BJP fields sitting MLAs for LS in Uttarakhand

Dehra Dun, Jan 30 The ruling BJP, which has a wafer-thin majority in the Uttarakhand assembly, has decided to field two of its MLAs for the next Lok Sabha elections from the state.

The BJP parliamentary board yesterday chose Ajay Tamta and Mandan Kaushik, MLAs from Someshwar and Haridwar respectively, for contesting the coming Lok Sabha elections.

BJP has to win both the seats, if the MLAs get elected to the Lok Sabha, in addition to vacant Kapkot assembly seat (after Bhagat Singh Koshiari got elected to Rajya Sabha) to retain a majority in the 70-member house.

While Tamta has been nominated from Almora reserved constituency, Kaushik will contest from Haridwar Lok Sabha seat.

The by-election for Kapkot legislature seat is likely to be held along with the general elections.

"I cannot understand the logic behind sending three MLAs to parliament when we have only a wafer-thin majority in the house,"a top BJP leader said while requesting anonymity.

At present, BJP has 35 members in the house with three members of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and three other independents lending their support to the government. In case, both Kaushik and Tamta get elected to the Lok Sabha, BJP will have to rely on the support of UKD and independents.

Surprisingly, by deciding to contest all the five Lok Sabha seats in the hill state, BJP has sent a clear message to its coalition partner UKD that it was not interested in any tie-up with it. Too much will be riding on the by-elections if UKD decides to withdraw support from the government.

Opposition Congress, meanwhile, is yet to declare its candidates from the state. PTI DPT

Soruce: http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/490806/National/1/20/1

Dry spell continues, farmers in Uttarakhand, Himachal stare at losses

Dehradun Solan: Even as they look expectantly at skies to open up, farmers in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have begun counting their losses. Scanty rainfall across both the states, they realise, is set to deal them a blow of several crores of rupees. They have already lost 30 to 40 per cent of their crops so far.

The losses would compound if there is no rainfall in February either.

The damage isn’t restricted to the rabi crops only. The prevailing dry spell accompanied by heavy frost during nights has hit cash crops like peas, cabbage potato, garlic and onion.

Fruit growers, too, are worried as abnormal weather conditions have resulted in woolly aphid and powdery mildew attacks in their orchards

The farmers in Himachal produced around 6.80 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, 40,000 M.T of barley, 6000 MT of gram, 3.5 lakh MT vegetables, 30,000 MT potatoes and 3,500 MT Oil seeds during the last rabi crop season. The total rainfall recorded then was 184.6 mm.

But the hill state has received only 127 mm rainfall since September last year. Nearly 40 per cent farmers could not sow their rabi crops in the absence of adequate soil moisture.

A prolonged dry spell has already damaged about 30 to 40 per cent crops of farmers and fruit growers,” said Vice-Chancellor, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni Dr K R Dhiman.

The farmers lament inaction on the part of the government. “Besides introducing crop insurance schemes, the Government should grant special financial help to farmers as abnormal weather conditions have almost become an annual feature during winter,” said Om Parkash Panwar, general secretary, Himachal Kisan Vikas Sangathan.

With Uttarakhand, too, registering over 90 per cent of rainfall and snowfall deficit, the authorities are now pinning hopes on a good precipitation in the month of February to make up for the shortfall.

Dr Anand Sharma, director of the metrological department, told The Indian Express that in the months of December and January, the state received only one-tenth of the average rainfall in the season. “While some rainfall has been recorded in the Garhwal region, the situation in Kumaon is grim with virtually no heavy rainfall received in the region,” he said.

While the agricultural regions in the plains have the consolation of having a good irrigation network, it is the small and medium marginal farmers in the hills who will be affected, he said.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dry-spell-continues-farmers-in-ukhand-.../416709/

Budget session of Uttarakhand assembly to begin from Feb 24, 2009

Dehra Dun The budget session of Uttarakhand assembly would begin from Feb 24, official sources today said.

The first day of the session would begin with an address by the Governor B L Joshi, Vidhan Sabha Secretary Mahesh Chandra said.

Later, the government would bring either budget or vote-on-account in the house, he said. The session would end on Feb 27. However, it could be extended depending on the business of the house, he added.

Source: http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/490775/Politics/6/20/6

Kumaon police plan crackdown on Maoists

NAINITAL: Uttarakhand police with the help of Central paramilitary forces and different intelligence agencies have decided to step up efforts to track down those responsible for encouraging Maoist insurgency and other Maoist-related activities along the Indo-Nepal border in Kumaon hills and tarai areas.

Police and intelligence sources admit that despite efforts by joint teams of Uttarakhand police and paramilitary forces, including Seema Sureksha Bal (SSB), to check Maoist activities in the areas along the Indo-Nepal border areas during the past four years, the insurgent outfits and their supporters continue to pose a threat to internal security of the state.

Police sources said Maoist groups have been using Kumaon hills and tarai areas as hideouts since 2004. At a meeting of special operation task force (SOTF) here, a decision has been taken to arrest the Maoists and bust their hideouts and training camps operating in remote areas.

The SOTF meeting was held following a directive by inspector-general of police (Kumaon range) Ashok Kumar, who took over recently.

IGP Kumar, it is learnt, has asked SOTF officers to tap their informers to prepare an action plan to plug infiltration of Maoists and anti-national elements from Nepal into India, an officer said.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Kumaon_police_plan_crackdown_on_Maoists/articleshow/4043312.cms

Cong to organise minority conclaves in Uttarakhand next month

Dehra Dun Alleging that the BJP government in Uttarakhand was ignoring the interests of the minorities, Congress today said the party would organise minority conclaves next month across the state to raise a voice for their rights.

"We have decided to unite minority communities and organise three conclaves for them in the state in February in which we will not only raise our voice against the atrocities on them but also devise a strategy to exhurt pressure on the government for starting welfare schemes for them," said S K Dhasmana, media incharge of state pradesh Congress committee.

These conclaves, in which the state party president Yashpal Arya and some central leaders are also expected to take part, will be held on February 22 in Sahaspur area of the state capital, Feb 25 in Roorkee of Haridwar district and Feb 26 in Rudrapur town of Udhamsingh Nagar district, he said.

Dhasmana also alleged that the BJP government has discontinued most of the welfare schemes for the minorities like' Muslim Education Mission' and 15-point programme, which were launched by the previous Congress government led by N D Tiwari.

Source: http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/489830/Politics/6/20/6

Shooter Jaspal Rana to contest on BJP ticket from Tehri

New Delhi (PTI): Ace shooter and Asian Games gold medallist Jaspal Rana was on Thursday named as BJP's candidate from Uttarakhand's Tehri constituency as the party declared its list of 23 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls.

Rana, who is BJP President Rajnath Singh's daughter-in-law's brother, is one of the four candidates declared from Uttarakhand.

The other candidates from Uttarakhand are: former union minister of state Bacchi Singh Rawat (Uddhamsingh Nagar -- was Nainital seat pre-delimitation), Ajay Tamta (Almora-SC) and Madan Kaushik (Haridwar). Kaushik and Tamta are ministers in the Uttarakhand government.

The BJP Central Election Committee also finalised 17 candidates from West Bengal. They are former CPI (M) MP Bratin Sengupta from Barasat, Satya Brata Mookherjee (Krishnanagar), Subhas Chandra Burman (Balurghat), Tathagata Roy (Kolkata North), Rahul Sinha (Bankura), Dipen Pramanik (Jalpaiguri-SC), Nabendu Mahali (Jhargram-ST).

Other candidates are Prabhakar Tiwari (Barrackpore), former IPS officer Dawa Sherpa (Darjeeling), Rahul Chakrabarty (Uluberia), Swapan Kumar Das (Basirhat), Debabrata Choudhary (Sreerampur), Amalesh Mishra (Kanthi), Rajshree Choudhary (Tamluk), Mahitosh Bauri (Bardhaman Eas t), Bhabendra Nath Burman (Cooch Behar-SC) and Polly Mukherjee (Howrah).

Narendra Sawaikar will contest from Murmugao (Goa) while B P Ray is the BJP candidate from Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

BJP also announced the candidature of Tapan Ghosh for the bye-election to West Bengal assembly constituency of Bishnupur West.

With this the total number of candidates announced by BJP has touched 75.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200901291831.htm

Proposals regarding NIT being examined

Dehra Dun, Jan 28 The Uttarakhand government is examining proposals for land acquisition to set up a National Institute of Technology (NIT) in the hill state.

The centre has proposed to open NIT&aposs in hilly and backward areas under the 11th five-year-plan and asked the Uttarakhand government to provide 300 acres of land with a condition that it should have good rail, road and air connectivity, Technical Education Secretary Rakesh Sharma said.

In this regard, the state government has received several land proposals, which are being examined by Uttarakhand Technical University, he added.

