Chamoli is a panoramic district located in the state of Uttarakhand in India, nestled in the lap of the Himalayas Chamoli is known for its natural beauty, serene environment, and religious significance. It is situated at an elevation of 800 mts. to 8000 mts above sea level meters and is embellished on the holy banks of river Alakananda. The city offers a promising view of nature, woods, the rumbling creeks, and the alpine hills.
History of Chamoli
The history of Chamoli dates back to the 6th century A.D. Initially, it was under the rule of King Bhanu Pratap of the Panwar dynasty of Garhwal, who founded Chandpur-Garhi as the capital. Later in September 1803, an earthquake hit the region and weakened the economic as well as administrative setup of the Garhwal dynast
The Gorkhas took advantage of the situation and attacked the kingdom, taking control over half of the Garhwal kingdom, till 1804. The region remained under the rule of the Gorkhas until 1815 when the British Government came and took it under its rule. In 1997 the city of Chamoli became a part of Chamoli district.
Here are the top 10 tourist places to visit in Chamoli you can visit with your family
1. Auli
Auli is a skiing destination in the 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. Auli can be reached by road or ropeway from Joshimath. It provides an excellent panoramic view of giant mountain peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet, and Dunagiri. From January to March, the Auli slopes are usually covered with a thick carpet of snow, about 3m deep.
In Auli the stretch of 3 km. with a drop in elevation of 500 mts. is considered to be a very good skiing ground by international standards. The background of lofty snow-clad mountains heightens the spirit of the skiers. To attract attention, skiing festivals are also conducted at Auli. These now include the national championships staged by the Winter Games Federation Of India. While skiing is the chief attraction at Auli, there are other attractions like cable car rides and rope lifts or spending the day outdoors building snowmen or having snowball fights.
2. Vasundhara Waterfall
Vasudhara Falls is situated near Badrinath, in Uttarakhand. The falls flow into the river Alaknanda, flowing towards Badrinath Temple. The distance from Badrinath to Vasudhara is 9 km. The first 3 kilometres of Badrinath to Mana village is a drivable road. The next 6 km is a walkable trek from Mana village to Vasudhara waterfall. The log-in height of this waterfall is 400 ft(122 mt). Vasudhara waterfall is a sight set in the backdrops of a tall mountain cliff (145 m). The nearby mountains are Chaukhamba, Nilkantha, Balakun, etc. Satopanth glacier rolls down towards the bottom of Vasudhara.
Trekking time
To go up to Vasudhara Falls – start your trek before Noon, so that you can return to Mana or Badrinath before sunset. If you are planning to trek ahead of Vasundhara Fall, which is Laxmi Van Forest(4 km ahead of Vasundhara), start trekking in the morning.
Valley to Vasudhara
The trekking route to Vasundhara is stony with some grass and shrubs on the sides. At this height, even on a bright sunny day, the weather is mildly cool and breezy too (from June to August). Sometimes a misty and foggy patch of cloud may appear in your way. A light jacket is advised for late evening hours.
3. Gopeshwar
Situated at an elevation of 1308 m above sea level, Gopeshwar is the headquarters of the Chamoli district. It is a picturesque place with a healthy climate. The ancient temple of Lord Shiva, which thousands of pilgrims visit every year, is the main attraction of the town. Owing to its natural beauty and fresh atmosphere, Gopeshwar is becoming a major attraction for tourists. Many well-known tourist spots and religious centres are spread across this town. According to historians, the name Gopeshwar is associated with the name of Lord Krishna. Besides the ancient temple of Lord Shiva, Vaitarini Kund, a group of temples without idols and Oak View are other places of interest.
4. Gopinath Temple
Gopinath temple is an important and ancient Shiva temple situated in Gopeshwar town (Chamoli district) of Uttarakhand, India.
The architecture of Gopinath Temple:
The temple is structured with an amazing dome. It has 24 doors, which will lead you to the sanctum sanctorum. There are several ancient broken idols and images of Hindu gods, which provide proof for the fact that there were several other temples around Gopinath temple.
History Behind The Trident (Trishul):
In the courtyard, there is a very old trident(Trishul), which is almost 5 m high. The Trishul is made of 8 different metals which date back to the 12th century. It has inscriptions attributed to Anekmalla, the king of Nepal who ruled the region of Chamoli back in the 13th century.
