Ancient Gartang Gali Trek Uttarkashi: The stairs of Gartang Gali, the oldest trade route between Indo-Tibet and one of the world’s most dangerous routes, are now ready for tourists in a new form. The stairs of Gartang street have been reconstructed by the Uttarakhand Public Works Department. This street is situated at an altitude of about 11 thousand feet. Now it has been opened for tourists to visit.
The 140-meter Gartang Gali trek was built by the Pathans from Peshawar in the 17th century. Before 1962, trade between Indo-Tibet was done through this route. At this time there was a boom of traders on both sides of the Nelang valley of Uttarkashi. There is a deep moat just below Gartang street and where the “root Ganga river” also flows.
Ancient Gartang Gali Trek Uttarkashi
The historic and Ancient Gartang Gali Trek present in the Jadh Ganga (जाड गंगा) Valley of Uttarkashi is seen buzzing with tourists these days. This street is witness to the Indo-Tibetan trade. This closed street has been once again opened for tourists. This street was lying closed since 1962. It has been repaired and opened again for tourists. So far more than 500 tourists have reached to see this street.
Gartang Gali was carved out of a rock at an altitude of 10500 feet above sea level. It is situated about 85 km away from district headquarter Uttarkashi. The 140-meter Gartangali was built by the Pathans from Peshawar in the 17th century. Before 1962, trade between Indo-Tibet was done through this route. At this time there was a boom of traders on both sides of the Nelong valley present in Uttarkashi.
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History and importance of Gartang Gali
In the 17th century (about 300 years ago), the Pathans of Peshawar created the world’s most dangerous path by cutting the Himalayan rocks in the Nelong valley of Uttarkashi district at an altitude of 11,000 feet above sea level. It is said that a Seth of the Jad community of Nelang-Jadung had constructed a smooth road from Gartang street with the help of the Pathans of Peshawar on the demand of the traders.
This terraced Gartang street made of wood about 150 meters long has been a witness to the Indo-Tibetan trade. It is an example of engineering even today and challenges today’s technical engineering as well. The stairs of Gartang street were made by laying an iron rod in the part of the steep rock and laying wood on it.
This very narrow and dangerous road became famous as “Gartang Gali”. Which was a new piece of workmanship in itself, because there is a 300 meters deep ditch just below Gartang street. At the same time, the Jad Ganga river also flows below. Indo-Tibetan trade took place through these stairs, which were closed after the Indo-China war.
Before the year 1962, traders of Indo-Tibetan used to come and go through this route by loading goods on yaks, horses and mules, sheep, and goats. Gartang street used to be the oldest trade route. Wool, jaggery, and spices were sent from here. During the Indo-China war in 1962, Gartang Gali played an important role in taking the army to the international border.
Tibetan merchants used to reach Uttarkashi from Sumla, Mandi, and Nelang ghati via Gartang Gali carrying clothes made of wool and leather. After the Indo-China war, trading activities from Gartang street were stopped. In between, the army also used this route. But when the road was built from Bhairav Ghati to Nelang in the year 1975, the army also stopped using this route.
Due to the lack of maintenance of the road, its stairs and the border of the road along the side were broken. For this reason, the revival of Gartang Gali was started. It cost 64 lakhs to get it repaired. Due to snowfall in the month of April, the restoration work of Gartang Gali had slowed down. The work started in June and was completed by the end of July. After which it was opened for tourists two weeks later.
Nelang Valley is a strategically sensitive area. This street is situated on the footpath connecting Bhairav valley with Nelang valley in the Jad Ganga valley. The place is very rich in terms of wildlife and flora. The Nelong valley of Uttarkashi district is adjacent to the China border. India’s Sumla, Mandi, Nila Pani, Tripani, PDA, and Jadung are the last posts on the border.
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Gartang Gali, a new tourist spot for adventure travelers
Due to the lack of maintenance of the road, its stairs and the border of the road along the side were broken. For this reason, the revival of Gartang Gali was started. It cost 64 lakhs to get it repaired. Due to snowfall in the month of April, the restoration work of Gartang Gali had slowed down. The work started in June and was completed by the end of July. After which it was opened for tourists two weeks later.
