Chamoli located in Uttarakhand is surrounded by many famous places like Almora Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi. Chamoli district has many pilgrim destinations and also various hill stations with beautiful mountains. An interesting factor is that the Chipko movement started in Chamoli. Chamoli means one who wears the moon on his head in Sanskrit originally known as chandramouli this place is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Chamoli was originally located in Garhwal district but was made a separate district in 1960 the area of Chamoli district is around 7520 km square.
Places To Visit Near Chamoli
From the mesmerising beauty of Auli to the thunderous awe of the Vasundhara Falls. Here are some amazing places near Chamoli you must visit.
1. Auli
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Auli, located in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, is also known as Auli Bugyal. It is nearly 2800 m above sea level. This place observes the highest number of flower species in the world in the valley and also 520 species of tall plants and 498 species of flowering plants. There are also huge populations of endangered species found here. This place is also known as the gateway of the Himalayas because Adi Shankaracharya built a temple at Joshima.
Many popular pilgrimages like Badrinath are located in this district. Early is a famous destination for tourists who are enthusiastic about hiking and skiing. With oak forests and coniferous forests on the highest point of the Himalayas, this is the best place to consider foreign adventures like skiing. There is also a temple in this place which is connected to Ramayana. There are many options to hide this mountain like cable car chair lift and ski lift, people can also opt to trek.
Distance From Chamoli: 30 km
Best Known For: Skiing, trekking, mesmerising mountain views
Best Time To Visit: March – June
Must Read: Kafni Glacier Trek
2. Valley Of Flowers
Image Credit: Alosh Bennett for Wikipedia Commons
Valley of Flowers located in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand is famous for its diverse flora and fauna. The park was established in 1982. To reach the park, tourists should trek for 17 km which is a beautiful experience because of its mesmerising mountains covered with clouds and snow to witness. It is famous for its alpine flowers and some of the rare endangered animals like the Asiatic black bear, Musk deer, brown bear, snow leopard, blue sheep and red fox. There are also many high-altitude birds found near the place.
Tourists visiting this place and trekking must get permission from the forest department located in Ghangaria. The permission is valid for 3 days where they can track during the daytime they are not allowed to stay there. Many great people have visited this place to have peaceful meditation sessions. There are many flower species like orchids, marigold puppies, daisies and many more. There are also a few medicinal plants in the spark which are used by the locals to date.
Distance From Chamoli: 115 km
Best Known For: trekking, flora and fauna, mountains, valley
Best Time To Visit: July – August
Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Badrinath
3. Badrinath
Image Credit: Arpita Tripathy for Wikipedia Commons
Badrinath located in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand is one of the most famous Hindu pilgrimages. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Before, people used to walk hundreds of miles to visit this temple. The temple was discovered by Adi Shankaracharya when he found a stone in the Alakananda river known as Saligrama. Badrinath is one of the most religious places and people believe that Lord Vishnu still resided in this place. Many mountains are connected from Badrinath which are very sacred for the Jains. This temple is located between Nar and Narayana mountains. Interestingly the temple opens only for 6 months in a year because the rest of the months the temple is covered with snow till the peak and nobody is strictly allowed inside.
The temple opens at 4:30 and there is a morning Pooja held from 4:30 to 6:30. People who are participating in the Pooja only can visit the temple during this time. For the common darshans, the temple opens at 6:30 a.m. and goes on till 12:00 p.m. It again takes a short break and opens at 3:00 p.m. and continues till night.
Distance From Chamoli: 139 km
Best Known For: Holy place, trekking, beautiful mountains, waterfalls
Best Time To Visit: May – October
4. Vasudhara Falls
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Vasudhara Falls located in Chamoli district near Badrinath, Uttarakhand is the most sacred waterfall for Hindus. It is nearly 145 m cliff and 400 feet of water from this falls flows into the river Alaknanda crossing the Badrinath temple. It is nearly 9 km away from Badrinath temple. It is believed that Lord Vishnu in the form of water flows through here.
An interesting fact is that when a person stands in front of this waterfall, if he has made a lot of sins the water does not fall on the person’s body and it goes back. Many Hindus come to the place and get wet in the water. People also take and collect this water because it has many natural healing herbs but has been flowing from various forests and is used at home for various religious practices. There is a trekking option from Mana village to reach the so waterfalls it passes through the Saraswati mandir and takes about 3 hours to complete the strip because the mountains are very steep the view while trekking is very beautiful because there are mountains on both sides and the valley flowing through which is a perfect destination.
Distance From Chamoli: 145 km
Best Known For: Hindu temple, scenery, waterfalls
Best Time To Visit: May – June
Further Read: Places To Visit In Uttarakhand In Winter
Now that you have a list of things to plan while travelling to Chamoli remember the weather conditions and pre-book your tickets for an amazing and unforgettable trip to Uttarakhand . Chamoli district has one of the youngest mountains in the world. It has many high ranges and the peaks of the mountains are covered with snow. The major portion of Alaknanda also falls in this district. There are various fests and fairs celebrated during the festivals throughout the year.
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Cover Image Credit: Michael Scalet for Wikipedia
Frequently Asked Questions About Chamoli
Is the climate very cold in Chamoli?
The temperature is mostly sunny and moderate in Chamoli. It is fresh-looking in the summers and snowy in peak winters. During monsoons, it receives heavy rainfall which is advised to be careful while planning a trip at that time.
Are there any room accommodations in Chamoli?
Yes, there are many options for a homestay with beautiful views of mountains and lakes. Tourists can check out the website to get to know more about the planning of their stay.
Are there any religious places to visit near Chamoli?
There are many like Gurudwara, Joshimata, Badrinath, Adi Badri Temple, Tungnath Temple, Vyas Guha and many more.
Are there any activities to do in Chamoli?
There are many trekking options with various mountain viewpoints. There are also options like river rafting, boat riding and many more near the valleys and rivers.
How to reach Badrinath temple?
There are roadways, railways and airways available to the town. But after that, to climb the mountain it is advised to hire local taxis because of its steep and dangerous roads.
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