Garhwal

Nainital

2011-05-21T17:36:00.000-07:00

Nainital

Nainital, also known as the lake city and lake district of Uttarakhand, is located around the Naini Lake. This place is named after the Goddess Naini Devi, the presiding idol of the area. It is situated at a height of 1,938 mts. Surrounded by huge mountains and spread with bright coloured holiday homes, lodges...

Nanital Tourism And Travel Guide

Nainital, the enchanting paradise lake city that lies amidst the mighty Himalayas is a world famous hill resort that captivates every bit of you, leaves you completely spellbound and thirsting for more. 'Lake City' of India, 'Lake Paradise' of India or the 'Lake District' of India, all these names justify every persona of this tourist Lake Destination that nestles in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas in Uttaranchal. Its Characteristics can be compared with the beautiful Dal Lake of Kashmir; however, Nainital is naturally sprinkled with many smaller lakes all over which includes the 'Naini Lake','BhimTal', 'SaatTal' also spelled as 'Sattal','NaukuchiaTal' and 'KhurpaTal' which have recently developed themselves to offer tourist more holiday splendour and activities like boating, canoeing, yachting and more.

Nainital is also known as the best hill resort of India that beckons tourist to visit here all-year-round to witness its striking and photogenic natural beauty from across the globe though springtime, summers and autumns form the peak seasons and finding accommodation can be difficult unless you book in advance. It offers a panoramic view of the snow capped Himalayas perched at a height of 1938 mts above sea level dressed with lush green forests that has a host of vibrant Flora and Fauna. You can take a leisure walk over the lake bridge connecting 'Mallital', the northern and upper end and 'Tallital', the southern and lower end dividing the district into two parts or alternatively you can enjoy a pony ride through the tall Pine Trees surrounding the area.

The most famous amongst the Lakes in Nainital is the Naini Lake from where this town inherits its name with a circumference of about 2 miles and almost 28 mts deep cocooned within seven hills known as 'Sapta-Shring' namely, Naini Peak or Cheena Peak at 2611 mts, Laria Kanta [named after a Goddess] at 2481 mts, Deopatta [Camel's Hump] at 2273 mts, Alma Peak [Snow View] at 2270 mts, Aryapatta [Complete Blackout] at 2235 mts, Sher-Ka-Danda [Tiger Ridge] at 2217 mts and Handi-Bandi [Devil's Laughter that can actually be heard from here] at 2139 mts. From an aerial view, Naini Lake looks like the Green Emerald eye of Nainital and is almost pear-shaped encircled with many small cottages, shops, restaurants and hotels. The lights at night add more glamour and give the Lake an ethereal look of a sparkling gem necklace worn by the Himalayan ranges.

Nainital was once covered with thick and dense forests before it was converted into a holiday destination before 1839 and mainly inhabited by Tribal people of the Kumaoni race. It was initially developed as the summer retreat for the British and post independence became the summer destination of work from April to October of the Uttar Pradesh State Government; however the State Government ceased its function in 1963 and the Secretariat got converted into a High Court of this District.

Uttarkashi

2010-09-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

Uttarkashi is the district headquarters.This district is more famous among the pilgrims rather than tourist because it is a district of many prominent temples such as Gangotri and Yamunotri temples with glaciers which leads on to several major peaks of Himalayan mountain range .Uttarkashi is also a favorite trekking and mountaineering place as an adventure sports center.

Sites and Temples In Uttarkashi

Nachiketa Tal

Nachiketa Tal is at a distance of 29 km from the heart of Uttarkashi town .It is believed taht this lake is created by the ,Nachiketa, the devout son of saint Uddalak, that's why it is called Nachiketa taal.
The lake has a magneficient ,scenic surrounding .The greenery all around Nachiketa Taal is enchanting and there is a small temple on the site of this lake gives it a more serene look .

Dodi lake

Situated at an altitude of 3307 mts. from the level this e calm lake owing its origin to several natural springs and it is filled with fish, including the rare himalayan trout and is a haven for anglers. The permission of fishing in Dodi lake is necessary .

Gangotri

Situated at an altitude of 3140 mts from the sea level this place is believed to be the birth place of the holy river Ganga . According to the religious scriptures, the great goddess Ganga manifested herself in the form of a river to absolve the sins of King Sagar's sons on the prayer of Bhagirath. Here the Goddess Ganga is worshipped as a deity. The Gangotri temple ,here, is dedicated to the Goddess Ganga and it is said that it was built in the early 18th century by Amar Singh Thapa and later it was rebuilt by the Maharaja of Jaipur.

