Discovering Uttarakhand

8/13/2019 Discovering Uttarakhand

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Discovering Uttarakhand

Rig Veda, the most ancient of the scriptures says, there is no happiness for him who does not

travel. The fortune of him who is sitting sits, it rises when he rises, it sleeps when he sleeps, it

moves when he moves.

Therefore, Wander!

A maor portion of human history has een created y travels " treatises and historical

accounts are filled with stories of men who travelled to con#uer, to convert, to trade, to

plunder and most importantly to #uench their curiosity. $very mountain and ocean stimulated

human curiosity to see and %now eyond the mundane. This unremitting ec%oning upset his

sleep and logic ut invigorated his fancy. The osession for the un%nown was an indivisile

element of that fancy. And men, as always, have een %nown to live and die for their fancies.

&ow, in the changed circumstances of the '(st century men still travel mostly when they gettired of routine circumstances or to put it more star%ly whenever they find spare time from

their demanding and hectic routines. There could e scores of other motives as well.

Whatever may the motivation e, it is a truth that every ourney does detune and retune ones

intimate self. A whole lot ensues etween emar% and disemar%. )ome strings get tightened

and some get loosened.

$very ourney egins though with certain e*pectations. The +ttara%hand Tourism

evelopment -oard invites you to ta%e up a ourney to the state of +ttara%hand we can

confidently promise a couple of things. All your e*pectations would e met. And the

ama/ingly diverse and eautiful state would open up countless inconceivale dimensions oftravel that might never even have occurred to you.The +ttara%hand e*perience might leave

you stranded for words, when someone as%s you to define the simple word eauty. -eauty

is so inherent to almost all things +ttara%hand stands for the magnanimous 0imalayas, the

holiest of the rivers, the spiritual mystery, stunning landscapes, the incessantly colorful play

of nature, enchanting history carved in ancient stones, a mesmeri/ing floral and faunal

plethora and the simplest of the people. 1yths, anecdotes and stories are part of every visual

that unfolds itself to the eyes of the eholder.

2t was thus not a mere coincidence that 3harles A. )herring, the celerated (4th century

-ritish anthropologist and surveyor noted down in his highly acclaimed wor% Western Tiet

and -ritish -orderland " 52n those lovely valleys there is still the romance and poetry of life6each tree has its god, each ush its spirit7 1r. )herring was descriing a fair part of

+ttara%hand. 2t was also not another coincidence that after his first visit to +ttara%hand

1ahatma 8andhi could not restrain himself from alluding the region as the )wit/erland of

2ndia. The age"old 0indu traditions have always accorded highest esteem to the glory of the

colossal and composed heights of the 0imalayas which are spontaneously assumed to e the

chosen consecrated residences of 8ods. A whole lot of the 0indu lore sets out from this

9and of the 8ods.

:ilgrimages to these heights dating ac% to more than (;


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Today, these mountains are no longer restricted to the religious or the spiritual as a traveler

one can get pleasure from mountaineering, tre%%ing, mountain i%ing, roc% climing or

simply strolling amongst the highest mountainous terrains in the world. The winter months

lay vast and e*pansive snow"carpets as the slopes, which turn into playgrounds for

adventurous snow"revelers to s%i amongst the most eautiful of surroundings. 3ome spring

and the land egins to oo/e of nascent life with fro/en springs ma%ing way for the singsongof unsullied streams, waiting uds coming to full lossom creating an outurst of million

hues with as many colorful utterflies and insects oining in the chorus. The spring season of

+ttara%hand would ma%e you comprehend and proaly redefine the word 0armony.

The streams that originate in the deepest hideaways of the glorious 0imalayas of +ttara%hand

flow on to feed rivers which have nourished a civili/ation that has een orn and rought up

in the 2ndo"8angetic soil of the country. These rivers are not ust water odies of enormous

proportions, ut are also impressive streams commanding worship and reverence with their

source in the holy crevices where gods and goddesses reside. The water of the holiest of all

0indu rivers, the 8anga, is elieved to wash away and purge the ody, mind and soul of all

impurity. The lush green forests of this region are home to an astounding multiplicity of floraand fauna, some of which fall into the category of endangered species. The wildlife ursts

with hundreds and thousands of species, ma%ing an e*ploratory trip to +ttara%hand even

more e*citing, in the light of the fact that many species are yet to e discovered. World"

renowned mountain and wildlife institutes, national par%s and forest reserves in this region

pursue scientific research putting in enormous efforts to preserve and protect the lands

ounty, encouraging people to participate in this nolest of causes.

A description of the charismatic eauty of +ttara%hand would e incomplete without the

mention of people who inhait this lessed country simple, willing to help and hardwor%ing

people of the state are as diversified as the elements of nature. )everal indigenous trial

groups peacefully co"e*ist with others, simultaneously %eeping their distinct cultures alive.

Apart from eing a uni#ue tourism destination, +ttara%hand is a goldmine for

anthropologists, historians, ornithologists, linguists, geologists = you name the discipline

and the state has something on offer. &o words can ever e enough to perfectly descrie this

lessed land. The incredulous variety of e*periences oth spiritual and sensory goes

eyond any language or dialect. The +ttara%hand Tourism evelopment -oard humly

invites you to this divinely lissful and fantastic ewel of 1other &atures treasure"chest with

a promise that no promise would go unfulfilled.

A promise! That is.


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GENERAL INFORMATION

+ttara%hand is the 0imalayan )tate in &orthern 2ndia. +ttara%hand " the land of gods, the

home of 0imalayas and a true paradise on earth, allures everyone from everywhere. >nly (?n reaching the head of the town where the highway from the plains meets the main 1all at

Tallital, one gets a dramatic view of the eautiful &aini 9a%e that seems to e nestled in a

remote cocoon. -rightly coloured sails of yachts dot the calm waters of the la%e while crowds

of holiday ma%ers throng the 1all at its edge. -oating in the la%e is ust one of the favouriteactivities of the tourists. >thers come here for tre%%ing in the densely forested mountains that

surround the town.

DEEP INTO HISTORY

&ainital is referred in the L1anas @handL of the L)%anda :uranaL as the Tri"Rishi")arovar, the

la%e of the three sages, Atri, :ulastya and :ulaha who were reputed to have arrived here on

pilgrimage and penitence. Iinding no water to #uench their thirst dug a hole and siphoned

water into it from the sacred 1ansarovar la%e in Tiet.

The second mythological reference to &ainital is as one of FB L)ha%ti :eethsL. 9egend says

that )ati, the consort of )hiva consigned herself to the sacrificial fire when her father a%sha

insulted her lord. 2n grief, )hiva danced the tandava with the lifeless ody of )ati, until

Vishnu cut it into its scattering it all over the land. 2t is said that the left eye &ainC of )ati

fell here. 3onse#uently it turned into the patron deity of town &ainital. 2t is said that the la%e

is formed in the shape of an eye. &aina evi temple is located at the northern end of the la%e.

According to recent historical records, &ainital was discovered y a -ritish sugar merchant :.

-arron in (EH4. 0e was so deeply enthralled y the la%e settlement and its forested

surrounding that he came ac% with a sailing oat and uilt a house named L:ilgrimLs

3ottageL. Thus started the process of settlement in this once secluded mountain resort, withcolonial villas and promenades coming up one after the other. )oon, it ecame an important

administrative town as well, with the summer capital of the erstwhile +nited :rovinces eing

set up here.

A maor landslide in (EE< led to the formation of the flats, the level ground y the la%e.

Torrential rains resulted in a devastating landslide that destroyed several uildings including

the Victoria 0otel at the north end of the la%e near 1allital. The area was later levelled out

and ecame a popular meeting ground and sports area. @nown as The Ilats it is now also

used for par%ing vehicles during the pea% tourist season.


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:rior to (EH4, the valley was covered y thic% forests and inhaited y hill tries. The main

attractions of &ainital range from #uiet wal%s in meadows the forests of pine and deciduous

trees to adventure sports roc% climing, yachting etc.C to popular entertainment.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

&ainital in the @umaon hills maintains pleasant weather throughout the year e*cept the

winter months. The temperature is mild at any time ut in winters it ecomes very cold. The

climate of &ainital is regulated y the la%e here which showers rain almost every afternoon.

The est time to visit the place is etween April to Mune and then again in )eptemer and

>ctoer. The months of Manuary to 1arch are mar%ed y snowfall. $#uipped with right

clothing, this uni#ue hill resort can otherwise e visited any time of the year.

ALMORAAlmora, another popular hill station of +ttara%hand is %nown as the cultural capital of

@umaon. This town is situated on a ; %m mountain range situated at an altitude of (,F;< m

and from a distance its shape resemles a horse shoe.

