About Munsiyari Tourism
Munsiyari is a town that is present in the Pithogarh district of the state of Uttarakand. The town is located at the base of the Himalayan Mountains. The town is the spot where many Himalayan treks have their origin. The town is located on the banks of a river called the Goriganga. The place is fast becoming an important tourist destination among many trekkers and mountain climbing enthusiasts. Some of the main treks in the area are Namik Trek, Milam Trek and the Ralam Glacier Trek. Permits are required for trekking into the inner line places.
Munsiyari is 125 kms from Pithoragarh and at an altitude of 2135. Flora and fauna alterations as one travels, from chir to deodar, deodar to surai and spur to paper tree and rhododendrons. At Nachani (a midway village) greets you with delightful meals, resting sites, cold and scorching drinks supplying tents for stay and making the most of water spoils, angling, river rafting or just possess a cool - cool dip in the Namic glacier originated Ramganga from Nachani. Sulphur springs as well as the majestic Birthi fall. Which falls from the height of 125 mt. Now the street aligns the greater mountains, the air turns into cooler reaching the leading.
It is each day journey through Roseate dawns and crimson dusks can depart you just searing inside the snow laden summits for hrs. The picturesque place and water falls along the bank of Gori Ganga may well end you exhausting the whole camera roll. It's a splendid time in Munsiyari among March to April, once the entire jungle turns red with rhododendron flowers with gardens- gardens of rhododendron trees having pink, red, darkish pink and white flowers combining the Panchachuli peak. It really is a internet site well worth watching. A days trek to the nearby village like Darkot four kms and Daranti 7 kms can lead to an intimate knowledge with the culturally wealthy style on the rural inhabitants of Munsiyari.
Munsiyari’s name refers to a ‘Place with Snow’. Situated on the banks of Goriganga River, it is a fast growing tourist destination, and mountaineers, glacier enthusiasts, high altitude trekkers and nature lovers commonly use it as their hub or base camp. Munsiyari also falls on the ancient salt route from Tibet and is at the entrance of the Johar Valley, which extends along the path of the Goriganga River to its source at the Milam Glacier. It is inhabited mainly by the Shauka people.Munsiyari is a paradise for the nature lover. The forests that clothe the lower reaches are stunningly attractive with colorful mountain vegetation that includes besides others, rhododendrons. This dense Himalayan forest is home to a variety of birds and animals such as whistling thrush, wagtail and hawk cuckoo, falcon and serpent eagle, and leopard, mountain beer and the musk deer.
What to see in MunsiyariThe Panchchuli peaks
The Panchchuli peaks are a group of five snow capped Himalayan peaks lying at the end of the eastern Kumaon region, Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand state, India. The peaks have altitudes ranging from 6,334 m to 6,904 m. They form the watershed between the Gori and the Darmaganga valleys. Panchchuli is also located on the Gori Ganga-Lassar Yankti divide. The group lies 138 km from Pithoragarh.
Altitudes of Five peaks of Panchchuli:
- Panchchuli-1 (6,355 m)
- Panchchuli-2 (6,904 m)
- Panchchuli-3 (6,312 m)
- Panchchuli-4 (6,334 m)
- Panchchuli-5 (6,437 m)
History of Munsiyari
It is said that the Pandavas had set out for their final journey to heaven from Munsiyari. Munsiyari also falls on the ancient salt route from Tibet and is at the entrance of the Johar Valley, which extends along the path of the Goriganga River to its source at the Milam Glacier. They led semi-nomadic lives actively engaged in trade with Tibet across the difficult Himalayan passes. It took them 20-25 days to reach Munsiyari from Tibet from where they carried back mainly salt. Salt consumed in the entire Himalayan region came from Tibet early days. It is inhabited mainly by the Shauka people (referred to as Bhotiya by the non-Shaukas), who are its original natives. The Shauka people are the main inhabitants of this place.
People in Munsiyari worship Goddess Nanda Devi. The locals were suddenly found without a viable livelihood when the border with Tibet was sealed in 1962 and the trade stopped completely. Agriculture has never been too developed here on account of the unfavorable climate. Most of them were therefore forced to migrate. The villages of Milam, Burfu etc., to the east of Munsyari, are largely deserted today.
Expected Weather
- March & April / September & October - 15 to 25 degrees on most days.
- May / June - 20 to 30 degrees on most days.
- July / August - 15 to 25 degrees on most days.
- November / February - 12 to 20 degrees on most days. Snowfall expected late december to early februrary.
Flora and Fauna in Munsiyari
Munsiyari is rich in diverse flora and fauna. It is home to Rhododendrons, Deodar & Pine trees, Birds like wagtail, Himalayan Griffon, falcon, Monal, Raven and serpent eagle can be sotted in Munsiyari region. Tiger, Leopard, Himalayan bear, Fox and Musk deer have made their home in the altitude jungles of Munsiyari.
Shopping in Munsiyari
You can do a limited shopping in Munsiyari. Buy tribal handmade knick-knacks or woolens made by locals. You can also take home some wonderful hand woven carpets from Munsiyari Market.
For the environmentally inclined, take back the Himalayan tree saplings from near by nurseries for your home or garden.
Festivals and Events in Munsiyari
While most of the festivals & Events in Munsiyari are celebrated to mark the change of season, several others honour local traditions.
Makar Sankranti, marks the change of season and is celebrated with tremendous fanfare. Basant Panchmi marks the beginning of the spring season. People wear new clothes and sweets are made in many interesting shapes like that of knives, pomegranates etc.
The fair of Jauljibi is held every year in the month of November. The fair has great commercial value as people come across from Nepal & other part in Uttarakhand to trade in Horse, Oil etc.
Phool De is a festival that usually falls as per the Hindu calendar in March and is for young girls. Olgia is celebrated on the first day of August and is a time when the fields are full of lush green harvest. Khatarua festival is celebrated in mid September and marks the beginning of autumn season.
Best time to visit Munsiyari
March to April: the entire jungle turns red with rhododendron flowers with gardens, with snow capped himalayas makes it an awesome site well worth watching.
The Best months to visit Munsiyari are: March, April, May, October, November |
(Old Traditional House)
(Gori Ganga)
(Mountain Goat)
(Panchchuli peaks)
(Pahari Women) |
