Chamoli
UNESCO alpine wildflower meadows, high-altitude Sikh sanctuaries, and Nanda Devi views
All Destinations
Roopkund Mystery Lake Trek
One of the most legendary high-altitude alpine treks in the Garhwal Himalayas, journeying from Lohajung through the twin rolling bugyals of Ali and Bedni to the glaciated tarn of Roopkund at 4,800m beneath the sheer rock face of Mount Trishul (7,120m). Famed for hundreds of ancient human skeletons dating to the 9th century CE preserved in the glacial ice, the trail commands sweeping vistas of Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, and Chaukhamba.
Badrinath Temple & Alaknanda Basin
One of India's four primordial Char Dham pilgrimage shrines, Badrinath is dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Badri Vishal) seated in the Padmasana meditative posture. Nestled in a high alpine valley of Chamoli Garhwal along the banks of the roaring Alaknanda River, the temple stands between the Nar and Narayana mountain ranges under the towering, glaciated pyramid of Mount Nilkantha (6,596m).
Mana — First Indian Village & Saraswati River
Designated officially as the 'First Indian Village' on the northern border, Mana sits just 3 km beyond Badrinath in the upper Alaknanda canyon. Inhabited by indigenous Bhotia (Marchha) pastoralists, Mana is steeped in epic Mahabharata lore, housing Vyas Gufa (where Sage Vyasa composed the epic), Ganesh Gufa, Bhim Pul (a colossal natural stone slab spanning the roaring Saraswati river gorge), and serving as the trailhead for Vasudhara Falls.
Joshimath (Jyotirmath) Gateway
Perched high on the steep northern slopes above the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga river confluence, Joshimath is the cardinal northern monastic seat (Uttaramnaya Jyotirmath) founded by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. It houses the winter seat of Lord Badrinath at Narsimha Temple, the ancient Kalpavriksha mulberry tree (under which Shankaracharya meditated), the lower station of the Auli cable car ropeway, and serves as the strategic staging base for mountaineering expeditions into the Nanda Devi sanctuary.
Auli Alpine Meadows & Ski Slopes
Celebrated as India's premier high-altitude ski resort, Auli features undulating alpine slopes (bugyals) lined by dense conifers of oak, deodar, and silver fir. Sitting at 2,800m, Auli commands the grandest unobstructed 270-degree panorama of India's second-highest peak, Nanda Devi (7,816m), alongside Kamet, Dunagiri, Mana Parvat, and Hathi-Ghodi Parvat. In winter, international ski championships are held on its groomed powder slopes.
Govindghat Confluence & Trailhead
Sited at the roaring confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhyundar (Lakshman Ganga) rivers on NH7 between Joshimath and Badrinath, Govindghat is the indispensable roadhead and staging hub for hikers heading into the UNESCO Valley of Flowers National Park and Sikh pilgrims trekking to the glaciated shrine of Hemkund Sahib.
Ghangaria (Govinddham) Base Camp
Nestled in a sub-alpine conifer basin at the confluence of the Pushpawati and Hemganga rivers, Ghangaria (also known as Govinddham) is the solitary seasonal base settlement for expeditions into the Valley of Flowers and the climb to Hemkund Sahib. Because overnight camping is prohibited inside the national park, all trekkers stay in Ghangaria's rustic lodges, guesthouses, and Gurudwara.
Valley of Flowers National Park
A UNESCO World Heritage site and high-altitude alpine basin tucked in the upper Bhyundar valley beneath glaciated mountain walls. Discovered by mountaineer Frank S. Smythe in 1931, the valley carpets with over 520 species of wild flowering plants, including the rare Himalayan blue poppy, Brahma Kamal, cobra lily, edelweiss, and wild orchids, nourished by the rushing Pushpawati River.
Hemkund Sahib & Lokpal Lake
The world's highest Gurudwara, Hemkund Sahib is perched at an extreme altitude of 4,632 meters on the shores of the glaciated Lokpal Lake. Ringed by seven glaciated mountain peaks (Saptashringa) adorned with fluttering Nishan Sahib flags, it is revered as the spot where Guru Gobind Singh meditated in a previous incarnation as Sage Dusht Daman. Nearby stands the ancient Lakshman Temple.
Vasudhara Falls Trail
A rewarding high-altitude day hike starting from Mana village along the upper Alaknanda canyon to a vertical 122-meter (400 ft) glacial waterfall dropping from sheer granite cliff faces. Fed by melting glaciers descending from the Chaukhamba and Satopanth massifs, legend holds that the sacred waters of Vasudhara veer away from unrighteous individuals.
Kuari Pass (Curzon Trail)
Pioneered by Lord Curzon in 1905, the Kuari Pass (Curzon Trail) trek is celebrated for offering India's grandest unobstructed panoramic vistas of Nanda Devi (7,816m), Kamet, Dronagiri, Hathi-Ghodi Parvat, Neelkanth, and Trishul. Traversing ancient oak and rhododendron forests, sprawling bugyals of Gorson and Chitrakantha, the trail culminates on the wind-swept pass at 3,876 meters.
Urgam Valley & Kalpeshwar Mahadev
A lush, tranquil emerald bowl secluded between Joshimath and Helang in Chamoli district, Urgam Valley is renowned for stepped terrace fields, traditional slate-roofed Garhwali hamlets, and Kalpeshwar Mahadev. Kalpeshwar is the fifth and only Panch Kedar temple accessible year-round, where the Jata (matted hair locks) of Lord Shiva are venerated inside a natural stone cave.
Satopanth Tal Glacial Lake Trek
A sacred and strenuous high-altitude glacial expedition venturing into the untamed wilderness beyond Mana Village and Badrinath. Satopanth Tal is an emerald triangular lake of crystal-clear water sitting at 4,600m beneath the colossal glaciated amphitheater of Chaukhamba I (7,138m), Nilkantha, and Swargarohini peaks. Revered in Hindu cosmology, the three corners of the lake are the sacred meditation thrones of Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar. According to the Mahabharata, the Pandavas crossed this lake to climb the stairway of Swargarohini glacier toward heaven.