Legend of Gopinath Temple:
According to the legend, this Trishul belonged to lord Shiva, who threw it at Kamdeva(God of love) to kill him, and then it got stuck at this place.
It is said that you can not move this trident if you apply a lot of force, but a slight touch by a devotee is enough to produce a tremor in it.
5. Valley Of Flowers – Chamoli
A sprawling expanse of 87 square kilometres in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, Valley of Flowers is set in the backdrop of the majestic Himalayan Ranges. This virtual paradise on earth has been unknown to the outside world till the great Mountaineer Frank S Smith discovered it in the year 1931.
A world heritage site, the valley is situated in a very remarkable area, which is the conversion point of the Himalayan ranges of the Western and Eastern Himalayas. This fairyland located in the high altitudes of the Himalayas is protected by snowy mountains. Bounded by magnificent mountain ranges and glittering glaciers, this place unfolds the charisma and charm of nature at its best.
Unspoiled by human invasions this imposing land lay iced up in the colder months and burst into its majestic boom on the arrival of hotter months. During these months the valley sheds its somnolent nature with its multitudes of exotic flora. When the monsoon clouds began to drizzle, the valley shows its flowery face and the entire region would glisten like a colourful carpet.
A scenic place where nature blooms with its entire vista can be accessible by a tedious but lovely stroll. Eye-catching spectacles like the cascading waterfalls, small streams, and above all the flowery meadows await the visitors all through the way. With the flamboyant paddocks, crystalline streams, and majestic peaks, this baroque of flowers is a worthy watch spectacle. Also, witness the wildlife in the national park: Lime Butterfly, grey langur, flying squirrel, Himalayan black bear, red fox, and Himalayan weasel.
6. Brahmatal Lake of Lord Brahma
Brahmatal provides a panoramic view of the Himalayas with Mt. Trishul and Nanda Ghunti, a bird’s eye view of the majestic Roopkund Lake, and ample opportunities to capture the majestic snow-covered peak with their camera. For avid nature photographers, Brahmatal offers a lot of opportunities to capture nature at its best. The Brahmatal trek takes one through beautiful valleys, hushed hamlets, streams, conifers, and oak forests. In winter, the region is covered in a sheath of snow and offered an unparalleled Himalayan view.
7. Kalpeshwar Temple
Kalpeshwar – Where the Locks of Shiva are Worshipped
Kalpeshwar (Sanskrit: कल्पेश्वर) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located at an elevation of 2,200 m (7,217.8 ft) in the picturesque Urgam valley in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state in India.
The temple’s ancient legend is linked to the Pandavas, heroes of epic Mahabharata eminence is the fifth temple of the Panch Kedars (five temples) of Shiva’s five anatomical divine forms; the other four temples in the order of their worship Kedarnath, Rudranath, Tungnath, and Madhyamaheshwar temples; all in the Kedar Khand region of the Garhwal Himalayas. Kalpeshwar is the only Panch Kedar temple accessible throughout the year.
At this small stone temple, approached through a cave passage, the matted tress (jata) of Lord Shiva is worshipped. Hence, Lord Shiva is also called Jatadhar or Jateshwar. Earlier it was approachable only by a 12 km (7.5 mi) trek from the nearest road head of Helang on the Rishikesh–Badrinath road but now the road goes up to Devgram village from where the trek now is just 300 meters. This road is good for bikes or cars with good ground clearance as it is half off-road which may get damaged during monsoons. Small cars can be taken except in monsoons.
8. Nandprayag
A small town that is also one of the Panch Prayags of Uttarakhand is Nand Prayag. Situated at an elevation of 1358 m in the Chamoli district in Garhwal Region, Nanda Prayag has a natural diversity with peace and calm enveloping this sacred site in Uttarakhand. Seated at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Nandakini Rivers, Nandprayag is a breathtaking place where a dip in the river flowing through it can cleanse one of all the sins.