Gomukh is the source of the river Ganga, Hindu believe a dip in this holy place is must for them.Gomukh is further 18 kms far from Gangotri .
It is also a favourate treakking among trekkers .

Vishwanath Temple

The tample is dedicated to Lord Vishwanath and it has a magneficient trident on the top of the tample

Saat Tal(seven lake)Saat tal is situated at a distance of 75 Kms. from Uttarkashi, on the way to Gangotri.It is a cluster of a group of lakes.The site is worth visiting and memorable.

YamunotriYamunotri is the source of the holy river "Yamuna" and it is situated at an altitude of 3235 mts above the sea-level.The tample of Yamunotri is believed to be built in the last century and later it was rebuilt in 1923.The tample of Yamunotri is the western most shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas and it is located on a flank of the Bandarpunch peak. Yamunotri is one of the ?four dhams? of Uttaranchal. The source of the holy river "Yamuna" lies just 1 km. ahead at an altitude of about 4421 mts. Accessibility to this place is extremely difficult and dangerious and pilgrims therefore offer their prayer at the temple of Yamunotri.The best time to visit this place is May-June and September-October.Suryakund and Divyashila are other near by places where pilgrims offer prayer during their visit.

Distance From Uttarkashi

Nearest Railway Station:-
Rishikesh ,Connected by rail major cities of India.

Nearest airpoint:-
Jollygrant in dehradun

Road :-
Uttarkashi is well connected by road with nearby districts and has a regular bus service toDehradun,Rishikesh,Haridwar etc.

Excursions around Uttarkashi

Gomukh

Gomukh, the source of the river Bhagirathi and Gangotri glacier ,is located at an altitude of 4,200 Mts. above the sea level.The trekking to Gomukh is very adventurous and dangerous but those who love adventure should once go for it.

Dayara Bugyal

Dayara Bugyal, a long stretched green meadow , is situated at an altitude of 3,048 Mts. above the sea level .A meadow located at a high altitude is called Bugyal in Garhwali .The meadow is covered with snow in the winter and becomes a boon for snow skiing .It is approx. 35 Kms. from Uttarkashi including a 6 Kms. walking trek from Barsu.
dayara Bugyal is worth visiting place.

Harsil

Situated at an altitude of 2,620Mts. above the sea level ,"Harsil" is famous for it's natural beauty and tranquility.harsil is also famous for the gardening of apples.
Saattal
Situated at a distance of about 2 Kms. from harsil ,"Saattal" is famous tourist destination. As the name suggest this place has seven lakes at a place which makes it more beautiful.

Yamunotri

Yamunotri is the source of the river "Yamuna" .It is located on a flank of the Bandarpunch peak, at an altitude of 3,322 Mts. above the sea level and the trek to Yamunotri goes along the river bank .The trek to Yamunotri is adventurous , magnificent and offers wide panorama of snow clad mountains of the Himalaya.

Nandanvan Tapovan

Nandanvan Tapovan is situated opposite to the gangotri glacier at a distance of 6 Kms. from gangotri. Nandanvan Tapovan lies on the foothill of Bhagirathi mountain peaks and offers a majestic view of the peaks of the Himalayan Mountain range and a panoramic view of the Gangotri Glacier.

Miscellaneous

Uttarkashi is a place to xplore as it is surrounded by the Himalaya and it's peaks from all around it has a lot to offer toevery one.There are several unseen and unspoiled places in Uttarkashi which are one of the most beautiful and fascinating places on this earth.

Travel Garhwal Destination

2009-08-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

Garhwal in the northern state of Uttranchal is an exceptional destination with charming surroundings. Garhwal is smack in the middle of the Himalayas, with Himachal Pradesh in the West and North-West; Tibet in the North; the plains of Western Uttar Pradesh in the South and Kumaon in the East. Garhwal is an administrative division of the raising state of Uttaranchal, comprising the districts of Chamoli, Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri and Uttarkashi. The history of Garhwal is older than that of the Ramayan and Mahabharata. Garhwal is a storehouse of antiquity a Mecca for the devout and a heaven for adventure sports like river rafting, aero sports & skiing. Making it an essential on the itinerary of adventure lovers, pleasure seekers and pilgrims alike.

