Uttarkashi- Ancient Spiritual Destination
Uttarkashi, the district seat, is an old area with a rich cultural legacy and a postcard-like charm with sweeping mountain views. It is notable for an old Shiva temple that attracts thousands of visitors every year. It is known as the Kashi (another name for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, which is home to one of the most famed Lord Shiva temples) of the north (Uttar). Uttarkashi is home to several temples devoted to Lord Hanuman, Goddess Durga, Parshuram, Dattatrya, Bhairav, Annapurna, Laksheswar, Ekadashrudra, and other deities. High Himalayan peaks, verdant meadows, and various hot springs surround it. It is snow-covered in the winter.
Uttarkashi History
Uttarkashi district was founded in 1960 by combining the Rawain and Uttarkashi parganas of the Rawain tehsil of the previous Tehri Garhwal district. It is bounded by Himachal Pradesh and Tibet on the north and the Chamoli district on the east.
Uttarkashi Mythology
Many Hindus believe that Uttarkashi was formerly respected as a sacred site, as well as the meditational grounds of numerous sages and hermits who found solace here. According to the epic Mahabharata, a great sage by the name of Jada Bharatha conducted a long penance here, and the Vedic language was widely spoken and written here in ancient times.
Uttarkashi- Doorway to Popular Treks
Uttarkashi, which literally means “Kashi of the North,” is also known as “Somya Kashi” and “Shivnagri.” Uttarkashi, like Kasi, is home to the revered Vishwanath temple. This sacred temple has a 1-metre copper trident.
Uttarkashi is a popular destination for adventure seekers since it provides several options for hiking, mountaineering, and adventure sports. It is also recognized for its diverse coniferous vegetation, which includes fir, pine, deodar, medicinal bushes, and herbs. Uttarkashi is one of the most beautiful towns in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal area.
Why One must travel to Uttarkashi?
Uttarkashi is well-known for its temples devoted to Rishi Parashurama, Datatryea, Goddess Annapurna Devi, Goddess Kali, and Bhairon. It is also well-known for its numerous ashrams, which serve as the spiritual homes of ascetics, gurus, and hermits. The Vishwanath temple, the largest and most visited temple in the region, is the town’s main attraction.
Uttarkashi is also a popular destination for adventure seekers, as it serves as the starting point for notable treks like the Nachiketa Tal Trek, DodiTal Trek, Dayara Bugyal Trek, SatTal Trek, KedarTal Trek, Tapovan Trek, Gaumukh Trek, Kedarkantha Trek, Har ki Dun Trek, and others.
The famed Nehru Institute of Mountaineering is easily accessible, which is idyllically situated at Ladari dominating the magical town, overlooking the pristine valley.
Travelers can visit Yamunotri’s warm springs or marvel at the awe-inspiring beauty of Maneri’s emerald lakes, both of which are close to Uttarkashi.
The Tiloth Power Plant, Maneri Dam, Bhali Dam, Kuteti Devi Temple, Kandar Devta Temple, and many more tourist sites are located in and near Uttarkashi.
Places to See in Uttarkashi
Kashi Vishwanath Temple Uttarkashi
Sri Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of Uttarkashi’s oldest and most revered temples, located on the banks of the Bhagirathi River. The temple provides a breathtaking view of the Bhagirathi River and the surrounding mountains. Due to its prominence, it is also included in several Char Dham Yatra Itineraries, allowing pilgrims to visit this temple as well as the other notable Char Dhams.
Barsu Village Tourism
Barsu village is located in Uttarkashi district, surrounded by beautiful scenery. It marks the beginning of the journey to Dyara Bugyal. It is a tiny and lovely village in the Uttarkashi region known for the base camp of Dayara Bugyal.
Gartang Gali
Gartang Gali is about 90 km from Uttarkashi. The Gartang Gali bridge was built 150 years ago and has been closed since 1962. This wooden step bridge path known as Gartang Gali was blocked during the Indo-China war, but it is now open for travelers.
