Best places to visit in Harsil - Uttarakhand | Harsil Tourism places | Harsil Travel Guide | Best time to visit Harsil | Harsil valley Uttarakhand
Harsil
Harsil is a small yet beautiful hill station located in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Harsil is surrounded by beautiful snowcapped mountains , deodar and pine forests. The Bhagirathi river flows through Harsil valley. Harsil is everyone's favorite hills station. The air & water is pure & free from any type of pollutant. Harsil valley temperature ranges from -3 degrees (in winters) to 24 degrees (in summers). Harsil is famous for it's glittering & sweet flavoured apples. There are number of treks in Harsil valley for nature lovers.
How to reach Harsil valley
Harsil valley from Delhi : Delhi -240km- Dehradun -145km- Uttarkashi-79km- Harsil
Harsil to Dehradun : Dehradun-145km- Uttarkashi -79km-Harsil Valley
Harsil Hotels
There are number of hotels in Harsil. The price of rooms ranges from 1500-4500 (approx) depending on the facilities provided.
Best places to visit in Harsil
1. Bagori village
Bagori village is located at a distance of 1km from Harsil valley. This village has a historic importance. All the houses are built along an alley. The village has famous Lal devta temple and Monastery. The attire of the people is also different. They mostly wear self wooven woolen clothes. Bagori village has no. of homestays for tourist. The aerial view of bagori village is worth watching.
2. Lama top
Lama top is also called "Lama Tekri". This top is an upward trek of 1km from Harsil valley. The trail goes through deodar and pine forest. The top offers an astonishing and pleasing view of Harsil valley and surroundings. The top has Tibetan Prayer flags. These flags are the characteristics of this top. Every year, people of Bagori village worship this place and replace these flags with the new ones. The view from this top is worth watching. This place must be in your bucket list when planning for Harsil.
3. Cholmi village
Cholmi village located at a distance of 1.4 km from main town Harsil. It is an upward trek from main road . The route to Cholmi village is well marked with concrete pillars. This village is famous for it's Apple orchards , Panchmukhi Mahadev (shiva temple) and Raatah (popular skii destination). Cholmi village has numerous homestays. This place is best choice for nature and peace lovers.
4. Sat tal ( seven lakes)
Sattal is located at Dharali village. This village is only 3 km away from Harsil valley. Sattal is a popular trek among adventure and nature lovers. The trail to sattal starts from Dharali village. Sat tal is 3 km upward trek from Dharali. Sat tal refers to "Seven lakes". Unfortunately, there are only 5 lakes remaining out of seven. Some lakes are dried out or damaged due to natural calamities. In recent, only 5 lakes can be seen. This trek is best in winters, as there is a lot of snow which makes it a beautiful trek.
5. Mukhba village
Mukhba village is only 2.5 away from Harsil. This beautiful village is the winter home of "Goddess Ganga". Mukhba village offers the scenic and eye satisfying view of Mt. Srikanth, Dharali village, and various mountain ranges. The most popular festival " Selku" is celebrated every year with joy and endless happiness. This village is accessible throughout the year. One can take blessings of "Goddess Ganga" by visiting this beautiful village.
6. Gartang Gali
Gartang Gali is located at a distance of 20km from Harsil valley. Gartang Gali itself is an architectural masterpiece, reinnovated by skilled engineers and opened tourist in 2021. Gartang Gali is actually a skywalk stairs hanging at an altitude of 11,000 feet. This used to be the trade route which was demolished during the Indo China war. The gates of the Gartang Gali opens with the opening of Chardham yatra. In order to visit Gartang Gali, the permit/pass is necessary. The charge for per person : rs 150 .
7. Gangotri
Gangotri Dham is located at a distnce of 26km from Harsil valley. Gangotri Dham is famous for "Goddess Ganga Temple". Gangotri temple has thousands of devotee / visitors per year. Gangotri also serves as an acclimatization point for some of the popular treks of Uttarakhand including Kedartal Trek, Gaumukh-Tapovan Trek, Nandan van trek & Pandav Guffa. The art gallery in Gangotri is worth watching. Gangotri temperature in summer - 20°c & in winters 5°c to -15 (approx) .There are no. of hotels in Gangotri. Gaumukh is the main source of Ganga river, located at a distance of 18km,which can be trekked through Gangotri Dham.
8. Kyarkoti Lake Trek
Kyarkoti lake trek is a must visit place for trekking & camping lovers. The trail takes one through astonishing bhojpatra and deodar forest offering some scenic views of waterfalls and snowcapped mountains. The trek is 14 km long from Harsil . Kyarkoti is an eye soothing trek offering captivating view of green meadow with wild flora and fauna. Varities of flowers can be found here. The streams flowing through the meadow is worth watching. The best time to do the trek is-in the month of June and August.
9. Mandakini Waterfall
The mandakini waterfall is famous due to a film called " Ram Teri Ganga Maili. The song "Tujhe bulaye yeh meri" from the film Ram teri Ganga maili is shooted here in the year 1985. Since then, this place is eye captivating to tourist. This waterfall is located at a distance of 4 km from Harsil valley and 900m from Dharali village. This is the place where Naren meets Ganga in the film. The waterfall almost freezes in winter due to extreme cold.
10. Dharali village
Dharali village is just 2 km away from Harsil valley. This village is famous for Kalpkedar Mandir, Apple orchards and Rajma cultivation. Dharali village is a small village located on the bank of river Bhagirathi. The village aslo serves as a acclimatization point and basecamp for Mt. Srikanth, Jhinda Bugyal and Sattal lake trek. Dharali hotels- There are no. of homestays and hotels in Dharali village. Dharali village is a hidden gem in Harsil valley. There is lot more to explore in Dharali village. This village also contributes to most of the apple production in Harsil valley.
Suggested reads :
- Places to explore in Uttarkashi