Kumaun suggestions

The whole game changes as soon as you have (little) kids in boot, you can't drive from rishikesh to joshimath without break neither can you hike from govindghat to hemkund ji

which is why i need tips from my experienced compatriots please

thinking of alighting the train at kathgodam, hire a cab and do a round trip spread over 2-3 nights; something like
nainital - mukteshwar - sattal

Hey burf,

If you only have 2-3 nights, do Sattal as a day trip from Nainital. Or stay at Sattal, much better than Nainital. KMVN is decent.

Agree with Dilli- Saat taal is very good- after evenings once the day picknikers have left it is very nice. If you have your own car stay at Sattal and visit Nainital on day trip