The snow-wrapped mountains, luxuriant meadows, high-altitude lakes and impenetrable forests in the hills of Garhwal support exotic wildlife, bird life and plant life. The beautiful creations of nature in the Garhwal region add a bit of splendour to nature's wealth that dwells in its surrounding.

Garhwal comprises of the seven districts - Dehradun, Haridwar, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pauri, Tehri and Rudraprayag. The region is a unique mix of diverse geographical, demographic and social characteristics, heightened by an intensified sense of religiosity. Garhwal is the supreme haven for the devout, and the home of varied flora & fauna. Garhwal also has immense scope for adventure sports like river rafting, aero-sports and skiing. There is ample scope for wildlife watching also, making it an essential entry on the itinerary of adventure lovers, pleasure seekers and pilgrims, alike.

The sacred shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri & Yamunotri are located here and so are the source of the most revered rivers Ganga and Yamuna. The legendary valleys of Garhwal blooming with natural beauty, also offer an unique style of hill temple architecture and fantastic handicrafts.

Garhwal is flourishing with natural resources, which can be seen especially in its surroundings. Nature is at its very best in the Garhwal Region. The entire region is blooming in abundance with varied vegetations. A large number of nature lovers, environmentalists and tourists descend upon the region every year. But, If you want to behold the beauty of Garhwal in a reserved region then visit Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Nanda Devi National Park, Rajaji National Park and Kedarnath Sanctuary.

Garhwal Trekking Tours

2009-06-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

Garhwal himalayas is one of the most popular trekking destinations in India. Every year thousands of tourist came here for trekking and other adventure activities.

The beauty of Garhwal hills is picture perfect, a fusion of high mountain valley and lakes, of many streams and among India's greatest rivers. Carmine rhododendron blooms and scarlet flame of the forest blossoms are luminous in jungles of dense green, while the faith of an old people has kept alive a lifestyle that dates back by several centuries. In other words the Garhwal hills are a vertible paradise for trekkers.

Trekking in Garhwal.Com ( Subsidiary of Peak adventure tours ) provides all the trekking and adventure services regarding Trekking in Garhwal Himalayas, Trekking tours in garhwal, Mountaineering expeditions and mountain biking tours to Garhwal, Uttarakhand.

Garhwal Himalayas Region:
Garhwal, is a region and administrative division of Uttarakhand state, India, lying in the Himalayas. It is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by kumaon region and on the west by Himachal Pradesh state. It includes the districts of Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal and Uttarkashi.

It is believed that Garhwal was named so because of the fact that it had 52 Garhs of 52 petty chieftainships, each chief with his own independent fortress (garh). Nearly 500 years ago, one of these chiefs, Ajai Pal, reduced all the minor principalities under his own sway, and founded the Garhwal kingdom.

Garhwal Himalaya has several wilderness trails through dense forests of Deodar, cypress, oak, pine and rhododendron that harbor a large variety of Himalayan faunas. These lead to lush verdant valleys and undulating green meadows carpeted with alpine flowers in summer. The blue and emerald lakes, majestic waterfalls, meandering rivers, rich thick forests, incredible mountains, green valleys and a wide range of flora and fauna including birds and butterflies, provide a glorious combination. The legendary Ganges, Yamuna and many rivers originate in the Garhwal Himalayas.

Famous trekking routes in Garhwal Himalayas :

Chandrashila Summit Trek
Dodital Trekking
Dehradun Mussoorie Trekking
Gangotri-Gaumukh-Tapoban Trek
Gangotri-Badrinath Trekking
Hem Kund-Valley Flowers Trekking
Har Ki Dun Trek
Kalindikhal Pass Trek
Kedar Tal Trekking
Khatling Trekking
Kauri Tapovan Trekking Strenuous
Kedarnath Vasuki Tal Trek
Kempty Trekking
Mussoorie Naqtibba Trek
Nanda Devi Trek
Outer Nanda Devi Sanctuary Trek
Panch Kedar Trek
Roop Kund Trekking
Rishikesh Gopeshwar Trekking
Rishikesh Pauri Binsar Trek
Shivling Trekking
The Source of the Ganges Trek
Valley of Flowers Trekking
Dayara Bugyal Trek

Hemkund Sahib In Garhwal

2009-02-20T21:39:00.000-08:00

The high altitude Lokpal lake, known as Hemkund ( 4329 mts.) lies in heavenly environs. A steep trek from Ghangharia leads one to this spot in about four to six hours.