Almora was not discovered and developed y the -ritish, instead it was the seat of power of

the 3hand ynasty who ruled the land of @umaon for almost a millennium. The town has

maintained its old customs and traditions that are visile in the way houses and roads have

een uilt.

The old forts, the historical monuments and the royal courts still e*ist in decent shape. The

@aushi%i @oshiC and )halmali )uyalC Rivers encircle the town, overloo%ed y the snows of

the 0imalayas.

A must uy are the local @umaoni sweets called -al 1ithai and )ingauri.

-0>WA92)ituated at an altitude of (?


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CHAMBA

Uttarakhand is the heartland of the Himalayas A !ide e"#anse $et!een the

Himalayas in the North and the %hi&alik ran'e in the %o(th) it offers the most

$reathtakin' &ie!s of the mi'hty #eaks* mist +o&ered dee# 'or'es and &erdant

&alleys

At the doorste# of this hea&en) on the foothills of the Himalayas lies Cham$a

Une"#lored) (nto(+hed) o&erlookin' the sno!,+lad #eaks on one side and

offerin' a ma'nifi+ent &ie! of the &alley on the other) a$o(t -. km from

M(ssoorie is the small hill to!n of Cham$a) Uttarakhand /don0t +onf(se it !ith

Cham$a in Hima+hal 1radesh2 Cham$a is at an altit(de of 3-4- m a$o&e sea

le&el An (ns#oilt territory and +o&ered !ith lots of #ine and deodar trees)

Cham$a offers yo( a ne&er e"#lored $reak Unlike M(ssoorie) the #la+e is &ery

5(iet) serene and offers #i+t(rs5(e $ea(ty It is an e"+ellent #la+e to rela" anden6oy and is 6(st a dri&e a!ay from the +ity $l(es One +an rea+h Cham$a in

a$o(t t!o ho(rs from Rishikesh After the s($mer'en+e of old Tehri) Cham$a is

the fast,emer'in' to(rist s#ot in Tehri Garh!al The sno! +a##ed #eaks of the

Himalayas) the a!e ins#irin' &ie!s of the 'reen 'or'es and the en+hantin'

&alleys all aro(nd the ri&er Bha'irathi !ill (ndo($tedly lea&e yo( s#ell$o(nd)

amidst ri+h a##le or+hards

Binsar

The summer capital of the erstwhile 3hand %ings ?th " (Eth centuryC of @umaon, -insar is a

pictures#ue, sleepy hamlet and one of the most scenic spots in the @umaon 0imalayas.

:itched at the impressive altitude of ',B'< m, 4; %m from &ainital, it offers a maestic view

of the snowy 0imalayan pea%s li%e the mesmeri/ing ranges 3hau%hama, Trishul, &anda

evi, )hivling and :anchchuli.

$ncircled y a vast wildlife sanctuary, a home to many rare animals, irds and wild flowers

-insar is a truly fascinating spot.

-insar is also a tre%%erLs paradise. >ne can go on long tre%s in the clean air, amidst the misty

mountain trails, towering >a%s and Rhododendrons. -insar is a formation of sleepy hamlets

amidst orchards, silver streams and green meadows. The lan%et of green hangs all around "

roc%s covered with unusual moss and ferns, flowers and shrus " foliage sprouting out ofevery conceivale noo% and corner of the hillside. The entire area is now a sanctuary.

9ittle further from -insar is the temple comple* of Mageshwar HB %m from AlmoraC nestled

in a eautiful valley, crested y maestic deodars. This important pilgrimage centre is

considered to e one of the twelve Myotirlingas.

Time ust stands still at -insar. Dou will %eep discovering new wal%ing trails up the

mountains and down the valleys, new loo%out points for another spectacular sunset. This

intimate little hill retreat ma%es you feel that nothing can ever come etween you and nature.

7EO1RA8AG


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7eo#raya' is a $ea(tif(l sho!+ase of traditions) myths and mysti+ism This is the#la+e !here the holy ri&ers Bha'irathi and Alaknanda meet) makin' it a (ni5(e#il'rima'e like the 1raya' of Allaha$ad

From here on!ard t!o ri&ers mer'e into one and take the name 0Gan'a07eo#raya' tho('h sit(ated) at an altit(de of -39 m) is endo!ed !ith a$(ndantnat(ral $ea(tyA++ordin' to a $elief) Lord Ram and his father :in' 7asharath did #enan+e here

The main tem#le of the to!n is the 0Ra'h(nath Tem#le0) dedi+ated to Lord Rama

The $athin' 'hat at 7eo#raya' is $(ilt !ith m(lti#le le&els to a++ommodatedifferent !ater le&els d(rin' the monsoon It is also the !inter home of the#riests of Badrinath

7eo#raya' is a #il'rima'e +entre of 'reat si'nifi+an+e In Treta,y('a) Lord Ramand Lakshman #erformed a ya6na here to atone for killin' Ra&an) !ho !as aBrahmin The an+ient Ra'h(nath Tem#le here !ith a 3;,foot tall stat(e of %riRam /%ri Ra'h(nath2 is one of the 3.9 most im#ortant tem#les in India In frontof the tem#le is a stat(e of Gar(da Behind the tem#le and sli'htly (# a hill is


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Cha(kori is a dream) s(rro(nded $y the to!erin' Himalayan #eaks and dense

forests At a hei'ht of >).3. m) and 34? km a!ay from Nainital) Cha(kori is not

6(st another hill station It0s for the &ery fe!) !ho !ant to $e there) in the

ma6esti+ #ro"imity of the Himalayas for an (n$o(nd &ie! of the Nanda 7e&i and

1an+h+h(li #eaks

Cha(kori is one of the fe! #la+es in :(maon) !here yo( !ill find tea 'ardens As

the name s(''ests) it0s like a $o!l) +(##ed !ithin the Himalayan heartland It is

an idylli+ holiday resort amidst (ns#oilt nat(re , a land $esto!ed !ith nat(ral

a$(ndan+e) fr(it or+hards) and the forests of 1ines) Oaks and Rhododendrons

One of the most ma'nifi+ent as#e+ts of holidayin' in Cha(kori is the fa$(lo(s

s(nrise and s(nset that yo( are treated to The ni'ht sky is st(dded !ith a

million stars that sim#ly take yo(r $reath a!ay The +harmin' little to!n of

Cha(kori is (nlike any other hill station yo( ha&e seen Cha(kori is a somnolent)

#ea+ef(l hamlet in 1ithora'arh distri+t of the :(maon Hills of Uttarakhand

Devalgarh

%it(ated at a distan+e of 3= km from the main to!n of %rina'ar &ia Chamdhar)

7e&al'arh !as esta$lished $y the :in' of :an'ra named 7e&al The La"mi

Narayan tem#le) Ga(ri 7e&i tem#le and Ra6esh!ari tem#le are the main

attra+tions here Ins+ri#tions on the stones of the tem#les make them im#ortant

from the ar+haeolo'i+al #oint of &ie!

Dhanaulti

hanaulti is fast emerging as a gem among the maor travel destinations in +ttara%hand. 2t is

on 1ussoorie " 3hama road, at an altitude of ',';< m.

2t comes as a pleasant surprise for the enthusiastic wee%end travelers, who find it peaceful,

rela*ed and laid"ac%. 2tLs a different e*perience altogether.

hanaulti is away from the crowds, usy mar%et places and pollution. )et amidst thic% virgin

forests of eodars, >a%s and Rhododendrons, it is an ideal location that ensures asolute

peace of mind and soul. The green meadows, towering trees, reathta%ing view of the

0imalayan pea%s, ma%e hanaulti an enticing hideaway for tourists.

hanaulti is the ase point for numerous tre%s into the snow"capped 0imalayas, especially to

the Tehri region of 8arhwal. The most popular tre%s are through the dense alpine forests that


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ta%e you to )ur%anda evi, 3handraadni and @unapuri, the sacred three )ha%tipeeths of the

holy evi arshan triangle.

-est time to visit hanaulti is etween 1arch and Mune.

