About Uttarkashi

Uttarkashi is in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, known for its natural beauty, scenic landscapes, religious significance, and several glaciers, including the Gangotri Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the Himalayas. The district is also known for its rich biodiversity & is home to several wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, including the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and the Gangotri National Park.

Uttarkashi is known for its religious significance and is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, referred to as the Kashi of North & as the Town of Temples. Two of the Four Holy Shrines of Hinduism, the Char Dham, are situated here, as is the chief source of the holiest river of Hinduism, the Ganges. Other famous temples in Uttarkashi include the Shakti Temple, the Kuteti Devi Temple, and the Yamunotri Temple.

Uttarkashi is also a popular destination for adventure enthusiasts, offering activities such as trekking, mountaineering, and river rafting. The district is home to several trekking routes, including the Dodital Trek, the Har ki Dun Trek, and the Dayara Bugyal Trek.

Overall, Uttarkashi is a beautiful and culturally rich destination that offers something for everyone. This place has a sense of purity in the air, with all the spirituality and natural surroundings bestowed upon this land.

Tourist Attractions In Uttarkashi : 21

1: Gangnani

Gangnani, a town in Gangotri, is an ideal destination for visitors. This place serves as a perfect place for meditation. Those looking for peace of mind can spend quality time here. The beautiful view of the mountains and the pleasant atmosphere attracts nature lovers from far-flung areas. Rishikund is a famous thermal water spring situated at this place & devotees take a bath in this kund before visiting the Gangotri Temple. Bhatwari is another beautiful place near Gangnani. It is a temple dedicated to Parasara, the famous sage and the father of Veda Vyas.

2: Harsil

Harsil is a small village in Uttarakhand, 2620 meters above sea level. It is on the banks of the river Bhagirathi, around 72 km from Uttarkashi. It's believed that during Satyuga, the Hindu River Goddesses Bhagirathi & Jalandhari had a heated argument regarding who among them is more significant. Seeing this, the Hindu Lord Vishnu, also called Hari, took the form of a Shila, a stone tomb, and absorbed their fury. Owing to this, the village derived its name Harsil or Harishila.

3: Dharali

Dharali is a small village located at a distance of around 3 km from Harsil. This village lies on the banks of the holy River Ganga, encircled by verdant pine trees. Tourists can see numerous apple orchards, mesmerizing views of snow-capped peaks, and red bean fields here. The place is known for its ancient Shiva Temple, having an architecture similar to that of the Kedarnath Temple. The Mukimath Temple, Gangotri, Tapovan, Vasuki Tal, Gangnani, and Chirbasa are significant tourist attractions nearby.

4: Mukhba Village

Mukhba Village, also known as the Mukhwas Village, is of great religious significance for Hindus. The statue of river Goddess Ganga is brought down to this village from its shrine in Gangotri during winter because there is heavy snowfall in Gangotri, consequently making the temple inaccessible.

5: Gangotri National Park

Gangotri National Park is a must-visit tourist attraction of the region. The national park is 30 km from the village, spread over 1553 sq km. This park is home to 15 species of animals and 150 species of birds. Tourists can see snow leopards, brown bears, musk deers, thars, Himalayan barbets, tigers, serows, pheasants, partridges, koklass, bharals, Himalayan monals, doves, pigeons, and parakeets here.

6: Bhagirathi River

Bhagirathi River is an important tributary of the Ganga River and originates from Gomukh. It's a Himalayan river believed to be holy by the Hindus. The river derives its name from the ancient king Bhagiratha. According to mythology, this king brought the river Ganga from heaven to release his 60000 uncles from the curse of the sage Kapila.

7: Gangotri Glacier

Gangotri Glacier is one of the largest glaciers in the Himalayan Region. The volume of the glacier is 27 cubic km, and the length & width is around 30 km and 4 km. This glacier emerges from a circle below the Chaukhamba Peak & flows roughly towards the northwest & finally terminates, forming the shape of a cow's mouth & hence the place is called Gomukh.