It is an important pilgrimage for both Hindus and Sikhs, as well as for people from other faiths. There is a Sikh Gurudwara and a Lakshman temple built on the bank of the lake.

Encircled by seven snow clad peaks and their associated glaciers, it reflects its surroundings enchantingly on its crystal clear serene waters. The glaciers from Hathi Parvat and Saptrishi peaks feed the lake and a small stream called Himganga flows out of this lake.

As alluded to, in the holy Granth Sahib, Guru Govind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikh faith had meditated on the bank of this lake in one of his earlier births. It is widely believed among Sikhs that Guru Govind Singh introduced the features now universally associated with Sikhism. On 15th April 1699, he started the new brotherhood called the Khalsa (meaning the pure, from the Persian word 'Khales') an inner core of the faithful, accepted by baptism (amrit).

The five K's' date from this period: kesh (uncut hair) kangha (comb), kirpan (dagger or short sword), kara (steel bangle), and kachh (boxer shorts). The most important is the uncut hair, adopted before the other four. The comb is sometime designated specially as wooden. The dagger and the shorts reflect military influence, while the bangle may be a from of charm.

It is believed that Lakshman, the younger brother of Ram, meditated by the lake and regained his health after being severely wounded by Meghnath, son of the demon Ravana, during battle.

Despite its ancient connections, Hemkund/Lokpal was discovered by a Sikh Havaldar, Solan Singh and became a major pilgrimage centre only after 1930.

River Rafting In Uttaranchal

2008-07-08T15:39:00.000-07:00

The Rapids of sacred river Ganga, offers the professional as well as the amateur, the sheer exhilaration of white water rafting. The Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi, are the main tributaries of the Ganga, and meet at Devprayag, frothing from their racy descent. Their waters are Grade IV and Grade V, challenging the expert to survive the thrill.

Down river from Devprayag, the Ganga changes into a pool drop river. This stretch of almost 70 kms, is perfect for the amateur and the novice, for here, the river offers some fine Grade III rapids, and two Grade II rapids, the 'wall' at Bysi and the 'Golf Course" 4 kms below Shivpuri village; each followed by deep and placid pools.

Sandy beaches line the river at intervals, allowing river rafters to pull up alongside, for a spot of relaxation. The slopes on either side, are covered with oak, pine, spruce, and fir, with an occasional village and its terraced fields, dotting the landscape. Wildlife can be sighted at a distance, especially spotted deer, monkeys and leopards. Spiritual retreats and ashrams (hermitages) overlook the river, and add a spiritual flavour to this fantastic experience.

Tehri dam

2008-07-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

Tehri dam is the main dam of the Tehri Hydro Project, a major power project located near Tehri in the state of Uttarakhand in India. It is a multi purpose river valley project.Towering 855 feet (261 m), the main dam at Tehri is the 8th tallest dam in the world.The dam's projected capabilities include a power generation capacity of 2400 MW, irrigation stabilization to an area of 6,000 km², an additional area of 2,700 km² of irrigation stabilization and a supply of 270 million gallons (1.23 million cubic metres) of drinking water (per year?) to industrialized cities in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. While originally stated to be built with an approximate cost of 4 million U.S. dollars, an equivalent of over 1 billion US dollars has been spent on the construction of the dam to date.

The dam project was approved in 1972 and construction was started in 1978. The Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) was constituted in 1989 to supervise the construction of the dam. The main dam of the project is built near the old Tehri town that lies at the confluence of the rivers Bhagirathi, (one of the major tributary of the river Ganga) and Bhilangana. The main dam will produce 2000 MW of electricity when completed. However, only the Phase-I with capacity of 1000 MW is approved at present. There is another smaller dam 14 km downstream at Koteshwar that will produce 400 MW of electricity. The main reservoir comprises an area of 42 km². This has now flooded the old Tehri town and 112 villages around the town, thereby displacing more than 100,000 people. The town of New Tehri, on the hillside above the dam, has been built as a result.

