Gauchar - Famous for Flat Lands
Gauchar ground is a great attraction to the dwellers of the Garhwal region and the tourist who travel from here. One of the largest fairs of Garhwal and Uttarakhand Gauchar Mela is being hosted here for several years. In 1943 its got the opportunity to host the largest trade fair of Uttarakhand which was hosted by Bhotias is also known as the Rung community of Chamoli District of Uttarakhand.
Inhabiting from border areas Bhotia's are traditional experts in making woolen garments and materials, besides processing and coloring of wool. Before 1962, there was trans-border trade between India and former Tibet, and the import of wool was the major source of income for the Bhotia’s woolens-based, indigenous cottage industry. Currently, Gauchar Mela helps local traders to sell their handicrafts and other raw materials.
About Gauchar Fair
Gauchar Mela is held every year starting from 14 November for a week. It is a great attraction for the local people and traders and merchants from every corner of the state. It is attended widely by tourists and inhabitants of the state alike. The cultural programs like the local dances and songs always remain a major attraction of Gauchar Mela at Uttarakhand.
Activities in Gauchar
Gauchar is a small town en-route to the Badrinath shrine. There are not many sightseeing and places of interest in and around Gauchar apart from the temples and shrines that dot the region. Unlike Nainital or Mussoorie, which is a tourist hub and is flocked with tourists, Gauchar is rather a commercial hilly town amidst the unspoiled lap of nature and doesn’t attract tourists.
Places To Visit in Gauchar: Some of the famous temples in Guachar are: Raul Devta Mandir, Bhairavnath Mandir, Mata Kali Temple, Paneshwer Shivalaya
Places To See Near Gauchar: Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Hariyali Devi Temple
Gauchar Fair: The ground of Gauchar is famous for hosting the annual Trade Fair which is the largest fair in Uttarakhand and helps in the month of November. One can purchase various handicraft items and woolen garments from the fair.
Nature Walks: The abundant natural beauty that encompasses the sleepy town of Gauchar is quite compelling as the region is surrounded by undulating hills, lush green forests, and verdant pastures. One can easily pick up a nature trail and explore in and around Gauchar.
Shopping: Due to its proximity to Karnaprayag, there are many shops and stores that have mushroomed in Gauchar. One can purchase all kinds of items ranging from clothes, handicrafts and other household items from the market.
Staying in Gauchar
Gauchar is a small town in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. As a result, there are not many options to stay and one has to do with the budget guesthouses with limited amenities. There are no high-end and luxurious hotels and resorts at Gauchar as it is not a popular destination among the tourists like Nainital or Mussoorie. Another option is to find accommodation at Karnaprayag which is just 10 kms from Gauchar.
Gauchar Food Guide
Being a small town, it is almost impossible to find a fancy restaurant with a variety of cuisines. Tourists staying at Gauchar will have to make do with limited food options available. At best, one can find roadside dhabas that offer popular North India cuisine along with a few Chinese dishes. Some guesthouses have in-house restaurants which serve meals.
History of Gauchar
Gauchar is a historical town of Uttarakhand known for hosting grand fairs and for being a part of the Indo-Tibetan trade. The large flat region of Gauchar played an important role in its history. These flatlands belonged to the property of Panwar Kings of Garhwal, who later donated it to the Badrinath Temple. Around 1000 A.D. to 1803, Gauchar unlike other parts of Garhwal was under the rule of Pal Dynasty. The Gurkhas also reigned here, followed by the British.
Gauchar came to light in the 1920s when Lady Willingdon, wife of then Viceroy of India landed here by air. Later in 1938, during their personal visit to Badrinath, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and his sister, Vijaya Laxmi Pandit also visited here by air.
Initially, Gauchar was administered from Dehradun but later on, a new district called Pauri was established in this area by the British. Present Chamoli and Gauchar was a tehsil of Pauri. It was on February 24, 1960, that the tehsil Chamoli was made a new district in Uttar Pradesh state and in 1994, Gauchar became the Nagar Panchayat.
Location of Gauchar
Gauchar is located in Karnaprayag Tehsil within the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Gauchar is situated on the left bank of river Alaknanda and is en route to the celebrated holy destination of Badrinath.
How To Reach Gauchar
By road, Gauchar is well connected with major destinations like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Delhi and so on by NH 58 that passes through the town. The nearest railhead is Rishikesh (235 km) and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant of Dehradun. It is 400 KM away from Ghaziabad, India.
Gauchar Weather
Check out the Gauchar weather report for December
Gauchar Weather in December
The minimun and maximum temperature in December in Gauchar is 5°C and 18°C respectively. The weather is generally pleasant and clear in December and you would feel chilling cold throughout the day. Heavy Woolen clothes are recommended for Gauchar in December.
What is Gauchar famous for?
Gauchar is famous among tourist as Airport.
Gauchar is popular destination for following activities/ interests - Business Hub, Char Dham Route, Helipads, Historical, Others.
