Garhwal or Kumaon? A city guide for students

CollegeNaksha Editorial · 2026-09-18

Uttarakhand is divided into two regions, Garhwal and Kumaon. Where you study shapes your daily life as much as your course does.

Garhwal

Dehradun has the largest concentration of universities in the state, so you get more choice and a bigger student community. Roorkee is home to IIT Roorkee and several private institutions on the Delhi-Dehradun route. Srinagar (Garhwal) hosts HNB Garhwal University and NIT Uttarakhand, with a quieter, hill-town pace.

Kumaon

Pantnagar is known for G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology. Nainital is the seat of Kumaun University, while Haldwani is the region's commercial hub and home to Uttarakhand Open University. Kashipur hosts IIM Kashipur.

What to weigh

Travel time home during semester breaks
Hostel availability for first-year students
Weather in winter if you are moving from the plains
Internship access in nearby cities