8: Trekking, Uttarkashi

Trekking is one of the most popular activities in Gomukh. The popular trekking route starts in Gangotri. Bhujbasa is at a distance of 4 km from here. After trekking around 5 km from here, trekkers can reach Gomukh. The trekking to Tapovan and Nandanvan starts from Gomukh. The trekking route becomes more challenging after Bhojbasa owing to boulders & landslides & hence, trekkers are advised to be accompanied by guides. The climb towards Tapovan is stiffer & trekkers have to climb 70 degrees within 2 km to a height of 1500 feet. Therefore, it is a very challenging experience for trekkers.

9: Sattal

Sattal is an attractive tourist destination in the lower range of the Himalayas, perched 1370 meters above sea level. This site offers an opportunity to see seven beautiful lakes interconnected to each other. The names of these seven lakes are Garud Tal, Purna Tal, Sita Tal, Ram Tal, Laxman Tal, Nal Damyanti Tal, and Sukha Tal. Sattal is situated in the Mehragaon Valley, surrounded by oak forests. It is a natural habitat of various species of flora and fauna. This place offers an opportunity to observe 500 resident and migratory birds, 525 butterfly species, mammals, and 1100 insect species.

10: Maneri

Maneri is a village located at a distance of around 2 kms from Uttarkashi. This place has recently been developed as a tourist attraction. There is a dam built across the Bhagirathi River, which is a prominent tourist attraction of the village.

11: Nachiketa Tal

Nachiketa Tal is a beautiful lake located at a distance of 32 km from Uttarkashi, surrounded by oak, pine, and rhododendron, which further enhance the beauty of the place. It's believed that the lake was discovered by Nachiketa, son of sage Uddalak. Tourists can reach the Nachiketa Tal from Chaurangi Khal, which is 29 km away from Uttarkashi. Tourists have to trek a distance of 3 km from Chaurangi Khal to reach Nachiketa Tal.

12: Gangotri

Gangotri is a pilgrimage center located in the district of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand. This place lies 3750 meters above sea level in the Himalayan ranges. This place rests on the banks of River Bhahirathi. Gangotri is a holy site of the Char Dham & Do Dham Pilgrimages. The source of the river Ganga or Ganges is Gaumukh which is 19 km from Gangotri. The river Ganga is known as Bhagirathi at its point of emergence.

13: Gomukh

Gomukh is a beautiful place which marks the end of the Gangotri Glacier. It is located in the Uttarkashi District of Uttarakhand. This place is situated near the Shivling Peak, which is well known for its challenging climbing trails. River Bhagirathi, an important tributary of River Ganga originates at Gomukh. The place is situated near the Tapovan meadow and enchants visitors with its natural glory. Tourists can see various attractions in Gomukh, and the Gangotri Glacier is one of the prominent ones among them. This is one of the biggest glaciers of the Himalayan Region and is surrounded by the snow capped peaks of Shivling, Thalay Sagar, Meru, and Bhagirathi III. The terminal point of the glacier resembles a cow’s mouth; therefore the place came to be known as Gomukh (meaning cow’s mouth).

14: Har Ki Doon

Har ki Doon is a picturesque valley situated 3556 meters above sea level. It is considered one of the most popular treks of the Garhwal Himalayas, surrounded by beautiful pine forests and towering mountain peaks. This place is a perfect getaway for nature lovers and bird watchers. Besides, the trek from Netwar to Osla to Har ki Doon is quite popular among tourists.

15: Bhairav Temple

Bhairav Temple is in the chowk area of Uttarkashi, where, according to a legend, around 365 temples were found. A Chinese traveler named Hiuen Tsang visited India in 629 AD and named this place the Brahma Pura. In the Hindu text Skanda Purana, this place finds mention as Varunavata.

16: Kapil Munis Ashram

Kapil Muni’s Ashram is in a small village called Gundiyat, located at an altitude of 4500 meters above sea level. It is a typical village of the Garhwal region, with black slate-roofed houses and small windows. Travelers have to walk a little from the local bus stop to reach Kapil Muni’s Ashram, dedicated to sage Kapil Muni, who meditated here to seek blessings from the Hindu Lord Shiva.

