Uttarakhand is one of the most fascinating states in the country. This Himalayan state houses various travel fantasies. You will find a wild sentiment that comes from its natural wonders. You will find that nature is at its best in these stars, and the flora and fauna in this state are rather enticing. You will not be able to get enough of this place and live in absolute bliss. Living here, you will be able to appreciate the beautiful nature and adventures. Some of the places here offer spectacular views. You will be able to see the Himalayan peaks and this serene destination is a favourite among both localities and outsiders. So, here is a list of the best places to retire and live in Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand City in a Nutshell: Things that will Make You Fall in Love with Uttarakhand
Here are some of the best things about Uttarakhand:
1. It is one of India’s most prominent Himalayan areas. It is home to some prominent holy shrines. It’s full of scenic views of the snow-capped Himalayas peaks.
2. The Kumaon hills are surrounded by the mysteries of the man-eaters. This region has some excellent locations like Nainital, Almora and more. There is Jim Corbett National Park where you can find the majestic Bengal tiger.
3. Kausani is known to be the Switzerland of India. You will witness some spectacular views you will find this to be an extremely serene destination that is quite famous.
10 Best Places to Retire and Live in Uttarakhand: 2023
These are some of the best places to retire and live in Uttarakhand where you can live life to the fullest.
1. Nainital: Best Place to Retire in Uttarakhand for Nature Lovers
Nainital is situated in the quaint Kumaon foothills, and the beautiful hill retreat is a very popular destination. While known for its beautiful Naini Lake, Nainital also offers other beautiful scenic views that will compel you to retire here. Nainital boasts of the old world charms that live through via it’s ancient buildings and stunning architecture and aura.
- Monthly Rent: 15k for a 2 BHK
- Property Purchase Cost: 70 lacs for an apartment
- Air Quality: Clean and good
- Cost of Living: Low
- Healthy and Safety: Safe with nearby hospitals
- Climate: Soothing
- Connectivity: Good
- Traffic: Moderate
- Public Transport Facilities: Moderate
- Life Quality Index: Good
Nainital is moderately cool with picturesque lakes.
- Explore: Tiffin top, Kilbury, Snow View Point, High Altitude Zoo, Bhimtal lake, Naini Lake, Mall road
- Eat Out: Cafe LakeSide, Zooby’s Kitchen, Giannis Pure Veg
2. Rishikesh: Best Place to Retire in Uttarakhand for Adventure
Rishikesh is known to be a sacred city and is now the World Capital of Yoga. If you want to live between yogis and beings full of spirituality, you must definitely retire here. You can attend the Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh and take both yoga and meditation lessons here. You can take a walk along the waterfalls and sit and watch the day go by on the Ghats.
- Monthly Rent: 20k for a 2 BHK
- Property Purchase Cost: 70 lacs for an apartment
- Air Quality: Clean and good
- Cost of Living: Moderate
- Healthy and Safety: Safe with nearby hospitals
- Climate: Soothing
- Connectivity: Moderate
- Traffic: Low
- Public Transport Facilities: Low
- Life Quality Index: Good
Rishikesh is the go-to place for a lot of youngsters, foreigners, students, and yoga lovers.
- Explore: Triveni Ghat, Neer Garh Waterfall, Beatles Ashram, Lakshman Jhula
- Eat Out: Temple Food of India, Jal Jalebi and Beyond, The Arches by Salvus
3. Dehradun: Best City in Uttarakhand to Live after Retirement
Dehradun is a small snuggly town in the Garhwal region. It has been a small city but now its captivating essence has been attracting people from all over the work. It’s very easy to paint the picture of a serene, calm picturesque and soothing. There is a large number of Tibetans in Dehradun and you can find a lot of authentic home-cooked Tibetan food here. The cost of living here is really low.
