Nelong Valley: The Hidden Jewel of Uttarakhand

The Hidden Jewel of Uttarakhand

   The hand-built wooden bridge that was once used for Indo-China trade in Nelong Valley

Nicknamed as ‘Ladakh of Uttarakhand’ due to its striking resemblance to the famed landscape of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, Nelong valley has been off limits for tourists for more than half-a-century since the 1962 Sino-Indian war, due to its proximity to the Chinese border. That changed in May 2015, when the shrouded valley opened its doors for the first time since 1962. 

A Gem within a Gem

Situated in the Uttarkashi district, the mesmerizing Nelong valley lies within the Gangotri National Park. Just 23km from Bhaironghati, this nature’s delight is just a stone’s throw away from the revered Gangotri shrine. As opposed to the lush green background of the Uttarakhand Himalayas, Nelong valley is a cold desert with scarce vegetation and wildlife, imitating the Tibetan plateau. Still, home to the rare and elusive Snow Leopard, the valley offers some of the spectacular Himalayan landscapes to leave you awestruck.
In addition to that, this veiled valley was a part of the arduous Sino-Indian trade route which lasted for centuries. A hand-built wooden bridge which is still present from those days evidently confirms it.

Lukewarm Response, Govt. Vows to Pull up Socks

Despite opening its doors to the public earlier this year, the Nelong valley failed to generate enough tourism for the state in past six months, with a footfall of only 200 tourists. For Uttarakhand, which relies substantially on tourism to generate revenue, this cold response was a setback. Inadequate publicity was one of the reasons for the low footfall. Retired bureaucrat S S Pangtey concurs. “It is a remote, virgin area that can turn into an adventure tourism hot-spot if the state provides ample publicity.” Another reason for the no-show can be credited to the bad roads. Forest minister Dinesh Aggarwal assures that the roads leading to the valley will be improved in addition to the proper promotion of this newfound treasure by next season. However, whether Forest ministry keeps its promise or not, only time will tell.

 A mesmerizing view of Nelong Valley in Uttarakhand.

Experts believe that the scenic and enchanting Nelong valley has the potential to spearhead tourism in Uttarakhand, just like Valley of Flowers in Chamoli district which attracts thousands of tourists and nature enthusiasts every year. It is a golden opportunity for the Uttarakhand government to improve the tourism sector in the state.

Nelong valley is open to the Indian public from May to November. However, entry to the foreigners is not allowed, yet.

 

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Nanda Devi Raj jaat Yatra 2014 : Uttarakhand Devbhoomi

Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra is a festival that stretches for whole three weeks. It is one such Uttarakhand festival that is globally famous. Innumerable people participate in Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra from the Garhwal-Kumaon region, the rest of the country.

Goddess Nanda Devi is a popular deity at many places of Garhwal & Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. Nanda Devi Raj Jat is organised once in every 12 years in Chamoli after royal priests' descendents and the Kunwar royal family make elaborate preprations in the village of Nauti and in Kansuwar respectively. It is primarily a religious pilgrimage spanning for 280 kilometer. The trek takes about 20 days to be completed.

This Raj jat yatra originates from the Nauti village 20 km of Karnaprayag tehsil of Indian state of Uttarakhand. The Kunwar of village Kansua inaugurates the ceremony. The legend is this that Nanda Devi, consort of Lord Shiva left her village and went to the nanda devi parbat. Therefore when the yatra starts, heavy rain occurs as if the devi is crying. This yatra covers many villages and in between the Devi meets her sister in the Bhagwati village.

This yatra is very tough on account the landscape it goes through. In between the yatra there comes a Lake Roopkund where lies the hundreds of skeletons. It is said that once the King took some dancers to this sacred place due to which heavy snow fell and people died and the dancers got transformed into stone which can be sen in Patarnachonia. The other myth is this that king Yasodhwal's wife was pregnant and while she was giving birth to her child, her placenta flowed down to Roopkund and this in turn caused the death of the people on that place. That is why the river Nandakini lost her significance and the Nandprayag is not considered sacred as the other Panch Prayags like Devprayag, Vishnuprayag, Karanprayag and Rudraprayag.