17: Duryodhan Mandir

Duryodhan Mandir is a beautiful shrine situated in the Saur Village of Uttarkashi. This temple is devoted to Duryodhan, a mythological character of the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata.

18: Kuteti Devi Temple

Kuteti Devi Temple is an ancient shrine located in Uttarkashi. The priest of the temple represents the 14th generation of priests.

19: Karna Devta Temple

Karna Devta Temple is in the Sarnaul Village of Uttarkashi. Travelers have to cover around 1.5 miles from Netwar to reach this village.

20: Phoku Devta Temple

Phoku Devta Temple is in the Netwar Village alongside the Tons River, the largest tributary of the Yamuna River. Two other famous temples in the region are the Karna Mandir and the Duryodhan Mandir. This village is surrounded by beautiful pine, chir, and deodar trees. Tourists have to travel to Chakrata from Tiuni, located on Chakrata Shimla Road, to reach the Netwar Village. A narrow path from this valley leads to an iron bridge, which takes travelers to the Phoku Devta Temple.

21: Shani Temple

Shani Temple is in the Kharsali Village of Uttarkashi, dedicated to the Hindu Lord Shani. This five-story temple, constructed using stone and wood, is 7000 ft above sea level. The bronze idol of Lord Shani is enshrined on the top floor.

How To Reach Uttarkashi

By Air - The nearest airport to Uttarkashi is the Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun, which is located at a distance of 183 kms. The airport is well connected to the Indira Gandhi International Airport of New Delhi by regular flights.

By Rail - Rishikesh and Haridwar railway stations are the closest to the destination. Both these railway stations are well connected to major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Howrah, and Lucknow by regular trains.

By Road - Uttarkashi is well connected to cities like Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Mussoorie by regular buses. State and private owned buses are available to Uttarkashi from these places.

Local Transport - The travelling in the mountains is a bit of a stressful trip, with the steep terrain causing slow speeds and a bit of road sickness. If not acquainted with the hills, make sure to go for a more comfortable vehicle, to make the ride easier. Ample of travel agents in the city provide transportation. Bargain is must, but the deals in packages are usually good enough for trips.

Traditional Food (Regional cusine of Uttarkashi)

Chainsoo - This is a traditional dish of Uttarkashi that is made with black gram dal and spices. It is usually served with steamed rice and is a popular dish during festivals and special occasions.

Kumaoni Raita - This is a traditional side dish that is made with curd, cucumber, and mint. It is served with almost all meals in Uttarkashi and is a refreshing accompaniment to spicy dishes.

Bal Mithai - This is a popular dessert in Uttarkashi that is made with roasted khoya, coated in white sugar balls and is flavored with cardamom.

Buransh Juice - This is a refreshing drink made from the juice of the buransh flower, which is found in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. The drink is sweet and tangy, and is often served during summers.

Local teas - There are many different types of teas available in Uttarkashi, including the famous masala chai and the local Kumaoni tea. These teas are often made with herbs and spices like ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon, which are grown in the region.

Kheer - This is a sweet dish made with rice, milk, and sugar and is often flavored with cardamom or saffron.

Maggi - Maggi noodles are a popular snack in Uttarkashi and can be found at most roadside stalls.

Some of the best places to eat in Uttarkashi include:

Uttaranchal Organic Store - This store sells a variety of organic products and also has a small restaurant that serves healthy and delicious vegetarian food.

Hotel Welcome Palace - This hotel has a restaurant that serves a variety of Indian and Chinese dishes, including vegetarian options.

Shankar Math - This is a popular eatery in Uttarkashi that serves delicious and affordable vegetarian food.

Ganga View Restaurant - This restaurant is located near the river and offers beautiful views of the surrounding area. They serve a variety of Indian and Chinese dishes, including vegetarian options.

SADAH BAHAR RESTAURAN -, Located at Mukhem Renge - (Famous for aloo paratha and chole).

Overall, Uttarkashi is a great place to try delicious vegetarian food and there are plenty of options available for all budgets.