From November to February the hills above Haldwani turn cold, snow comes and goes on the higher ridges, and fog on the plains delays the trains from Delhi. These guides cover where and when to see snow, Nainital from November through New Year, Auli and the winter treks, the temples where the Char Dham deities spend the winter, a honeymoon in the cold months, and how to reach the hills when the fog sets in.
Which places to visit in December, January and February, from Nainital and Mukteshwar to Munsiyari and Auli, with the weather, the trains and what closes.
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When snow really came, winter by winter, how cold it gets, what a fall does to the ridge roads, and what a room costs in December and January.
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When snow really reaches the town, how cold the days and nights get, what happens to the road over Kalamuni, the helicopter, and what a room costs in December.
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When you need snow chains for your car and where to get them, how black ice forms and where it has caught drivers out, fog on the plains, the roads that shut after snow and the numbers to call.
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How the police traffic plan and shuttles work, parking and the Rs 300 entry fee, Christmas and New Year’s Eve in town, room rates for 31 December read on the hotels’ own sites, and when to drive back.
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Nainital, Mukteshwar and Ramgarh, Auli, Binsar and Kausani compared for couples: snow odds, distances, what you need at check-in and December room rates from the hotels’ own sites.
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491 km from Delhi and 308 km from Haldwani, the trains that get you closest, what the buses really do, the road up from Jyotirmath and where to stop in winter.
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Three winters of snow dates, day and night temperatures from November to March, the ropeway shut since 2023, the chairlift and ski courses, and the drive from Haldwani.
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Where each of the four shrines is worshipped in winter, this season’s closing dates, the roads to each winter seat and what snow does to them.
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The two roads and how far each is, the Shatabdi to Kathgodam, Roadways Volvos from Anand Vihar, driving, the Pantnagar flight, and what fog changes in winter.
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The Shatabdi, the Sampark Kranti and the overnight Ranikhet Express: timings, fares, booking, and how fog delays and cancels Kathgodam trains, with this winter’s list.
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Naina Peak, Binsar and Khaliya Top in Kumaon, and Brahmatal, Kuari Pass, Kedarkantha, Dayara and Nag Tibba in Garhwal: days, height, the nearest station and this winter’s rules.
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Which places got snow in each of the last three winters, from Mukteshwar and Munsiyari to Auli and Chopta, and where it almost never falls.
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Snow fell on the ridges above Nainital in every one of the last seven winters, but only on a few days. The best weeks, the spots and how to catch it.
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Snow fell near Nainital in three of the last seven Decembers, mostly on the ridges. 14 °C days, 3 °C nights, and how the Christmas to New Year police plan works.
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The driest month on the lake: 17 °C days, 6 °C nights, Diwali on 8 November, and the weekend rule that holds uphill traffic from 4 PM.
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