Seema Sharma
Times of India
May 16, 2015,
The visually-dramatic Nelong valley in Uttarkashi district, which had been out of bounds for civilians since the 1962 Indo-China war because of its proximity to the China border, is now open for tourists.
The valley, situated in the picturesque Gangotri National Park (GNP) at an altitude of almost 11,000-ft, has a mountain desert landscape much like Lahaul-Spiti, with sparse treeline and a rich wildlife comprising rare animals like snow leopard, Himalayan blue sheep and musk deer. The first batch of tourists visited the valley on Saturday, covering the 25-km distance from Bhaironghati to the valley in gypsies provided by the forest department.
Elaborating on the decision to open up the valley for tourists, Dinesh Aggarwal, state forest minister, told TOI, “Tourism is the backbone of our state’s economy. By allowing regulated tourism in Nelong valley, the state will not just get additional revenue, there would also be a boost in employment opportunities for locals. Besides, tourists can also experience a beautiful place.”
He added that entry into the valley would be restricted with only six forest vehicles carrying a maximum of four visitors each being allowed daily, and no overnight stay would be permitted. The valley would also remain out of bounds for foreign visitors because of its sensitive location, merely 45 km from the Indo-China border.
The Border Roads Organization (BRO), sources said, has initiated work to ensure that the roads leading to the valley are spruced up so that tourists are not inconvenienced. Shravan Kumar, divisional forest officer of GNP, said that the forest department would be facilitating the tourists’ entry into the valley. However, a mandatory permit from the sub-divisional magistrate along with a fitness certificate would be necessary for the visit.
Meanwhile, welcoming the initiative to open Nelong valley, DVS Khati, chief wildlife warden, said that tourists can look forward to an “exceptional experience”, as the valley was akin to a cold desert which was home to several rare animals, birds and plant species. Besides, he added, it offers a stunning view of the Tibetan plateau. “Before the Indo-China war, the Nelong Valley was an important route for cross-border trade. The infrastructure related to this old trading route still exists, like a wooden bridge known as Gartang Galion and the Lal Devta temple, where the Bhutiya tradesmen used to make offerings before embarking on the journey to Tibet.”
However, tour operators stressed on the need to exercise caution while promoting the destination. “Opening up a new and untapped destination like the Nelong valley will certainly pull tourists. However, the carrying capacity of this strategic and ecologically-sensitive place should not be overlooked, otherwise it would end up like any other chaotic destination in the hills,” said Rajesh Ojha of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India.
