Road trip from Bangalore to Uttarakhand and back in April- May 2022 by Venkataramanan Subramanian

Road trip from Bangalore to Uttarakhand and back with family by Venkataramanan Subramanian in Jeep Compass 4x2 in April- May 2022. 

I planned this itinerary to perfection

through guidance from known and acquainted people and took my family to explore a region that is filled with nature thrilling and adventure drives. I must say that wherever we went and discussed our travel itinerary, people were happy to hear that someone from Bangalore is making a trip driving all the way to explore some of the best destinations.

This trip had a mix of Hill station drives, visiting lakes, adventure activity, trekking to 4 places (Tunganath,Khulia),visiting temples (Jyothirlingas), staying in a place with the Himalayan peak closer to the eyes, driving through wild life sanctuaries, visiting mini Switzerland, seeing Himalyan peak from top of hill station, drive to remotest location near to Tibet border, darshan of Ganga Arati. 

Uttarakhand state is located in the northern part of India, bordered by the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh in north-west, by the Autonomous region of Tibet (China) in north-east, by Nepal in south-east, and by Uttar Pradesh (India) in south-west. Uttarakhand has a short border with Haryana in west.

This trip was done between Apr 14- May 7th, 2022. Plan was to cover the Kumaon Region in south and move to Garwal region for the second phase of travel in Uttarakhand.

Stays are available in State govt operated guest houses kmvn.in (for Kumaon region) or GMVN.in (Garhwal Region)

Route map for Places Travelled in Uttarakhand

Bangalore- >Nainital-> Muktheswar -> Binsar ->Alomra -> Jagheswar-> Patal Bhuvaneswar -> Chaukori -> Munsiyari- > Chopta- > Joshimath-> Auli - > Malari - > Rishikesh- > Haridwar-> Bangalore

Trip from Bangalore - Nagpur- Lucknow- Nainital (2250 kms Drive) reached Nainital on Day 3 Evening. Stay was booked in Pangot a serene, secluded place away from bustling Nainital.

*** Day 4 Nainital Places visited

i) Kainchi dham 

This place has achieved recognition owing to the ashram of the famous Neem Karoli Baba. The scenic location adds to the beauty of the place. It is located in between two hills that cut and cross each other to create a shape of scissor. That's why this place is called as "Kainchi Dham" .

ii) Bhimtal 20 km from Nainital 

Bhimtal, another lake town adjoining the popular hill-station Nainital, is an idyllic vacation spot. In monsoon, the lake fills up to the brim and makes for a beautiful

picture set against the green hills. Dotted with pretty houses along the slopes, Bhimtal is perfect for a serene holiday. In winters, Bhimtal becomes a birdwatchers

paradise, with the arrival of migratory birds.

iii) NAUKUCHIATAL 26 KM FROM NAINITAL

Naukuchiatal or the “lake of nine corners” is a small and offbeat hill station around 40 km away from Sattal. Surrounded by hills and hidden within a forested area, the

lake is a gorgeous natural sight. We did Boating along with other activities here.

iv) Sattal 23 kms from Nainital

A group of pristine mountain lakes nestled within a dense oak forest, Sattal is one of the most stunning of nature's gems in Uttarakhand. Lying on the outskirts of

Nainital, it makes for a great tourist destination.  Kids enjoyed by doing zip lining activity 

Happy exploring day to see all the lakes we planned to see in Nainital

**Day 5 Nainital

Had a Forest walk in the morning in pangot along with owner of cottage. Explore pangot to Sigri to kunjkharak (https://goo.gl/maps/TByHgMZ8ZjR6r6Ud7) This is one of the isolated places to do a drive and we can see alpine trees and hills throughout this route a adventure filled one. In the evening went to Nainital to do Rope way to Snow viewpoint. Visited Naini lake & Naina devi temple.

*** Day 6 Drive from Naintal to Binsar wild life sanctuary

Nainital - > -> Bhowali -> Ramgarh -> Mukteshwar -> Kwarab -> Almora -> Binsar. 

i.Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple

One of the most popular shrines, Mukteshwar temple, is an ancient temple which is almost 350 years old and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Perched on top of the highest point in Mukteshwar (which is a beautiful hill station that got its name after the shrine), the temple lies approximately 2312 m above the sea level. This grand temple is identified as one of the eighteen 

most important temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Hindu scripture.

ii).Chauli ki Jali or also known as Chauthi Jali is one of the famous tourist places in Mukteshwar, behind the Mukteshwar Temple. meant for rock climbing activity.

iii). *** We started from Mukteshwar and google directed us through A shortcut jungle road from Mukteswar to Almora via Sitla and we were thrilled to drive through one of beautiful roads through forest via sitla moutains.

***Had lunch in almora (Tried chawal(rice) with curd). Drove from here to Binsar wild life sanctuary. 

The drive from the gate into the forest is mesmerising. The road winds through forests of pine, oak, deodar and rhododendron, with birds raising an orchestra around you. Once you reach the KMVN Guesthouse inside, you can walk around the jungle trails. You will spot lots of deer and monkeys. But more than the animals, it's the experience of being close to nature that fills you with awe. The drive of 10 kms to reach this place is a thrilling one as the roads are very narrow.

Binsar was the erstwhile summer capital of the Chand Dynasty rulers, who ruled Kumaon from the 7th to 18th century AD. Situated at the height of 2,420 m, the sleepy and

picturesque hamlet is one of the most scenic locations in the Kumaon hills. Due to its location, it offers spellbinding views of the majestic Himalayan peaks such as

Chaukhamba, Trishul, Nanda Devi, Shivling and Panchachuli. Locals say Binsar was named after the Bineshwar Mahadev temple, a 16th century temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

***The month which we went was filled with fog and no clear skies. so none of the peaks are visible.

iv). Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary we Experience natural bliss as you go on a jungle safari in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary surrounded by oak, pine and rhododendrons. Since the

sanctuary is relativity small in size, the flora and fauna is richer and denser and one can easily spot leopard, Himalayan bear, jungle cat, and fox and more than 200

species of birds. 

**** Day 7 Binsar to Almora to Jagheswar

***Went for a morning walk in the jungles and to zero point. Vacated the KMVN guest house. Today's drive was to cover temples in almora and stay in Jagheswar.

i). 4 kms from binsar wildlife sanctuary. Bineshwar Mahadev Temple (5 mins) This is a 16th-century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, from which Binsar gets its name. It was built by the Chand rulers

ii) Kasar Devi Temple -An article explaining the geomagnetic field of Kasar Devi to be at par with the other two famous spots with similarly high magnetic fields, Machu Picchu and Stonehenge.https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/travel/2021/sep/12/the-magnetic-pull-of-uttarakhands-hilltop-hamlet-kasar-devi-2356605.html

A small village situated on a hilltop, Kasar Devi offers stunning views of the valley. A 100-odd steps that take you to the ancient temple dedicated to Kasar Devi, an incarnation of Goddess Durga.

iii) Katarmal sun temple

https://www.cntraveller.in/story/katarmal-sun-temple-almora-the-story-behind-ancient-temple-in-kumaon/

This temple once boasted the intricate designs carved on the wooden doors and panels of the temple, making it the second most beautiful shrine in India, after the Konark Sun Temple.

On certain days of the year, especially around the time of the equinox, the light supposedly passes through an opening in the walls and illuminates the main idol.

iii) chittai golu devta temple

Situated somewhere about 8kms from Almora, Chitai Golu is quite a famous temple in Uttarakhand. Presided by the deity of Golu Ji, an incarnation of Lord Shiva in the form of Gaur Bhairav, Chitai Temple is easily recognised by the amount of copper bells hung in its premises. Golu Ji is reckoned to be the God of Justice and it is a common belief that when someone worships him in one of his temples in Uttarakhand, Golu Devta provides justice and makes wishes of his devotees come true.

Reached Jageshwar and Visited the temple for a evening arati filled with songs in Jagheswar dham to complete the day.

***Day 8 Jageshwar to Chaukori Visit patal Bhuvaneswar (A cave is believed to be as old as the earth itself).

Jageshwar Had a good morning darshan of Jageshwar.

A serene temple town located in the Almora district of Uttarakhand, Jageshwar is a cluster of more than 100 stone temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva, which have inspired its popular name, “Valley of Gods”. Some small, while others very prominent, the temples reflect the finest architecture and are set against a backdrop of verdant mountains and the sparkling Jat Ganga stream. A heritage site protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the temple complex has around 125 temples and around 174 sculptures, including idols of Lord Shiva and Parvati.

Had a mesmerising drive from Jageswar through berinag.

i) From here proceeded towards patalBhuvaneswar- 

https://liamtra.com/blog/the-myths-and-mysteries-of-patal-bhuvaneshwar/

It is said that the darshan at Patal Bhuvaneshwar yields a thousand times the fruit of tapasya at Kashi, Baidyanath or Kedarnath. In the Skanda Purana, Manas Kanda, Chapter 103, there is a description of the blessings to be attained in visiting Patal Bhuvaneshwar.

