiyari in Kumaon, or Auli or Chopta in Garhwal, between late December and February.
Short answer: The best times for Kolkata travellers are October–November (Durga Puja and Kali Puja holidays), March–June (summer vacation), and December–February for snow. Avoid July to mid-September, when monsoon landslides often disrupt hill roads.
| Season | Kolkata Holiday | What to Expect in Uttarakhand |
|---|---|---|
| October–November | Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Diwali | Clearest Himalayan views of the year; pleasant weather; Char Dham final weeks |
| December–February | Christmas and winter break | Snow in Auli, Munsiyari, Chopta and Mukteshwar; cold nights |
| March–April | Spring break | Rhododendron bloom; pleasant sightseeing |
| May–June | Summer vacation | Peak season; Char Dham and hill stations busy; book early |
| July–September | Monsoon | Landslides and road delays; rafting closed; best avoided |
Short answer: For a family from Kolkata, a 7–9 day Uttarakhand trip usually costs from about ₹[8000] per person for the land package, plus train or flight fare. Train travel keeps costs low; flying saves 2–3 days.
| Cost Component | Approximate Range (per person) |
|---|---|
| Train (3AC, round trip, Howrah–Haridwar or Kathgodam) | Approx. ₹8000 |
| Flight (round trip, Kolkata–Delhi or Dehradun) | Approx. ₹8000, depending on season |
| Land Package (hotels, cab, sightseeing) | From ₹7000 |
| Meals Not Included in the Package | Approx. ₹500–₹1,000 per day |
| Activities (rafting, ropeway, safari) | Extra, as per choice |
Uttarakhand has deep historical and cultural ties with Bengal, which is one reason so many Bengali families feel at home here.
Plan 7 to 12 days including travel. With the train, allow about 2 days each way. With flights, a 6–7 day trip is enough for one region like Kumaon or Garhwal.
The Bagh Express runs from Howrah to Kathgodam, the nearest railway station to Nainital. From Kathgodam, Nainital is about 35 km by road, around 1–1.5 hours.
The Kumbha Express, Upasana Express and Doon Express run from Howrah to Haridwar and continue to Dehradun. Check days of operation on IRCTC.
Direct flights between Kolkata and Dehradun have operated, but schedules change. If there's no direct flight on your dates, fly via Delhi.
Kumaon is better for relaxed family holidays with lakes and Himalayan views, and it's reachable by the direct Bagh Express to Kathgodam. Garhwal is better for the Char Dham, Kedarnath, Rishikesh, Mussoorie and Auli.
October–November (the Puja holidays), March–June and December–February (for snow) are the best times. Avoid July to mid-September because of the monsoon.
Land packages start from about ₹[14000] per person, excluding train or flight. Popular packages from Kolkata include Auli from ₹18,999, Mussoorie from ₹22,999 and Munsiyari from ₹25,750.
Yes. Take a train or flight to Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun and start the Char Dham from there. The full yatra takes about 10–12 days from Haridwar, plus travel from Kolkata. Registration is mandatory.
Yes. Nainital, Kausani, Ranikhet, Mussoorie, Haridwar and Rishikesh are comfortable for seniors. Choose itineraries with shorter driving days and a private cab.
Auli, Munsiyari, Chopta and Mukteshwar usually get snow between late December and February, which suits Kolkata's winter holidays.
Yes. October has the clearest Himalayan views of the year. It's also the busiest time for Kolkata travellers, so book trains and hotels early.
July to mid-September brings heavy rain and landslides that can block hill roads. It's best to avoid long mountain trips in this period, or keep buffer days if you must travel.
We plan your itinerary around your train or flight. Tickets are booked by you, or we can guide you on the best trains and timings for your route.
We pick you up from Kathgodam, Haridwar, Dehradun, Pantnagar Airport, Jolly Grant Airport or Delhi, depending on your route.
Yes. Take the Bagh Express to Kathgodam, then cover Nainital, Kainchi Dham and Jageshwar Dham in a 5–6 day Kumaon itinerary.