Source: http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/488767/National/1/20/1

Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board to promote Niti Valley

Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) recently decided to promote Niti Valley (located in the state on the old trade route to Tibet). K P Sharma, who is a member of the Board and also IATO chapter Chairman of Uttarakhand, conducted a detail study on Niti Valley and has suggested the addition of infrastructure like small tourist rest house, artificial lake and camping facilities for better promotion of the place. As a result, the state government is working on the development and promotion of the Valley. Sharma has also sought support of the central government by sending a letter to S. Banerjee, Secretary Tourism, Government of India, requesting assistance to promote the place and provide it with good infrastructure.

The new destination, Niti Valley, which has been recently opened to foreign and Indian tourist, has a wide range of interesting features to showcase. According to Sharma, villagers of Niti Valley practice an interesting hospitality custom-two families of the village take over the responsibility to offer daily prayers to the village deity for a year.

Source: http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/uttarakhand-tourism-development-board-to-promote-niti-valley-4815

PM asked to allocate funds for new Uttarakhand rail tracks

Dehradun An Uttarakhand organisation, which has been agitating for four new rail links in the state for the last five years, has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to allocate funds for these links in the coming budget.

In a letter to the PM, the Tanakpur-Bageshwar Railmarg Nirman Samiti, which is agitating for the construction of four new railway lines in the hill state?Tanakpur-Bageshwar, Rishikesh-Karnprayag, Tanakpur-Jauljibi and Ramnagar-Chaukhutia?has said rail connectivity on these routes is very important keeping in view the strategic location and overall development of the state.

Stating that neighbouring countries like China and Nepal have either already extended their railway network or made plans for their extension upto the border of Uttarakhand, the Samiti said the construction of these railway tracks would not only make easy the movement of army personnel and transportation of defense material but also open new vistas in the fields of tourism, industrial development and employment generation for the people of Uttarakhand.

The Samiti has also alleged in its letter that Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav did not keep his word regarding making budgetary allocation for these railway tracks despite making such a promise during his visit to Kumaon in 2006.

The Samiti has requested the Prime Minister to look into this matter and allocate funds for the railway tracks in the coming budget.

Source: http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/487957/National/1/20/1

PM asked to allocate funds for new Uttarakhand rail tracks

Dehradun An Uttarakhand organisation, which has been agitating for four new rail links in the state for the last five years, has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to allocate funds for these links in the coming budget.

In a letter to the PM, the Tanakpur-Bageshwar Railmarg Nirman Samiti, which is agitating for the construction of four new railway lines in the hill state?Tanakpur-Bageshwar, Rishikesh-Karnprayag, Tanakpur-Jauljibi and Ramnagar-Chaukhutia?has said rail connectivity on these routes is very important keeping in view the strategic location and overall development of the state.

Stating that neighbouring countries like China and Nepal have either already extended their railway network or made plans for their extension upto the border of Uttarakhand, the Samiti said the construction of these railway tracks would not only make easy the movement of army personnel and transportation of defense material but also open new vistas in the fields of tourism, industrial development and employment generation for the people of Uttarakhand.

The Samiti has also alleged in its letter that Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav did not keep his word regarding making budgetary allocation for these railway tracks despite making such a promise during his visit to Kumaon in 2006.

The Samiti has requested the Prime Minister to look into this matter and allocate funds for the railway tracks in the coming budget.

Source: http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/487957/National/1/20/1

Kedarnath

The Celestial Jyotirlingam
Amidst the dramatic mountainscapes of the majestic Kedarnath range stands one of the twelve 'Jyotirlingas' of Kedar or Lord Shiva. Lying at an altitude of 3584 mts. on the head of river Mandakini, the shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus.

Kedarnath is a majestic sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The present temple, built in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya, stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the exquisitely architectured Kedarnath temple is said to be more than a 1000 years old. Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut gray slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs were handled in the earlier days. The temple has a " Garbha Griha" for worship and a Mandap apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form.

Location
Kedarnath is situated in the Uttar Kashi district of the northern state of Uttaranchal. Very close to the Indo-Chinese border, it is the source of the Mandakini River. It is couched in the scenic locales of the Garhwal Himalayas at 3583 meters above sea level. It is very cold in the winters with the ground being covered with snow. In the summers, the mercury barely crosses the 20°C mark. The place experiences about 150 cm of rainfall during the monsoons and so the best time to visit is between May and October. Kedarnath is near to Rishikesh (234 km) and Dehradun (250 km).

History
According to legend, Lord Shiva wished to elude the Pandavas, who had come to seek penitence for having killed their kin in the battle of Kurukshetra. He took refuge in Kedarnath in the form of a bull. Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, found Shiva amongst a herd of cattle. Having identified the meanest and most arrogant of the herd as Shiva, Bhima is said to have grabbed him by the hindquarters. What remains at the shrine in Kedarnath is the rear end of the bull, with the rest of its body scattered throughout the Garhwal. Shiva dived into the ground leaving behind him a hump on the surface. This conical protrusion is worshipped as the idol. It is the main site of the Panch Kedar temples.

There are Four Other Kedars

Madhyamaheshwar
Tunganath
Kalpeshwar
Rudranath

Three of these (barring Kalpeshwar) are in mountain meadows at higher altitudes than Kedarnath. The climb to Rudranath is the most strenuous though worth the trouble, as this meadow is one of the finest in Garhwal.

Mythological Myth
Legend has it that when the Pandavas sought penance following the great war of the Mahabharata they came in search of Lord Shiva. Arriving at this site they found that Shiva had elusively taken the form of a bull. Bhim the strongest of the Pandavas went after Shiva who dived deep into the ground. Only Shiva's tail was left in Bhim's hand. This spot is known as the Kedarnath and is also considered the main Kedar. The rest of Shiva's body emerged at four other places in Garhwal - Tunganath, Madhyamaheshwar, Kalpeshwar and Rudranath.

These five Kedars are worshipped as Panch Kedars

Tungnath
Shiva's arms came out at Tungnath. The Tungnath temple is at an altitude of 3,680 m and is the highest Shiva shrine among the Panch Kedars. However it is the easiest to reach from Chopta, the nearest road head.

Rudranath
Shiva's face is worshipped at the Rudranath temple. It is about 2,286 m above sea level and is 23 km from Gopeshwar. 5 km of the distance is motor able and 18 km is on foot. The trek passes through wild orchards and picturesque bugyals (meadows) and involves trekking over high ridges (sometimes 4,000 m). The temple site provides magnificent views of Hathi Parvat, Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghungti, Trishuli and many other peaks. There are a number of holy kunds or ponds near the Rudranath temple like Suryakund, Chandrakund, Tarakund. The entire area is utterly enchanting and unmatched in scenic beauty. Anusuya Devi temple is located on the trek to Rudranath involving an additional trek of 3km.

Pilgrimage Attractions in Kedarnath
Kedarnath Temple
The present temple, built in 8th century A.D. by Adi Guru Shankaracharya lies adjacent to the site of an ancient temple built by Pandavas. The walls of the exquisitely architectured temple are embellished with figures of deities and scenes from mythology. The temple has a conical lingam - the main idol, a statue of Nandi - the celestial bull, a 'garbha grab' for worship and a 'mandap' for assemblies of piligrims and visitors. The temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old.

Shankaracharya Samadhi
Behind the Kedarnath Temple lies the samadhi or the final resting place of Adi Guru Shankaracharya. It is believed, after establishing the four dhams in India, he went for his samadhi at an early age of 32 years.

Excursions
Chorabari (Gandhi Sarovar) (2 kms.)
A small lake from where Yudhishthir, the eldest of the Pandavas, is believed to have departed to heaven. The floating ice on the sparkling waters of the lake is a fascinating sight.

Vasuki Tal (6 kms.)
A picturesque lake, 4,135 mts. above sea level is encircled by lofty mountains and offers a commanding view of the Chaukhamba peaks.

Gaurikund (14 kms.)
The trekking base to Kedarnath. A temple dedicated to Gauri and thermal springs of medicinal value are noteworthy.

Sonprayag (20 kms.)
The confluence of Son Ganga and Mandakini rivers. The road to Triyuginarayan diverts from here.

Triyuginarayan (25 kms.)
A 5 kms. trek from Sonprayag, it is the mythological venue of the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.An eternal flame, which is said to have been a witness to the marriage, burns in front of the temple even today.

Guptkashi (49 kms.)
The temples of Ardhnarishwar and Vishwanath are noteworthy.

Ukshimath (60 kms)
Winter home of the deity of the Kedarnath Temple and the seat of the Rawal of Kedarnath.

Agastyamuni (73 kms.)
Famous for the temple dedicated to sage Agastya.

Chandrashila (93 kms.)
The Chandrashila peak provides a rare view of snow-clad peaks. The rhododendron Forests and alpine meadows dominate the trek fromTungnath to Chandrashila.

Deoria Tal (68 kms.)
Sari village is the last bus terminus on Chopta-Ukhimath road from where a 2 kms. trek leads to Deoria Tal. This beautiful lake at an altitude of 2,438 mts. gives the spectacular reflection of snow capped peaks in the lake water. Ideal spot for angling and bird watching.