Kailash Mansarovar

E&en $efore the Himalayas rose into e"isten+e) Mo(nt :ailash to!ered a$o&e

them The :ailash Ran'e is ?. million years old and its s(#reme #eak) the -)-4;

meter hi'h Mo(nt :ailash !as formed of shinin' 'ranite !ith its !hite 'la+ial

+rest) !as already a h('e) str(+t(re e&en !hen the Himalayas !ere 6(st$e'innin' to #rotr(de o(t of the Tethys %ea Hind(s and Ti$etans seem to ha&e

$een a!are of the (ni5(eness of this mo(ntain from the most an+ient times

To Hind(s it is the earthy em$odiment of the dominant mo(ntain of hea&en)

Mer() and the residen+e of Lord %hi&a and his +onsort Goddess 1ar&ati To

Ti$etans it is %(mer() the +osmi+ +entre of the (ni&erse Conse5(ently Mo(nt

:ailash has held a 'reat +harm for #il'rims for +ent(ries

As mi'ht ha&e $een e"#e+ted) most of the Himalayan #asses in :(ma(n and

Garh!al #ro&ide a++ess to this sa+red mo(ntain Today) ho!e&er) #il'rims fromIndia are allo!ed to 6o(rney to Mo(nt :ailash only thro('h the Li#(lekh #ass in

:a(ma(n Moreo&er) the #il'rima'e to :ailash) and to the sa+red Mansaro&er

lake that lies ?. :m to its so(th) is r(n e"+l(si&ely $y a 'o&ernment or'ani@ation)

the :(maon Mandal wing to its natural eauty and fresh atmosphere, 8opeshwar is ecoming a maor

attraction for the tourists. 1any well %nown tourist spots and religious centres are spread

around this town. According to historians, the name 8opeshwar has associations with the

name of 9ord @rishna.


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-esides the ancient temple of 9ord )hiva, Vaitarini @und, a group of temples without idols

and >a% view are other places of interest.

Gwaldam

8waldam is a little lethargic town, on the order of 8arhwal and @umaon. )et amidst green

woods and apple orchards, it is located at an altitude of (F'4 m.

B< %m away from @ausani, 8waldam offers a fascinating view of 0imalayan pea%s &anda

evi ?E(? mtC, Trishul ?('< mtC and &anda 8hunti FHn the way to 8angotri, at a distance of ?H %m from +ttar%ashi, this tiny hamlet offers

pristine eauty of the 0imalayas, at an impressive height of ',F'< m aove the sea level.

0arsilLs eauty is yet une*plored y the enthusiastic travelers. 2tLs a tre%%erLs paradise. There

are numerous tre%%ing routes in and around 0arsil, offering great natural vistas.

This place is also %nown as a maor apple growing /one. A -ritisher, 1r. Wilson planted the

first apple tree here in the (4th century. 0is cottage was till recently a maor attraction in the

area. A maor fire destroyed the cottage, ending an important chapter of the history.

The adventurous tourists have the choice to set off on various tre%s that introduce them to

eautiful meadows, waterfalls and valleys. )ituated amidst the incredile eauty of mountain

pea%s, 0arsil is counted amongst some of the most eautiful places in the 8arhwal region.

0arsil has a cool climate throughout and gets snow ound etween ecemer to 1arch.

There is a multitude of eodar trees in this Valley and this region gets lot of )un light.

Kausani

Window to the snow"crested Trishul, &anda evi, &anda%ot and :anchchuli pea%s, there are

very few places in the 0imalayas whose eauty can e compared to that of @ausani " a

pictures#ue hill station famous for its scenic splendor and its spectacular H


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8andhi stayed here for (B days at the Anasa%ti Ashram while scripting his oo% titled

LAnasa%ti DogaL and was greatly impressed y its environs.

The town is accessile all year round. Ior those who wish to avoid the cold, the est season is

etween April to Mune and again etween )eptemer to &ovemer. )ummer months willre#uire light woollen clothing and winter" heavy woollen clothes.

Khirsu

@hirsu is a hidden dream within a dense forest of :ine, >a% and Rhododendron. )urrounded

y the snow"laden 0imalayan pea%s, @hirsu is nestled at an attitude of (,?n a clear day, you can count at least H


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whole area is an e*#uisite comination of natural eauty, historical importance and healthy

atmosphere.

Munsyuari

1unsyari is situated in :ithoragarh, the easternmost hill district of +ttara%hand, ordering

Tiet, which is %nown as the L9ittle @ashmirL. The region is a paradise for the nature lovers

and adventurous souls. >ne has a reathta%ing view of the 0imalayan pea%, :anchchuli from

here. 1unsyari is the ase for the tre%%ers to 1ilam and Ralam 8laciers and &anda evi

pea%.

A fast developing centre for s%iing and other winter sports, 1unsyari is a fairly ig N

developed 0imalayan township at an altitude of ','4E m. 2nhaited y the )hau%a tries from

time immemorial, it lies on the trade route to Tiet.

1unsyari, is at the ase of the great 0imalayan mountain range, and is a starting point ofvarious tre%s into the interior of the 0imalayas. 2ts name, when translated, refers to a Lplace

with snowL. )ituated on the an%s of 8origanga River, it is a fast growing tourist destination.

8lacier enthusiasts, high altitude tre%%ers and nature lovers commonly use it as their ase

camp. 1unsyari also falls on the ancient Lsalt routeL from Tiet and is the entrance of the

Mohar valley which e*tends along the path of the 8origanga River to its source at 1ilam

8lacier.

1unsyari is at a distance of (H; %ms from :ithoragarh and '


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e*panses and winding lanes, it offers e*clusive opportunities for #uiet wal%s. 2t overloo%s the

sprawling oon valley and the city of ehradun, the gateway to 1ussoorie and to entire

8arhwal.

An Intriguing Past

Although 1ussoorie, as a hill station, was estalished in (E'; y captain Doung, it has #uite

an intriguing past. 1ussoorie was never an official summer capital li%e )himla " a hill station

in the state of 0imachal :radesh which was the summer capital of the -ritish 2ndian

government or even li%e &ainital " the summer capital of the +nited :rovinces 8overnment

in -ritish 2ndia. 1ussoorie always remained unofficial " for the affairs of the heart. 2t has

always een a gossip place " with an air of informality and a tradition of romance " The

0oneymoon 3apital of 2ndia.

2t was due to the con#uest of the 8arhwal and the ehra in (E


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Mussoorie - A Romantic Town

1ussoorie is a wonderful place to unwind. 0ere you do what 1ussoorie encourages you to

do to your heartLs content.

The modern ungalows, malls and well"laid gardens located on the small hills around thearea are enough to attract any tourist. The town has unavoidale romance in the air " an

e*cellent reathing space for tourists and people who see% relief from the hot sultry

conditions of the plains. &ature has gifted 1ussoorie everything, which ma%es a place

charming and cheruic.

1ussoorie offers a eautiful nature wal% %nown as 3amelLs -ac% Road. This road ta%es its

name from a hill shaped li%e a camelLs hump. There is also 8un 0ill where cannons were

%ept for the defence of the town. The oldest 3hristian church in the 0imalayas, )t. 1aryLs, is

situated aove 1all Road, and is currently undergoing restoration. @empty Ialls is a nice

picnic spot. 3ompany 8arden now 1unicipal 8ardenC is another popular tourist spot.

uring the season, the 3ompany 8arden presents a eautiful collection of flowers and plants.

The 0appy Valley has a small Tietan temple. This was the first Tietan temple uilt in

2ndia. The temple was constructed in (4F< y the Tietan refugees. 9al Tia is another

tourist spot of 1ussoorie. -eautiful hanaulti is aout 'B %ilometers from 1ussoorie.

1ussoorie also has 2ndiaLs largest roller s%ating rin%.

The main promenade in 1ussoorie is called, as in other hill stations, the 1all. 2n 1ussoorie,

the 1all stretches from :icture :alace at its eastern end to the :ulic 9irary, 8andhi 3how%

at its western end. uring the -ritish Ra, signs on the 1all e*pressly stated " L2ndians and

ogs &ot AllowedLP racist signs of this type were common place in hill stations, which were

founded Ly and forL the -ritish. 1otilal &ehru, the father of Mawahar 9al &ehru, delieratelyro%e this rule every day whenever he was in 1ussoorie, and would pay the fine. The &ehru

family, including &ehruLs daughter 2ndira 2ndira 8andhiC were fre#uent visitors to 1ussoorie

in the (4'


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Lanmar!s

1ussoorie has some lovely and charming old houses and estates, usually with names derived

from the native places of those who uilt and lived in them. Today these old houses and

estates are owned y financially well"off 2ndians, many of whom follow the life styles of

their former colonial rulers. 2n most cases, the old names have een retained.

)ome of these old graceful houses are " 3aptain DoungLs 1ullingar 1ansion, the oldest

e*isting uilding in 1ussoorie, 0ouses of 2rish pioneers " Tipperary, @illarney, )hemroc%

cottage and the Tara hall, the houses of )cot pioneers " )cottsurn, Wolfsurn and of course

the houses of the $nglish rulers " 3onnaught 3astle, 8rey castle, 0ampton court and 3astle

hill. There evidently were a lot of fans of the legendary writer )ir Walter )cott as we find old

estates of the name of @enilworth, Roc%ey, Waverly and also Aootsford " the name of )ir

)cottLs own house in $ngland.

