Nelong Valley reopens for Indian tourists

Nelong valley, in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, has been reopened for Indian tourists. The valley had been closed to civilians since the 1962 Indo-China war. The valley, situated within the Gangotri National Park, resembles a mountain desert and is home to rare animals such as the snow leopard, blue sheep, musk deer, etc. The valley offers a panoramic view of the Tibetan plateau. Earlier, an important trade route, the valley still contains some of the earlier infrastructure such as the Gartang Galion wooden bridge and the Lal Devta temple. The valley can be approached from Bhaironghati, located about 100km away from Uttarkashi town. From Bhaironghati, you can take a 25-km ride in a forest department vehicle to reach the valley. The state forest department has decided to allow six forest department vehicles carrying four people each; a mandatory permit from the sub-divisional magistrate along with a fitness certificate have to be submitted for the trip. Night stay not allowed. The valley remains out of bounds for foreigners.