Accessibility
Airport
Jolly Grant, Dehradun (251 kms.)
Rail
Rishikesh (234 kms.)
Kotdwar (260 kms.)
Road
Approachable on foot from Gaurikund, which is connected by road to Rishikesh, Kotwar, Dehradun, Haridwar and other important hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region.

Soruce: http://www.pilgrimage-india.com/chardham/kedarnath.html

Badrinath

The Abode Of Lord Vishnu
Cradled in the twin mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan is the holiest of the four main shrines, Badrinath along the left bank river Alaknanda. With the splendid Neelkanth mountains as the backdrop, it is an important destination on the scared itinerary of every devour Hindu. Once the spot was carpeted with 'badris' or wild berries and hence was famous as 'Badri Van'.

Badrinath is considered the holiest of the four important shrines in Garhwal. The town is at an altitude of 3,133 m. above sea level, situated on the left bank of river Alaknanda and exactly between the two mountains Nara and Narayan. The shrine is dedicated to Vishnu, the preserver and falls in the religious itinerary of every devout Hindu.

The present temple was built about two centuries ago by Garhwal Kings. It is a conical structure, 15 m. tall and has small cupola of a gilt bull and spire. There are 15 idols in the temple complex, each sculpted in black stone. The principal idol represents Vishnu in a meditative posture and is flanked by Nara-Narayan. Legend dates it prior to the Vedic age though it is believed to have been re-established by Adi Shankaracharya, an important Hindu saint in 8th century A.D. Some of the other images include Laxmi (Vishnu's consort), Garud (Vishnu's mount), Shiva & Parvati and Ganesha.

The temple has been renovated several times due to damages by avalanches. It looks fairly modern now due to the colourful "Singh Dwara" or the main entrance gate. It has three parts- Garbha Griha (the sanctum sanctorum), Darshan Mandap (for pujas) and Shobha Mandap (for devotees to assemble). The revered shrine is still alive with myriad legends from mythology. Its sanctity is emphasised in the ancient scriptures as "There are many sacred spots of pilgrimage in the heavens, earth and the nether world, but there has been none equal to Badri, nor shall there be".

Mythological Legend
Legend has it, when the Ganga was requested to descend to earth to help suffering humanity, the earth was unable to withstand the force of its descent. Therefore the mighty Ganaga was split into twelve holy channels. Alaknanda was one of them that later became the abode of Lord Vishnu or Badrinath.

The temple of Shri Badrinathji on the banks of the Alaknanda river, dates back to the vedic times. Situated at an altitude of 3,133 mts., the present temple is believed to have been built by Adi Guru Shankaracharya- an 8th century's philosopher-saint, who also established a 'math' here. Also known as 'Vishal Badri', Badrinath is one of the Panch Badris.

Panch Badris or Five Badris
Besides the main temple of Badrinath there are four other smaller badri temples. These are collectively called the panch badris or five badris. Very few pilgrims however, visit the other four Badri temples.

Yogadhyan Badri (1920 m.)
Closest to the main temple of Badrinath lies this tiny, sleepy hamlet which remains unnoticed by most pilgrims and is the winter home for the idol at Badrinath. Pandukeshwar is also an important archaeological site. Some years ago, four ancient metal foils engraved with a description of several kings in the region were discovered here. Believed to be over 1500 years old, these foils are kept at Joshimath, 30 km downstream.

Bhavishya Badri (2,744 m.)
The bhavishya or future badri is situated at Subain near Tapovan, about 17 km east of Joshimath. According to Hindu belief, when evil is on the rise in this world, the two mountains Nara and Narayan at Badrinath will close up on each other and destroy the route to the present Badrinath. This would also mark the end of the present world and the beginning of a new one. Lord Badrinath will then appear at the Bhavishya Badri temple and be worshipped here instead of at the present one.

Bridha Badri or the 'Old Badri'
Bridha Badri or the 'old Badri' is the third temple about 7 kms short of Joshimath, on the main Rishikesh-Badrinath motor road at Animath. It is believed that Badrinath was worshipped here before its enshrinement by Shankaracharya at the main Badrinath seat. The temple of Bridha Badri is open throughout the year.

Adi Badri
Adi Badri is the farthest from the other four badris. It is approachable from Karnaprayag by a motorable road enroute Ranikhet. The temple complex has 16 small temples with intricate carvings.

Seven of these temples belong to the late Gupta period. Local tradition assigns these buildings to Shankaracharya. The main temple is distinguished by a pyramid shaped raised platform, with a black stone idol of Vishnu.

Pilgrimage Attractions in Badrinath
Badrinath Temple
On the right bank of Alaknanda lies the sacred spot perched at an altitude of 3,133 metres above the sea level. Encircled by a beautiful valley, the 15mtrs. High temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, it is built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of gilt bull and spire. Built by Adi Guru Shankaracharya - the philosopher-saint of the 8th century, the temple has been renovated several times due to damage by avalanches. Its colourful 'Singh Dwara' or the main entrance gate gives it a new, modern look.

The temple divided into three parts - the 'garbha griba' or sanctum sanctorum, the 'darshan mandap' where the rituals are conducted and the 'sabha mandap'where devotees assemble.The complex has 15 idols. Especially attractive is the one metre high image of Badrinath, finely sculpted in black stone. It represents Lord Vishnu seated in meditative pose.

Tapt Kund
Devotees take a holy dip in the natural thermal springs on the banks of the river Alaknanda, before entering the Badrinath Temple. The water of the kund is believed to have medicinal properties.

Hemkund Sahib (43 kms.)
Near the Valley of Flowers is the holy lake Hemkund- an important pilgrimage of the Sikhs and Hindus. Along its shores is the sacred Sikh Shrine where Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru unified with God after prolonged mediation in his previous birth.

Nearby is the Lakshman Temple where Lakshman - the brother of Lord Rama performed his penance. The reflection of surrounding snow-clad peaks in its placid waters offers a scenic sight.
Brahma Kapal
A flat platform on the bank of river Alaknanda where Hindus perform propitiating rites for their deceased ancestors.
Neelkanth
A Pyramidical-shaped snowy peak towering above Badrinath, popularly known as the 'Garhwal Queen'.
Mana Village (4 kms.)
Inhabited by Indo-Mangolian tribe, it is considered to be the last Indian village before Tibet on this route. Nearby are Vyas Gufa- the rock cave of saint Ved Vyas, the writer of Mahabharata; Bhim Pul- a natural bridge over the Saraswati river and Vasundhara Falls- a 122 mts. high waterfall- all forming and important part of the pilgrimage to Badrinath.
Mata Murti Temple (3 kms.)
On the right bank of Alaknanda stands the temple dedicated to the mother of Sri Badrinathji.
Alka Puri (15 kms.)
The source of Alaknanda river from the glacier snouts of Bhagirath- Kharak and Satopanth glaciers.
Satopanth (25 kms.)
A three cornered lake with a circumference of about 1 km., situated at an elevation of 4,402 mts. above sea level. It is named ater the Hindu triad- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, who are believed to occupy one corner each of the lake. The trek is hazardous with dramatic landscapes. An experienced guide is advisable.

Govindghat (25 kms.)
The confluence of Alaknanda and Lakshman Ganga rivers. It has an imposing Gurudwara named after Guru Gobind Singh.

Joshimath (44 kms.)
The winter home of Shri Badrinathji is situated on the slopes above the confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauliganga. It is one of the four 'maths' established by Adi Guru Shankaracharya.
Panch Prayag
The five important confluences- Deoprayag, Nandprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag and Vishuprayag, form the Panch Prayag.
Deoprayag
The confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers. Ancient stone scriptures are found here. Important pilgrim spots are Shiv Temple and Raghunath Temple.
Rudraprayag
The confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. The temples of Rudranath and Chamunda Devi are noteworthy.
Nandprayag
The confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. The Gopalji Temple is worth a visit.
Karnaprayag
The confluence of Alaknanda and Pindar rivers with temples of Uma and Karna.
Vishnuprayag
The confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers. An ancient temple of Lord Vishnu stands here by a pool called Vishnu Kund.
Srinagar
The old capital of Garhwal, it is an important cultural and educational centre. Places to visit include Kamleshwar and Kilkeshwar temples and the Shankar Math.

Accessibility
Airport
Jolly Grant (317 kms.)
Railhead
Rishikesh (300 kms.), Kotdwar (327 kms.)
Road
Well connected to Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, Kotdwar and other hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region.

Soruce: http://www.pilgrimage-india.com/chardham/badrinath.html

Badrinath Temple

Badrinath is a Hindu holy town and a nagar panchayat in Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is the most important of the four sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage.

Badrinath temple, sometimes called Badrinarayan temple, is situated along the Alaknanda river, in the hill town of Badrinath in Uttarakhand state in India. It is widely considered to be one of the holiest Hindu temples, and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple and town are one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites of Northern Himalayas as also one of those mentioned in Hindu religion; Dwarka,Jagannath Puri and Rameshwar being the remaining. It is also one of the 108 Divya Desams, holy shrines for Vaishnavites. The temple is open only six months every year (between the end of April and the beginning of November), due to extreme weather conditions in the Himalayan region.

