Munsiyari Cottages

Munsiyari is a new discovery as a tourist place in Uttarakhand, till recently Munsiyari was a restricted area in Himalayan inner line wedged in between borders of India , China & Nepal, restrctions have eased now, It has placed Munsiyari on tourist map.

Munsiyari also falls on the ancient salt route from Tibet and is at the entrance of the Johar Valley, which extends along the path of the Goriganga River to its source at the Milam Glacier. It is inhabited mainly by the Shauka people. The town is surrounded by snow capped peaks, with a key attraction being the trekking route to Khalia Top.

Munsiyari is located at a distance of 650 Kms from Delhi and 260 kms from Kathgodam Railway station, one can avail taxies from Delhi & Kathgodam for Munsiyari, One small hill airstrip is located at Naini Saini in Pithoragarh ( 130 Kms from Munsiyari), One can have a night stay at Nainital (310 Kms) , Distance from Nainital to Munsiyari is 290 kms, and roads are decent and one can full their diesel / Petrol tanks at Almora / Bageshwar.

Munsiyari is a breath taking hill station and lives up to its name which refers to a ''place with snow''. Situated on the banks of Goriganga river, it is attracting tourists, mountaineers, glacier enthusiasts, high altitude trekkers and nature lovers. This hill station lies at the base of the great Himalayan mountain range, at an elevation of about 2,200 m.

The route is fairly straightforward although a good road map is a great help. Highway driving brings its own logistics -¤ it is always advisable to pack extra helpings of munchies and biscuits. Having been put in charge of four children of "growing age", I can vouch for that. Also, carry lots of drinking water and a towel. Once in the hills, those prone to motion sickness should take an anti-vomiting tablet although on this route I found the roads to be very good and the bends gentle, unlike the acute stomach-churning ones in other parts of the Himalayas. But keep in mind that the journey is long. The other thing is to keep track of refueling points. In the hills extra petrol in a 40-litre jerrycan is a must. Petrol, particularly the unleaded variety is not as freely available as in the plains.