This dam has been the object of intense protests from environmental groups and the people of this region. The issue of relocation of more than 1 lakh (100 thousand) people[1] of the area has resulted in protracted legal battles and has delayed the project. Besides this, environmental concerns regarding the location of large dams in the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayan foothills, there are also concerns regarding the dam's safety. The Tehri dam is located in the Central Himalayan Seismic Gap, a major geologic fault zone. This region was the site of a magnitude 6.8 earthquake in October 1991, epicentred 50 km from the location of the dam. There already has been a fatal accident in one of the tunnels in Aug, 2004 when a portion of a tunnel collapsed following heavy rains.

Following a court clearance, the tunnel T2 of Tehri dam has been finally closed on 29th Oct, 2005 and thereby started the process of filling the massive reservoir. Its planned closure was in Dec, 2002. Two of the lower tunnels, T3 and T4, were closed way back in Dec, 2001. But closing of tunnel T2 has resulted in another controversy as this has reduced supply of Bhagirathi water to a mere 2 ft³/s from the normal 1000 ft³/s. According to Hindu mythology, river Bhagirathi is the actual Ganga, though the name of Ganga is assumed only after the river Bhagirathi meets river Alaknanda at Devprayag. Cutting off the water supply of Bhagirathi to such low quantity means that after travelling more than 80 km from this point, water of Bhagirathi will be hardly reaching Ganga. Thus to many, sacredness of Ganga has reduced and this has created resentment. But the filling of the dam continued and the project generated its first unit of electricity in June, 2006.

Mussoorie

2008-07-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

Mussoorie the 'Queen of Hills' is a paradise. Everywhere eyes are set, there is beauty unlimited. At a height of 7000 ft, it offers commanding views of snow capped peaks in the north east and the beautiful sprawling green Doon valley towards the south. The envy of other hill stations, no one escapes here from the magic spell of the queen.

Unlike other hill stations, Mussoorie hasn't got a rich history. It wasn't the summer capital of British but the charm of Mussoorie lies elsewhere. Mussoorie's date with fame came after an adventuroes British military officer came here in 1827 with Mr. Shore, the resident Superintendent of Revenues at Dehradun and came up with a shooting lodge. Since then tourists haven't stopped pouring in here. Never on official records, the air of informality hung in Mussoorie. it was as if it is left for the 'affairs of the heart'. And it was not long after that Mussoorie had to its credit, the title of 'honeymoon capital of India', where romance flutters everywhere.

The busiest of all, Mussoorie has a hectic social life, the malls, shops, tourists all this makes sure that the place does not have a dull day in calender through out the year. Being so popular Mussoorie is a highly developed hill station. It has all the facilities to cater to domestic and foreign tourists.

Dehradun

2008-06-22T07:25:00.000-07:00

Founded by Guru Dronacharya, according to the epic of Mahabharata, Dehradu n is today one of the most developed cities of India. Situated on the threshold of a world full of adventure, spiritualism and tranquility, amidst the Shivalik ranges, the foothills of Himalayas, Dehra Dun is an entry point for all the trekkers and mountaineers onto their journey into the Garhwal Himalayas. A gateway to the popular hill station of Mussoorie and the pilgrimage centres of Haridwar and Rishikesh, Dehra Dun boasts of the famous Forest Research Institute and the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy. Doon Valley finds its place between the two most important rivers of India Ganga and Yamuna, and is a picturesque town with moderate climate and a number of places of tourist interest.

ROCK CLIMBING IN GARHWAL

2008-06-19T18:37:00.000-07:00

ROCK CLIMBING

If you’re fired by the spirit of adventure, let the sparks in your heart fly… in Garhwal.A land blessed with snow-bound peaks, crystal glaciers, rolling meadows, jagged rock faces, scenic valleys,meandering rivers, cascading waterfalls, dense forests and hospitable people with a rich culture.

A state Particular suited to Mountaineering, Trkking and Rock Climbing.

Various a gencies in the state provide guidance, training and equipment for the above sports.

Char Dham Yatra

2008-06-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

Char Dham is a term coined for the four most revered Hindu pilgrimage destinations of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

According to the Puranas and various Hindu scriptures, the Char Dham Yatra is of very high religious significance. Pilgrims from all around the world brave the severe conditions of landscape and weather to visit the shrines and have a holy darshan of the revered deities.