Several murtis are worshipped in the temple. The most important is a one meter tall statue of Vishnu as Lord Badrinarayan, made of black Saligram stone. The statue is considered by many Hindus to be one of eight swayam vyakta keshtras, or self-manifested statues of Vishnu.[1] The murti depicts Vishnu sitting in meditative posture, rather than His far more typical reclining pose. In November each year, when the town of Badrinath is closed, the image is moved to nearby Jyotirmath.

Location : Right Bank River Alaknanda
Dedicated To : Lord Vishnu
Altitude : 3,133 mt
Built In : 8th Century AD

Badarinath Dham is considered as one of the most sacred centres of pilgrimage situated in the lofty Himalayan heights in the Garhwal hill tracks (Uttarakhand). Situated at the height of 3133 m (10248 feet) above sea level. The route to Badarinath is one of the most fascinating one due to the lofty hilly terrain, curves and cliffs amidst the most scenically beautiful place on the earth.

Throughout the route to Badarinath there are numerous pilgrimage sites at Deo Prayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandaprayag and Vishnuprayag; as well as Pandukeswar where king Pandu observed Tapasya with his queen Madri and where his sons Pandavas, stayed during their pilgrimage to heaven, and the site where Bhima and Hanuman (sons of Vayu) met.

At Badarinath Lord MahaVishnu is believed to have done his penance. Seeing the Lord doing his penance in the open, Goddess Mahalaxmi is believed to have assumed the form of Badari tree to provide him shelter to face the onslaught of the adverse weather conditions, therefore the name Badari Narayan. It is believed that Lord Vishnu revealed to Narad rishi that Nar & Naryans forms were his own. It is also believed that Narad rishi, who also did his penance here, is even now worshipping the supreme God with Ashtakshara mantras.

The image of Badarinarayan here is fashioned out of Saligramam. Badarinarayan is seen under the Badari tree, flanked by Kuber and Garuda, Narad, Narayan and Nar. Mahalakshmi has a sanctum outside in the parikrama. There is also a shrine to Adi Sankara at Badarinath.

Behind the temple of Lord Badarinarayan is the Lakshmi Narsimh mandir, with shrines to Desikacharya and Ramanujachary.At Badarinath one can witness one of the greatest wonders of Nature in the Hot water springs of Taptkund on the banks of ice chilled river Alaknanda. The temperature of the water in the Kund is 55 degree centigrade whereas the normal temperature in this region for most part of the year remains at 9-10 degree centigrade to sub-zero levels. Before visiting the temple the pilgrims take a holy bath in the Taptkund.

The Temple's present structure was built by the Kings of Garhwal. The Temple has three sections - Garbhagriha (Sanctum), the Darshan Mandap, and Sabha Mandap. The Garbhagriha (Sanctum) houses Lord Badari Narayan, Kuber (God of wealth), Narad rishi, Udhava, Nar & Narayan.

Lord Badari Narayan (also called as Badari Vishal) is armed with Shankh (Conch) and Chakra in two arms in a lifted posture and two arms rested on the lap in Yogamudra.The principal image is of black stone and it represents Vishnu seated in meditative pose. The temple also houses Garuda (Vehicle of Lord Narayan). Also here are the idols of Adi Shankar, Swami Desikan and Shri Ramanujam. Guru-Shisya parampara is supposed to have its roots here.

Kapat Opening:- The Kapat of Shri Badrinath Temple has been opened on 9th May 2008 at 7:50 AM.

Best Time to visit:- The ideal time or peak season to go for a Char Dham Yatra is from May to October, except monsoons. This is because; all the four sacred sites are perched in Garhwal Himalayas, which is prone to heavy snowfall. As a result, all the passage leading to the shrines are blocked. Moreover, during the monsoon season, there is undue threat of having landslides, which can further disrupt the journey. For safety reasons, the gates of the temples are also closed for this period of time and the idols are shifted to nearby pilgrim points.

Source: http://www.badarikedar.org/

Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath (Hindi: केदारनाथ)is a Hindu holy town located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is a nagar panchayat in Rudraprayag district. The most remote of the four Char Dham sites, Kedarnath is located in the Himalayas, about 3584m above sea level near the head of river Mandakini, and is flanked by breathtaking snow-capped peaks. Kedarnath hosts one of the holiest Hindu temples, the Kedarnath Temple, and is a popular destination for Hindu pilgrims from all over the world, being one of the four major sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage.

Kedarnath is named after King Kedar who ruled in the Satya Yuga. He ruled the seven continents and was a very saintly king. He had a daughter named Vrnda who was a partial incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. She performed austerities for 60000 years. Because of her, the land is named Vrindavan.

Location : 14 Km Trek From Gaurikund
Dedicated To : Lord Shiva
Altitude : 3,581 mt
Built In : 8th Century AD

Lord Shiva manifested in the form of Jyotirlingam or the cosmic light. Kedarnath is highest among the 12 Jyotirlingas. This ancient and magnificient temple is located in the Rudra Himalaya range. This temple, over a thousand years old is built of massive stone slabs over a large rectangular platform. Ascending through the large gray steps leading to the holy sanctums we find inscriptions in Pali on the steps. The present temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya.The inner walls of the temple sanctum are adorned with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. The origin of the revered temple can be found in the great epic - Mahabharata. According to legends, the Pandavas sought the blessings of lord Shiva to atone their sin after the battle of Mahabharata. Lord Shiva eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed, he dived into ground leaving behind his hump on the surface. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form. The temple, believed to be very ancient, has been continually renovated over the centuries. It is situated at an altitude of 3,581 mt. It is a 14 km trek from Gaurikund.

At the approach of winters in the month of November, the holy statue of Lord Shiva, is carried down from Kedarnath to Ukhimath, and is reinstated at Kedarnath, in the first week of May. It is at this time, that the doors of the temple are thrown open to pilgrims, who flock from all parts of India, for a holy pilgrimage. The shrine closes on the first day of Kartik (Oct-Nov) and reopens in Vaishakh (Apr-May) every year. During its closure the shrine is submerged in snow and worship is performed at Ukhimath.

Location
Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the devout Hindu. It is set amidst the stunning mountainscape of the Garhwal Himalayas at the head of the Mandakini River. Kedar is another name of lord Shiva, the protector and the destroyer. Shiva is considered the embodiment of all passions - love, hatred, fear, death and mysticism which are expressed through his various forms.

The shrine of Kedarnath is very scenically placed, and is surrounded by lofty, snow - covered mountains, and during summer grassy meadows covering the valleys. Immediately behind the temple, is the high Keadardome peak, which can be sighted from great distances. The sight of the temple and the peak with its perpetual snows is simply enthralling.

The Mythological Past
There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli district itself, the most important one is Kedarnath. According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of having killed their own Kith and Kin and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull.

On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and are worshipped there as his manifestations.

The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madmaheshwar and his locks (hair) with head at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath and the four above mentioned shrines are treated as Panch Kedar.

An imposing sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The present temple, built in 8th century A.D. by Adi Shankaracharya, stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the exquisitely architectured Kedarnath temple is considered to be more than 1000 years old. Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs had been handled in the earlier days. The temple has a Garbha Griha for worship and a Mandap, apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form.

Best Time to visit:- The ideal time or peak season to go for a Char Dham Yatra is from May to October, except monsoons. This is because; all the four sacred sites are perched in Garhwal Himalayas, which is prone to heavy snowfall. As a result, all the passage leading to the shrines are blocked. Moreover, during the monsoon season, there is undue threat of having landslides, which can further disrupt the journey. For safety reasons, the gates of the temples are also closed for this period of time and the idols are shifted to nearby pilgrim points.

Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath temple is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located atop the Garhwal Himalayan range near the river Mandakini in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand in India. Due to extreme weather conditions, the temple is open only between the end of April to start of November. The temple is not directly accessible by road and has to be reached by a 14 km uphill trek from Gaurikund. The temple is believed to have been built by Adi Sankaracharya [1] and is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas, the holiest Hindu shrines of Lord Shiva. The older temple existed from the times of Mahabharat, when the Pandavas are supposed to have pleased Shiva by doing penance in Kedarnath. The temple is also one of the four major sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage of Northern Himalayas.


Soruce: http://www.badarikedar.org/kedarnath.aspx

Villagers oppose hydroelectric power project in Rudraprayag

Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand), Jan 25, (ANI): Many villagers of Rudraprayag district in Uttarakhand have protested against the setting up of a mega hydroelectric power project in their region. These villagers have been skeptical about hydroelectric power projects built across River Mandakini.