There are #uite a few well " %nown families in 1ussoorie, who over the times have ecome a

part of the history, culture and the landscape of this place " the Ramata of Mind, :rincess )ita

of @apurthala, the 8ant/ers, the -adhwars, the -arrettos, the )%inners, the @eelans, the

Alters, 9ala -anwarilal, Ram 3hander and -rothers, :ooranchand and )ons and :.3. 0ariLs

family. 1ost of the shop%eepers of 1ussoorie and 9andour -a/aar are descended from the

merchant who first came here with the -ritish soldiers and settlers over (F< years ago.

At the 3amel -ac% 3emetry, thousands of -ritish graves cling to the steep slopes " a constant

reminder of the -ritish presence in 1ussoorie. 0ere lie the hill stationsL first pioneers and

settlers as well as 8enerals and common soldiers, memsahis, gentlemen and rewers. 0ere

also lie Mohn 9ang, the Australian orn novelist and Iredric% Wilson, etter %nown as L:ahadi

WilsonL, who married a girl from 0arsil. 0e was the first man to float timer down the 8angariver who lived a life which would have een the envy of %ings.

Nainital

3ommonly %nown as the K9a%e istrict of 2ndiaK, &ainital is one of the most eautiful hill

stations in &orth 2ndia. )urrounded y mountains on three sides &ainital is located around the

eautiful la%e &aini Tal. This la%e resort is situated at a height of (,4HE meters. There are

many legends associated with the place. According to one, &ainital has derived its name fromthe 8oddess &aina while the other legend says that when the 8oddess )ati lost her eyes, she

was eing carried y 9ord )hiva and a la%e was formed. L&ainaL means eyes and LTalL means

la%e.C This eautiful small town in surrounded y seven hills, popularly %nown as L)apta"

)hringL " Ayarpata, eopata, 0andi"-andi, &aina, Alma, 9ariya"@anta and )her"@a"anda.

The maestic mountains and the spar%ling waters of the la%e add an immense lot to the eauty

of the town.

The city is a eautiful mi*ture of all the hues of nature. &aini la%e is the pride &ainital and

the many gaily coloured yachts on the spar%ling la%e have now ecome synonymous with this

eautiful picture"postcard resort. A national level yachting competition is organi/ed here

during the season.


17/40

&ainital used to e the summer capital of +nited :rovinces +ttar :radeshC during the -ritish

era and remained so for many years even after 2ndependence. The -ritish were the first to

LdiscoverL &ainital as a holiday resort in (EB(. Today, it has grown into a highly popular

tourist destination. The emerald waters of this mountain la%e continue to retain their charm

and ec%on tourists from far and wide.

>nce this area had many la%es and it was called the region of F< la%es. 1ost of the la%es in

the region have gradually disappeared and whatever remains is ust a glimpse of what they

might have een in the past. Today the life of &ainital revolves around the la%e &aini though

in close pro*imity lie other la%es e.g. -himtal, &au%uchiatal, )attal etc. These pictures#ue

la%es have retained their charm and the region is ustifialy called The 9a%e istrict.

&ainital has an advantage of eing situated in vicinity of several other lesser %nown hill

stations that are connected through all season motorale roads.

Vantage points around &ainital offer a panoramic view of 0imalayan pea%s on one side and

the plains spread out on the other. &arrow wooded lanes through forests of oa%, pine anddeodar are e*cellent for short refreshing wal%s. The older parts of &ainital also retain colonial

vestiges, including sprawling ungalows, pulic schools, churches and the old 3hristian

cemetery.

>n reaching the head of the town where the highway from the plains meets the main 1all at

Tallital, one gets a dramatic view of the eautiful &aini 9a%e that seems to e nestled in a

remote cocoon. -rightly coloured sails of yachts dot the calm waters of the la%e while crowds

of holiday ma%ers throng the 1all at its edge. -oating in the la%e is ust one of the favourite

activities of the tourists. >thers come here for tre%%ing in the densely forested mountains that

surround the town.

DEEP INTO HISTORY

&ainital is referred in the L1anas @handL of the L)%anda :uranaL as the Tri"Rishi")arovar, the

la%e of the three sages, Atri, :ulastya and :ulaha who were reputed to have arrived here on

pilgrimage and penitence. Iinding no water to #uench their thirst dug a hole and siphoned

water into it from the sacred 1ansarovar la%e in Tiet.

The second mythological reference to &ainital is as one of FB L)ha%ti :eethsL. 9egend says

that )ati, the consort of )hiva consigned herself to the sacrificial fire when her father a%sha

insulted her lord. 2n grief, )hiva danced the tandava with the lifeless ody of )ati, untilVishnu cut it into its scattering it all over the land. 2t is said that the left eye &ainC of )ati

fell here. 3onse#uently it turned into the patron deity of town &ainital. 2t is said that the la%e

is formed in the shape of an eye. &aina evi temple is located at the northern end of the la%e.

According to recent historical records, &ainital was discovered y a -ritish sugar merchant :.

-arron in (EH4. 0e was so deeply enthralled y the la%e settlement and its forested

surrounding that he came ac% with a sailing oat and uilt a house named L:ilgrimLs

3ottageL. Thus started the process of settlement in this once secluded mountain resort, with

colonial villas and promenades coming up one after the other. )oon, it ecame an important

administrative town as well, with the summer capital of the erstwhile +nited :rovinces eing

set up here.


18/40

A maor landslide in (EE< led to the formation of the flats, the level ground y the la%e.

Torrential rains resulted in a devastating landslide that destroyed several uildings including

the Victoria 0otel at the north end of the la%e near 1allital. The area was later levelled out

and ecame a popular meeting ground and sports area. @nown as The Ilats it is now also

used for par%ing vehicles during the pea% tourist season.

:rior to (EH4, the valley was covered y thic% forests and inhaited y hill tries. The main

attractions of &ainital range from #uiet wal%s in meadows the forests of pine and deciduous

trees to adventure sports roc% climing, yachting etc.C to popular entertainment.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

&ainital in the @umaon hills maintains pleasant weather throughout the year e*cept the

winter months. The temperature is mild at any time ut in winters it ecomes very cold. The

climate of &ainital is regulated y the la%e here which showers rain almost every afternoon.

The est time to visit the place is etween April to Mune and then again in )eptemer and

>ctoer. The months of Manuary to 1arch are mar%ed y snowfall. $#uipped with right

clothing, this uni#ue hill resort can otherwise e visited any time of the year.

Nanakmatta

&ana%matta is an important )i%h pilgrimage centre that lies on the Rudrapur"Tana%pur route.

@nown as the aode of the yogis, this place has many devotees of 8uru 8ora%hnath and was

earlier %nown as 8ora%hmatta. When 8uru &ana%, the first )i%h 8uru, visited this place in

the (Fth century, its name was changed to &ana%matta. 8uru &ana% is said to have meditatedhere and it elieved that he even taught the yogis the true path of meditation.

8uru &ana% was enchanted with the serene surroundings and divinity of the place and is said

to have estowed his lessings on it, which resulted in its growth. &ana%matta is (?

%ilometres from @hatima and is situated in the +dham )ingh &agar district in +ttara%hand.

Another attraction here that adds to the popularity of the place is the &ana%matta am uilt

across the )aryu River. 2t serves as an ideal fishing and angling destination.

New Tehri

A new discovery in the midst of hills and hilloc%s, &ew Tehri is a newly estalishedsprawling township, the district head#uarter of Tehri 8arhwal, situated at an elevation

etween (;;< to (4;< m aove the sea level. 2t is a modern and well planned township

overloo%ing a massive artificial la%e and a Tehri dam. The dam will go into the annals of time

as a colossal engineering feat in the 0imalayas. &ew Tehri is a fast emerging maor tourist

destination in Tehri district

anch Badri


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9ord Vishnu is worshipped at :anch -adri in different forms.

The search of man for 8od has led him to various vicissitudes for discovery"the hope remains

un#uenched and pines for ever eternal. 2t has done so far for countless centuries and will do

so till 8odLs world and his creation last. The #uest egins and leads through the shrines put up

y man for his creatorLs glorification. 2n -adri%eshwar, lord -adrinath is worshipped at five

different places and under five different names"

3 8o'dhyan Badri

? Bha&ishya Badri


20/40

)ahi located at a distance of BH %m from -adrinath. &eel%anth is another prime attraction of

-adrinath which is a snow"covered pea%. Dou can also visit the :anch :rayag i.e. evprayag,

Rudraprayag, &andprayag, @arnaprayag, VishnuprayagP from -adrinath and the 1ata 1urthi

temple too, which is dedicated to the mother of )ri -adrinathi. H %m from -adrinath is 1ana

village inhaited y an 2ndo"1ongolian trie.

