Chamoli in Chamba

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Nestled in the lap of mighty Himalayas and blessed with immense beauty, Chamoli is the district town located in the state of Uttaranchal, India. Carved out from the erstwhile Garhwal district, Chamoli was formed in the year 1960. Chamoli is bordered by Uttarkashi in the North-west, Pithoragarh in the South-west, Almora in the South-east and Tehri Garhwal in the west. Perched at an elevation of 995 mts above sea level, Chamoli is a very important pilgrim centre for Hindus. River Alaknanda flows through the town.

Dotted with several temples and shrines, Chamoli has a rich history to boast about. The town finds place in both the important epics of the Hindus- the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. According to the legend, during the war between Ram and Ravana, Ram's brother Laxman got injured and to save his life, an herb called Sanjeevani was required. Hanuman came all the way from Lanka and found that herb from the Himalayas in Chamoli. Since he couldn't identify the herb, he took off an entire mountain. It is also believed that the epic Mahabharata was composed by Ved Vyas in Chamoli only.

The beauteousness of the place has inspired the imaginations of great poets like Kalidas. Be it climatic cardinalities, remarkable landforms, floristic assortment, vale facets, stream limits or the exquisite landscape, Chamoli has proved itself as the most extravagant in its innate beauty. Rightly known as God's abode, Chamoli is a visual enchantment with ice covered, sky touching peaks, the blooming fauna, luxuriant greenery, the thick woodlands and a mystic aura all around.

A reflection of paradise, Chamoli shot to fame in the 1970's with Chipko movement. Initiated by a group of female peasants in one of the villages of Chamoli, Chipko movement is an act of hugging trees to protect them from being felled. The movement led to the formulation of several forest policies and afforestation work throughout the world.

Chamoli reverberates with mysticism and is the perfect place to relax and rejuvenate your tired body, mind and soul. The renowned shrine of Badrinath, one of the Char Dham, is located here and a visit to this place is considered as equivalent to attaining moksha. The place is closely associated with Lord Vishnu. Other tourist attractions include Adi Badri which is the remains of 16 small ancient temples belonging to the Gupta period.

A very popular place in Chamoli is Auli, which is an important ski destination. An emerging tourist destination, the place offers breathtaking panoramic vistas of the lofty peaks. Auli also boasts of having Asia's longest cable car which is about 4 kms. It also has a Chair lift and a ski lift. Other major tourist attraction includes Gopeshwar where the administrative headquarters are located. Hemkund Sahib, the sacred star shaped Gurudwara, is one of the most important Sikh pilgrim centres and is thronged by Sikh and Hindu community. The 'Valley of Flowers' is another major tourist attraction of Chamoli. This is an enchanting spot with the largest assortment of wild flower species. With about 520 species of flowering plants and few species of animals, this place was declared a national park in 1982.

Other attractions of Chamoli are Ghangaria, Govind Ghat, Nanda Devi Sanctuary, Joshimath, Satopnath Lake, Rudranath temple and Vasundhara etc. The best time to visit the place is during the months of April- June when the temperatures are moderate and the climate enjoyable.

Untainted and untouched by the incoherent urban life, Chamoli offers excellent scenic splendors and a memory of the lifetime.