Places to Visit in Govind Landscape
Bharadsar Lake
Bharadsar Lake is located in Govind Landscape and the trek takes up to 6 days (round trip from Saur village). The lake is situated at an altitude of 4300 metres above sea level.
Beside the natural beauty of the big lake, it also holds mythological and religious significance in the Hindu culture. It is said that when Lord Vishnu took the Bharah Avatar (wild boar), to save the Earth, his wife, Goddess Lakshmi told him to meet her in the Himalayas, where she would assume the form of a lake and thereby end the avatar. Hence, the lake got its religious significance.
Visitors can see the lake change colours during the day as the lake is sometimes look deep blue, sometimes dark, and suddenly can be clear. When it is clear, visitors can see flat stones at the bottom of the lake. It is also said that the often there are sounds that can be heard from the lake, like a child playing with the stones at the bottom of the lake.
Rupin Pass Trek
Rupin Pass Trek is India’s most popular trek connecting Uttarakhand to Sangla village of Himachal Pradesh. The trip starts from Dhuala Camp (1554 metres altitude) and goes up to Rupin Pass that lies at 4650 M and onwards to Sangla village (HP) at about 3000 M. Sangla is situated in the beautiful Kinnaur valley, and this route is a traditional route of shepherds.
Doni village, in the Rupin Range of Govind Wildlife Park and sanctuary, is a little less explored, yet with cultural and natural treasures of its own to offer, and is situated in Mori block of Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state. Doni village is a village under the SECURE Himalaya Program on Ecotourism. There are magnificent views and sceneries at very step of the trek. And every turn on the way exhibits a surprise for the eyes of nature lovers.
Kanasar Lake
Kanasar Lake is named thus due to it’s resemblance of a one-eyed person. The basecamp for Kanasar Lake trek is Khanyasani village that falls in the Rupin range of Govind Wildlife Park and Sanctuary. The lake is less known among tourists, due to the Rupin range not being in the active radar of tourists. The trek to Kanasar Lake takes the tourists through some very beautiful places along the way. The lake is covered in snow, with a good layer of snow even in the month of June. The lake lies at an altitude of 4600 meters.
The locals visit the lake during an annual festival. Tourists will find interaction with locals during the festival to be an enriching experience. Adventurous tourists can complete the trek circuit by starting at Khanyasani village, go to Kanasar Lake, and trek to Sankri village in the Supin range, and return to Dehradun. The tempearatures may be sub-zero, hence, trekkers are adviced to carry proper trekking gear and clothes, and the trek level is generally not for beginners.
Har Ki Doon
Har Ki Doon is a cradle shaped valley and offers natural beauty; it is located in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. This scenic beauty is located 3,566 meters above sea level.
Har Ki Doon falls in the area of Govind Pashu Vihar wildlife sanctuary & National Park, where so many wildlife animals can be seen. The place gives a magnificent view of Bandar Poonch, Kala Nag and Har Ki Dun peak itself. During this trek many beautiful villages like Taluka, Gandad, and Osla etc. are located.
Kedartal
Kedartal known as ‘Shiva’s Lake’ is one of the highest lakes in Uttarakhand. This immaculate glacial lake is seated at an elevation of 4,912 meter above sea level in the Gangotri National park at Uttarkashi district. Kedar Tal lake is formed by the melting of Kedar glacier. The lake is fed by the snowfall over Thalay Sagar (6,904 m), Meru (6,672 m), Bhrigupanth (6,772 m) and other surrounding peaks, and is the source of Kedar Ganga.
Kedartal, at a distance of 17 km from Gangotri, is a popular trekking destination. Starting from Gangotri the route involves a steep rocky climb along the narrow Kedar Ganga gorge en route to Bhojkharak, 8 km away. From there it is 4 km to the next available camping site of Kedarkharak, and a further 5 km to Kedartal. The route passes through scenic Himalayan birch forests, but is made hazardous in places by falling rocks, high altitude and segments of steep ascent.