Start your day with a hearty pahadi breakfast – hand-rolled rotis made with locally-grown ragi or mandua (both finger millets) that are cooked in wood fire accompanied with a delicious yoghurt-based dish where pumpkin is mashed into the yoghurt and the dish is tempered with the indigenous jhakia (mustard-like seeds). Set off for Khirsu, one of Uttarakhand's best-kept natural secrets. Khirsu is for those passionate about nature, photography and who wish to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. On clear days, Khirsu offers sights of the snow-capped Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nandakot and Panchachuli peaks.

The journey from Pauri to Khirsu is about 20 km and should not take more than 45 minutes. Enjoy the scenic vistas, crisp fresh mountain air, sights of the surrounding ranges along the ride and the dense forests of pine, oak and deodar.