Considering this region being prone to earthquakes, the residents of Bhiri, Kund, Parkandi and several other villages are contending that the underground rigged tunnels can have adverse effects.
Rudraprayag, the smallest District in Uttarakhand, falls under the fifth degree of seismic zone.
Villagers have forced work on the project to come to a standstill.
“This area comes under fifth degree of seismic zone and is vulnerable to catastrophes. In the year of 1998-1999 lots of calamities happened in this area. We don”t want to face any further problems. That’’s why we have requested the Government and administration to look into this matter,” said Mayaram Semwal, an aggrieved resident of Parkandi village.
It may be recalled that Uttarakhand Government had harnessed the vast resources of rivers and other streams by constructing several small dams and mini-hydel projects.
However, the project across River Mandakini has not only invited the wrath of locals but environmentalists as well. And the Government on its part is keen to go ahead with this project.
“These villagers are protesting against the construction of our new Hydroelectric project, thats why construction work has also been delayed, opined Dalip Javlekar, District Magistrate, Rudraprayag.
Amidst these developments, the Government is of the view that mini hydropower projects are appropriate and profitable for the region whereas the local residents are opposing this by citing the consequential seismic factors. (ANI)

Soruce: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/villagers-oppose-hydroelectric-power-project-in-rudraprayag_100147028.html

SP wants to go with Cong, UKD with BJP LS Poll in Uttarakhand

Dehra Dun, Jan 25 Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress has opposed any tie up with the SP in Uttarakhand where the BJP is finding it tough to reach a seat-sharing arrangement with its coalition partner Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD).

The opposition from the Congress has been mounting against the SP after the two parties headed for a tie-up at the national level in the run-up to the general elections.

Since the SP has lost its base in Uttarakhand considerably following the separate hill statehood movement, the Congress now wants to contest all the five Lok Sabha seats on its own, party sources said.

But, the SP is interested in contesting Haridwar in a tie up with Congress, sources say.

On the other hand, UKD, a coalition partner of the BJP, said it was interested in contesting Lok Sabha elections from at least two seats in the hill state.

For this purpose, the UKD has sought a tie-up with the ruling BJP, party sources said.

However, the UKD&aposs move has put the BJP in a fix because Chief Minister B C Khanduri has already made a claim that the saffron party would win all the five seats.

When contacted, UKD president Narayan Jantwal said that in case no arrangement was reached with the BJP, the party would contest all the five seats on its own.

Meanwhile, suspense has grown within the BJP and the Congress over the selection of candidates for the elections.

Despite remaining out of Uttarakhand for a long, former Andhra Pradesh Governor N D Tiwari is being seen as a hot contender for the prestigious Nainital seat.

Source: http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/486651/National/1/20/1

U'khand police's community service prog help develop village

Dehra Dun, Jan 25 An year ago, Kakola, a remote village in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand was devoid of basic amenities like electricity and roads and would often remain cut off during the monsoon due to overflowing of a torrent making the life of the people miserable.

But now, it is a thing of past thanks to a series of new development works undertaken by the Uttarakhand police under the community service programe.

Kakola, which was identified as the pilot village under the programme, now has 16 street lights with the help of the state electricity department.

The community service programme is being run by the state police in the five hilly districts of Garhwal region --Tehri, Pauri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi.

"The basic purpose of the programme is to properly utilise the manpower of police force. Policemen are being encouraged to do some social service in remote villages in the hills,"said a top police official.

All the 29 thanas (police stations) of five districts have been engaged in the programme.

" Each thana has adopted a backward village under its area. And they are trying to improve the living conditions of its residents,"he added.

The role of the police is of a facilitator."If we ask a PWD official or a doctor to give his services for a particular place, he or she usually doesn&apost say no to us,"the police official said.

Soruce: http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/486587/National/1/20/1

RAT to save big cats

crack force of rangers, ex-army jawans and forest volunteers, called the Rapid Action Team (RAT), is on the prowl for tiger poachers in Jim Corbett National Park. It is possibly India’s first dedicated anti-poaching squad.

The RAT will have other jobs, too: stop animals from straying into the human settlements on the park’s edges and keep a leash on the “jungle mafia” smuggling forest produce.

“The rapid action team has been set up to fight poachers and keep wild animals from drifting into human habitations,” said Heera Singh Bisht, who heads the 22-member squad that began its work early this month.

The timing has been carefully chosen: January is the time when the park sees a rush and it becomes tough to spot suspected poachers from the large number of visitors.

Former soldiers, primarily those who opted for voluntary retirement, have been brought in because of their marksmanship, which can be used to thwart poachers who are often laced with modern weapons and gadgets.

The RAT, under the forest department, is modelled on a force raised in a Zambian national park where poaching had reached alarming proportions five years back.

Poaching has also been on the rise in the 1318sqkm Corbett park, part of the centre’s Project Tiger inititaive, near Uttarakhand’s Nainital.

The carcass of a tigress was found in March last year. Park deputy director Parag Dagate had suspected that poachers could poisoned it and removed the body parts.

In September 2006, a full-grown tiger was killed on the fringes of the park. Uttarakhand chief wildlife conservator S.K. Chandola had said one of the poachers, wounded after an attack by the animal, was arrested. The poachers, he had said, fired at the tiger from close range. In 2001, suspected ivory poachers killed six elephants.

Now, with RAT in action, hopes have risen that such incidents will be rare. “The team has been sensitised to animal behaviour,” said Corbett park warden D.S. Rawat.

He expects the kind of success achieved in South Luangwa National Park, the Zambian reserve whose anti-poaching force became an independent law-enforcing agency last year. RAT, too, has the powers to start a case.

Squads like RAT could be raised in other reserves of the country, such as the Dudhwa National Park (Uttar Pradesh), Gir (Gujarat) and Kaziranga National Park (Assam).

Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090126/jsp/nation/story_10441257.jsp

Drive to trap tigers gains momentum

LUCKNOW: A Rs 25-lakh grant from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and an wildlife expert from Uttarakhand government have pushed the state forest department into action mode on the stray tiger from on Monday.

The department announced that three separate teams of 100 members each would be engaged in the job of tackling the three tigers on prowl in Kheri, Faizabad and Ghazipur areas.

Prior to the announcement at a hurriedly convened press conference by chief wildlife warden BK Patnaik, the forest minister Fateh Bahadur Singh convened a meeting of wildlife and forest officials to take stock of the situation and left for Faizabad to meet the family members of the villager who fell prey to the tiger on Sunday. He is also learnt to have paid an ex-gratia relief of Rs 50,000 to the kin of the deceased.

The NTCA grant will be spent on mobile veterinary units equipped with vets, para-medics and wildlife staff to be stationed in areas where the big cats come out on the prowl in the human habitat. "To begin with, we would be deploying a vet unit each at Faizabad, Kheri and Ghazipur," said principal secretary, forest, Pawan Kumar, confirming that Rs 25 lakh grant has been sanctioned by the NTCA.

Soruce: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lucknow/Drive_to_trap_tigers_gains_momentum/articleshow/4004642.cms

Microchips to identify elephants in Corbett

JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK: Elephants in Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand have been installed with microchips, which will act as their
identification proof.

Installed with the help of a syringe, these chips will help the authorities identify the elephants from among the wild ones.

The chips would provide a unique identification number to the elephants, which would enable the wildlife authorities at the park, to keep a track on these elephants through the means of a digital reader.

The chips would also ensure that the owner of the elephants, which are used to ferry visitors around the park, do not exchange their old and ailing jumbos with another elephant.

"The microchip gives a unique identification number to the elephant. The chances of that animal mixing with others and even the owners exchanging their animals with other elephants are reduced," said DS Rawat, Warden, Jim Corbett National Park.

The authorities at the park would only allow the elephants installed with microchips to take the visitors for a trip around the park.

So far around 17 elephants have been installed with these microchips and many more are in queue to get their digital identification.

Soruce: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Microchips_in_Corbetts_elephants/articleshow/4012012.cms

ATOAI convention showcases Adventure Tourism possibilities in Uttarakhand

The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India’s (ATOAI) seventh annual convention was held end of last week at Pacific Hotel Dehradun in Uttarakhand. B C Khanduri, Chief Minister, Uttarakhand inaugurated the convention. A high level of delegation comprising of officials from the Ministry of Forest and Ministry of Tourism (MoT) secretaries along with distinguished personalities from travel trade were present at the convention. The theme of the convention was ‘New face of Adventure Travel.’ The main idea of the convention was to showcase adventure tourism possibilities in the Indian Himalayas within Uttarakhand and promote it as an Adventure Tourism state. For this, ATOAI organised four business sessions which focused on, New face of adventure travel, Taking Indian adventure travel forward, Up scaling Adventure Travel, Making Uttarakhand a global Ecotourism and adventure destination: The way forward. At the convention Ashwani Lohani, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism also invited ATOAI to host its next convention in Madhya Pradesh.

Source: http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/Login.aspx

Vulture population on rise at Jim Corbett national park

Jim Corbett (Uttarakhand), Jan.22: Forest experts at Jim Corbett national park in Uttarakhand are delighted over the rising number of vultures in the region.

This was indicated by an international project undertaken by the rangers of the wildlife sanctuary to count the vultures.

The positive reports about the population are significant considering a wide concern that vultures may soon become extinct.