- Monthly Rent: 15k for a 2 BHK
- Property Purchase Cost: 80 lacs for an apartment
- Air Quality: Clean and good
- Cost of Living: Moderate
- Healthy and Safety: Safe with nearby hospitals
- Climate: Hot
- Connectivity: Good
- Traffic: Bad
- Public Transport Facilities: Moderate
- Life Quality Index: Good
Dehradun is a student-centric city and a perfect retirement place for those who love mountains, yoga, and chill life.
- Explore: Sahastradhara, Robbers Cave, Tiger Falls, Tapkeshawar Temple
- Eat Out: Cafe De Piccolo, Kalsang Cafe, Orchard, Black Pepper
4. Haridwar: Best Place to Retire in Uttarakhand for Religious Folks
Haridwar presents cultural and religious delights that the city lives. It is one of the best religious sites in the country. The city organizes Kumbh Mela, which is one of the biggest spiritual and religious fairs in the country. A very large number of people come here often for pilgrimage. You can retire here and enjoy the old traditions and culture followed here.
- Monthly Rent: 15k for a 2 BHK
- Property Purchase Cost: 70 lacs for an apartment
- Air Quality: Clean and good
- Cost of Living: Low
- Healthy and Safety: Safe with nearby hospitals
- Climate: Soothing
- Connectivity: Good
- Traffic: Moderate
- Public Transport Facilities: Moderate
- Life Quality Index: Good
A retirement city for those who are very religious. Usually, Rishikesh seems to be a better option overall.
- Explore: Har ki Pauri, Shanti Kunj, Chilla Wildlife Sanctuary
- Eat Out: Chotiwala Restaurant In Haridwar, Hotel Raghuwanshi Gujarati Bhojnalay, Dada Boudir Hotel
5. Mussoorie: Best Place to Retire in Uttarakhand for Mountain Lovers
Mussoorie is known to be the Queen of Hills and is one of the most popular destinations in India. The colonial hill station has some of the most prestigious educational institutions in India, stately hotels, cosy cafes, old taverns, churches, and tourist spots to lure in visitors. Retiring and living here, would give you a scenic view of the lush green valleys, different flora and fauna, and the scenic beauty of the Shivalik ranges and the Doon valley.
- Monthly Rent: 15k for a 2 BHK
- Property Purchase Cost: 70 lacs for an apartment
- Air Quality: Clean and good
- Cost of Living: Low
- Healthy and Safety: Safe
- Climate: Soothing
- Connectivity: Good
- Traffic: Moderate
- Public Transport Facilities: Moderate
- Life Quality Index: Good
A beautiful hill station which can be a perfect retirement spot for those who love scenic beauty.
- Explore: Kempty Falls, Ram Gaon, Lal Tibba, Bazar Road, Landour, Gun Hill Point, Mall Road
- Eat Out: The Great Dining Hall, Writer’s Bar, JW Cafe
6. Devprayag: Best Spiritual Place to Retire in Uttarakhand
Devprayag is a scenic little town that is popularly known for its Hindu pilgrimage sites. It is situated in the lap of mountains and is a religious hub that is extremely popular among citizens and ex-pats looking to be close to nature as well as for pilgrimage.
- Monthly Rent: 15k for a 2 BHK
- Property Purchase Cost: 50 lacs for an apartment
- Air Quality: Clean and good
- Cost of Living: Low
- Healthy and Safety: Safe
- Climate: Soothing
- Connectivity: Limited
- Traffic: Low
- Public Transport Facilities: Limited
- Life Quality Index: Moderate
Explore: Confluence Of Alaknanda And Bhagirathi River, Raghunathji Temple, Chandrabadani Temple
Eat Out: The Winterline Resort, Midway Govindam, Relish Hot-Shoppe
7. Lansdowne: Best Valley to Retire in Uttarakhand
Lansdowne is a small hill station that is situated in the Garhwal district. Located at a high altitude, the hill station has a pretty pleasant climate throughout the year. You will see the beauty of the land in form of thick oak and blue pine forest. It is known for its vistas and peaceful atmosphere and is an ideal destination. You can seek some thrill and take walks.
