Pauri Tourism

Pauri is at 5,950 ft on the slopes of the Kandoliya Hills, 110 km from Kotdwar and 303 km northeast Delhi. An impressive welcome awaits the visitor traveling up the Kotdwar road for Pauri. As you drive past the tiny village of Bubakhal, the mightly Chaukhamba thrusting into the sky on the horizon heralds you arrival at the threshold of the gods.

Pilgrims making their way to the holy char Dham sites tramp through neihbouring Chamoli, which has grabbed a large share of the pilgrim pie for itself. This is why Pauri, despite being the HQ of Pauri Garhwal, remains serene. Pines and deodars still whisper in the breeze, and silent forests bask in the Himalayan sunlight. The Messmore College and other Britishera buildings complete the picture of an unchanged Raj hill station. And therein lies the charm of Pauri for those looking for that feeling of being suspended in time.

The old traveller’s saying that wandering one gathers honey is quite appropriate in Pauri and walking is well worth the effort. The magic of the town is best discovered if you leave the crowded markets and colonies behind and climb up towards the forested ridges.

Kandoliya and Bubakhal

The temple of the local deity, Kandoliya Devta is located in a thick forest, 2 km from Pauri on the road to Lansdowne. The walk affods a stunning view of Himalayan peaks and the Gangwarsyun Valley. Majestic oaks, swaying pines, deodars, rhododendrons and a variety of flowers lining the road make for a very pleasant, leisurely afternoon stroll to Bubakhal, another 4 km towards Lansdowne. Bubakhal, itself no more than a tiny mountain village, is a junction from where several minor roads snake across to the many villages on the slopes of the Kandoliya Hills.

Chaukhamba Viewpoint

Take a good 4 km walk on the road towards the Dwarikhal Forest, to the ridge overlooking the Idwal Valley and chaukhamba mountain of four pillars a peak named thus for its squarish shape. Behind this mightly peak lies the massive Gangotri glacier that feeds the Ganga. Neelkanth about 540 ft shorter is in the foreground. Chaukhamba forms a triangle with the holy peaks of kedarnath to the east of the horizon and Badrinath not visible. Dead east the glorious peak of Nanda Devi thrusts into the sky marking the border between Chamoli and Pithoragarh districts. Afterwards, you can set up a picnic next to the clear, freshwater spring in Dwarikhal Forest nearby.

Kyunkaleshwar Mahadev

It’s a steep trek up to this ancient 8th century temple but the view that catches you by surprise makes it all worthwhile. The shiva Temple here is within a large complex where scores of mendicants staythroughout the year. For the devout, there is a shivling, a staue of Nandi and an ancien drum. For others there are some more stunning view of the enire collage of peaks visible from the idwal Ridge.

Ransi

Trudge half a kilometer uphill to get to Ransi. At 6,995 ft, Ransi is a huge step in the mountain where Pauri’s lone sports stadium lies the highest in Uttaranchal. This vast, flat stretch of green also serves as a beautiful picnic spot. On a sunny day you could even spread out a blanket and doze off to the chirruping of birds and the rusling of pines.

Adwani

The tiny village of Advani, connected by a well-maintained road and 17 km from Pauri, boasts dozens of great picnic spots.

Around Pauri

Khirsu 45 km

Like a fairy tale crafted by the Brothers Grimm, just a short 19 km trek down the kandoliya Hills from Pauri is Khirsu a tiny Garhwali jewel hidden in a pine forest. Descend past evergreen pines and elegant spruce covered with ferns and bright green moss, apple trees and mushrooms in the damp and dark undergrowth. Emerge all too soon in tiny Khirsu. In this tiny hamlet, the mountain experience is all yours and yours alone.

A special treat if you make the trek in spring is the fragrance of flowers filling the crisp mountain air. Only a handful of tourists visit Khirsu so no Bisleri bottles or deformed coke cans disfigure the forest paths. There is also a motorable road from Pauri if you can’t be bothered for food.