“1700 meters above sea level” is the altitude at which Khirsu, a quaint hill station in Uttarakhand is located at.
Situated in the Pauri Garhwall district, it is renowned for its beautiful landscape which comprises of beautiful Deodar and Oak trees as well as magnificent Apple orchards.
Furthermore, this hill station is also popular for the majestic panoramic views that it provides for. In addition, although this amazing spot has been less explored in recent years it is slowly but surely becoming a popular tourist destination.
Read More: WHY AULI IS A MUST VISIT DESTINATION?
a. How to reach Khirsu?
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Khirsu Map
By Train:
The nearest railway station to this hill station is at Rishikesh located at a distance of 132 kms. The Rishikesh Railway Station is well connected to major railway stations in India. In addition, bus and car services are available to Khirsu from this station.
By Road:
The ideal starting points to reach Khirsu would be via Rishikesh, Rudraprayag, Devprayag, Dehradun, and Srinagar.
a. Via Rishikesh:
There are two routes available from Rishikesh, via NH-7 which takes 4 hours and 13 minutes and via NH-7 and Devprayag Pauri Road which takes about 4 hours and 16 minutes.
b. Via Rudraprayag:
There are two routes available from Rudraprayag, via Khankra Khedakhal Road which takes about 1 hour 50 minutes and via NH-7 which takes 2 hours 23 minutes.
c. Via Devprayag:
There is one route available from Devprayag, via NH-7 which takes 1 hour and 53 minutes.
d. Via Dehradun:
There are two routes available from Dehradun, via NH-7 which takes 5 hours and 13 minutes and via NH-534 which takes 6 hours 49 minutes.
e. Via Srinagar:
There are three routes available from Srinagar, via NH 44 and NH 7 which takes 22 hours and 38 minutes, via NH 44 which takes 22 hours and 40 minutes, and via NH-44 and Meerut-Pauri National Highway which takes 23 hours and 33 minutes.
By Air:
The nearest airport is located in Dehradun. The Jolly Grant Airport is located at a distance of 145 kms. This airport is well connected to the major cities in the country. Taxi services are available from this airport to Khirsu.
Climate and the best time to Khirsu:
The climate in Khirsu can range from being hot in summers to being cold during winters with, the temperatures during the summer from March to May ranging from 40 degrees to 15 degrees. The rainfall received during monsoons beginning from June and extending to Khirsu is heavy. While the temperature during winter months that begins in October and ends in February drops to about 6 degrees minimum. The best time to visit this picturesque hill station is from September to April.
Places To Visit Around Khirsu :
There are few spots available in Khirsu which makes it a worth visit hill station. They are as follows:
- Apple Orchards: A number of beautiful orchards are found at this hill station which are truly worth visiting.
- Beautiful Landscape: The landscape surrounding this hill station is extremely beautiful and comprises of beautiful Deodar and Oak trees. It is this scenic beauty which makes Khirsu an ideal destination for activities such as walking and trekking.
Interesting Fact:
It is a Hindu shrine known as the “Ghandiyal Devi Temple” located at this beautiful hill station which attracts a large number of tourists. Furthermore, this temple is dedicated to Ghandiyal Devta also known as “Jai Shree Ghantakarna Swami”. In this shrine, a ritual of offering turmeric (also known as Haldi) is commonly offered by devotees. In addition, a festival known as the “Ghandiyal Mela” is celebrated annually at this temple on third Monday after the popular Hindu and Sikh festival Vaisakhi.
Also Read: TOP 10 HILL STATIONS IN THE HIMALAYAS
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons