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Garhwal and Kumaon, known together as Uttarakhand, are the mountain regions of Uttar Pradesh in India, bordering Nepal and Tibet. They are situated almost at the centre of the great Himalayan chain with more than 250 peaks above 5500m high, culminating with Nanda Devi (7916m). Garhwal consists of a succession of steep mountain ridges divided from each other by deep, narrow glens. A traveller entering Garhwal from Kumaon is at once struck by the more rugged character of the scenery which is in striking contrast to the milder Kumaon hills. This comprehensive guide not only covers the trekking but the history and society of the region, flora and fauna, hill stations and temples. There is nothing that one cannot discover in Uttarakhand. The devotionally adorned temples with their pinnacles soaring into cosmic blue tend to heighten in mankind an ecstatic sense of complete surrender to the Absolute Being, and the blue- emerald lakes, majestic waterfalls, meandering rivers, undulating meadows, rich, thick forest, incredible mountains, and interesting villagers are a glorious combination. Having been closed to explorations and treks for about three decades from the early 1950s, Uttarakhand is gradually opening its doors to adventure lovers.
Part I INTRODUCTION HISTORY & SOCIETY People Folklore Village Life Education Roads Political Administration Social Traditions and Customs Religion Part II TOURISM Accommodation Main Towns & Hill Stations Mountaineering, Skiing, Fishing, River Running Flora & Fauna National Parks TEMPLES Temples in Garhwal & Kumaon Access Routes by Transport Part III TREKKING IN GENERAL Organised Treks Going it Alone When to Go What to Take Health and Fitness Medical Facilities, Rescue, Maps & Trekker's Code Choosing your Trek, Distances & Altitudes, Restricted Areas TREKKING ROUTES Eastern Garhwal Routes Pindari Glacier Kafni Glacier Sunderdhunga Glacier Deval Extension Milam & Ralam Glacier Pachhu Glacier Extension Ralam Glacier Extension Niti Valley via Unta Dhura Pass Kali and Kuti Valleys to Chhota Kailash Munsyari-Khalya Top Rupkund (Mystery Lake) Vikaltal Lake & Brahmtal Ridge Kwari Pass Valley of Flowers Hemkunt Lake Gangotri-Gaumukh Gangotri-Kedarnath & Extension Khatling Glacier Western Garhwal Routes Dodital Lake Dayara Sukhi-Hanuman Chatti via Bamsarukhal Harkidoon Ruinsar Lake Harkidoon-Yamunotri via Bali Pass Osla-Jankichatti via Tatka/Puldhar Pass Osla-Hanuman Chatti via Phachukandi Pass Dehra Dun-Dhanolti and Surkanda Devi Temple New Tehri-Chamba-Gaja Nagtibba APPENDIXES A:Table of Peaks B:Application to climb for Submission to Indian Authorities C:Instructions for Foreign Expeditions Bibliography
K.P. Sharma was born in Garhwal and with a keen love of mountains, in 1959 he climbed Nandakot. His other mountaineering ventures have been to Annapurna III, Everest, Tharkot, Rathkong and Trishuli East. Between 1963 and 1970 he served in the Mountaineering Institutes at Darjeeling and Uttarkashi, and was secretary of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. In 1970 he joined a leading Indian travel agency and when Ladakh was opened to tourists in 1975 he organised the first tour to Ladakh led by Heinrich Harrer.
