Nelong Gartang Gali /Valley – Off Beat Places in Uttarakhand
The Nelong Valley is a rocky desert in the Gangotri National Park at an altitude of 11,400 ft. Long before Tibet was occupied by China, Nelong Valley was an essential trade route between Tibet and India. Nelong valley is located at a distance of about 315 km from the main city of Dehradun. First of all, you have to reach Bhairavghati which is about 100 km from Uttarkashi, and then it will take a 23 km ride to reach the mesmerizing valley.
Another parallel can be drawn with the famous Himalayan deserts of Lahaul-Spiti and Ladakh. Similar to these valleys, Nelong Valley too has a deeply rich history and culture which is lost in political unrest and border conflicts. The villages which made Nelong Valley were vacated in 1962 during the Indo-China War, since then the historic valley is occupied by endless army camps.
Nelong Gartang Gali/valley welcomes visitors in the months of May till November, however owing to security reasons the place is prohibited for camping.
Gartang Gali Travel Guide
The Gartang Gali wooden bridge located at a height of 11,000 feet in Nelong Valley in Uttarkashi district near Indo-China border.Gartang Gali bridge, on an ancient trade route to Tibet, is believed to have been built by Peshawar Pathans. It was damaged over the years and fell into disuse following the Indo-China war in 1962 when it was declared off-limits.
The historic over 150-year-old Gartang Gali wooden bridge located at a height of 11,000 feet in Nelong Valley in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district near the Indo-China border reopened for tourists after 59 years. The bridge is located inside the Gangotri National Park and is at a distance of 90 km from Uttarkashi district headquarters. The bridge is 136 metre-long and 1.8 metre-wide.
