What is a DIY Budget Tour?
A Do-It-Yourself Tour is where you plan the itinerary, you pick the destinations and the hotels, you make the bookings and you arrange for transit. You are your own travel agent. A DIY Budget Tour cuts down the agent’s margin and saves you big on the overall tour costs. Like, in this particular case, the Deoria Trip would land you a bill of >12000 INR/person as per your agent. A DIY Budget Tour to Devaria, Ukimath and around will cost about a third of that with all frills attached.The irony is, I work for one of the top Tours and Travel companies in North India.
Okay, so the following is a hypothetical itinerary for a tour to the otherwise secluded Deoria Tal near Ukhimath in Uttarakhand. This is in line with the series of DIY Tours and weekend getaways from Delhi and around. Feel free to follow, discard, tweak all or part of it. Also, please note that the 5 day itinerary starts from Friday night and brings you back to Delhi by Tuesday of the next week. Important destinations covered include Rishikesh, Chopta, Ukhimath, Deoria Tal and Haridwar.
About Deoria Tal
Deoria Tal is an offset tourist destination located in the upper reaches of Uttarakhand.
Now, before you dismiss the place on the basis of the recent floods in
Uttarakhand, please be informed that the Rishikesh-Srinagar-Ukhimath belt was
spared from the havoc and is totally safe for travel. The Tal, or the lake, is
at an elevation of 2,438 mts above sea level. A popular trekking destination,
the Tal is flanked by lofty mountains that remain snow-capped for the better
part of the year. Enough said, here are some pictures.
Oh, and I’m assuming you have a car.
Suggested Tour to Deoria Tal.
Day -1 (Friday Night)
2300 Hours –
Drive towards Rishikesh. Here's a map
Day 2 (Saturday)
0500 Hours –
Reach Haridwar for Morning Aarti. Take the holy dip in the Ganges and enjoy a
delicious breakfast in Haridwar.
0800 Hours – Proceed
towards Rishikesh (25 kms) and get ready for your rafting session. Alternately, you could also try Bungee Jumping and Trekking.
1400 Hours –
Check-in your hotel in Rishikesh and retire for the rest of the afternoon.
2000 Hours –
Assemble in the grounds for bonfire and dinner.
2300 Hours –
Retire to your respective rooms.
Recommended Hotel – HillTop Swiss Cottage
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| Morning Arti at Haridwar |
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| Bungee Jumping in Rishikesh (courtesy - Sanjay Austa) |
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| River Rafting in Rishikesh |
Day 3 (Sunday)
0900 Hours –
Assemble in the hotel restaurant for a sumptuous breakfast.
1030 Hours –
Proceed towards Chopta (190 kms). Stop at Srinagar and Ukhimath for photo ops,
snacks.
1700 Hours –
Arrive at Deoria Tal. Checkin your rooms. Relax for a while or go out and
explore the adjacent jungle area.
2000 Hours –
Assemble in the grounds for bonfire and dinner.
2300 Hours –
Retire to your respective rooms.
Recommended Hotel – Devariya Guest House
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| Stop at Ukhimath For Its Wonderful Views |
Day 4 (Monday)
0900 Hours –
Assemble in the hotel restaurant for a sumptuous breakfast.
1030 Hours –
Proceed towards the hike to Deoria Tal (4 kms)
1200 Hours –
Reach Deoria Tal and set up base for the afternoon lunch.
1500 Hours –
Leave for your hotel.
1700 hours –
Reach your hotel and settle in your rooms/porch area for evening tea and
snacks.
2000 hours –
Dinner
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| Trek From Chopta to Deoria Tal |
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| Camping at Deoria Tal |
Day 5 (Tuesday)
1000 hours –
Breakfast
1200 hours – Checkout
and start for Delhi. On way halt at Haridwar.
2200 hours –
Reach Delhi.
Wikipedia Page for Deoria Tal