Places to Visit in Gangotri Landscape

Harsil Valley

Harsil is a hill station, renowned for its natural environment and apple production situated in Uttarakhand state. It is located on the banks of the Bhagirathi River, on the way to Gangotri, a Hindu pilgrimage site in Uttarkashi district and has an elevation of around 14,500 feet from sea level.  The place is surrounded by high snow-capped mountains and thick green forests.The best time to visit Harsil is between April to June and September to October when the Weather in Harsil.

History: Harsil has been under the Kingdom of Garhwal. In the 1815 Anglo-Nepal War, British raj sided with the Kingdom of Garhwal and as a reward they were given the eastern half of Garhwal. In the mid-19th century, apples and Rjma cultivation was introduced to Harsil by Frederick Wilson, which became Himachal’s main cash crops.

Nilang

Nilang (31˚00 44.1" to 31˚ 27' 06.26" N latitudes and 78˚53' 39" to 79˚ 15" E longitudes), (elevation range 3500-6000 m) is located in the Uttarkashi District. It is spread over an area of about 1100 km2 and forms the entire catchment of the river Jahnavi or Jad Ganga and its tributaries. Biogeographically, the Nilang Valley exhibits close affinities with the Tibetan Plateau both in terms of proximity and species composition. The area is dissected broadly by snow fed tributary streams of the Jadh Ganga that drain the area to meet the Bhagirathi River at Bhaironghati. The lower portion of the valley is extremely rugged and steep in the form of a canyon formed by the river Jadh Ganga. Visually, the study area is divisible into glacial and periglacial types of landforms. The valley gradually widens as one goes for about 10 -15 kms from Bhaironghati. The areas close to MCT are highly broken and unstable owing to regular avalanches and enormous glacial erosion. On the right flank of Jad ganga between Gartang and Nilang there are deep gorges, visually impenetrable. One of such gorges leads to Sangla Valley in Himachal Pradesh, traditionally used by Gaddis for annual movement between Nilang Valley and their homeland with their domestic livestock.

Gartang Gali

Gartang Gali is one of the most thrilling and exciting treks in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district. The trek was opened to visitors and tourists in 2021 after 59 years. Located in the picturesque Nelong Valley near the Indo- China border, the 150-year old Gartang Gali is a 136-m-long wood-lined stairway that is said to be built by Peshawari Pathans, who created an architectural masterpiece by cutting the granite of a vertical rock face. This route was traditionally used by merchants trading between India and Tibet. It was damaged over the years as it was unsed following the Indo-China war in 1962.

SatTal

Sat Tal is wetland complex, which originally comprised seven small tals (a mountain lake/pool) in Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand, situated between 31°01’35.29” N latitude and 78°46’13.55” E longitude. However most of the wetlands in the complex have been lost, and at present only 4 wetlands remain in the complex namely Mrudunga Tal, Charakhya Tal, Brahman Tal and Dabar Tal. The Sat tal wetland is one of the five paternoster lakes whose overflow cascades down into the others lower down. Only five such lakes are known, one of which is a marsh, and the other two are mythical.

LammaTekari

Lama Tekri is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions of Uttarakhand located in near Harsil town at Uttarkashi district, it is a the wonderful steep hill has a 90 degrees angle from Harsil town, Every tourist who comes to Harsil admires the beauty of Lama Tekri. The villagers of Bagori Jad Bhotia community have made a way to reach this beautiful mountain Lama Tekri. on the summit of this hill of Lama Tekri, they worship and put up flags as well.

Dayara Bugyal

Dayara Bugyal in Uttarkashi is one of the most beautiful meadows in India and famous site for nature loving trekker. Most of the trekkers start their trek from Barsu village and they trek down via Raithal to see the scenic beauty of both the routes of Dayara Bugyal. The bugyal lies between 30°49’18.53″N and 78°32’31.20″E to 30°50’31.82″N and 78°33’24.71″E and covers an area of 3.38 sq km. The entire area comprises extraordinary ecological diversity with large adjoining regions that helps in maintaining significant biodiversity of both the Himalayan wildlife flora and fauna. It is the origin site of two important tributaries of River Bhagirathi, locally knowns as Papad Gad and Swari Gad. Both the streams not only provide drinking and irrigation water to the downstream villages of Raithal, Kyark and Barsu but also maintain the geo-hydrological system of the entire area. 

Kandara Bugyal

Kandara Bugyal is a lesser-known bugyal, accessible from Uttarakashi by just a short, crisp trek of 5kms that pays off magnificent rewards. Kandara Bugyal is a perfect trek for beginners, it can even be considered as a pre-trek to get used to the rigours of high-altitude trekking. Almost like an appetizer.

The breathtaking alpine meadow of Kandara Bugyal reigns atop a staggering 12,000 ft., against a stunning canvas of lofty Himalayan Neighbours like Bandarpoonch, Kala Nag, Shrikhand Mahadev, Srikanth peak and Gangotri peaks. This trek is marked by a rich carpet of wildflowers, dense fields of herbs, expansive grasslands, alpine lakes and trickling streams that lull the senses with a sylvan symphony. Along the entire stretch, at Richa top, tourist can catch 360˚ panoramic view of the Gangotri set of peaks, Banderpoonch, Srikanth peak, Kalanaag,Sumerudarshan peak, Avanabugyal and Songard. The summer meadows are infused on this stretch with a spray of wildflowers, yellow, white and blue flowers line meadows in the summer, which adds to the beauty of the trails and also spot Medicinal species.

Bhojbasa

Bhojbasa is a scenic spot on the rugged terrains, situated at an altitude of 3,775 mts above sea level. It has a 14 km tracking distance from Gangotri; it is a beautiful spot that boasts of an undulating terrain.  The Translation of Bhojbasa is the ‘abode of birch’, Bojbasa gets its name because of housing birch trees in abundance. It is actually a vast open piece of land, between Gangotri and Gaumukh. It is actually the last place for accommodation, while on the trek to the source of River Ganga, Gomukh Glacier, which is around 5 km away. Another attraction near Bhojwasa is Chirbasa, a beautiful site, housing Chir- pine trees. Along with trekking, Bhojwasa is also a popular  site.

Thuner (Taxus bucketthuner (Taxus bacata)

Thuner (Taxaus baccata), it is a small mid evergreen tree species growing 10-20 m tall, with a trunk up 2 m in diameter. The bark is thin and scaly brown, and the local community is mostly using its bark for making traditional tea. And the understory of the forests is with the major shrub species such as Berbarish, Pyracantha Crenulata, Indigofera etc.  

In the Gangotri landscape the Sukki village Van-panchayat is protecting a 2 ha area of this tree species from 150 year ago.  The Thuner forest area is good habitat for Black bears, leopards, Himalayan Thar, Ghural, and major birds  like the Himalayan Monal, Chukar Partridge, Himalayan Beauty Rose finch, Blue Fronted Red Starts, Coaltiti Rock bunting, Snow pigeon, Black throated Accentor, and many more interesting species. Major butterflies are the Azure Sapphire, Silvery hedge blue, White border cupper, Indian tortoiseshell, Painted lady, Himalayan queen fritillary, Large Cobbage white, Pale clouded yellow etc.