Kumaon region in December - some advice...

I have been a regular visitor to IM and have planned a few great trips thanks to the valuable information in IM forums.

We are a family of six planning a short trip to the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand in the last week of December. I have come up with a itinerary as given below:

Day 1 - Kathgodam to Kausani
Day 2 - Baijnath, Bageshwar (any other place to be added here?)
Day 3 - Kausani to Nainital (via Ranikhet and some Nainital sightseeing if time permits)
Day 4 - Sattal, Bhimtal etc.
Day 5 - Nainital to Pangot (night stay here)
Day 6 - Pangot to Kathgodam (some more Nainital sightseeing and shopping)

I know it would be real cold (requiring heavy woolens) and guess we would not hit snow. Do you think we would hit roadblocks anywhere? We would hire a vehicle from Kathgodam and keep it with us for the whole trip. We are interested in Jageshwar very much but cant seem to fit it in anywhere. I suppose it would be high season so do I need to book the rooms now or can I delay it by a few more weeks.

Advice please...

Hi,
I guess your itenerary is ok,except that the day you want to go to bhimtal etc, you should spend in or around Nainital. You will cross Bhimtal on your way from Kathodam to Kausani so you can take a short break at Bhimtal.
Yes, it will be cold!! be prepared. especially at Pangot.
A day trip to Baijnath from kausani will be good- No point going to Bageshwar as there is nothing there of tourist interest. might as well spend time around Kausani.
You are likely not to come across any roadblocks at that time of the year, however the road condition at places is not very good. Yes, its a good idea to hire a vehicle for the whole trip. jageshwar is worth a visit but then so many other places are .. save Jageshwar for the next trip
Last week of December is a busy time, make sure you book in time- by October end would be in time i guess.
Cheers!!

Thanks Musk. Noted your point on Bageshwar, will do so. Is it possible that I leave out Ranikhet (I come to understand that Ranikhet & Kausani are somewhat similar) and try to include Jageshwar? So keen on Jageshwar you see. Yeah, there always are a lot of places but then we cant be sure when that next time comes also. I suppose the above itinerary is relaxed enough - no point trying to put in too many places though one is always tempted to. Ok, so I don't have to rush into a plan and book immediately - yes, in or by October it could be done.

Hi there,
Well, seems you are inclined towards Jageshwar. Its true that you wont be able to see much in Ranikhet in a few hours and yes, ofcourse, the view of the Himalaya you would have already enjoyed from Kausani.- If you go to Nainital via Ranikhet it will be roughly about 130Kms - which is about a 5 hour drive (with a short rest) and for jageshwar you will have to do Kausani- Almora-Jageshwar - Almora - Nainital, which will be about 185Kms. should amount to about a 6.5-7 hour drive. and say you will spend atleast an hour at Jageshwar.
All in all, even if you round it up at an 9 hour day, well if your family members are up for it and you dont mind an early start, then please go and visit Jageshwar before it gets too modernized