Pindar Valley

Pindar Valley is a popular valley which is acknowledged for its exquisite natural serene and landscape. Pindar valley has number of villages which include Simli, Nalgaon, Narain Bagar, Meenag, Harmani, Kulsari, Tharali and Devaal. At Karanprayag, the Alaknanda River intersects the Pindari River. From there, these rivers flow together as Alaknanda River.

Ganga, the National River, originates in Uttrakhand, its motherland. All the tributaries of Bhagirathi Ganga and Vishnupadi Alaknanda Ganga merge together at Devprayag. And this is where Ganga comes into existence and hence it gets this name. The word Prayag means confluence, and The Vishnupadi Alaknanda Ganga has five Prayags, namely Devpragya (Alaknanda – Bhagirath), Rudraprayag (Mandakini-alaknanda), Karnaprayag (Pinder-alaknanda), Nandaprayag (Nandakini-Alaknanda) and Visanupragya (Dhouli-Alaknanda). Of these, only the Pinder River is a free flowing stream.

Tourism

Charming and welcoming villages, good-looking “berklay” buildings transformed into guesthouses along with a splendid tented camp with wonderful mountain views awaits a traveler in Saryu. The closer view of the Himalayan peaks with the 2 extra Pindar villages conveys a magnificent experience to the trekkers. The mountains covered with snow provide a eye-catching back drop to the alphine forests and meadows of the Saryu valley, when one crosses through the inclined pastures to the astonishing Pindar valley. It has rivers that draw water from a large Pindari Glacier. It leaves the tourists with logic of being very close to the peaks that can make one feel almost close to the touching distance.

The Pindari glacier lies between the well-known mountains of Nandakot and Nanda Devi, the glacier dismisses at an elevation of 3627 meters directly above the sea level.

Pindar glacier is nearly five Km long. The muzzle of this mighty glacier is approximately 6 meters high while 2.5 meters wide. Located in the charming Pindari valley, the glacier occupies space of 339.39 sq km.

Pindar glacier is the source of river Pindar. The Pindar valley is drained by this river. The Pindar River has a small cut in the gorge in dense glacial deposits up to approximately 10 km, consequential in the creation of expansive glacial terraces that expand on both sides of the valley.

Pindari has a rocky attractiveness that is sure to charm anyone hiking over its virgin surroundings. All over the trek, one faces crossways and high elevation Himalayan vegetation such as pine, oak and rhododendron. The wonderful sight of neighboring snowcapped Himalayan peaks leaves one enthralled.

The trek begins from Saung, also called the base camp for the journey. Here onwards, a three Km trek leads you to Loharkhet and then further trek of eleven Km will bring you to a place called Dhakuri. From Dhakuri, you have to walk to Khati which is an 8 Km trek and further to Dwali which is 11 Km from Khati. After a seven Km trek from here, you will reach a place called Phurkia and from here Pindari glacier is only five Km away.

One can come across five mountain communities like Dhurr, Supi. Jhuni, and kharmi and also enjoy the night beneath the stars at the superb tented camps at Jakuni Bhugiyal. On foot in the Saryu and Pindar can comprise of some steep as well as gradients but on a good terrain along with unbelievably satisfying view of the scenic beauty.

Along with wonderful walking, the trekkers will have some time to calm down and get to know about the various communities who are very enthusiastic to welcome their guests.  They can have hands on experience at ringal basket weaving in popular khal Jhuni, and also find out the faming civilization in Supi while also taste the neighboring honey in Dhurr.

How to Reach

Air Transport

The closest airport is at Pantnagar. The distance between Pantnagar to Bageshwar is around 186 kms. One may prefer to travel by bus or to go for a hired taxi. The journey will take roughly around 3 hours.

Roadways

By Road, Saung which is called the base camp to Bageshwar, the valley linked to mainendpoints of the district like Bageshwar (around 36 Km).  Almora is situated about 109 km. Kathgodam is located at 199 km.

Rail Transport

The nearest railway station is located in Haldwani. Trains are available to this station from Dehradun (the Kathgodam Express) and also from Delhi (the Ranikhet Express). Right from the railway station take a share taxi to Bageshwar (Amount comes around Rs. 300 per head and one needs to change the car at Almora. Once there, hop the share jeeps in Rs. 10-30. (Bageshwar- Bharadi Bazaar-Song-Loharkhet) or one can prefer booking a car to Loharkhet from Bageshwar which will come around Rs. 1100. The share taxis not only make an environment friendly car pooling but are very pretty too.

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