"No doubt vulture population is decreasing in our country and wildlife experts are concerned. But I am very happy that I sighted over 100 vultures of three different species here. There are at least 20 pairs of Seyranian, there are around 35 pairs of Himalayan vultures and we even saw the cylinder built birds. This symbolises very good, I am very happy," said P.K. Patro, Divisional Forest Officer, Ramnagar.

According to available reports, 99 per cent of the country's vulture population has vanished mainly because they have been consuming carcasses of cows treated with an anti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac Sodium, whose manufacture was banned in006.

Scientists warn that Asian vultures can become extinct within a decade unless the livestock drug blamed for their rapid demise is eliminated.

Vultures find a place in Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the country's only legal framework to protect endangered species, which prohibits hunting and trafficking of endangered species.

Jim Corbett National Park has been named after the hunter turned conservationist Jim Corbett who played main role the park's establishment, which is today the oldest national park in India.

It was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park.

Located in Uttarakhand's Nainital district, the park acts as a protected area for the critically endangered Bengal tiger of India, the secure survival of which is the main objective of Project Tiger, an Indian wildlife protection initiative By Vibhav Porav

Soruce: http://www.dailyindia.com/show/293104.php

Pay bonanza for Uttarakhand staff

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand cabinet on Wednesday extended the benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission to all government-aided school staff both teaching and non-teaching. This will benefit 7,200 teachers and 4,000 non-teaching staff of government-aided schools besides pensioners.

The move comes following a prolonged agitation by the teachers and non-teaching staff of aided schools who were left out of the ambit of the Sixth Pay Commission.

The cabinet also decided to accept the demands of the state government employees for grade pay and approved the Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme under which an employee would get a higher grade after every 10 years in service in case no promotion was given during the period.

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, state chief secretary Indu Kumar Pandey said all government employees working in border areas would be given hill development allowance which was earlier not being given to them as they were getting border area allowance.

Areas would be identified which are higher that 1,000 metres and allowance would be paid which would range between Rs 150 and Rs 540 in accordance with the grade pay, said Pandey. Valleys located over a height of 1,000 metres but lower in altitude would also be included .

He said an enhanced family planning allowance would be given to the employees. House rent allowance would be raised for state government employees.

Pandey said these decisions would cost the exchequer Rs 200 crore every year. Besides, an additional Rs 900 crore would be paid as arrears.

He said collective insurance cover for government employees would be raised to amounts ranging from Rs 1 lakh, Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, respectively, depending each employee's contribution. Earlier, these amounts were Rs 30,000, Rs 60,000 and Rs 1.2 lakh, respectively.

The Khanduri cabinet also approved of the formation of an Uttarakhand safai karamchari aayog which would look after the welfare of the safai karamcharis in the hill state.

New guidelines have been approved for the appointment and promotion of Naib Tehsildars in the state.

Soruce: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Pay_bonanza_for_Uttarakhand_staff/articleshow/4013023.cms

Uttarakhand extends pay panel benefits to teachers

Despite facing a financial crisis, the Uttarakhand government today extended the benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission to agitating teaching and non-teaching staff of its aided schools and provided a series of higher grades to all other 160,000 sulking employees.

The move is likely to compound the government’s worries in the face of the financial turmoil due to the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission report and the global recession.

Under the new pay revision, the government will have to shell out a total of Rs 4,000 crore till March 31, 2009, in terms of arrears and increased salaries to its employees. This has put a heavy burden on the state exchequer as the total budget of the state stands at Rs 5,600 crore in the current fiscal. Officials admitted that with the increase of non-plan expenditure, the new development projects would get badly affected.

The latest decision would benefit over 11,000 teaching and non-teaching staff of the government-aided schools as they had been earlier left out of the ambit of the Sixth Pay Commission. Besides this, the government today declared a series of higher grades and other benefits like Assured Career Progression (ACP) for its employees on the pattern of the Centre.

On the other hand, the list of pensioners is ballooning fast in the state with the addition of 114,000 more people during the past two years. Before the BJP government came to power in 2007, the total number of pensioners in the state was only 172,000. Top officials said all the new pensioners will now be entitled for the benefits of the new pay report as well.

The officials added that the government has now sought permission from the Centre to take additional market borrowings of Rs 750 crore to overcome the crisis.

Soruce: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/uttarakhand-extends-pay-panel-benefits-to-teachers/00/05/346730/

Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand

Known earlier as Lokpal, Hemkund Sahib has an interesting legend associated with it. According to Hindu mythology, Hemkund was the place where Lakshman, the brother of Lord Rama did his penance. The Sikhs believe that Hemkund is the place where their beloved 10th and the last Guru, Guru Gobind Singh as Dust Daman was unified with God after prolonged meditation in his previous birth. The Guru had referred to his previous birth in one of the chapters of his autobiographical poem ‘Bichittar Natak' wherein he had described a place deep in the Himalayas surrounded by seven peaks and a glacial lake where he was united with the Master after a prolong penance.

Though the Sikhs had known of the story and had tried very hard to locate the exact place, it took two devout Sikhs Sant Solan Singh and Mohan Singh extreme hard work and effort to discover the place. Soon after the discovery, Hemkund Sahib became an important pilgrimage centre and a star shaped Gurudwara was built on the very place where Guru Gobind Singh is said to have meditated.
There are places that are beautiful and easy to reach and then there are gems, hidden and far away, difficult to access; but one that will take your breath – away. The Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara is one such breath-taking destination that is simply incredible. Revered both by the Sikhs and the Hindus, Hemkund Sahib is located in the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand.

An important Sikh pilgrimage site, Hemkund is located 4329 meters above sea level in the of Uttarakhand. The Sikh community holds Hemkund Sahib in extreme respect as the place is associated with Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru, who founded Khalsa Panth in 1699. It is also venerated by the Hindus, for the place is also home to the Lakshman Temple. Hemkund is also the place where the mythical and rare yellow-green flower known as the Brahma Kamal, or 'Lotus of the Gods' is found

Places of Interest
Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara: Located on the banks of the Hemkund Lake, the Gurudwara of Hemkund Sahib is a star-shaped structure. An outlet behind the Gurudwara is source of the Lakshman Ganga.

The Hemkund Lake: A beautiful lake set amidst picturesque surroundings, the Hemkund Lake is about 2 km in circumference. While the lake stays snow covered during the winters one can view the reflection of the surrounding Saptashringa Peaks (5,500 m) in its crystal clear waters during the summers. The glaciers from Hathi Parvat and Saptrishi peaks feed the lake and a small stream called Himganga flows out of this lake. The abundance of beautiful and varied wildflowers and ferns that cover the banks of the lake and the cascading water falls make this place a heavenly sight.

Lakshman Temple: Located on the banks of the Hemkund Lake is a temple dedicated to Lakshman, the brother of Lord Rama. Also known as the Lokpal Temple, it was here that Lakshman did his penance. It is also believed that the Sanjeevani Bhuti that cured Lakshman was also found from this place.

Places Nearby
Valley of Flowers: A glacial corridor 8 km in length and 2 km in width that gets carpeted with beautiful wildflowers during July and August, Valley of Flowers is 8 km from Ghangaria, which serves as a base camp both for the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib. You need to veer left for the Valley of Flowers, while the straight climb leads to Hemkund Sahib. The trail to the valley is well marked. You need to register and pay a fee at the gate to enter the Valley of Flowers.

Govindghat: Govindghat located at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Lakshman Ganga rivers is the starting point for trekking to Hemkund Sahib. Govindghat is 22 km from Joshimath on NH 58 and has an imposing Gurudwara named after Guru Govind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru.

Joshimath: The nearest town to Hemkund Sahib, Joshimath is located on the confluence of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. It is associated with Adi Shankaracharya, who built a temple here in the 9th century. The temple of Ugra Narasimha- the half man, half lion avatar of Lord Vishnu is also situated here.

Auli: A picturesque ski resort located 9,000 feet above sea level, excellent for winter sports and views of the Himalayas is just 8 km from Joshimath. An interesting way to reach Auli is to take the cable ropeway.

Badrinath: One of the Chardhams of India, Badrinath is 30 km from Govindghat and is the seat of Vishnu. Badrinath was established as a major pilgrimage site by Adi Shankara in the 9th century. The Badrinath Temple is the main attraction here, which houses the black stone image of Lord Badrinarayan made of Saligram stone. The image was found by Adi Shankaracharya in the Alaknanda River.

Ghangharia: Ghangharia serves as a base for visiting Hemkund Sahib as well as the Valley of Flowers. It is the last human habitation in the valley. A Tourist Lodge, log huts, tents and a Gurudwara provide comfortable accommodation.

Stay Options
There are rest houses run by the Hemkund Sahib Trust all along the way from Rishikesh and Joshimath to Hemkund Sahib. Here devotees are provided with food and accommodation free of charge. Ghangharia, the base camp for Hemkund Sahib has several tourist lodges, hotels and rest houses. There is a Gurudwara in Ghangaria that accommodate thousands of pilgrims.