How to reach

By Air :  

• If you want to attend Nanda devi Raj Jat yatra in 2013, nearest airport are jolly Grant Airport Dehradun in Garhwal and Pantnagar in Kumaun region of Uttarakhand.
  
  

  By Rail : 

  The nearest railway stations are Rishikesh in Dehradun District, Haridwar, Dehradun and Kotdwar in Pauri distict in Garhwal . If you want to go from kumaun than nearest railway stations is Kathgodam near Haldwani.Other station is Tanakpur where trains comes from Bareli.
  

• By Road : 

  If you want to go by bus than chamoli distict is well connected with dehradun, haridwar and Rishikesh .From Kumaun Chamoli distict is connected with Rudrapur, Ramnagar and Tanakpur. Main station of this Yatra is Karanprayag which is connected with Garhwal and Kumaun. We can also attend the yatra from Chandpur gadi, Ujwalpur, Nandkesari and Tharali.These are the night hault of this Yatra.
  
  

  Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Night Hault

  Night Hault Information of Nanda Devi Raaj Jat Yatra

  No.	Night Hault	Distance(km)
  1	Nauti to Eda Bandhani	10
  2	Eda Bandhani to Nauti	10
  3	Nauti to Kansuwa	7.5
  4	Kansuwa to Sem	17.3
  5	Sem to Koti	12
  6	Koti to Bhagoti	11.5
  7	Bhagoti to Kulsari	15.4
  8	Kulsari to Chepdue	10.8
  9	Chepdue to NandKesari	4.7
  10	NandKesari to Faldiya	7.9
  11	Faldiya Gaun to Mundoli	7.7
  12	Mundoli to Vaan	20.2
  13	Vaan to Geroli Patal	6.8
  14	Geroli Patal to Patar Nachoniya	6.9
  15	Patar Nachoniya to Sila Samundra	3
  16	Sila Samundra to ChandniyaGhat	12.3
  17	ChandniyaGhat to Sutol	20.9
  18	Sutol to Ghat	18
  19	Ghat to Nauti	41.6

  Day 1 to 5 Yatra Details	Day 6 to 10 Yatra Details
  Day 11 to 15 Yatra Details	Day 16 to 19 Yatra Details

  
  

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Mountain Biking in Uttarakhand

Mountain Biking in Uttarakhand Devbhoomi



Mountain biking is all about speed, control and thrill and is one of the latest ways of exploring and discovering new vistas of the Himalayan landscape. The rugged terrain and steep slopes, though risky at times, provide great mountain biking experience in Uttarakhand. The cycle trails in this region are best traversed between October and December. In India, this sport is still in its nascent stage, surviving on some financial support from the government. Blessed with rare and diverse flora and fauna, Uttarakhand is an ideal place to develop adventure sports and eco-tourism. After paragliding, mountain biking is the second most popular adventure sport in the state. The sport attracts many national and international tourists and adventure sports enthusiasts, which in turn boosts tourism activities in the state. It is a belief that in a few years, Uttarakhand is bound to become the future hub for mountain biking in Asia.
Mountain biking and cycling can be great ways to explore the towns and villages that fringe the foothills of the Himalayas. It also gives tourists the opportunity to understand the challenges that mountains have in store for them.

Routes Defined -

In Garhwal, mountain biking can be enjoyed on the Rudraprayag – Augustmuni – Ukhimath – Chopta – Gopeshwar route, the Srinagar – Pauri – Khirsu – Pawbo – Satpuli – Lansdown – Kotdar route, and the Haridwar – Dhaulkhand – Mohand – Dehradun route. More routes are yet to be identified, explored and developed. The mountain biking routes at Kumaon are not to be left out. Tourists can enjoy the Nainital – Bhawali – Ramgarh – Mukteshwar route, the Almora – Kosi – Kathpuria – Sheetlakhet route, the Nainital – Bhawali – Sattal – Bhimtal – Naukuchiyatal route, and the Nainital – Kilbury – Kunjkharak route.