Yog"&an Bari

:retty often in the 8arhwal 0imalayas, tales from the

1ahaharata, spring to life magically. Dogdhyan -adri, at (,4'< m, is located at

:andu%eshwar, named after the :andvaLs @ing. 2t is said that the :andavas, the victorious

though emotionally scarred after their attle against the @auravas, , came to the 0imalayas.

And it was here that they handed over their capital, 0astinapur, to Raa :ari%shit and too% up

penance efore see%ing out the highway to heaven. The importance of the Dogdhyan -adri is

immense and the sanctum has an image of the lord in a meditative posture.

&amed after :andu, who meditated at this place, 'H %m from )adrinath to lift the curses of a

sage, and was lessed y the 9ord, :andu%eshwar is the home of the Dogdhyan -adri. The

village, as old as the -adrinath Temple has 3opper :lates which authenticate the history of

the temples as well as the @atyuri 3hand rulers of 8arhwal and @umaon who issued them asfar ac% as the fourth or fifth century A.. The Temples are all dedicated to the Dogdhyan

-adri, who lessed the meditation of the %ings.

B"a'is"&a Bari

The -havishya -adri is located at ',?BB m, amidst the

thic% forests surrounding Tapovan. According to a divination, it is here that all devotees will

throng once -adrinath is no more. While there can e no conceivale reason why this should

happen, scientists agree that Moshimath, the entry point into the area efore the final, most

strenuous clim, is sited on an ancient landslide and has een sin%ing, and with a arrage

coming up close y, may actually see the fulfillment of the divine prophecy. -ut whatever

happens, -havishya -adri is popular even nowP enshrined here is the lion"headed image of

&arsingh. Visitors pass the serene Tapovan a place %nown for its hot water springs en route

the an%s of the hauliganga, and on to the shrine.
http://www.euttarakhand.com/tourism/devprayag.phphttp://www.euttarakhand.com/tourism/devprayag.phphttp://www.euttaranchal.com/tourism/rudraprayag.phphttp://www.euttarakhand.com/tourism/devprayag.phphttp://www.euttaranchal.com/tourism/rudraprayag.php


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Vri"a Bari

-efore -adrinath was designated one of the four 3har

hams of 0indu worship y Adi )han%aracharya, the idol of -adrinath carved y the divine

Vishwa%arma was enshrined and worshipped at Vriddh -adri.

2nterestingly, the image was found y Adi )han%aracharya at &arad%und, and restored,

though part of it remains damaged. This, the first -adri, is located at a height of (,HE< m at

Animath. While -adrinath closes during winter, the idol and priests hiernating at Moshimath,

Vridha -adri remains open throughout the year.

Ai Bari

(? %ilometres from @arnprayag on the @arnprayag "

Rani%het road, are a group of si*teen temples, elonging to the 8upta period. Among them is

the &arayan temple, where a lac% stone idol of Vishnu, three feet high is enshrined. This

place is within the -adri%shetra, and -adrinath eing the name for Vishnu, the temple is

%nown as the Adi -adri.

2t is elieved that Adi 8uru )han%aracharya had initiated the construction of these temples.

The main temple of &arayan is distinguished y a raised platform in the pyramidal form,

where the lac% stone idol of lord Vishnu is enshrined.

atal Bhuvaneshwar

$nshrined in mystery and mythology, :atal -huvaneshwar is

the hidden pilgrimage centre, near 8angolihat the famous )ha%tipeeth. 9ocated 4( %m from

:ithoragarh on the way to -erinag, at an elevation of aout (H;< m, this highly revered shrine


22/40

is dedicated to 9ord )hiva.

The suterranean shrine of 9ord )hiva is situated with sprawling interiors. 9imestone roc%

formations have created various spectacular stalactite and stalagmite figures. The way to the

cave temple is through a long, narrow tunnel. 2nside the cave, the limestone formations have

ta%en shape of many 8ods and 8oddesses of 0indu pantheon. The forms of 8anesha, )hesh

&ag, 8arurh, )hivling etc. are distinctly visile to the elievers.2tLs popularly elieved that the holiest cave is the aode of HH crore 8ods and 8oddesses,

amidst the asolute 0imalayan isolation.

auri

iverse in topography, the district of :auri 8arhwal varies

from the foothills of the Tarai of @otdwar to the soul"lifting meadows of hanaulti,

sprawling at an altitude of H,


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the regime of the 3hand @ings in @umaon.

Irom here, pilgrims ta%e their ourney to the holy shrines, @ailash and 1ansarovar.

This valley also nestles the snow"crested pea%s &anda evi $ast ?,BHB mC and West ?,E(?

mC. -elow these mighty pea%s lie the alpine valleys and glaciers li%e 1ilam, Ralam, &ami%

and )undardunga.

anikhet

Rani%het is a place related with the legends of 0imalayas.

0istorical accounts tell us the Oueen :admini of @umaon was enchanted y this tiny hill

paradise. @ing )udhardev oliged her, y uilding a palace here for the #ueen and named the

place Rani%het the #ueenLs fieldsC.

&o trace of the palace can e found today, ut the place remained the same6 captivating,

aounding with flowers, trees and green meadows in the midst of heavenly 0imalayan

surroundings. 9ost into olivion for long, the pictures#ue hill station was rediscovered y the

-ritish. They ought the land from the native villagers and uild it into a summer resort apart

from estalishing an army recruitment centre. Rani%het still remains the head #uarters of the

gallant @umaon Regiment. )ituated at a height of (,E'4 meters, with an area of '(.?F s#. %m

Rani%het has too much to present to the visitors " a healthy climate, tall coniferous trees, vastgreen meadows, tran#uil surroundings, perfect peace and warm, open"hearted people. $very

season has its own irresistile charm. This is what ma%es Rani%het an all"season destination.

Rani%het also oasts of one of the est hill golf greens 4 holesC in the country.

!udraprayag

&amed after 9ord )hiva RudraC, Rudraprayag is situated at the

holy confluence of Ala%nanda and 1anda%ani rivers, at a distance of HB %m from )rinagar

8arhwalC. The presence of two separate routes for -adrinath and @edarnath ham from

Rudraprayag render great importance to the place. The entire region is lessed with immense

natural eauty, places of religious importance, la%es and glaciers.


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Tri"als

The +ttaranchal of today rims with the lively hum of life with

people from various communities and religions contriuting to ma%e it into a wonderful

profusion of the festival called life. The original natives of the land of +ttara%hand elong to

different tries having their distinct and plentiful culture. 1aor tries of +ttaranchal include

-hotias or )hau%asC, Rangs, Tharus, -u*as, Maunsaris, Rais or -anrawatsC apart from

indigenous groups li%e 1ahigeers and Vanguars.

The -hotia is a generic name that includes the )hau%as of 1unsyari :ithoragarhC, Rangs of

harchula:ithoragarhC, Tolchhas and 1archhas of &iti and 1ana valleys 3hamoliC and

Mads of harsil uttar%ashiC. 1ost of these semi"nomadic pastoral groups are however rought

under one anthropological term )hau%a.

The Tharus were once the largest scheduled tries in the erstwhile state of +.:. and are now

concentrated in the @hatima and )itargan tehsils of +dham )ingh &agar district. They claim

their ancestry from @irata. )ome researchers regard them as descendants are the Raputs,

while some others trace their origin from the 1ongols of 3entral Asia. Their language is

heavily influenced y 0indi and &epali.

The oint family system is very inherent here. The -iradari :anchayat is the political

organi/ation of the Tharus. The Tharus also elieve in HF deities, as well as in witchcraft,

sorcery and sacrifices. They offer sacrifices to all their deities e*cept Magannathi evta, whi isoffered mil% only. They are an agricultural community who are also fishing e*perts. Women

do not eat the fish touched y men and so the men and women fish separately.

The -u*as are from 1ongoloid stoc% and claim raput origin. 3losely resemling in their

haits and customs to Tharus, they are said to e the original inhaitants of the Terai elt and

live in +dham )ingh &agar, ehradun and :auri 8arhwal. They are the followers of 9ord

Rama and @rishna and worship 0indu deities.

The term Maunsar represents a numer of trial groups namely the @hasas, artisan classes

@oltas and aigis who inhait the Maunsar area of the ehradun district.


25/40

Rais, 1ahigeers and Vanguars are other socio"trial groups whose distinct lifestyles add

more colours to the virant trial life of +ttara%hand.

#ulture $ eople

3ulture and people are very closely associated with each other.

