Garhwal Himalaya

Garhwal is a former district of British India and later of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It has been divided into the present-day districts of Chamoli, Pauri Garhwal, and Rudraprayag.The name Garhwal has been used interchangeably with the name Kumaun Himalaya, and has for the most part replaced the latter, although originally the two names described slightly different regions. The towering snow-covered mountains of this region encircle the lush Gangotri valley and its surrounding glaciers. The region is located 150 miles northeast of the city of Delhi, just west of the point where Tibet, Nepal, and India meet. Garhwal contains more than 100 summits over 20,000 feet, the highest being Nanda Devi and Kamet, both exceeding 25,000 feet.

The many streams and rivers of these mountains are tributaries to the Ganges River, a river of unparalleled importance in the history and culture of India. For this reason, the entire region holds special spiritual significance throughout India. According to Hindu legend, the mountains are the birthplace not only of the Ganges, but of the Hindu deities. Religious pilgrims follow long trails winding up the valleys to the sacred Gangotri Glacier. Charming villages nestle in the southern valleys, surrounded by forested hillsides, lush terraced fields, and giant snow-covered peaks. The villages of Badrinath and Joshimath, southwest of Kamet and northwest of Nanda Devi, are the primary spiritual centers, where pilgrims gather to bathe in the holy waters.

Climate on the northern side of the range is arid, and the landscape correspondingly barren. In contrast, the southern valleys are lush and densely forested, a gift of the southwest monsoon. The region surrounding Garhwal's second highest summit, Kamet, lies north of the main range and receives little of the monsoon. Because of this, the summer season continues unbroken from May to October, and climbing opportunities abound.