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Uttarakhand Devbhoomi - The Land Of Vedas And Ancient Science

Uttarakhand Devbhoomi is a holy land steeped in many layers of Indian history, religion, spiritual aspiration and culture. It is an old land testified by Palaeolithic stone tools, rock shelters, megaliths paintings, inhabiting by humans since prehistoric times. Archaeological remains also proved that the land was a popular place for ancient Vedic practices.

Uttarakhand is surrounded by the Himalayas, and covered by forests. The land inspired seers, holy men and many saints because of its spiritual insights and serenity where they found direct realisation of the universal soul. Those seers wrote thousands of text on the human aspiration to find the ultimate truth. This is the land where wisdom put her first step before it ventured to other parts of the world, whose soil is sanctified with great sages and seers of all time. Innumerable temples and religious fervour testified the authenticity of this land, and through its people.

Since time immemorial Uttarakhand has been beckoning countless people from all over the world for its religious and spiritual opportunities in various pilgrimage routes whether it is in Badrinath or Gangotri glacier, the true source of holy river Ganges. Uttarakhand has proved time to time that religion is not just confined to temples and synagogue, and you can approach it through various ways whether you want to explore it in wilderness or rediscover yourself through trekking expeditions in the Himalayas. The life blood of this land is indeed continuing within its spiritual ambition.
Religious History of Uttarakhand

Aside for prehistoric evidence of Uttarakhand, there is very little knowledge of history of Uttarakahnd. Early scriptures described certain tribes inhabited the Garhwal and Kumaon regions, among them the prominent were Akas, Kolmunds, Nagas, paharis, Hephthalites (Hunas), Kiratas, Gujjars and Aryans. Paharis were the dominant tribe in the reigions until Rajputs and Brahmins overruled them around 13th century.

Present day Uttarakhand was also served as retreats for Rishis (seers) and Sadhus. According to Hindu mythology Sage Vyasa scripted Mahabharata (the longest epic in the world) here. The first major dynasty was Kuninda in the 2nd century B.C who practiced an early form of Shaivism. According to the relics of Ashokan dynasty it is evident that Buddhism made inroads in this region, and also Hindu cult worships like shamamism practiced here for a long time. Nevertheless, due to heavy influence of Shankaracharyaadvaitya philosophy and other Brahmanical methods, Uttarakhand remained a dominant place for orthodox Hindu worshipping.
Seat of Ancient Holistic Science Yoga And Ayurveda

Thousands of years ago sages and seers found the holistic practice of physical and mental well-being of humans through Ayurveda and Yoga. It is quite an astounding fact that even after thousands of years before the birth of Christ those therapies are revisited in the world in the form of ethics of healthy living and mental calmness. The whole world is adapting gradually the natural version of life in the name of Yoga and Ayurveda, and these age old sisters of ancient science are creating ripples in the world of modern medicines.

Both Ayurveda and Yoga have shared a philosophical commonness and therapeutic ways of cure and purgation methods as well. The similar attitudes of these sciences have a common goal – balance of body and mind. The basic Ayurvedic fundamental of healthy life is being followed in various parts of Uttarakhand since ages. Every year thousands of travellers and spiritual aspirants come to visit the place for learning Yoga and other ancient exercises. Yoga and Ayurveda are complementary to each other. The approach of healthy living can only possible fully if the system works in two legs – Yoga and Ayurveda.

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Devbhoomi Uttarakhand : Char Dham Yatra Latest News

The Char Dham Yatra

The Char Dham Yatra is a holy journey and it is believed that it relieves one from cycle of birth and death, wash away their sins and attain Nirvana.

