Credit: foodwithksk
About Gartang Gali
If you’re an adventure lover and also love the taste of history, then you should head toward Gartang Gali, located in the Nelong valley of Uttarkashi district. A rustic wooden stairway was once an ancient trade route between Tibet and India. However, after the 1962 war, the stairway remained aloof for trading activities and rendered unsafe.
History of Gartang Gali
According to the official accounts, it was the same route that was used by Austrian climber Heinrich Harrer to escape Tibet. During World War II he escaped to Tibet and spent 7 years there. He later became a friend and advisor of the Dalai Lama . A famous Hollywood movie, Seven Years in Tibet, starring Brad Piit, was shot in his story.
The 136-meter-long bridge built on a nearly vertical cliff is an architectural wonder that was constructed more than 150 years ago. It was the Pathans, who came from Peshawar in Pakistan, who were credited with the construction of the structure.
Trek To Gartang Gali
Part of Gangotri National Park, the trek to the Gartang Gali passes through the forest trail. It takes around 2–3 hours to trek the distance of approximately 2.5 km. At the end, the valley becomes narrow and culminates in the rock cliffs, where the Gartang Bridge, 1.8 meters wide, takes you to a height of approximately 3,352 meters. At Gartang Gali, the panoramic view of the surrounding Nelong valley and gushing Jad ganga flow below looks pleasing to the eye
To initiate tourism activity in the region, the stairway was recently renovated and thrown open to the public in August 2021.