Had lunch in patal bhuvaneswar and proceeeded for our evening stay in chaukori.

Chaukori  - 

A lesser known hamlet that boasts a jaw-dropping view of the Himalayan Peaks, Chaukori is everything that a nature lover is looking for in a place for holidaying. Part of Pithoragarh District in the Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand, Chaukori, which is situated at an elevation of 2010 m above sea level, is a paradisiacal destination that has still retained its rustic charm. 

This beauteous village in Uttarakhand is particularly an allurement for those aspiring to sight the magnificent view of Himalayan Peaks like Nand Kot and Panchachuli.

Home stay had good space fr kids to play some baddy and cycling.

***Day 9 -15 Chaukori to Munsiyari (Elevation 2200 m 7200 ft) (Next 6 days stay in Musniyari and relax)

Started our ride to Munsiyari which is a lesser known off beat destination. enroute we saw birthi falls

Munsiyari is a quaint hamlet that remains snowbound for most of the year. Offering pristine landscape bordered by towering Himalayan peaks, Munsiyari is like nature's amphitheatre, where every morning and evening, you can enjoy spell-binding views of the sun rising from and setting behind the jagged peaks. From here, you can get stunning panoramic views of the sun kissed Panchachuli peaks. Munsiyari is also the base for trekking expeditions to Ralam and Milam Glaciers and the Nanda Devi Peak. Munsiyari is surrounded by rolling greenery, the closest being the Munsiyari bugyal.Munsiyari is the last bastion on the Indian side. It borders Tibet and is mainly inhabited by Johari Shauka tribe that traditionally traded salt with the people from Tibet. It is a cultural hub with a museum to celebrate the Shauka culture, many non-descript trails to walk on, stone houses with raised balconies, quiet road and sleepy villages—all against the magical backdrop of the Panchchuli peaks. Munsyari is located in the Pithoragarh district of the state of Uttarakhand. The name, Munsyari, itself stands for a ‘place with snow’ and is often referred as ‘Little Kashmir’. It is entrance to the Johar valley and falls en route the ancient trade route to Tibet.

***The road towards munsiyari from Chaukori gives spell binding views with narrow roads and it was thrilling climb as well as we have the entire valley visible.

The day we drove had zero visibility of the peaks since there was forest fire causing fogs and smoke to be covered. Luckily on the day we reached rain god opened his eyes

and started raining in the evening. Next day Early morning we were offered with Simply spectacular and unimaginably close view The Panchachuli peaks, a group of five peaks ranging from 6300 to 6900 metres in height, stood guard, literally, in front of the town of Munsiyari. it was spell bounding with early morning snow capped mountains filling the eyes.

Home stay which we took offered a view of these mountain peaks from our rooms and we were blessed with these views for next couple of days.

Kids had a good space to play around with the dogs and cat which the home stay had. They were also having brought their Baddy to keep them occupied. On one of the days, they went to local ground to play football with the village boys.

i) Trek to Tamari Kund situated 9,100 feet above the sea level.

Tamri Kund  or Thamri Taal is a small pond located in the forests of Munsiyari region of Uttarakhand. The Kund is revered by the locals to bless the region with rain in case there is insufficient rainfall. it is 3.5 kms trek to reach this lake The entire track is covered with oak, pine, Rhododendron (burnash) and alpine trees. The trek offers view of panchachuli peaks 

throughout and with the views we never felt the tiredness of trekking which took close to 3 hours (both sides). spent some time in the lake which will offer a different snow filled in winter.

ii) Khuliya Top

Khuliya Top is a snow-covered alpine meadow at a staggering altitude of 3500 meters of the Kumaon Himalayas. The spot is located near Munsiyari village in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. Five famous mountain tops- Panchachuli, Nandadevi, Hardeol, Nandakot, Rajrambha are visible from Khuliya Top. This view is the reason for the popularity of Khuliya Top among trekkers. From Zero point 360 degrees view of the surrounding terrain is available. Zero-point is the highest point in the Munsiyari region. It is perched at an altitude of 4000 meters above sea level. Tucked amidst tall alpine trees and offering stunning views, this place is unlike any other in the magical land of Kumaun.

We started our trek in the morning around 7:30 and reached the 5 km trek to KMVN guest house which is 5 kms.  The entire trek was giving views of the peaks everywhere after we reached the top. This is a must do trek for anyone who go to Munsiyari which offers a closer view of all the peaks mentioned.

The trek up to Khuliya Top is difficult, quite steep but paved with stones all the way. The spectacular view of the Panchchuli range makes it worth the trip. Don’t miss the lovely viewpoints along the way. It’s a 5KM hike to the KMVN rest house (a night stay can be planned) and another 2KM to the top. It took us 2 hrs to climb to the rest house and another 1hr to the top. There’s food available at the rest house and they can also provide rooms (minimal facilities) for overnight stay. A forest service booth issues tickets for an entrance fee of Rs 20 per person. They also rent hiking poles for Rs 50 which is highly recommended. 

We finished trekking to the top and spent some time going around clicking pictures and further proceeded to trek toward zero point. we started our trek down around 1 Pm and came down by 4.

it was worth an experience having spent entire day on our legs but the beauty of the tress and mountains were mesmerising that we were never tired at the end of day.

iii) Darkot Village

A small quaint village just 6km from Munisyari is a paradise for shoppers. It offers a varied range of articles to buy, the most famous being pashmina shawls and sheep wool blankets.

we got some caps made from rabbit hair.

iV) Drive to madkot and Sera village for hot Spring Bath

This hot water spring is located on the banks of Gori Ganga River en route Jauljibi - Dharchula. Madkot is widely known for housing thermal springs that have healing powers that can cure any disease that inflates and pains the joints, muscles or fibrous tissues, especially rheumatoid arthritis. We were advised to go to sera village 10 kms from Madkot for hot spring bath by our home stay owner. The drive to madkot was filled with lot of bad roads and driving through river bed. we had had some amazing views of the mountains as well on our way. we crossed the madkot village and reached sera. Spent some good time taking bath (although the water was smell of eggy odor) in hot spring. This is our first such experince on a hot spring bath and we enjoyed the hot water massage which relieved our tiredness. On our way back had chowmein breakfast in a home restaurant. 

*** Day 15 Munsiyari to Chopta (310 kms) Munsiyari-> Sama-> Kapkot-> Bhageswar-> Baijnath-> Gwaldam state- > Karna Prayag - > Gopeshwar - > Chopta

***we cancelled out plans to stay in Kausani as we were thinking of staying 2 full days in chopta.The drive from Munsiyari to Sama village was one of thrilling drives that i have done alone till date as the altitude was going up with narrow roads and we were not having any company throughout our journey as it was isolated in most of the places till we crossed sama village. The drive for an hour was thrilling for me as the roads were narrow and offered view of valley from an altitude for 8000 feet. I will try to do this drive next time to feel the adrenaline rush the drive gives. A thrilling one indeed.

After we reach Gwaldam State the road widens up and it becomes wide enough to not worry about upcoming vehicles. These roads are widened and in some patches it is being widened for chardham route. On the way we saw Karna Parayag and had a stop due to breaking the mountain rocks for road wideneing work. After a 30-minute break we started our drive and reached Gopeshwar which is a township in the Garhwal hills. The weather was awesome and it was a gloomy evening with rain gods opening. From gopeshwar to chopta is via Kedarnath wild life sanctuary drive and 41 kms. Since this was a hill station drive in night we have to extra cautious in driving through the ghats. we saw a musk deer on the way which was in the size of a cow. We reached chopta where there are limited resorts for home stay and not many villages in site. when we reached it started raining and temperature dropped down and it was freezing cold. Had dinner and settled for a deserved rest.

*** Day 16 Sari Village drive and Ukkimath

Chopta (This place is popularly known as 'Mini Switzerland'. ) is a small region of meadows and evergreen forest area, a part of Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary located in Uttarakhand state, India and a base for trekking to Tungnath, the third temple of Panch Kedar which lies 3.5 kilometres away. Located at a distance of 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from Tungnath is Chandrashila, a summit rising to over 4,000 metres (13,000 ft). Tungnath temple and Chandrashila are covered with snow from December to March.

Chopta is an unspoiled natural destination lying in the lap of the Uttarakhand Himalayas and offers views of the imposing Himalayan range including Trishul, Nanda Devi and Chaukhamba. It is located at an elevation of 2,709 metres (8,888 ft) above sea level. Chopta village is surrounded by forests of pine, deodar and rhododendron and is rich in flora and fauna include rare species of birds and musk deer.

