I came accross this name while searching for a very popular pilgimage place for my mother- Gangotri. I researched on it more, and what I found, was awesome. I made up my mind, no it didnt take time.. what I wanted to say was, I made up my mind right after seeing this first photograph on the internet.
Well, I am glad I did. What I saw first hand was much more beautiful and heavenly than I had even expected. So, this is how it happened. When I told my travel companion about the place, the first information I got from him was that it is one of the best places to click Milky way if you are a photographer. I also got to know, that the holy route to gangotri passes through this village and it is considered to be one of the most beautiful villages of Uttarakhand. Harsil is a small village located some 70 kms ahead of Uttarkashi(another holy place for hindu pilgrims in India) and 28 kms before Gangotri. It is primarily a cantonment area but the excitement does not end there, it has the Bhagirathi river flowing close by, and an epitome of the flora and fauna of Uttarakhand.
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The Milky way galaxy is very clear from Harsil at night. The dark and silent night with bright stars makes it an ideal place for star gazers and photography enthusiasts. I sat outside the camp in the freezing cold, with my tripod all set to click the galaxy. I Â must admit, I had a hard time clicking as my hands were shaking of cold. The sky is so clear here that you can also see shooting stars and capture their trail.
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I slept the best in months in the freezing cold with the sound of bhagirathi in my ear.Woke up in the morning to hear the same sound of the flowing river and welcomed by the warm sun. You cannot believe that the temperature at night was so low when you feel the glaring clear sun on your face in the morning. The second thing I heard was the sound of mantras being chanted at a temple far off and travelling accross the holy river just for me. I felt blessed.
Now comes the breasfast, in case you are a non-vegetarian, you wil have to sacrifice on your food choices for some days. Harsil, owing to the fact that it is a holy place for the hindus, does not serve non veg. However, I must mention that the food over here is simple and yet tasty to the limits. I would recommend you staying at the char dham camps which is strategically located at the banks of the bagirathi and also amidst an apple orchard which makes it serene, holy, romantic and whatever you want to feel. 🙂
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As the day began, the plan was to visit Gangotri since I had heard a lot about it. Gangotri is a small town around the holy Gaumukh which is located at the Gangotri glacier. As per the legends, it is said that gangotri is the place where ganga descended from heaven when Lord shiva released her from his locks. Though I did not trek till gaumukh, the experience of this town itself had an aura.
The road from Harsil to gangotri is good till a place called Bhaironghati with small bends and huge rocks and is usually a 45 mins to 1 hour drive. You will encounter a lot of areas effected with landslides, shooting stones and sliding zones and hence, taking a car with good ground clearance is recommended.
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The view as you are about to reach Gangotri is amazing- you can see snow covered peaks at a distance and the turquoise green coloured Bhagirathi(which looks like a small and wild stream over here emerging from it- the shadow of the trees on the river is just spell bounding . The river is so clear and transparent here that you can even see the stones under it. The gorge surrounding the river at certain places look majestic and the rocks are so huge that they make the mighty river look small.
Make it a point to stop at the view point to take some rest from the drive –the view point looks like the painting we used to make as a kid. The huge mountains and the river twisting and turning and peaceful. The green valley and the White Mountains and the turquoise green river flowing from it, makes it a mesmerising combination of the colour palette. The sound of wind suppresses the sound of the river at this point. Stand at the edge and feel the wind, it makes me feel alive and so will it do to you.
Once you are about 2 km from Gangotri, the road gets worse and you will wish you were walking and not driving. You will share the road with a lot of babas and sadhus( Hindu saints) walking bare foot with faith and devotion. Once back, you can look forward to the hot lunch and evening to your leisure.
There are many waterfalls which you can walk down to which are beyond beuty. You can also move around the town to visit local houses, or trek down the river to sit by it. In short, there are a lot of things that you can do, but al for relaxation as opposed to adventure. So if you are looking for a slow paced, relaxed and serene trip, Harsil it is…..
Harsil- Where the nights are starry and the days are full of adventure,beauty, devotion and faith!
Hope you travel the same roads and see this undiscovered beauty!.
-Urmimala Datta
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