The term culture refers to the comple* collection of %nowledge, fol%lore, language, rules,

rituals, haits, lifestyles, attitudes, eliefs, and customs that lin% and give a common identity

to a particular group of people at a specific point in time.

All social units develop a culture. Thus it is the inhaitants of a specific region that

collectively contriute to form that e*traordinary cornucopia of life we call culture.

2n case of +ttara%hand, the 9and of 8ods, natural diversity and the element of the 0imalayas

unparalleled eauty and sanctity add a new dimension to the word culture. The people ofthe state are as diverse as the landscape. +ttara%hand is lessed with a whole multiplicity of

culture greatly influenced and inspired y its geo"social factors. The ancient cultural

traditions of +ttara%hand are deep rooted primarily in religion. 1usic, dance and arts are a

manifest for the firm religious onds of the people with the awe"inspiring 0imalayas.

52n those lovely valleys there is still the romance and poetry of life6 each tree has its god,

each ush its spirit7 )o wrote the (4th century -ritish anthropologist and surveyor 3harles

A. )herring, descriing a fair part of +ttara%hand, in his great research Western Tiet and

-ritish -orderland.

All the local traditions of the state are determinedly attached to nature and its ounty. &olegends or myths are complete without nature, seasons or the 0imalayas eing integral part of

them. The people spare no opportunity to celerate this ountiful natural, social and religious

diversity.

3ollective celerations ecome the order of the day the many fairs and festivals ear

testimony to this. These fairs have now ecome remar%ale stages for all sort of uncluttered

social, cultural and economic e*change. Visitors from far and wide are drawn to these events

in multitudes.

The state offers ourney"options to oth the religious and the spiritual.


26/40

Music $ Dance

All forms of fol% music and dance date ac% to no particular

phase in time they are passed on from generations to generations. Traditional fol%

music has een defined in several ways6 as music transmitted y mouth, as music of the

peasants, and as music with un%nown composers. )ame can e said of the songs that

accompany these forms. Irom the eginning of human history, the iggest wars that human

race had to wage were against the very elements of nature, whose essential disposition was to

put the human endurance to demanding tests.

The same principle can e applied to +ttara%hand. 9iving was a very difficult usiness in old

times. 9ife under the rugged climatic conditions was unimaginaly difficult in those days,

although in certain parts it still remains the same, if not worse.

The simple and hardwor%ing people too% refuge in the consoling lap of music which more

often than not was accompanied y song and dance. They reali/ed that after every hardship

that nature posed in front of them, it always opened up its chest of generosity too.

Iol% music, fol% song, and Iol% dance are comparatively recent e*pressions. They actually

are e*tensions of the term fol%lore, which aound in oth 8arhwal and @umaon. >f course

the e*ceptional eauty of the 0imalayan landscapes rendered e#ually e*ceptional color to the

fol%lore.

Thus there are fol% songs for every occasion and reason there are devotional songs to

invo%e the local deities, auspicious songs to celerate occasions li%e marriages, religious

songs praising the gods, heroic songs narrating in length the heroic deeds of %ings in the

attles, ghost songs addressing the elements eyond logical human comprehension, seasonal

songs, songs teaching morality and last ut not the least, songs aout romance, passion and

the inevitale separations.

The song"form &yauli of @umaon finds its e#uivalent in @huded and Mhumeilas of 8arhwal.

These are love songs interspersed with tones of separation. Then there are other forms as

:hag, -air, -aramasa, )aiddhali, :avada, 0ur%iya -aul and :andav )ongs to name a few.


27/40

3ustomarily most of the fol% songs were accompanied y

dancing. The dances can e roadly classified into occupational, seasonal, martial, devotional

and ritualistic dances. The prominent fol% dances are the -hotia ance, 3hamfuli and

3hholia. The -hotia ance, andala, 3hamfuli, husa%a and hurang are the group fol%

dances of the -hotias and are #uite similar to the 8ara dance of 8uarat. The dance forms

are greatly influenced y mythology, religion and social events. 3hamfuli is a popular dance

form of the 8arhwal region. 2n this dance, men and women dance to the rhythm " separately

and together in pairs with vivid facial e*pressions. The 3hholia dance is performed

e*clusively y the oys and men at marriage processions. A few of them dress up as soldiersand enact the scenes of fierce duels. After this dance, the ride is carried away y her lover.

This dance is a war dance and has e*isted for more than '


28/40

1other"River in 0aridwar and Rishi%esh present a memorale sight to ehold when the star

studded s%y seems to e reflecting the serene waters of the river upon the surface of which

float countless diyasoffered to the goddess. The @umh 1ela that is held every twelve years

witnesses some of the largest gatherings of devotees to e seen anywhere in the whole world.

>verwhelming natural panoramas accompany the pilgrims ta%ing part in the &anda evi RaMaat and @ailash 1ansarovar Datras. The shrines of 0em%und )ahi and &ana%matta )ahi

are visited y thousands of )i%h devotees while a symol of national integration " the

argaah at :iran @aliyar )harif, holds a significant religious ran% for 1uslims and people

from other faiths ali%e.

)everal indigenous tries and communities flourish in this state today maintaining their

distinct cultural heritage and traditions. The several fairs and festivals celerated y the tries

such as -hotias )hau%asC, Tharus, -u*as and Maunsaris are opprtunies for the locals and the

visitors to witness these events as opportunities to %eep the traditional modes of life and art

alive apart from providing them the recognition they so strongly deserve.

9egends, myths and anecdotes galore in the state of +ttara%hand which has in turn een

estowed y the richest, holy rivers and the most esteemed mountains. )eries of legends and

tales are intricately woven around the sacred shrines, temples and rivers y simple hearted,

god"fearing people that simultaneously reflect the socio" cultural diversity of the state.

aintings

The development of the 8arhwal school of painting as a ranch

of the :ahari school of art is elieved to have started in the (?th century and reached its

/enith in the latter half of the (Eth and first half of the (4th centuries. The chief pioneer

ehind this growth was the eminent 8arhwali painter, poet and historian 1ola Ram.

2n the (?th century, the 1ughal :rince )uleman )hi%oh had ta%en refuge in 8arhwal. 0e was

accompanied y a few artists well versed in the 1ughal style of miniature paintings. When hereturned he left ehind )hamdas and 0aridas, who had already mastered the new painting

techni#ues. These two were the ancestors of 1ola Ram.

The :ahari :ainting is inspired y the attles etween good and evil. 2t has covered vast

suects li%e 2ndian lifeP its history, culture and traditions, with a touch of divinity. There is a

lot of sutle spiritual content in the art, literature and mythology that has survived for

generations in the 2ndian su"continent. The :ahari @alam style of painting was developed in

the @umaon area and was practiced in some of the 0imalayan regions.

Aipan or Alpana is a popular @umaoni art form done on walls, paper and pieces of cloth.

This decorative art includes drawings of various geometric and other figures representing


29/40

gods, goddesses and oects of nature. The pichhauras or dupattas are also decorated in this

way. These ritual designs and patterns are an e*pression of a womens artistic taste.

-aroond, :atta, Rangwali etc. are some more forms of local ritual paintings to e done on

specific occasions.

-esides these some spots li%e 9a%hudiyar, Ialseema, @asardevi in @umaon and ungri in

garhwal have traces of ancient roc% paintings and engravings.

%airs $ %estivals

Typically a fair meant a gathering of people to display or trade

produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enoy dance and music. 2t

is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporaryP some last only an afternoon while

others may last as long as a few wee%s.

The fair is an ancient tradition, and many communities have long had dedicated fairgroundsP

others hold them in a variety of pulic places, including streets and town s#uares, or even in

large private gardens. Iairs are often held in conunction with a significant event, such as the

anniversary of a local historical event, a seasonal event such as harvest time, or witha holiday or a festival or some auspicious occasion such as 1a%ar )an%ranti or &andashtami

or Vaisa%hi etc.

+ttara%hand is rich in culture and heritage. Iairs called 1ela in 0indiC are clerated with

fervour and /eal. They are an integral part of the social and cultural life of +ttara%hand. 0ere

one can see the cultural diversity of this state. 2t is at these fairs that the traditional art forms

that are on the verge of e*tinction resurface, so that they can e recogni/ed and supported.

:eople from all communities participate in these 1elas and one can see the camaraderie

among the masses, reflected in the collective pleasure e*perienced y one and all.