Kedar Kharak:- Kedar Kharak is an enthralling location that hikers come across when walking towards Kedartal. Trekkers commonly camp in Kedarkharak on their way to Kedar Tal, which is a breathtaking high-altitude lake.
Activities One Can Do in Uttarkashi
Trekking:-
It is a hiking and walking activity in which people go for a lengthy stroll in the mountains. There are several trek routes in Uttarkashi, including the Dyara Bugyal trek, the Har Ki Dun trek, the Gaumukh trek, and the Dodital trek. These treks vary in length. You may select the track according to your physical strength.
Mountain Biking:-
Mountain biking is an excellent way to spend time in the mountains. You may explore the region on your own by renting bikes for a little fee. There are always new and intriguing routes to go to explore the mountain roots.
Mountaineering:-
NIM (Nehru Institute of Mountaineering) is a must-see for everyone interested in mountaineering in Uttarkashi. It was founded on November 14, 1965, in Uttarkashi, to honor the great ambition of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister and passionate mountain enthusiast. The Institute’s goal is to provide Mountaineering and Adventure training courses. They taught the pupils about climbing at various peaks across the world, including Mount Everest. They offer professional climbing instruction using cutting-edge equipment.
Camping:-
It is a tent house where a group or an individual resides in a tent. There are various camps in Uttarkashi where you may enjoy the weather of the mountains, including Dayara Bugyal, Dodital, Shikara Nature Resort, and Himalayan Eco Lodge (Harshil).
Fishing:-
The Assi Ganga River in Uttarkashi provides opportunities for angling and meditation. The river is teeming with fish. There are two varieties of trout found here: the more frequent brown trout and the rarer rainbow trout. You cannot simply go fishing in the river; you must obtain permission from the Forest Department, which will be made available to you before you start out.
Accommodation in Uttarkashi
Uttarkashi, located on the banks of the Bhagirathi River, is a lively town and an important commercial hub in the region. Uttarkashi has a wide range of lodging options, from luxurious hotels to cheap guesthouses that offer comfortable stays at reasonable costs. In addition, there is a government-owned tourist rest house (GMVN) in Uttarkashi.
Uttarkashi Food Guide
Due to the increased number of tourists and pilgrims during the Char Dham season, Uttarkashi has restaurants and roadside food booths that provide north Indian vegetarian food as well as a few notable Chinese and Garhwali specialties. Aside from that, hotels with in-house restaurants provide dining alternatives.
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit Uttarkashi is March to November. This is the time of year when a number of festivals take place in the area, attracting visitors and pilgrims from all around, especially during the monsoon season. Summer temperatures can reach 30°C, while winter temperatures can drop to sub-zero depths.
How To Reach
By Bus:- As a popular pilgrimage and adventure tourist destination, Uttarkashi is well-connected by a system of transportation administrations. There are some bus services that go to Uttarkashi via the Chamba route, daily morning around 6:00 am there are some bus services going on from Haridwar and Rishikesh Interstate Bus terminals, tourists can go to these bus terminals and catch the bus for Uttarkashi.
By Train:- There are several trains that connect New Delhi to Dehradun or Rishikesh, including the Shatabdi Express (and the Jan Shatabdi Express). All of the trains mentioned above pass through Haridwar.
By Air:- It is difficult to reach Uttarkashi by plane; the nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is around 180 km distant. Flights to Dehradun are available from all major Indian cities, with a stopover in Delhi. Tourists can either hire a cab at the airport or reserve one in advance through any authorized travel agent.
Nearby Destination
NOTE:- In this article, we cover all the important details regarding Uttarkashi Uttarakhand, like the best time to visit, and how to reach, Still If you have any other queries you can visit the gov official website of Uttarakhand Tourism. If you want to know the best places to visit in Uttarakhand then visit our website uttarakhandeyes.com.