However, it is at Hemkund Sahib that the facilities become limited. While only the granthis and the sevadars who work at the shrine are allowed to stay there for the night; pilgrims are expected to go back to Ghangharia before nightfall.
Click here to check stay options for Hemkund Sahib

How to reach
By Air: Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun, 268 km from Hemkund Sahib via Gobindghat and Rishikesh, is the nearest airport. The airport is not operational yet.

By Rail: Rishikesh Railway Station at 200 km from Hemkund and 175 km from Gobindghat is the closest railhead. Haridwar and Dehradun are other near by railway station.

By Road: Joshimath at 40 km from Hemkunt Sahib is the base from where one needs to take a bus or hire a taxi to reach Gobindghat. Gobindghat is also well connected by road with Rishikesh, Kotdwara, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Ranikhet etc.

It is also on the bus route to Badrinath from Rishikesh. From Gobindghat, one needs to trek 14 km to reach Ghangharia via Vishnuganga River and Bhyundar Valley. Ghangharia, at the confluence of the Pushpavati and the Lakshman Ganga rivers is the last base before the steep 6 km climb to Hemkund and the Valley of Flowers.
In Short: Joshimath- Gobindghat- Ghangharia-Hemkund Sahib/ Valley of Flowers

Best Time to Visit
Mid July to September when the weather is relatively pleasant and the flowers are in full bloom. However, it is essential to carry woolens and good sturdy trekking shoes. It may also rain, a good rain coat is recommended though one can buy cheap plastic rain coats on the way to Hemkund Sahib.

http://www.oktatabyebye.com/travelogues/314-uttaranchalslashalmost-heaven---valley-of-flowers-(part-1).html

Hemkund Sahib – The holy lake & the Gurudwara in Uttarakhand

Hemkund or the 'Snow Lake' nestles at a height of 4329 m amidst seven snow-covered mountains, which are collectively called Hemkund Parvat. The sacred star shaped gurudwara near the lake is one of the most important Sikh pilgrim centre and is visited by large number of Sikhs and Hindus from all over the world. There is also a Hindu mandir. These are the highest temples in India.

It is believed that Guru Govind Singh ji, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs meditated over here. Saints like Rishi Medhasa of the Markandeya Purana and legendary Lakshman, the brother of Lord Ram also performed penance here. A temple dedicated to Lord Lakshman is located near the gurudwara. The 15 km trek from Govindghat to Hemkund is very popular, with breathtaking views.

The high altitude Lokpal lake, known as Hemkund lies in heavenly environs. A steep trek from Ghangharia leads one to this spot in about four to six hours. For eight months of the year this 'lake of ice' is inaccessible, its water frozen beneath deep snow. When the monsoon rains begin, the ice and snow melt, and meadows of ferns and moss and wildflowers colour its banks. Then, in their thousands, Sikhs climb the steep stone path to the lake and bathe in its chill waters. They come in remembrance and prayer to see the place where their tenth Guru meditated and realized his oneness with God. To local Hindus the lake is known as Lokpal, and the temple there is dedicated to the god Lakshman. On festival days they journey to it from nearby Himalayan valleys to make offerings and give thanks. To these visitors, Sikh and Hindu alike, the lake and its environs are sacred.

In the Indian epic and Puranic literature, Himalayan landscapes are described as the dwelling places of gods and goddesses. Pilgrimage shrines mark the places where the land forms themselves: mountains, rivers, forests, and lakes are said to have acquired sacred qualities. High above the tree line, in the midst of a natural rock garden of moss, ferns, and flowers, is one such sacred place: a small, blue-green lake fed by water which cascades down from the surrounding mountain walls.

Sikhs believe that this holy place, is the tap asthan (place of meditation and prayer) at which the tenth and final living Guru of the Sikhs achieved union with God in his previous incarnation. From there, the Guru was summoned by God to be reborn into the world to teach the people the true path. The temple built on the shore of the lake commemorates his mission.

It also shelters the Guru Granth Sahib, the eternal scriptural Guru for the Sikh community. The community is itself recognized as a collective Guru, and pilgrims, as they walk the path toward Hemkunt, share the sacred journey with its members. In this way, all three forms of the Guru - the source of spiritual guidance - are understood to be present at Hemkund. Sikh pilgrims go there to be inspired to walk the same difficult path that the Guru walked, both in body and in spirit, and to, through the Guru's grace, realize their connection with God in the same place where the Guru realized his. At Hemkunt Sahib, Sikhs feel closer to the Guru and, through the Guru, closer to God.

This 'lake of ice' is also sacred to the hill people who live in the valley below. They tell of the gods Lakshman, Hanuman, Shiva, and Vishnu, the tales of their deeds woven together with images from local landscapes. Long before the Sikhs knew the lake as the Guru's tap asthan, these people knew it as Lokpal, and made annual pilgrimages to its shore. For them, as for Sikhs, the journey continues to be an act of devotion, and the holy lake itself is a place for prayer and worship - a place where wishes can be fulfilled.

As alluded to, in the holy Granth Sahib, Guru Govind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikh faith had meditated on the bank of this lake in one of his earlier births. It is widely believed among Sikhs that Guru Govind Singh introduced the features now universally associated with Sikhism. On 15th April 1699, he started the new brotherhood called the Khalsa (meaning the pure, from the Persian word 'Khales') an inner core of the faithful, accepted by baptism (amrit). The five K's' date from this period: kesh (uncut hair) kangha (comb), kirpan (dagger or short sword), kara (steel bangle), and kachh (boxer shorts). The most important is the uncut hair, adopted before the other four. The comb is sometime designated specially as wooden. The dagger and the shorts reflect military influence, while the bangle may be a from of charm.

Neighouring Hemkund/Lokpal is an internationally famous national park. When he passed through the area after a climbing expedition in 1931, British mountaineer F.S. Smythe wrote that it "was the most beautiful valley that any of us had seen. We camped in it for two days and we remembered it afterwards as the Valley of Flowers." The name alone is enough to entice many trekkers from India and abroad to make the journey to this remote mountain meadow.

Transport
Air: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 307 km (Dehradun 334 km)
Rail: Nearest railhead is Rishikesh, 293 km
Road: Hemkund Saheb is 5 km from Ghangharia, which is approachable on foot from Govindghat which is connected by road with Rishikesh, Kotdwara, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Ranikhet and other important hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon Hills.

Taxies : Private taxies and other light vehicles are also plying between Rishikesh and Govindghat and back. The charges are net fixed.

Petrol Pump : Pipalkoti, 55 km from Govindghat. Now also available at Jhadkula (Joshimath).
Hospital / Market / Bank: Joshimath
Post & Telegraph : Govindghat
Best time to visit : Mid July to mid August
Note:
Horses, Dandies, Coolies and Ponies are available at Govindghat for carrying luggage and food to Valley of Flowers or Hemkund.

Accomodation
Accommodation at Ghangharia Tourist Rest House
Reservation :
General Manager (Tourist)
Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd.
Survey Chowk, Dehradun - 248001.
Assistant General Manager (Tourist)
Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd.
Rishikesh 249201
Accommodation at Joshimath Forest Rest House : 2 rooms
Reservation : Deputy Conservator, Nanda Devi National Park, Joshimath
Gurudawara : Can accommodate approximately 5,000 visitors / tourists who can stay in 3 halls and 40 rooms.
Forest Rest House
Reservation Authority : D.M. Chamoli, D.F.O. Badrinath Forest Division
Tourist Rest House Ghangharia

