Famous lakes of Uttarakhand for the traveller in you

Fancy a lakeside holiday? Uttarakhand has some of the most picturesque lakes in India for that beautiful lakeside holiday you’ve been dreaming of. Most of these lakes in Uttarakhand are surrounded by meadows and hills big and small, and some of them are high up on the mountains. No matter where they are located, these lakes are popular and have some really fascinating backstory to them.

We have hand-picked some of the best lakes in Uttarakhand to help your next lakeside holiday.

Deoria Tal can be reached after an hour and a half trek up the village of Sari on Ukhimath-Chopta Road. The way to the lake is an easy trek and a very popular one. Deoria Tal is surrounded by lush forests and meadows, and it is one of the best spots to see the peaks of the majestic Chaukhamba, Nikantha, Bandarpoonch, Kedar Range and Kalanag. According to the Hindu mythology, gods or devtas used to take bath in this lake.

Probably the most popular one on the list, Naini Lake is one of the most beautiful features of Nainital hill station. The lakeside has boulevards lined with maple trees. Little curios and eateries are in plenty here. Come here during the regatta season.

Named after Mahabharata’s Bhima, the Bhimtal lake is a popular destination in Uttarakhand. Surrounded by lush greenery, Bhimtal lake and the surrounding area is a very good birdwatching spot.

Located in the Chamoli district, Roopkund Lake is shrouded in mystery. Roopkund is one of the most famous trekking routes in India and rightly so. It is magnificent. Roopkund is a fairly shallow lake which stays frozen for the most part of the year. But when the lake thaws, one can see a bunch of skeletons – human and animal. It is said that some of the human skeletons are a lot bigger than the normal size human skeleton. Talks about giants are not unheard of in this region.

This freshwater lake is located in Uttarkashi district in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. According to the Hindu mythology, Dodital is the birthplace of Lord Ganesha. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh in one of the corners of the lake.

Hemkund Lake is one of the most sacred lakes in India. It is a place of pilgrimage for Sikhs as it is situated next to Hemkund Sahib shrine. This glacial lake, also known as Lake of Snow, is located in Chamoli district.

Not one but a cluster of seven lakes – Panna Tal or Garud Tal, Naldamyanti Tal, Hanuman Tal, Sita Tal, Ram Tal, Laxman Tal, Sukha Tal or Bharat Tal, Sattal is one of the less explored places in Uttarakhand. It is mostly visited by birdwatchers as the forest surrounding Sattal is home to a very healthy population of resident as well as migratory birds. Sita Tal is a very good place for boating, and there are many cool camping grounds nearby.

Perfect for those looking for a quiet holiday, Naukuchiatal is a gem of a destination. The place gets its name from the Naukuchiatal Lake which, when translated, means lake of nine corners. The lake is pretty deep and clean.

Tehri Lake is a beautiful lake and an exciting water sports destination which was created after the construction of Tehri Dam. The lake is surrounded by verdant hills, and water sports options are in plenty. Tehri is also one of the most popular weekend destinations from Delhi.