Key Points of Gartang Gali Trek
- Duration: – 3 Nights 4 Days from Dehradun to Dehradun (approximately)
- Base camp: – Trek Start Bhaironghati, Near Gangotri
- Altitude: – 11,000 feet
- Best Time to Visit: – May, June, July, Aug, September, October
- Trek Distance: – The bridge is located inside the Gangotri National Park and is at a distance of 93 km from Uttarkashi district main market
Now every day hundreds of tourists are coming here to visit. Gartang Gali is a two km step-stepped trek in the Jad Ganga valley. It is the main center of attraction for trekking enthusiasts. In the coming time, Gartangali will prove to be the new tourist destination of Uttarakhand for tourists and adventure travelers. Every day hundreds of tourists are coming here to visit. This is also creating new employment opportunities for the local youth.
Visit Gartang Gali Trek in Uttarkashi
Permission to Both Gangotri and Yamunotri valleys of Uttarkashi district has more than 60 treks in Uttarkashi district as identified by Uttarakhand tourism department. For ease of access for tourists and hikers, these treks are divided into 03 categories – easy (below 3500 m), medium (3500 m – 4000 m), and difficult (above 4000 m) according to the difficulty levels of the trek. One can easily reach here on the base.
Gartang Gali, one of the most thrilling and exciting treks in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, has been opened for visitors and tourists after almost 59 years. If you can also apply online for permission to go on Gartang Gali Trek and various other treks present in Uttarkashi district through the following medium –
- Permission to Visit Gartang Gali and Various Treks in Uttarkashi – District Administration Uttarkashi
- online ticket booking/Online Application For Permission to Visit Gartang Gali – https://www.swstourismuki.com/
Note: Applicants and all the members need to bring RTPCR Negative report not more than 72 hours old to get permission.
Best time to visit Gartang Gali Trek
The trek to Nelong Valley and Gartang Gali is accessible for tourists from 15 April to 15 November, which is parallel to the jadh Ganga valley. The best time to go on Gartang Gali Trek is May, June, July, August, September, October. Between April 15 and November 15, there is a tourist pick season in Uttarakhand.
Only this is a summer trek where you get a combination of both greenery and snow, which makes the trek very spectacular. The weather of May and June is very nice and trek-friendly, which makes trekking a lot of fun. During the day the temperature of Gartang Gali ranges from 10°C to 15°C and during the night the temperature drops to 5°C to 10°C which is not bad. In the month of November, the snowfall season starts here, due to which the roads here are closed due to blockage.
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Gartang Gali famous for?
Gartang Gali trek is one of the oldest trade routes in the world from where wool, jaggery, spices, etc. are sent. Such trade and related activities were a source of livelihood for the Bhutia community in Uttarkashi. Gartang street is a very narrow and risky road. This street is known as the beautiful track. Tourists from all over the country and abroad have come to see it. Gartang Gali is famous for –
- Adventure/trekking/Nature Lovers
- Historical tourism
- OffBeat destination
- Historic and Ancient skywalk
How to Reach Gartang Gali Trek?
Gartang Gali, located near the Bhairon Valley of Uttarkashi, the frontier district of Uttarakhand, has been built with a wooden roof cut into steep rocks. Which has now been opened for tourists. You can choose the following options to reach Gartang Gali –
Reach Gartang Gali By Flight-
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun (about 200 km from Uttarkashi). You can avail taxis and buses available from the airport. Gartang Gali is about 93 km from the main market of Uttarkashi. There is no direct heli service to Gartang Gali from Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun, which is connected to other major cities of the country.
Reach Gartang Gali By Train-
Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Dehradun are the nearest railway stations to Uttarkashi (about 200 km away). Taxis and buses are available at both these railway stations.
Reach Gartang Gali By road-
Uttarakhand State Transport buses run regularly between Uttarkashi and Rishikesh (234 km), apart from this you can also contact the local taxi service for travel. Local transport union and state transport buses and taxis run regularly between Uttarkashi and Rishikesh (200 km), Haridwar (250 km), Dehradun (200 km).
Gartang Gali trek has located about 93 km from Uttarkashi district headquarter. From Uttarkashi district headquarters the road passes through Purali, Harshil, and Dharali to reach Bhairoghati where the trek to Gartang Gali begins.