Kum"h Mela at Haridwar


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The episode of )amudra 1anthan churning of the

mythological ocean, the @sheer )agarC is mentioned in various ancient 2ndian scriptures eg. "

)rimad -hagavat, Vishnu :urana, 1ahaharata and the RamayanaC which narrates how after

the 8ods lost their potency, the thought of churning the @sheer )agar to otain Amrit the

nectar of immortalityC the occurred them. They reali/ed soon that the feat couldnt e

accomplished without the help of their adversaries, the Asuras demonsC. A provisional

arrangement was made etween the two with the promise of sharing the Amrit.

After the tas% was accomplished a fight ensued etween the two groups over the possession

of the @umh a pitcherC containing the divine nectar. They fought for twelve days andnights, which e#uates to twelve human years. While the fight was on, the vehicle of 9ord

Vishnu, the 8aruda a celestial irdC flew away with the @umh.

uring this flight some drops of Amrit spilled over at four places on earth namely :rayag,

0aridwar, +ain and &ashi%. 3ommemorating this celestial and mythical event the @umh

1ela is held four times every twelve years at these four places.

>n the occasion of these @umh 1elas, evout 0indus come in pursuit of purging their

souls and washing their sins away y ta%ing a holy dip in the sacred waters of the rivers, on

the an%s of which the aovementioned places are located. 2t is elieved that during this time

the water from these rivers turns into purifying nectar allowing the devotees to cleanse theirsouls as they athe.

@umh 1ela is proaly the largest religious gathering anywhere around the world. Though

all the @umh 1elas are attended y millions of pilgrims, the name of 0aridwar comes at the

top of all 2ndian pilgrimages. Therefore the @umh 1ela of 0aridwar enoys e*ceptional

media coverage and Tourist traffic. The place is termed as the gateway to heaven in 0indu

mythological scriptures.

The last @umh 1ela was celerated in 0aridwar from 1a%ar )an%ranti i.e. (B Manuary '


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K&nvad 'atra

An annual pilgrimage is ta%en up y the followers of 9ord

)hiva in &orth 2ndia during the rainy months of )hravan i.e. Muly and AugustC to fetch holy

waters of River 8anga from several places including 0aridwar, 8aumu%h and 8angotri. The

pilgrimage is called %Qnvad Datra. The word %Qnvad stands a single pole usually made of

amooC with two roughly e#ual loads fastened or dangling from opposite ends. The %Qnvad

is carried y alancing the middle of the pole on one or oth shoulders.The pilgrims participating in this Datra are called %Qnvadiyas. @Qnvadiyas from numerous

villages wal% all the way from their villages or townsC to the aovementioned places mostly

to haridwar, as the other two are pretty inaccessileC. They collect 8angaal the holy waters

of the River 8angaC and wal% all the ac% home to offer it to their local )hiva temples as a

symol of than%sgiving to the 9ord.

The Datra has gained immense popularity since the (44


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An avatar of 8oddess urga, )antoora evi is worshipped in the Maunsar region. The -issu

fair egins only after specific offerings are rendered 8oddess )antoora evi.

Magh Mela

The 1agh 1ela is held annually, other than the years of

@umh and Ardh @umh and is rightfully called the annual mini @umh 1ela. The

auspicious 1agh 1ela is so called as it falls in the month of 1agh Manuary " IeruaryC inaccordance with the 0indu calendar. This annual sacred affair or the great athing celeration

is a lesser edition of the colossal @umh 1ela. The )angam, i.e. the confluence of the Rivers

8anga, Damuna and the mythological )araswati, hosts the annual 1agh 1ela. 2t commences

every year on 1a%ar )an%ranti in Manuary and comes to an end on the 1aha )hivratri in

Ieruary.

A large numer of people reach 0aridwar every year and stay in provisional residences or

tents at the )angam, spending the full month of 1agh worshipping maintaining a period of

astinence called @alpvas.

2t is said that y piously oserving a K@alpavasK, a devotee overcomes the sins in hisher

previous irth and escapes the cycle of irth and Karma. uring each day of the 1agh 1ela,most of the people remain on fast, surviving on one simple meal daily.

The +ttara%hand Tourism evelopment -oard does its level est to provide special

arrangements for the pilgrims during this period. Ade#uate residential, medical and security

provisions are made.

$very twelfth year, the 1agh 1ela is transformed into the @umha 1ela.

Nanda Devi !a( )aat

The &anda Ra Mat offers an unparalleled and complete

e*perience to the travelers with interest in local cultural and religious traditions of

+ttara%hand as well as to those who are decent tre%%ing enthusiasts. 2ts sanctity for locals ise#ual to @umh and it is one of the most lively and colourful festivals in the region.


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&anda devi " the daughter of @ings of mountains, and the consort of 9ord )hiva " is the

supreme spiritual goddess of the locals of 8arhwal and @umaon region. )he visits her

maternal dwelling in these 0imalayan heights in the -hadrapad months of August "

)eptemerC " and this festive rea% is celerated y the natives.

The &anda Ra Mat ta%es place once every twelve years " the ourney starts from &auti villageaccompanying a mythical four"horned sheep and oli and all sorts of gifts for &anda evi,

who is treated as a daughter revisiting her mother.

The 'E< %ilometres and (4 days tre% starts from &auti Village and reaches 0om%und via the

ama/ingly pictures#ue -edini -ugyal, Roop%und and the very difficult Myura 8ali pass, on

&andashtmi. The tre% passes through some of the most eautiful and some very tric%y

landscapes in the area. 2t is said that four"horned ram is orn once every twelve years, and

this very ram leads the procession. :eople do not go eyond 0om%und, from where the ram

ta%es the gifts and disappears in the glaciers. >nce the ram is released, no one loo%s in its

direction and the procession immediately heads ac% home.

This and the other stories myths with the &anda Ra Mat might ust e ta%en allegorically ut

the tre% itself is an incredile e*perience. 2t also is an eye"opener in todays world that seems

to e run y science and electronic gi/mos. 2t underlines the fact that the primordial eliefs of

the people in the fundamental forces of nature have stayed undeterred and have survived all

%inds of upheavals.

The &anda Ra Mat passes through places, that dont find mention in most tourist maps and

well"hidden inlands, one should not e*pect a lavish or even comfortale tre%. As far as the

non"locals are concerned, this religious tre% is meant strictly for the die"hard tre%%ers.

)imultaneously this tre% presents one the prospect of e*ploring a real +ttara%hand its

culture, traditions, people and authentic cuisine.

>ne can attend the ceremony at &auti village and then proceed to other places of interest

efore oining the procession again via Wan. 2t is at Wan that some Hctoer. 2t was last held in '


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destroy the @angdali ushes, ehind which the soldiers of the lost army were hiding. The

defeated soldiers had on their return along the @ali River, rampaged and plundered the

villages on the way. The )hau%a women resisted them, armed with their rills. This tale is re"

enacted on this occasion.

Another version, comes a fol%lore, which tells of a oy who died due to lac% of treatment.The mortally wounded oy was the only son of a poor widow and his wound could only have

healed with the paste of @angdali flowers. -ut alas! That was not the year when it would

flower. +pon the death of her son, the infuriated mother cursed the shru. That is another

local elief that results in the demolition of the @angdali from whole of the 3haundas valley,

every twelve years.

The @angdali procession is a maestic march cum war"dance " armed with rills a tool used in

compacting the weave on the loomC the women lead the procession. The children and men

armed with swords and shields follow compactly. As they sing and dance, their music echoes

in the valley, and upon approaching the cursed shrus each village has a specific place where

the shrus are destroyedC, music reaches its crescendo and the women egin the attac% withtheir rills. The men follow and the ushes are hac%ed and uprooted and rought ac%,

representing spoils of the war. 1ore dance and song follows and the festivities culminate in a

grand feast.

uring this festival thousands of people gather oth as participants and spectators. :ossessing

one of the richest cultures of the state, the )hau%as ta%e apparent pride in e*hiiting their

traditional wealth. Iestivals li%e @angdali ma%e sure that the diverse culture of the state is

%ept intact.

Nandadevi Mela

&anda evi is the chief patroni/ing 8oddess of +ttara%hand

and several shrines are devoted to her all across the central 0imalayas. &anda evi Iair isone of the most popular festivals in +ttara%hand and attracts people from near and far. &anda

means well"eing and prosperity. The fair is held every year in memory of 8oddesses &anda

and )unanda during the month of )eptemer and is ta%en as a symol of spiritual and

material prosperity. The fair is said to have started in the @umaon region during the reign of

Raa @alyan 3hand in the (Fth century.