The two rivers meeting here, Alaknanda that has its originated from Satopanth near Badrinath Dham, and the Nandakini River emerge from the foot of Nanda Devi Peak not only make for a visual treat in Nandprayag but also the main tourist attraction of the place. Nandprayag falls en route to the popular pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand, Badrinath, and thus, the devotees performing Badrinath Yatra can also stop by Nandprayag for sightseeing.
A tour to Nandprayag can be an enchanting experience amidst the Himalayas and the splendid sceneries. This pretty town in Chamoli district was once the capital of the Yadu kingdom and it was this place where Raja Nanda performed yagna which was later used as the foundation of the major attraction of Nandprayag, Nand Temple. Apart from being an important pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand, Nandprayag is perfect to enjoy a hearty interaction with nature.
This unspoiled place is ideal to relish nature walks or simply basking in some beautiful spots. A visitor has a chance to visit the nearby hamlet named Bangali and get acquainted with the rural lifestyle, rich customs, and beliefs, and of course, witness the natural beauty that this must-see place has to offer.
9. Rudranath
A remote hilly terrain that is encircled by lovely kunds, Rudranath on the backdrop of the majestic Himalayas proposes a once in a lifetime experience to those who dare to embark on adventurous journeys. With its magnetic terrain, this picturesque locale offers all the sizzles of a typical rocky ambiance and the serenity of a devout center.
Rudranath offers some of the finest sceneries of the snowy peaks of the Himalayas and at an elevation of 2286 meters, the beholder would be excited to experience the unspoiled beauty of Nature. With the thick forest, meadows of aromatic flowerbeds, sparkling lakes, and glittering peaks, Rudranath is endowed with bewitching sceneries.
Unique in every way, Rudranath trek unveils the rustic and imposing gorgeousness of charismatic surroundings. The trek in Rudranath is somewhat tedious and risky but is highly rewarding. Nothing would stop the trekker from embarking on such a nice trail since it carries him through a world of unsurpassed prettiness. A trait through the sky-scraping creases makes one tremble but the scenic beauty of the valley with rich wild orchards, alpine meadows, and dense woods takes away all your uneasiness.
It is not just the trekking routes that make Rudranath a favourite destination for quite a number of people. Obviously, the tranquillity and serenity of the place are an added attraction to casual visitors though one cannot deny the religious significance of Rudranath. One among the Panch Kedars of the Hindu ideology, the place owes much to the old temple for its magnificence and popularity.
10. Badrinath Tourist Places
Sandwiched between the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges, Badrinath in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand is one of the most sought-after pilgrim centers in the Indian subcontinent. Badrinath is beautifully set in the backdrop of the colossal Neelkanth mountain peak and never fails to make the visitor spellbound with its unparalleled gorgeousness. The term Badrinath is a derivative of Badri, which means the place where berries grow abundantly.
A place, which holds so many myths and legends, Badrinath acquires predominance in the travel itinerary of a pilgrim. The popular belief is that Badarinath was the domain of Lord Shiva, and Lord Vishnu managed to unseat Shiva from here to Kedarnath. Another belief is that when Ganga made her descend to earth she split up into twelve streams and one among the channels, Alakananda fell on Kedarnath which gives Badrinath its majestic look.
It is not just recreational activities, shrines, and pilgrimages that Badrinath offers. It proffers the awesome beauty of the snow-clad mountain peaks and the surging landscapes of the Garhwal region.
11. Mana Village (44km from the city center)
Mana is a small pilgrim village that is located in the state of Uttarakhand. The village is present near the religious site of Badrinath. The village has the distinction of being the last settlement on the road to the country of Tibet. It is situated at a height of around 3219 meters. The village is on the banks of the River Saraswati. The entire region is surrounded by hills and one can see many small streams nearby as well.
This is a perfect place for trekking and there are many trekking spots that are located here. The village of Mana can be visited on a day trip from Badrinath. There is a waterfall called the Vasundhara Falls that is located nearby and this is also a good place to see while traveling to the village of Mana.
There is a small passage called the Bhim Pul that is located here and the River Saraswati plunges headlong into the path and this is a sight to behold. The local population of the village lives in small cottages that are decorated and carved exquisitely. One can visit the temple of Mata Murti which is located near the town the temple holds an annual fair, visiting which can be an interesting experience.
Read More About Chamoli – 15 Most Popular Temples In Uttarakhand