The spiritual journey along with the spectacular view of the gadhwal Himalayas make this trip one of the most unforgettable pilgrim undertaken in the lifetime.

Opening Dates of Char Dham Temples - 2014

Yamunotri : The Yamunotri Temple opens on day of Akshaya Tritiya - 2 May 2014.

Gangotri Dham : The Gangotri Shrine opens on the day of Akshaya Tritiya - 2 May 2014.

Kedarnath Dham : The Kedarnath Temple opens on the day of Shiva Ratri 4 May 2014.

Badrinath Dham : The Badrinath Temple opens on the day of Basant Panchami 5 May 2014.

Registration is compulsory for CharDham Yatra 2014

Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Sunday said the Char Dham yatra would be regulated but not restricted.

Pilgrims would be registered through a biometric registration system. Emergency helicopter services would be provided if the yatra routes were blocked by landslips.

Biometric Registration facilities started in Sonprayag.

Biometric Registration facilities Rishikesh - ( Near Bus Stand ).

Biometric Registration facilities Haridwar - ( Near Railway Station ).

Biometric Registration facilities Janki Chatti - ( District Council Building ).

Kedarnath route change for CharDham Yatra

Minor changes have been made on the Kedarnath route, which is now approximately 16 kms instead of the earlier 14 kms, maintaining the earlier stopovers of Gaurikund, Bhimbali and Limchauli..

The pilgrims will be provided with wayside shelters, food, medicines and medical help and other emergency facilities. The state government will also provide the option of night shelter, which can accommodate around 500-1,000 persons.

Biometric Registration facilities started in Rishikesh and Sonprayag.

50 thousand pilgrims from all over the world have made their holy yatra to Char Dham till date this year. The number is 10 times less than the number of pilgrims who made the holy yatra last year same time ( around 10 to 12 lakhs ).

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Uttarakhand Devbhoomi - Fire in the Hills

On a recent trek I managed to get a few pictures of one of the small forest fires that plague the Himalayas just before the monsoon starts.

Some are started by local people clearing land for cultivation or clearing out the underbrush, particularly the pine needles which contribute to small fires spreading into huge fires. Some are caused by carelessness. But most are caused by lightning. The storms that come just before monsoon season are incredibly extreme. The thunder and lightning is dramatic. One reads in the newspapers about shepherds up in the hills or village people out collecting wood or their crops being struck by the lightning.

There is no fire-fighting facilities in the Himalayas. No brigades of firefighters or water bombers such as one finds in North America or Europe. The fires just burn themselves out.

There have been times when I’ve been on the road and driven very close to some of these fires. This is particularly the case near Rajaji National Park just southeast of Dehra Dun. The smoke was so thick it was like driving through heavy fog. And one could see the flames at a little distance through the trees.

When the fires approach the highways sometimes the local police or the army will come and close the road until it either burns out or passes the highway. And most villages remove trees and brush around them making something of a fire break in case there is a fire.

                                               Fire starting

                                         Another view of the fire

                                         Fire in the mountains

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Information about Hemkunt Sahib Yatra, Pilgrimage Gurdwara in India (Uttarakhand Devbhoomi)

Sikh shrine present in Uttarakhand state in India at a place called Lokpal, which is now associated with the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

However, what distinguishes it from other historical sites linked to the great Guru is that this site is connected to the Guru’s previous incarnation as the mighty warrior, Dusht Daman. According to some interpretations, the tenth Sikh Guru mentions this place in his composition Bachitar Natak which is found in the Dasam Granth, the second most important scripture of the Sikhs. But it was not until the twentieth century after many long years of searching that Hemkunt Sahib was finally discovered or (re-discovered).

