Munsiyari Travel Guide

Munsiyari is Holiday tourist pleaces in Uttranchal, India. In the Johar valley of north east Pithoragarh district in Kumaon 223 km north east of Almora and 588 km north east of Delhi.

Munsiyari site comfortably somewhere in the middle aisle of a grand amphitheatre is the Panchchuli Range, Hansling, Rajarambha and Chiplako all peaks over 19,685 ft. At sunset when the sky is set ablaze, one anticipates the striking up of a magnigicent orchestra, inundating the valley with Dolby surround sound. Then all of a sudden as if someone has thrown a switch, the colour drains out in front, leaving the sky and mountains in soft tones of pink and grey like the colours of a dove in a mughal miniature. At night it is perfectly still and quiet. A few pinpricks of light mark the houses of the town and distant villages in the far hills.

Munsiyari is the largest town, the panchchuli range dominates the vista they say that it was the last resting place of the Pandavas, the site where they cooked their last meal before ascending to heaven. That the inhabitants of the valley were once nagas, great serpants, who were persecuted by a garuda who wiped all but the last inhabitant out. They were an enterprising lot. Because of the altitude was limited, so they took to trading with Tibet and grew prosperous. Milan a village 54 km up the Goriganga from Munsiyari boasted 500 families and Munsiyari itself became a bstling entrepot.

The map laid its clean, relatively straight line running from almora north east to munsiyari made the 223 km seem easily traveler in a day.

It did not account for the tightly winding roads, which led the struggling vehicle up to 9,000ft hight wind swept passes, not did it hint at the unnumerable breaks one would need in order to daily at waterfalls, swim in rivers picnic in deodar forests or pick rhododendron flowers. For with Munsiyari perched as it is at the edge of the horizon, the journey there is as wonderful as the destination.

To get the most out of it the trip should be treated as a leisurely driving holiday with at least a week in hand.

En route to Munsiyari

Almora and then drove to Vijaypur via the ancient temple town of Bageshwar. The road climbs through chirforested slpes, picturesque villages and entire hillsides sculted into lush, terraced fields. Camp overnight at the Wayfarer Retreat in Vijapur 106km from almora, or carry on further to Chaukori 123km from Almora.

By the time crossed Thal 26km from Chaukori and entered the beautiful Ramganga East Gorge. About 10km from Thal and 2 km before the village of Nachani a small dirt track leads off the main road down to the river. Spend at least an hour or so on a picnic lunch and swim in the ice-cold turquoise waters of the Ramganga River.

About 34 km before Munsiyari right after you cross the Bala Bridge, take a tea break at the Birthi Falls. Plummeting down 400 ft, this is the tallest waterfall of the area. Travel to this area between March and April and climbing up from Birthi marvel at the rhododendron tress with blood red flowers at Ratapani. Then ascend towards the 9,000ft pass at Kalamuni, the vantage point on the top of a great amphitheatre whose backdrop is the Panchchuli Tange.

Balanti

8 km from Munsiyari heading back up towards kalamuni, some 1,300 ft off the main road, is the Balanti Potato Farm. The name conjures up an image of a rather dull place for an outing, belying the breathtaking 180 deg views of the snowpeaks. The ancient oak and rhododendron forest here with its old moss covered rocks and great benign tress is magical.

Munsiyari Bugiyal

Hike up to this lovely meadow just east of the town off the Zara Resort Road. It’s very easy walk and a must for magnificent views of the Panchchuli Range, the Johar Valley with its route to the Milam Glacier and the villageof Harkot, dropping far below in the valley to your right, nestling among terraced green fields. Walk straight due east as the Bugiyal dips down towards the Nanda Devi Mandir. Return to town via the old gas godwon road.

Masterji’s Museum

Masterji a retired school teacher, trekker, traveler, researcher author and authority on the Bhotias of the area has enterprisingly put together a small collection of antiques in a private museum at his residence in Nanasen Village, Munsiyari of freat interest are the original documents which enabled trade between the Johar valley and Tibet and the personal effects of the traders.

Dar Kot

6 km from Munsiyari on the Mad Kot Road lies the village of Dar Kot with 100 years old houses with traditionally carved doors and windows. And if you have money to spare, then perhaps there is no better place to shop for pure handmade pashmina and angora shawls and sheps wool blankets.

Maheshwari or Mehsar Kund

Walk uphill a couple of hundred yards from the Munsiyari Forest Rest House and you will find a paved path moving uphill on your right. Follow the path as it climbs steadily for half an hour through a forest until you arrive at a small meadow ringed by huge oaks and rhododendrons. On the northem edge of the meadow lies this lake today alas a mere pond. But it’s a charming spot nonetheless for a picnic.

Route from Delhi NH24 from Delhi to Moradabad, NH87 till Kathgodam, district road to Almora via Bhowali, state highway to Munsiyari via vijapur and Chaukori..