Mountain Resort Wayfarer Munsiyari

There are a few places in the world that defy description. You only have to get there to experience their uniqueness. Munsyari is one such place. Hidden away amongst the mountains in India's border district of Pithoragarh at a height of 7000 feet Munsyari is probably the closest you can get to experiencing the Greater Himalayas from hand shaking distance. At Munsyari you have the majestic Panch Chulli peak towering all of 22600 feet right in front of you.

Amidst virgin forests, fabulous snow laden mountains and countless glacial springs the small town of Munsyari is the gateway to the famous Milam and Ralam glaciers. Munsyari is also your only access to one of India's highest mountain - Nanda Devi East (7434 mts).

The Wayfarer Resort Munsyari offers a mix of 5 Kumaoni log huts and five Swiss cottage type tents. Each unit of Wayfarer Resort Munsyari has a 12'x10' living area equipped with a double bed, coffee table, chairs, clothes rack, jute flooring and lantern for emergencies. Every hut and tent is attached to an outhouse equipped with a western style toilet, sink and shower. The water, taken directly from the nearby waterfall, is heated by a small local geyser called hamam and supplied in buckets for bathing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are usually served in the dinning hut, a 16 seater restaurant that offers Indian and Continental cuisine on order. On special occasions arrangements are made for open air barbecue dinners.

Munsyari is the gateway to the Johar region and a storehouse of many of nature's wonders. For those who are in search of true adventure Munsyari offers a variety of incredible opportunities. The place is the basecamp for treks to Milam, Ralam and Pachu glaciers. Milam is the largest glacier of Kumaon and is situated at a height of 4267 mts. The ten days trek to Milam from Munsyari and back involves a 58 kms walk along the Johar valley through Darkot, Lilam, Bugdiyar and the last Indian village - Milam. Another fascinating ten days trek from Munsyari is to the Nanda Devi base camp. With its base at the Wayfarer Mountain Resort, the Wayfarer Group offers you a variety of high altitude treks in the Nanda Devi region.

Access Munsyari Wayfarer Mountain Resort Uttarakhand :

To get to Munsyari you could travel by train upto Kathgodam and then shift to motorable transport. From Kathgodam a seven hour drive takes you past Bhimtal, Bhowali, Almora, Binsar, Takula and Bageshwar to Chaukhori where you could stop for the night. Thereafter the drive is past Chaukhori and Thal to Munsyari. From Kausani or Binsar the access is through Bageshwar, Chaukhori and Thal. Trains from Delhi, Calcutta, Lucknow and Bareilly connect to Kathgodam daily. People driving from Delhi could come directly to Ranikhet and stop for the night at Wayfarer Solitaire. Thereafter they may proceed to Munsyari through Kausani, Baijnath, Bageshwar and Chaukhori.

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. Want to stay with a offbeat location away form city and crowded palce then Munsiyari is the best option to enjyo your holdiays. Explore this tiny and unique holiday destination in Uttarakhand where you can find good and budgeted hotels in Munsiyari for your comfortable stay while your tour to Munsiyari.

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.