There are several prominent cities in Uttarakhand that attract a large cache of tourists. Haridwar, situated on the banks of holy River Ganga, is one of the seven most sacred pilgrim centers in India located in Uttarakhand. Haridwar literally means ‘door to access Hari'. Lord Vishnu is also called Hari. Haridwar is called city of religion. For hundreds of years people have been looking for salvation in this holy land. The Ganga enters into plains in Haridwar. The gateway to four major pilgrimage sites of the Uttarakhand region is Haridwar only. There are several ‘Siddhapithas’ & ‘Shaktipithas’ in Haridwar. Rishikesh, situated on the banks of the Ganga, is not only a sacred pilgrimage but also a hill resort surrounded by incomparable natural beauty. Rishikesh is considered to be the gateway of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. It is said that meditation on this place gives salvation. Every year, a large number of pilgrims come here to visit the ashrams and realize peace of mind. Rishikesh is one of the most attractive places of tourism. Foreign tourists also keep coming regularly in pursuit of spiritual calm. Recently, it has emerged as center of Yoga and popularly termed as Yoga Capital of the World. Nainital is a major tourist destination of Uttarakhand. Located in Shivalik mountain range, Nainital is famous for its lakes, natural beauty and sacred temples. Naina Lake is the prime tourist attraction. It is called 'Lake District of India. Mussoorie is a small town situated in the lap of the nature of Uttarakhand which is also called 'Queen of the Mountains'. Mussoorie is a prominent tourist destination in Dehradun, surrounded by mountains. Situated between the Himalayas and the Doon Valley, the view of Mussoorie is very charming. It is a popular summer tourism destination for residents of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Ranikhet is a hill tourist destination in Almora district of Uttarakhand. Surrounded by cedar and oak trees, Ranikhet is a beautiful hill resort. From here, snow-covered Himalayan ranges can be seen clearly. The paradise of nature lovers, Ranikhet is home to ancient temples.
Flower Valley National Park, popularly called ‘Valley of Flowers’ & declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 AD, is a coveted tourist destination of Uttarakhand. In addition to above mentioned places, among prominent tourist destinations are Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Tehri Garhwal, Chakrata, Auli, Pauri Garhwal, Bageshwar, Jim Cobett National Park etc to visit in Uttarakhand.