UttaraPedia
Kumaon and Garhwal are the two divisions of Uttarakhand, not two separate states. Six of Uttarakhand's 13 districts belong to Kumaon and seven to Garhwal. Understanding that distinction makes destination lists and hotel descriptions easier to interpret.
A list containing Nainital, Mussoorie, Munsiyari and Kedarnath can make them look like neighbouring stops. Being in the same state does not make them a compact road circuit. First understand the region, then choose overnight bases and connect them by a realistic route.
Which districts belong to each division?
| Kumaon · six districts | Garhwal · seven districts |
|---|---|
| Almora | Chamoli |
| Bageshwar | Dehradun |
| Champawat | Haridwar |
| Nainital | Pauri Garhwal |
| Pithoragarh | Rudraprayag |
| Udham Singh Nagar | Tehri Garhwal |
| — | Uttarkashi |
These are administrative districts. Cultural identity, language and local experience do not fit neatly into a single boundary line. The table helps you locate places; it does not predict the character of every village.
Connect familiar destinations to the region
The Nainital lakes, Almora and Jageshwar, Kausani, and the Pithoragarh–Munsiyari area form different directions of travel within Kumaon. Even within one division, they should not be treated as a short local loop. A trip to the eastern districts needs a different time allowance from a two-night Nainital stay.
The same applies to Dehradun and Mussoorie, Pauri, Tehri and Himalayan routes in Garhwal. Choosing a division is only the first step. Crossing between valleys can require substantial road travel even when places appear close on a small map.
Choosing a region for three to five days
Begin with your arrival and departure arrangements. If you arrive at Kathgodam, look first at suitable Kumaon routes. If you arrive at Dehradun or Haridwar, examine the Garhwal route that interests you. This is a useful planning sequence, not a rule against travelling elsewhere.
Next choose the main experience: a lakeside break, towns and markets, temples, woodland walks or a particular mountain route. Two nearby bases usually make a clearer short itinerary than five distant places chosen for different reasons. Our five-day Kumaon plan illustrates that approach.
Can you visit both divisions in one trip?
Yes, when you have enough days and want the road journey. First count the time spent changing hotels, packing and transferring between regions. A package title promising all of Uttarakhand does not tell you whether the pace suits your group.
On a longer trip, arrange the overnight stops around a coherent return direction. Travelling far from your departure point without protecting the final day can create an unnecessarily rushed finish. Even within one division, leaving a few places for another visit is often the better choice.
Three common naming confusions
- Garhwal is not only Pauri. Pauri Garhwal is one district within the seven-district division.
- Kumaon is not only Nainital. Nainital town and district are part of a wider six-district region.
- A district is not the same as its main town. Reaching an outlying village may take much longer than reaching the district headquarters.
What to read next
Open the district introduction that matches your route, then use our seasonal planning guide. For a short lake holiday, compare Nainital, Bhimtal and Sattal. Older articles provide history and local memories; reconfirm old prices and operational details.
Sources and further information
- Kumaon Division: Introduction
- Garhwal Division: Introduction
- Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board: About Uttarakhand
- District Almora: How to reach
Sources checked: 1 October 2026. Recheck weather, road conditions and local arrangements before travelling.