Todays plan is to visit Sari village and do a trek to Devariyatal - The Reflection Lake

Devariyatal is an emerald lake perched at a height of 2438 mts above sea level surrounded with thick forest on one side and towering Himalayas on the other.During the early morning on a clear day, Devariya Tal blesses the tourists with miraculous reflections of Chaukhamba peaks on its crystal clear water. The lake is known for its wide 300° panorama. Mountains like Chaukhamba, Nilkantha, Bandarpunch, Kedar Range, and Kalanag can be viewed from here. There exists another route from Deoria Tal to Tungnath, which is mainly used for night camping, jungle trekking, etc.

We started the trek (entire family) of 3.5 kms to Devariyatal and could see the Sari village as we started our ascent. The trek was steep and we could see trees as we go along. Time to do the trek was closer to 2 hours and we reached the top we were welcomed with a view of the lake. The day we went clouds were covered and none of the peak were visible.  This place would look awesome with mountain peaks when seen clearly. We should plan a trip somewhere in winter to see the place in its glory. Soon we will visit again. Had a good photography session and started our descent. when we reached halfway rains started pouring and we had to stop for a lunch break. It was starting to get cold. after an hour we started to trek down and reached the base of village. From here we wanted to the Omkareshwar Temple Ukhimath as we wanted to get darshan of the Deities (houses the dieties of Kedarnath and Madmaheswar during the winter months ).

It was raining still but we don’t want miss seeing the temple. Drove down for 20 odd kms from sari village and visited the temple (not an easy way to find the way if we follow google and took help of the locals to know the location). Had a good darshan and drove back to chopta.

*** Day 17 Trek to Tunganath (5 kms) 

Today's plan was to trek and see Tunganath Dham. 

Trek to one of the highest Shiva temples in the world and discover utmost tranquillity Soaring up at an altitude of 3,680 meters (12000 feet) from the sea level, this temple aged more than 1000 years is undoubtedly worth visiting. Although the highest temple of Lord Shiva (of the five Panch Kedar temples), it is easiest to reach. Tungnath is the third Kedar (Tritiya Kedar) of the five Kedar (Panch Kedar) and is known for its artistic structure and magnificent architecture.

The trek journeys through lush meadows, quaint hamlets, and thickets of forests to reach the spellbinding temple. The trek moves further to Chandrashila Peak; it takes a steep hike of 1.5 km from Tungnath to reach Chandrashila peak. 

We started our trek around 8:30 and passed though the meadows with the view of himalayan peaks. It is one of the mesmerising trek one will do and a chance to explore unique villages, forests trails, massive maple, oak and pine trees and much more Hike to 12,072 ft. and admire breathtaking views of Nanda Devi, Trishul, Kedar Peak, Bandarpuch, and Chaukhamba Peaks. One will not feel tired doing this trek as you will be spell bounded by the massive maountain peaks that will be witnessed throughout the journey.  Temple was closed during winter sessions and will be opened during the month of may. We spent an hour soaked in the divine place surrounded my the peaks. The trek was successfully done by both my kids comfortably. Next time we will try to do a early morning trek (some time in winter) to see the Chandrashila from where all the peaks are visible.  Returned our journey back and coming down took half of the climb time. went back to the stay and had a relaxed evening.

***Day 18 Chopta to Joshimath

Started our drive from chopta to joshimath (102 kms) and 3 hour drive.

Auli is a ski destination in Chamoli district in the Himalayan mountains of Uttarakhand. Auli is also known as Auli Bugyal in Garhwali, which means “meadow”. It is located at an elevation of 2,500 meters (8,200 ft) to 3,050 meters (10,010 ft) above sea level.

Plan was to drive till Badrinath and see Mana Village (Last village of India). Since the Badrinath road work was going on and the temple was closed for public we were not able to see

either of these. Permission from SDM is needed to see them. we skipped and  Our plan shifted to see Auli Hill Station which is 16 odd kms. There is a ropeway available to take to go to Auli which will traverse through the himalayan peaks and it will be a amazing scene to see them when it is winter. Since minimum no is 10 required and were short of the number we decided to drive till Auli and do the trek till the Auli hill station. The approach to the Auli road was not that great. We reached and was checking on any way to go to the top (chair car @500 is available but was on maintenance) so we decided to do the trek till the top. We could see Himalayan peaks Haathi, Ghoda, Palki, Nanda Devi. Really a surreal place. we cannot describe in words what we see. It was such an treat to the eyes the Auli hills gave us. Mountain ranges with different colours and the clouds playing their colours gave a different world ito our eyes in front of us. There is an artificial lake as well in Auli which is the world's highest man-made lake. We should visit this place during winter to see the Snow filled region and the mountains will show a different colour to us. Hopefully there is one trip to this heavenly place in next year. Returned back to our stay in Joshimath. Throughout the drive we could see the peaks showing with snow cap and it is a visual treat.

