Uttarakhand, India

Garhwal

Sacred Sources · Alpine Meadows

About Garhwal

Garhwal is where the Ganga is born — at the Gangotri glacier snout of Gaumukh — and where the four sacred Char Dham (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath) draw pilgrims by the millions each summer. Beyond the shrines, Garhwal shelters some of India's finest high-altitude meadow trekking: the vast bugyals of Dayara, Gidara, and Bedni, and the turquoise glacial lakes of the Bhagirathi and Yamuna headwaters. From the alpine village of Harshil to the remote Kyarkoti lake basin, this is a region where sacred geography and pristine wilderness overlap.

Why Visit Garhwal

Harshil Valley & Gangotri — sacred source of the Ganga at 3,048 m

Kyarkoti Lake — turquoise glacial lake in the Bhagirathi basin

Gidara Bugyal — one of Garhwal's largest and least-visited alpine meadows

Dayara Bugyal — panoramic 28 km² meadow with Bandarpunch views

Char Dham circuit access — the four sacred Hindu shrines of Uttarakhand

Bhagirathi peaks and the Gangotri National Park ecosystem

Best Time to Visit

Recommended Months

MayJuneSeptemberOctober

High meadows and glacial lake routes are best May–June (rhododendron bloom, snow melting) and September–October (post-monsoon clarity). Dayara Bugyal is also popular in winter (Dec–Feb) for snow trekking. Monsoon (Jul–Aug) closes most high-altitude routes; roads to Gangotri can be affected by landslides.

Quick Facts

Garhwal at a glance

Region

Western Uttarakhand

Nearest Rail

Dehradun / Rishikesh

Nearest Airport

Jolly Grant, Dehradun (DED)

Permits

Forest permit for Gangotri National Park

Max Altitude

4,800 m+ (Kyarkoti approach)