In the Indian epic and Puranic literature, Himalayan landscapes are described as the dwelling places of gods and goddesses. Pilgrimage shrines mark the places where the landforms themselves – mountains, rivers, forests, and lakes – are said to have acquired sacred qualities. High above the tree line, in the midst of a natural rock garden of moss, ferns, and flowers, is one such sacred place: a small, blue-green lake fed by water which cascades down from the surrounding mountain walls.
Background

Located in the Uttarkhand Himalayas bordering Tibet and Nepal, it is accessible only between June and October when the sun and monsoon rains melt the ice and snow that are its namesake. Then, the steep stone footpath that leads to the lake is crowded with pilgrims and tourists. They journey to the base of the route on foot from neighbouring mountain valleys, or from the plains in buses, cars, and trucks, on scooters and bicycles, even by foot. Then for two days they climb upward. Some walk, some ride mules, and some are carried by porters.

Finally, at the top of more than a thousand stone steps, the holy lake, The Sri Hemkunt Sahib Gurdwara, and the Sri Lakshman Mandir come into view. High in the snow capped mountains of the Himalayas this site has been hidden from sight for eons. For thousands of years this place has remained unknown to humans, a place of utter beauty and peaceful serenity. Here a natural lake lies on a plateau at a height of 15,000 feet surrounded by seven snow clad peaks. To the Sikhs this place is known a Hemkunt Sahib.

Before this site was discovered by the Sikhs it was known locally as Lokpal, which translates to ‘protector of the world’. Long a place of worship and pilgrimage by the local Hindu population, a place linked to the hindu trinity of the creator – Brahma, the sustainer – Vishnu and the destroyer – Shiva. The Vedas and Purana texts of ancient India mention the Himalayas as the abode of the gods and goddesses, the locals tell a modified version of the Ramayana which actually is cast in far off Lanka (Sri Lanka). tales of Lakshman, Vishu and Hanuman.

In the historic version Lakshman the brother of Rama is mortally wounded in battle while he is leading Hanuman’s army of Monkeys against some demons sent by Raavana the villianous Demon Ruler of Lanka who has stolenSita the wife of Rama. To save the fallen hero the Hindu God Hanuman jumps all the way from Lanka (Sri Lanka) to the Himalayas to get a rare plant that will save Lakhsmans life.

In the local version Lakhsman, was brought to the shores of this lake by his wife. Here she prayed to Hanuman the (Vanara) or monkey god to save Lakhsman’s life. Hanuman heard her prayers and found the life giving herb called Sanjivani Bhutti, this was given to Lakshman and he was revived. The gods were overjoyed and went to Lord Bramha to give thanks, seek his blessing and protection from the demons who ravaged the world. In their version the myth of Hanuman and Lakhsman has been blended with Sikhi to include Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh, whereby Lord Brahma told them that only Nanak the ‘saviour of the universe’ can assist them in his tenth incarnation, in which, the tales relate, he will destroy evil and tyranny and will become the protector of the holy people.

Detailed History

Sikhs believe that this holy place, known as Hemkunt (lake of ice/lit. cut in the snow), is the tap asthan (place of meditation and prayer) at which the tenth and final living Guru of the Sikhs achieved union with God in his previous incarnation. From there, the Guru was summoned by God to be reborn into the world to teach the people the true path. The temple built on the shore of the lake commemorates his mission. It also shelters the Guru Granth Sahib, the eternal scriptural Guru for the Sikh community. The community is itself recognized as a collective Guru, and pilgrims, as they walk the path toward Hemkunt, share the sacred journey with its members.

In this way, all three forms of the Guru – the source of spiritual guidance – are understood to be present at Hemkunt. Sikh pilgrims go there to be inspired to walk the same difficult path that the Guru walked, both in body and in spirit, and to, through the Guru’s grace, realize their connection with God in the same place where the Guru realized his. At Hemkunt Sahib, Sikhs feel closer to the Guru and, through the Guru, closer to God. Gurudwara Hemkunt in the Himalayas is also regarded as one of the holiest places of the Sikhs. It was there that Sri Guru Gobind Singh the tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs is reported to have meditated in his previous life.

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