In the evening we visited the Narsing temple in Joshimath. the presiding deity is Lord Vishnu ie Lord Narsimha, who is represented in the form of half lion and half human.

This is a very ancient temple of Lord Vishnu of Narasimha avatar and with it, this temple is also the main temple of Joshimath. It is believed that the idol of Lord Vishnu's Narasimha avatar in this temple was installed by Shankaracharya himself with his own hands. According to some beliefs, it is believed that the idol is installed in this temple. 

His right hand is getting thinner which is as thin as a hair. once the hand of this statue breaks off from the main idol of Narsingh then the peaks known as Jay and Vijay that are located in a place called Patmila close to Vishnuprayag will merge into one and the visit to Badrinath Dham will become completely inaccessible.

***Day 19 Drive to Malari VIllage 

This was an unplanned drive as this was never part of the itinerary. we came to know about this offbeat destination from one of the acquaintant in our trip. Since the plan was to reach Rishikesh on the same day we planned for an early ride @5:30 and do 3 hour drive from Joshimath. 

Malari village is situated in the extremely isolated corners of the Dhauli Ganga valley. This tiny village lies in the Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve near the Tibet border. A World Heritage site, this area is located 61 km from Joshimath, in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand.

With an elevation of 3048 meters, Malari village is surrounded by sharp snow-covered mountains. Located in the Dhauli Ganga Valley of the Nanda Devi Bio Reserve or Chamoli district, Malari is unheard of and better yet – unexplored! You’ll be mesmerized by the beauty of the mountains along with the quaint Himalayan homes with their unique architecture in the slate roofing of old houses.

About 18 km from Malari, Niti is the last village in India, bordering Tibet. At a height of 3600 mtrs, Niti is situated near the southern Tibetan border. The Niti Pass located at 5800 mtrs connects India with Tibet. There was a day and age where the Niti Pass connected India and Tibet on the trade route. We might do this in our next visit.

When you visit offbeat places like Malari village, you realize that yes, the destinations can totally be worth the journeys too! Malari adds in a lot of charm, quietness, quaintness, and a special something that is so unique about Himalayan towns and hamlets!

The drive on one side will have Dhauli Ganga river and the valley view gives quite a feel like Ladakh with its hard rocks. We were the only car driving to this place and the roads were off road due to the land slide and very good in most of the streches. BRO is laying roads to connect mountains and we were blessed to visit and drive to these locations and it is all due to them. We also crossed multiple Iron/steel bridges which will allow one vehicle at a time at 10mph. Those were thrilling moments as some of them are very old and up for replacement by BRO. The entire drive to this dream place was worth the time as we entered malari village and got the permission from ITBP check post to go a little further and see the himalayan peaks. hmm what a treat to the eyes they gave us, temprature was at 12 and we didt feel the cold. mesmerising place and only army with the local residents we could spot. There was vegetation near the village and some army camps were seen. Long alpine trees and valley opening up with snow capped peaks cannot be described. We were ver happy to see such a place in this trip. 

As the village is remotely located and receives heavy snowfall in winter, it becomes inaccessible between the snowfall months.The winters are extremely cold. So much so, even the villagers move to lower elevations only to move back during the summer months. Summers are synonymous with what most of the Himalayas experience – mild, calm, pleasant. In short, it is the perfect weather to explore.

Since we had to reach Rishikesh on the same day we started our drive back around 9 Am. on our way back we had breakfast in a small shop where we had our morning tea. we started drive towards Joshimath and from there it is an 7 hour drive to Rishikesh which is out last destination in our trip. it was a tiring day to cover around 380 kms of hill station drive and it was 

day which made us really happy in visiting one of the unexplored destination of Uttarakhand.

Day 20-22 in Rishikesh

Most of the days here was spent on working from the GMVN resort. 

Visited Parmarth Ashram for Ganga Arati

Ram Jhula.

Bath in Triveni Ghat & Ganga Arati.

Ganga Arati in har ki pauri.

Day 23-24 

Started from Rishikesh and drove back to bangalore to cover 2350 kms in 2 days. 

Courtesy: Venkataramanan Subramanian