The &anda evi Mat is celerated every year in the &anda evi temples spread across

8arhwal and @umaon. The festival commences on the day earmar%ed for the evis visit to

her maiti or parents home and culminates with the return to her husands home. This

tradition is eautifully e*pressed in the fol% songs of +ttara%hand. The 3hhoti Mat Datra

celerations egin at the end of August or early )eptemer, starting from Wan and ending at-edini -ugyal. This festival is then transformed into a huge affair once every (' years at


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Roop%und when a four horned sheep is orn. The yatra is called &anda Ra Mat. This

magnificent '("day ourney is underta%en y thousands of people, who are guided y the

aforementioned four"horned ram leading to )hivas home at the ase of Trishul.

The &anda evi Temple at Almora was uilt during the reign of Raa +dhyot 3hand.

Thousands of pilgrims at Almora participate in this auspicious procession, carrying the dolaof &anda evi. This royal pilgrimage was last held in the year '


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espite the gradual diminishing of traditional values, the 1ela has successfully een ale to

hold on to its cultural richness.

Music $ Dance

All forms of fol% music and dance date ac% to no particular

phase in time they are passed on from generations to generations. Traditional fol%

music has een defined in several ways6 as music transmitted y mouth, as music of thepeasants, and as music with un%nown composers. )ame can e said of the songs that

accompany these forms. Irom the eginning of human history, the iggest wars that human

race had to wage were against the very elements of nature, whose essential disposition was to

put the human endurance to demanding tests.

The same principle can e applied to +ttara%hand. 9iving was a very difficult usiness in old

times. 9ife under the rugged climatic conditions was unimaginaly difficult in those days,

although in certain parts it still remains the same, if not worse.

The simple and hardwor%ing people too% refuge in the consoling lap of music which more

often than not was accompanied y song and dance. They reali/ed that after every hardship

that nature posed in front of them, it always opened up its chest of generosity too.

Iol% music, fol% song, and Iol% dance are comparatively recent e*pressions. They actually

are e*tensions of the term fol%lore, which aound in oth 8arhwal and @umaon. >f course

the e*ceptional eauty of the 0imalayan landscapes rendered e#ually e*ceptional color to the

fol%lore.

Thus there are fol% songs for every occasion and reason there are devotional songs to

invo%e the local deities, auspicious songs to celerate occasions li%e marriages, religious

songs praising the gods, heroic songs narrating in length the heroic deeds of %ings in the

attles, ghost songs addressing the elements eyond logical human comprehension, seasonal

songs, songs teaching morality and last ut not the least, songs aout romance, passion andthe inevitale separations.

The song"form &yauli of @umaon finds its e#uivalent in @huded and Mhumeilas of 8arhwal.

These are love songs interspersed with tones of separation. Then there are other forms as

:hag, -air, -aramasa, )aiddhali, :avada, 0ur%iya -aul and :andav )ongs to name a few.


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3ustomarily most of the fol% songs were accompanied y

dancing. The dances can e roadly classified into occupational, seasonal, martial, devotional

and ritualistic dances. The prominent fol% dances are the -hotia ance, 3hamfuli and

3hholia. The -hotia ance, andala, 3hamfuli, husa%a and hurang are the group fol%

dances of the -hotias and are #uite similar to the 8ara dance of 8uarat. The dance forms

are greatly influenced y mythology, religion and social events. 3hamfuli is a popular dance

form of the 8arhwal region. 2n this dance, men and women dance to the rhythm " separately

and together in pairs with vivid facial e*pressions. The 3hholia dance is performed

e*clusively y the oys and men at marriage processions. A few of them dress up as soldiersand enact the scenes of fierce duels. After this dance, the ride is carried away y her lover.

This dance is a war dance and has e*isted for more than '


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history.

The rivers of +ttara%hand are no e*ception in the wholesome ounty they estow as they

flow down mountainous slopes, into narrow gorges and widening into the plains. -orn in the

deep glacial chamers of the magnificent 0imalayas, the mighty rivers of +ttara%hand have

rought people together and nurtured their way of life.

2f the mountains of +ttara%hand are home to the gods and the goddesses, it is only natural forthe rivers rising in the lap of these mountains to carry a lot of religious significance. 1any of

the rivers

therefore orrow names from 0induism. The holiest of all 0indu rivers, the 8anga, gushes

from 8aumu%h in the 8angotri 8lacier and flows on to nourish the soils of the 2ndo"8angetic

plain, whilst ringing people closer. A dip in the holy waters of the 8anga promises to wipe

the souls slate clean of all sin. The confluences of rivers are considered to e e*tremely

important sacred places to which millions of devotees floc% every year.

>ther famous rivers in the region include the Damuna, the -hagirathi and many other

triutaries and distriutaries such as hauli 8anga, @ali 8anga, 8irthi 8anga, Rishi 8anga,-al 8anga, -hilangna River, Tons River, Ala%nanda, &anda%ini, :indar, @osi and

1anda%ini. These rivers, along with their triutaries, are vital for irrigation and power"

generation for the state. The an%s of these venerated rivers are spec%led with shrines and

temples and are often teeming with devout pilgrims at different times of the year, celerating

ig and small festivals, anniversaries and special occasions.

&ot only are the rivers of +ttara%hand revered y the devout, ut they are also playgrounds

for the adventure"ent. 3ra/y rapids and waterfalls in the upper reaches of the rivers ma%e for

e*hilarating white water rafting. Ior the less adventurous, activities li%e sailing, oating,

fishing and angling can e enoyed whilst soa%ing in all that &ature has to offer. Tre%s and

riverside camps are other ways one can e*perience the rivers of +ttara%hand in all their glory.

%lora $ %auna

+ttara%hand is endowed with a uni#ue and diverse range of

iodiversity. Irom the snowound pea%s of the 0imalayas to the moist Alpine scru, su

Alpine forests, dry " temperate and moist" temperate forests to moist deciduous forests, the

state possesses a wide iodiversity that in return nurtures a large multiplicity of floral and

faunal forms.

The state is home to nearly B


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This great floral diversity supports a wide variety of faunal forms too. 2t includes aout ( has the honour of eing +ttara%hands only and the

countrys second -iosphere Reserve. This iodiversity wealth is the pride of +ttara%hand.

The natural vegetation of forests may e divided into6

(. Trans" 0imalayan /one

'. )u" Alpine and Alpine /one

H. 1ontane or temperate region

B. )u" 1ontane and su"tropical region

;. Tropical wet $vergreen and semi $vergreen region

+ellness
http://uttarakhandtourism.gov.in/sections/mount_places/ZDRmNjViiWZhNTZz/ZjY1NHNjZjY0ZjY=http://uttarakhandtourism.gov.in/sections/mount_places/NGY2NTRhgzY0ZjY1/ZGZhNTZjNjRmNjU=


40/40

With a long history of Ayurveda, Doga and meditation,

+ttara%hand has ecome an ideal destination to learn, practice and master these ways of life.

The state has lately come to e %nown as the Doga 3ountry on account of the numer of

ashrams, health centres, retreats and high"end spas, it is home to. These institutions have

retained the essence of an age"old wisdom of the land in order to cater to the novel needs of

an ever"evolving society. There are people who come to learn Doga as a way of life, and then

there are those who come to see% Ayurvedic treatment for a range of their maladies.

Whatever the reason, each visitor invarialy finds an apt solution to his prolem and goes

ac% with a sounder mind and healthier ody.

2n ancient times ascetics made arduous tre%s through hostile terrains to reach the core of the

0imalayas, There, in the tran#uil surroundings, under the shadows of virgin pea%s, they

meditated and performed penance to attain %nowledge and wisdom. Among the many

sciences that they developed, practised and perfected were Doga and Ayurveda. Doga helped

them achieve a perfect alance etween a healthy ody and a sound mind" a prere#uisite for

survival in the harsh climatic conditions of the 0imalayas. 9iving in a world far removed

from civili/ation, these wise men e*tracted medicines from hers otained from the plentiful

forests around. Thus was orn the science of Ayurveda literally meaning " the science of

lifeC. -oth Doga and Ayurveda offer a holistic approach to achieving mental and physical

welleing through diet, e*ercise, reathing practices, heral remedies, meditation andphysical therapy. >ver past centuries, Doga and Ayurveda have oth come to e

ac%nowledged in the mainstream and are widely practised.

Today, when spirituality is eing defined as wellness, healing and reuvenation, +ttara%hand

ec%ons you as the perfect destination for cleansing your system of to*ins and relieving the

stress of everyday life. 0ere, the essence of the age"old %nowledge systems of Doga and

Ayurveda and new age healing systems li%e Rei%i are offered and are accessile in a numer

of health centres, ranging from top"end spas to affordale health resorts to the traditional

ashrams. )tress management as well as preventive and curative therapy for a range of heath

disorders are the most vital factors of contemporary treatments for physical, mental andemotional welleing of individuals.

+ttara%hand offers all this and more.

Documents

Discovering Uttarakhand