Are you brave: an old stairway built by the Pathans just reopened for tourists

Looking a for new place to go on trekking this year then this place has to be on your bucket list. So, here’s all the information you need.

In the cold desert of Nelong Valley close to the Indo-Tibetan border, the Gartang Gali—a 500m long stairway at a height of 11,000 feet is now open to tourists seeking some adventure.

Believed to have been built by the Peshawar Pathans, the ancient bridge served as a trade route between India and Tibet for years. Dorjis (Tibetan merchants) frequented the bridge, traversing the picturesque route to reach the town of Uttarkashi to trade local specialties like Pashmina, spices, gold and wool as well as staples like salt and jaggery. However, after the Indo-China war in 1962, the scenic valley came under the inner line area of Uttarkashi and was closed for tourists. And the historic bridge fell into disuse.

Now, almost 59 years later, the Gartang Gali trek has been opened for tourists. Although Nelong Valley and Jadung Valley—close to the border of India—have been open for tourists since 2015, the bridge remained inaccessible and in a state of disrepair.

The bridge—which snakes along a rocky mountain—has been restored as a wooden stairway. In keeping with current COVID-19 protocol, only ten tourists will be allowed to access the bridge at a time. With all the safety measures in place, when you do get to Gartang Gali, any worries and woes in your mind are sure to be left at the foot of the winding stairway. You will find yourself distracted instead by the rush of adventure as you make your way up along the mountain, enraptured by the mesmerizing view of the Nelong Valley landscape below.

How to reach Gartang Gali:

By air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, about 200km from Uttarkashi. Taxis and buses are available from the airport.

By train: The nearest railway stations are in Rishikesh and Dehradun, about 200km from Uttarkashi. Taxis and buses are available from the station.

By road: State transport buses ply regularly between Uttarkashi and Rishikesh and Dehradun. Gartang Gali is 110km from Uttarkashi.

Source: Internet