- Monthly Rent: 15k for a 2 BHK
- Property Purchase Cost: 70 lacs for an apartment
- Air Quality: Clean and good
- Cost of Living: Low
- Healthy and Safety: Safe with nearby hospitals
- Climate: Soothing
- Connectivity: Good
- Traffic: Moderate
- Public Transport Facilities: Moderate
- Life Quality Index: Good
Explore: Tadkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Bhulla Tal, Darwan Singh Museum, Tip N Top, War Memorial
Eat Out: Tipsy, Mayur, Original Clam Tavern
8. Landour: Best Place to Retire in Uttarakhand for Nature Lovers
Landour is a small cantonment town close to Mussoorie in Uttarakhand. The landscape here is beautiful. You will see houses with snowy tops and find antique shops all around. You will see beautiful toy-like houses in the vast Doon Valley. Offers one of the best cinnamon rolls you can ever imagine.
- Monthly Rent: 15k for a 2 BHK
- Property Purchase Cost: 50 lacs for an apartment
- Air Quality: Clean and good
- Cost of Living: Low
- Healthy and Safety: Safe with nearby hospitals
- Climate: Soothing
- Connectivity: Moderate
- Traffic: Low
- Public Transport Facilities: Low
- Life Quality Index: Moderate
Explore: Sisters Bazaar, Emily’s by Rokeby Manor, Char Dukaan, St. Paul’s Church, Lal Tibba View
Eat Out: Domans Inn, Cafe Ivy, The Mudcup cafe
Property Cost in Uttarakhand: Land, Villas, and Apartments
The hills of Uttarakhand offer a lot of property options. Some of the most popular home-buying destinations in Uttarakhand are Dehradun, Mussoorie, Nainital and such. A plot with a view of the Himalayas has a premium price tag and is generally preferred. You can buy property in Haridwar for about 40L. These studio apartments would be ideal for you if you’re single. The average price per square feet for flats in Nainital is Rs. 3,967.
Average Cost of Living in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is not quite costly, but that is dependent on the area that you wish to live in. If you buy a place, you will get a one time cost of anything between 40L to 70L and the constant maintenance charges. You can find food providers who would charge less than Rs. 100 per meal or you could hire someone or cook for yourself. The lifestyle cost here is dependent on how you spend your leisure time. It is pretty inexpensive in comparison to other places.
Planning to Live in Uttarakhand: Explore the Party Places
Dehradun is an excellent place for all the daytime activities, but that does not mean that post-sunset, you have to head back and call it a night. Dehradun has quite a lot of pubs, lounges and bars where you can have night outs. These places are generally quieter during the week, but the weekend seems it buzzing and quite lively.
Best Places to Live in Uttarakhand for Ex-pats and NRIs
Rishikesh is one of the best places for ex-pats and NRIs. You get mind-blowing scenery, man-made marvels like Laxman Jhula and adrenaline activities. It is known to be the yoga capital of the world and witnesses a large number of foreigners who come to learn yoga and spend a peaceful time. You can run or manage a touristy cafe either in Mussoorie or Rishikesh while staying at these places.
Is Uttarakhand a Good Living Option for LGBT?
Nainital would offer you a comfortable retreat, irrespective of who you are. It is home to Lake Niani and a great tourist spot. You can truly explore and enjoy nature without a worry about privacy. The locals here are very friendly and non-intrusive. It has a significant foreign population, that adds to the already accepting population. Additionally, Rishikesh is pretty open to the LGBT crowd.
Is Uttarakhand a Good Living Option for Singles and Bachelors?
Uttarakhand contains the best of natural charms, beautiful hills, lakes, rivers, and valleys that everyone will be delighted by. You will love the heritage, temples, hilly towns and forests that both singles and bachelors would love.
Roundup
These are some of the best places to retire and live in Uttarakhand. This is an incredible place to enjoy your retirement and thoroughly enjoy the beauty and scenic views throughout your retirement.