Celebrated for its phenomenal natural beauty that garlands the Himalayan state, Uttarakhand has earned accolades in its name by offering the best trekking expeditions in the sylvan hills of Garhwal and Kumaon region. Many treks are famous for their mountainous expedition but to top it all, now we have the enriching Chaainsheel trek in Uttarkashi that has been declared as the ‘Trek of the Year’ on June 10 along with Doonagiri trek. This lesser known destination has been chosen by Uttarakhand Tourism Department to develop tourism in the region and for offering livelihood opportunities to the locals.
Src: Saamta Bugyal
The literal meaning of Chaainsheel is ‘cool like the moon and near the moon’. This alpine beauty is mainly a valley and a semicircular mountain range that acts as a window to the snow-fringed Chaukhamba, Panchachuli and Banderpunch peaks. During the sultry months of May to October, one can behold a pleasant sight of the nubile valley brimming with the dew kissed alpine grass and wild Himalayan flowers. While in winters the valley drapes itself in snow and hosts the much-awaited winter games. Owing to Chaainsheel’s vivid topography, its vast meadows and snow slopes makes it an ideal place for hosting world class ice skating, skiing, snowboarding and other snow sports. As compared to Auli, Chaainsheel offers adequate space for hosting winter games. If you are already enticed by Chaainsheel’s glory then you can commence the Chaainsheel trek which can be undertaken in any season except for monsoon season (July-August).
Src: Bhiyusingh Shael
The wooded beauty of Chaainsheel is located about 230 km from Dehradun. It sprawls over a vast expanse of 25 to 30 km, tucked between the Kothigarh Valley of Uttarkashi and in the midst of the mighty hills of Rohdu and Dodra Kwar in Himachal Pradesh. Though the entire Chaainsheel valley is bewitching but some of its places are a pure joy to be in, to name a few there are the compelling meadows of Sunoiti Bugyal, Butaha Tappad, Kuba Bugyal, Saamta Bugyal and other scenic places like Lambidhar, Tholasheer, Sarutal, Devban, Murlachaad waterfall, Taramandal and Balcha are equally mesmerising.
Src: Dhupaltu Bugyal
Route 1: Dehradun – Vikasnagar – Mussoorie – Naogaon – Purola – Mori – Tuni – Arakot – Tikochi.
Route 2: Dehradun – Vikasnagar – Chakrata – Tuni – Arakot – Tikochi
Src: Sunoiti Bugyal
Take the route from Arakot to Tikochi in Kothigad valley, and approach Chaainsheel by these four routes: