Munsiyari in Uttarakhand is a breath taking hill station and lives up to its name which refers to a ’place with snow’. Situated on the banks of Goriganga river, it is attracting tourists, mountaineers, glacier enthusiasts, high altitude trekkers and nature lovers.
This hill station lies at the base of the great Himalayan mountain range, at an elevation of about 2, 200 m. A vista of perfectly pointed looming peaks greets you as you drive up to Munsiyari.Splendid mountains and valleys waiting to be unmasked at every bend make the drive to Munsiyari truly awe inspiring and magnificent.
Till recently, Munsiyari was a restricted area in the Himalayan Inner Line, wedged in between the borders of India, China and Nepal. Restrictions have now eased, placing Munsiyari on the trekking map of the Kumaon Hills.
Munsiyari also falls on the ancient salt route from Tibet and is at the entrance of the Johar Valley, which extends along the path of the Goriganga River to its source at the Milam Glacier. It is inhabited mainly by the Shauka people (referred to as Bhotiya by the non-Shaukas), who are its original natives.The Shauka people are the main inhabitants of this place. Known as a trekker’s paradise, Munsiyari offers a list of things to dothat includes bird-watching, wildlife viewing. Marvel at some of the spectacular views of gorgeous peaks or just sit back and relax.
Buy some fantastic hand-woven carpets or Himalayan tree saplings. Savour the local dish Kuka or head to places like Khaliatop and Betulidhar for some fabulous skiing opportunities or Goriganga for river rafting. Munsiyari with its awe-inspiring landscape is a perfect holiday destination for one and all. Munsiyari is 612 km from Delhi. If you are driving in from Delhi, Nainital, 330 km is a convenient place to break journey. It is a further 288 km to Munsiyari from Nainital. The roads are decent; Almora and Bageshwar are the two main halts where you can refuel your gas tanks. Shared jeeps to take you sight seeing, or you can hire private jeeps at the destination.