Yamunotri

Yamunotri Temple lies in the western region of Garhwal Himalayas. It is situated at a height of 3235 m. Goddess Yamuna, the river goddess is worshipped here and has special significance in Hindu scriptures. The idol is made of black marble. The river Yamuna emerges from Yamunotri glacier which is at a height of 4420 m near the Kalind mountain. This was the home of Sage Asit. The temple was constructed by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal. A hot sulphur spring pond is situated at Yamunotri close to the temple.Nearby Places of interest include Surya Kund, Divya Shila, Sayanachatti, Janakichatti and Hanuman Chatti.

Gangotri

The shrine of Gangotri is situated at an elevation of 3200 m surrounded by deodars and pines. The original temple was constructed by the Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa. Every year people from all around the world visit this shrine. A number of ashrams and dharamshalas are located on the other side of the river. It is believed that Raja Bhagirath used to worship Shiva on a slab of rock "Bhagirath Shila" situated near the temple. Submerged in the river there is a natural Shivling where, according to mythology, Lord Shiva sat when he received the Goddess Ganga in his matted locks. A days trek takes one to Gaumukh, the source of the mighty Ganges.

Kedarnath

The temple of Kedarnath dedicated to Lord Shiva is revered and visited by many pilgrims every year. The temple is situated at an altitude of 3580 m amidst the background of snow covered mountain peaks and greenery. The temple is built of large, heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones and is considered more than 1000 years old. The temple has a garbha griha where a conical rock formation is situated and a Mandapam for seating of pilgrims and visitors. A large statue of the Nandi Bull is situated outside the temple door. The nearest bus stop is Gaurikund and pilgrims have to trek 14 kms to reach the temple.

Badrinath

Badrinath Temple is the abode of Lord Vishnu. It is situated at an altitude of 3130 m at the banks of Alaknanda. In the backdrop, is the Neelkanth mountain peak situated between the twin peaks of Nar and Narayan. The name is derived from wild berries called Badri. Adi Shankarcharya established the idol of Vishnu in the temple. Near the temple is a hot water sulphur spring, Tapt Kund.

Garhwali Dance

2008-06-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

The people of Garhwal are an interesting ethnic blend. They speak Garhwali, closely related to Hindi (Nepali is a dialect of Garhwali); their religion is Hinduism. In appearance, they cover the map, ranging from light-skinned, brown haired (I even saw a couple of redheads), with European features (Eastern Europeans, in particular) to light-skinned, brown-haired, with more Tibetan/ East Asian features, to "red" skinned, to brown-skinned, and black haired, with or without varying degrees of the epicanthic fold. And all these different looks, that in the US might pass for different "races," were intermixed as the same people, in the same communities. We saw a demonstration of traditional Garhwali folk dance and I was surprised to see that it was nearly identical to Eastern European folk dance, and distinctly different from folk dance styles from other parts of India. It made me wonder about the population migrations and mixtures across the region in the centuries past. But so far, I haven't found anything informative on the subject.

Garhwali Song

2008-06-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

Surma Sarela A Song By Narendra Singh Negi Ji

Chamoli

2008-06-09T09:18:00.000-07:00

Chamoli, the abode of gods, is famous for its shrines and temples. Chamoli is situated near the river Alaknanda on the way to Badrinath. Chamoli lies in the arms of the heavenly Himalayas and is full of natural beauty. These mountain ranges, rivers and valleys are associated wit several Gods & Goddesses.

The celebrated shrine of Badrinath, a famous pilgirmage of Hindus, the well known "Valley of Flower" and Auli Bugyal are situated here. Today, this snow clad peaks which are a delight for adventure loving tourists. Gopeshwar is the district headquarter of chamoli and is situated at a height of 1308 mts.

Pauri Garhwal

2008-06-09T09:14:00.000-07:00

Pauri is located in the Garhwal region of Uttaranchal. Pauri Garhwal is blessed with splendid view of snow-bound peaks of Himalayas, scenic valleys & surround ings, meandering rivers, dense forests and hospitable people with a rich culture.With a diverse topography, the district of Pauri Garhwal varies from the foothills of the ‘Bhabar' areas of Kotdwara to the soul-lifting meadows of Dhudatoli, sprawling at an altitude of 3,000 meters. Dhudatoli remains covered by snow through the winter months.

Garhwal Region

2008-06-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

The Garhwal Himalayas area is remote and mountainous, filled with oak forests and alpine meadows. The forests are home to a number of endangered animal species and have historically been managed by local community institutions. In recent years, however, overgrazing and overharvesting in government-controlled forestlands has begun to threaten the area's biodiversity. The districts of Garhwal are Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Pauri.