Soruce: http://www.whereincity.com/photo-gallery/gurudwaras/hemkunt-sahib-63.htm

Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand Name of Flowers

Purple Flower

No. Name of Flowers Time of flowering
1. Rhododendron arboreum February-June
2. Primula denticuleta April-July
3. Iris kemaonensis June-July
4. Fritillaria roylei June-July
5. Lilium oxypetalum June-July
6. Arisaema costautum June-July
7. Thermopsisa barbata June-July
8. Rosa macrophylla June-July
9. Caltha palustris June-July
10. Fragaria nubicola May-July
11. Saxifraga roylei July-August
12. Anemone obtusiloba June-August
13. Cypripedium himalaicum June-August
14. Rheum australe July-August
15. Phlomis oracteosa June-August
16. Hackelia uncinata June-August
17. Senecio jacquemotiamus August-September
18. Ligularia amplexicaulis July-August
19. Morina longifolia July-September
20. Geum elatum July-August
21. Geranium wallichianum July-August
22. Impatiense sulcata July-August
23. Meconopsis aculeata July-August
24. Delphenium roylei July-August
25. Aconitum hookeri August-September
26. Thalictrum reniforme July-September
27. Potentilla atrosanguinea July-September
28. Sedum ewersii August-September
29. Dactylorhiza hatagirea June-July
30. Bistorta affinis August-September
31. Stachys sericee August-September
32. Nepeta connata August-September
33. Pedicularis hoffmeistri July-August
34. Swertia hookeri August-September
35. Gentiana ornata August-September
36. Gaultheria erichophy August-September
37. Codonopsis affinis August-September
38. Angelica cyelocarpa July-September
39. Leontopodium jacotianum July-September
40. Saussurea fastuosa July-September
41. Campanula latitotia August-September
42. Cyananthus lobotus August-September
43. Sassurea obvallata August-September
44. Cremanthodium ellisii July-September
45. Anaphalis triplineruts July-September
46. Inula grandiflora August-September
47. Aster albescens July-September
48. Selinium tenuifolium August-September
49. Heracleum pinnatum August-September
50. Epilobium latisperma August-September
51. Silene setisperma August-September
52. Arenaria griffithii August-September
53. Corydalis junecea August-September
54. Erigerono multiradiatus August-September
55. Polygonum molle August-September
56. Himalayan Blue Poppy July-September
57. Codonopsis viridis July-August
58. Origanus vulgare July-August
59. Hackelia uncinata July-August
60. Salvia hins/lanata July-August
61. Smilacina purpurea/oleracea June-July
62. Viola biflora June-August
63. Rhodiola heterodonta July-August
64. Epilohium latifolium July-August
65. Cotoneaster integrifolius July-August
66. Dubyaea hispida August-September
67. Saussurea costus July-August
68. Ligularia fiseheri July-August
69. Androsace museoidea July-August
70. Eritrichium conum July-August
71. Lindelofi anchusoides July-August
72. Thymus linearis June-August
73. Rheum webbianum June-August
74. Megacorpaea polyandra June-August
75. Trillidium govanianum June-August
76. Satyrium nepoleanse June-August
77. Podophyllum hexaneum June-August
78. Picrorhiza kurrooa June-August
79. Polygonatum multiflorum June-August

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Valley_of_flowers_uttaranchal_full_view.JPG

Valley of Flowers National Park

MultistoryFlower
Valley of flowers Uttarakhand full view

Valley of Flowers National Park is an Indian national park, Nestled high in West Himalaya, is renowned for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and outstanding natural beauty. This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, brown bear and blue sheep. The gentle landscape of the Valley of Flowers National Park complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi National Park. Together they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya. The park stretches over an expanse of 87.50 km².

The Valley of Flowers is an outstandingly beautiful high-altitude Himalayan valley that has been acknowledged as such by renowned mountaineers and botanists in literature for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer. Its ‘gentle’ landscape, breath-takingly beautiful meadows of alpine flowers and ease of access complement the rugged, mountain wilderness for which the inner basin of Nanda Devi National Park is renowned.

The Valley of Flowers is internationally important on account of its diverse alpine flora, representative of the West Himalaya biogeographic zone. The rich diversity of species reflects the valley’s location within a transition zone between the Zaskar and Great Himalayas ranges to the north and south, respectively, and between the Eastern Himalaya and Western Himalaya flora. A number of plant species are internationally threatened, several have not been recorded from elsewhere in Uttarakhand and two have not been recorded in Nanda Devi National Park. The diversity of threatened species of medicinal plants is higher than has been recorded in other Indian Himalayan protected areas. The entire Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve lies within the Western Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA). Seven restricted-range bird species are endemic to this part of the EBA.

The Valley of Flowers was declared a national park in 1982. This part of Uttarakhand, in the upper reaches of Garhwal, is inaccessible through much of the year. The area lies on the Zanskar range of the Himalayas with the highest point in the national park being Gauri Parbat at 6,719 m above sea level.

History
The Valley was introduced to the world as the Valley of Flowers by Frank S Smythe - mountaineer, explorer, botanist who camped here for several weeks in the monsoon of 1937 and did valuable exploratory work. He authored a book called "The Valley of Flowers" which unveiled the beauty and floral splendours of the valley and thus threw open the doors of this verdant jewel to nature-enthusiasts all over the world.

In 1939 Miss Margaret Legge, a botanist deputed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh arrived at the valley for further studies. While she was traversing some rocky slopes to collect flowers, she slipped off and was lost for ever. Her sister later visited the valley and erected a memorial on the spot where she was buried by the locals. The thoughtful memorial is still there.

The Trek
Getting to the Valley of Flowers requires a trek of about 17 km. The nearest major town is Joshimath in Garhwal, which has convenient road connections from railheads such as Haridwar and Dehradun, both about 270 km from Joshimath.

From Joshimath, a vehicle can be hired to take you to within 17 km of the park, to the settlement of Gobindghat. The route from Joshimath to the Valley of Flowers goes along the main road to Badrinath; roughly midway along this road, a minor road branches off to Gobindghat, the roadhead for the Valley. From Gobindghat, a trek of 14 km brings hikers to the tiny settlement of Ghangaria. Valley of flowers is about 3 km from this place. Hemkund Sahib is around 5 km from Ghangaria.

Soruce: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Valley_of_flowers_uttaranchal_full_view.JPG

The Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand

These are some of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the Himalayas. Dominated by the peak of Nanda Devi, which rises to over 7,800 m, Nanda Devi National Park has remained more or less intact because of its inaccessibility. It is the habitat of several endangered mammals, especially the snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer and bharal. The Valley of Flowers National Park is renowned for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and outstanding natural beauty, and is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, brown bear and blue sheep. Together they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya, praised by mountaineers and botanists for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer.

The Valley of Flowers is an outstandingly beautiful high-altitude Himalayan valley that has been acknowledged as such by renowned mountaineers and botanists in literature for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer. Its ‘gentle’ landscape, breath-takingly beautiful meadows of alpine flowers and ease of access complement the rugged, mountain wilderness for which the inner basin of Nanda Devi National Park is renowned.

Valley of flower is world heritage recognised by UNESCO.
The Valley of Flowers is internationally important on account of its diverse alpine flora, representative of the West Himalaya biogeographic zone. The rich diversity of species reflects the valley’s location within a transition zone between the Zaskar and Great Himalaya ranges to the north and south, respectively, and between the Eastern and Western Himalaya flora. A number of plant species are internationally threatened, several have not been recorded from elsewhere in Uttarakhand and two have not been recorded in Nanda Devi National Park. The diversity of threatened species of medicinal plants is higher than has been recorded in other Indian Himalayan protected areas. The entire Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve lies within the Western Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA). Seven restricted-range bird species are endemic to this part of the EBA.

Valley of flowers is the name of the Himalayan area in Uttarakhand, India. In 1931 the English mountaineer Frank Smythe stumbled across the Bhyundar Valley, an 8 km long glacier corridor in Chamoli Garhwal. This area, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and carpeted with over 500 species of flowers, soon became a protected site.

It was declared a national park in 1982. The Valley of Flowers stretches over an expanse of 87.50 km². This part of Uttarakhand, in the upper reaches of Garhwal, is inaccessible through much of the year. The area lies on the Zanskar range of the Himalayas with the highest point in the national park being Gauri Parbat at 6,719 m above sea level.

Flowers mostly orchids, poppies, primulas, calendulas, daisies and anemones carpet the ground. Alpine forests of birch and rhododendron cover a part of the area, and are home to tahr, snow leopard, musk deer, red fox, common langur, bharal, serow, Himalayan black bear and a huge variety of butterflies.

There is no settlement in the national park and grazing in the area has been banned. The park is open only in summers between June and October, being covered by heavy snow during the rest of the year.

Entry Eligibility
All visitors to the Valley of Flowers need to obtain an entry permit from the Forest Checkpost at the entrance to the park, beyond Ghangaria. The fee is a nominal one- at least for Indians, who pay significantly less than foreigners. The permit is valid for three days, and additional charges are levied for still cameras; video cameras are allowed only if you're carrying a special permit from the Chief Wildlife Warden in Lucknow. Visitors are allowed into the park only during the daytime.

How to go
Getting to the Valley of Flowers isn't exactly a cakewalk: getting here requires a trek of about 17 km. The nearest major town is Joshimath in Garhwal, which has convenient road connections from railheads such as Hardwar and Dehradun, both about 270 km from Joshimath. From Joshimath, a vehicle can be hired to take you to within 17 km of the park, to the settlement of Gobindghat. The route from Joshimath to the Valley of Flowers goes along the main road to Badrinath; roughly midway along this road, a minor road branches off to Gobindghat, the roadhead for the Valley. From Gobindghat, a trek of 14 km brings hikers to the tiny settlement of Ghangaria, beyond which the toll gate to the National Park is about 3 km.

Best time to visit
The Valley of Flowers is accessible only in the summer, between June and October. The rest of the year, heavy snows make passage impossible, and usually block off the trail leading up to the National Park. Although you can visit the park any time during the summer, it's best to go in August or September, when monsoon showers turn the valley into a mass of blooms.

Accommodation
Overnight stay at the Valley of Flowers is not permitted. so there are no facilities for accommodation within the park. There are state-run tourist resthouses at Joshimath and Ghangharia; both in addition, have several tourist lodges and resthouses. Accommodation tariffs along the way can range from anywhere between Rs 100 to 1000.

Soruce: http://www.uttaranchal.org.uk/valleyofflowers.php