Interpretive Trek to Nanda Devi National Park 2019

Nanda Devi Peak, the Patron Goddess of Uttarakhand Himalayas 

Book Now:  Trek to Nanda Devi National Park 2019

The Nanda Devi Interpretive Trek narrates the story of Nanda Devi region. The interpretive trek takes you to the boundaries of the core zone of the Nanda Devi National Park, a World Heritage Site for natural diversity. You will be camping at clifftop campsite of Kanook and at Lata Kharak meadows. The trek also provides the opportunity to visit Saini Kharak, at the top of the riverine Rishi gorge which is considered to be amongst the most difficult canyons in the world to negotiate. The highest altitude gain on the trek is 13700 feet at Jhindidhar. The native community is hosting this trek, a first experiment of its kind in the Himalayas. Apart from witnessing the mesmerizing landscape of the Nanda Devi National Park, you will get an opportunity to interact with the Bhotiya tribal community and experience their unique culture. 

Location:  latitude 30°24' in the North to the longitude 79°53' in the East. Click for  Google Map Reference 

Notified in 1982,  Nanda Devi National park is  located in the border district of Chamoli in Uttarakhand Himalayas in India. The entry to the park is from the village of Lata, 25 kilometer upstream of Joshimath on Niti-Malari road. Visitors now can  save a day by avoiding overnight stay in Joshimath   and drive straight to Lata. There is a professionally managed riverside lodge Devangan in Lata. 

The 62,460 ha core zone of the Nanda Devi National Park is surrounded by a 514,857 ha buffer zone of bio sphere. The almost vertical terrain of the core zone areas holds significant

Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii) sighted near winter
Lata village. 03.03.2019

populations of flora (300 plus species) and fauna including a number of threatened species notably Snow leopard, Himalayan Musk Deer, Himalayan Black Bear,  Himalayan Thar and 114 documented avian species.The inner area of the sanctuary is bowl shaped studded with some of the highest mountains in the Indian Himalayas, 12 of which are over 21000 ft. 

Best Time to visit Nanda Devi National Park: The park remains open between the months of May to October.

How To Reach Nanda Devi National Park 

By Air - The nearest airport is at Jolly Grant at Dehradun at a distance of around 290- km from the Lata village, the gateway to Nanda Devi National Park. There are regular flights to Delhi/Mumbai from Dehradun  airport.

By Rail - The nearest railhead is Rishikesh/Haridwar at a distance of 252 km. 

By Road - From Rishikesh onwards the access is through road link which takes around 7-8 hours covering the townships of Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Karanprayag, Chamoli and Joshimath. 

Access to Nanda Devi National Park: The access to Nanda Devi National Park is only through trekking. The tentative itinerary from Rishikesh/Haridwar is as under:

Nanda Devi National Park: Itinerary in brief 

DAY 1 Pickup from Haridwar and drive to Lata. Trek briefing and equipment distribution. Overnight at Devangan lodge in Lata.

DAY 2 Trek 1.5km to summer Lata village. Village visit and interaction with villagers. Post village visit, trek 3km to Kanook campsite. Overnight in tents.

DAY 3 Trek 4km to Lata Kharak. Post lunch hike to Saini Kharak. Overnight at Forest hut at Lata Kharak.

DAY 4 Post breakfast trek to village Tolma via Jhindi Dhar, Himtoli. Homestay at Tolma village.

DAY 5 Post breakfast trek 3kms to Suraithota roadhead and drive to Devangan lodge.

DAY 6 Post breakfast return drive to Haridwar.

For visitors planing to visit Nanda Devi National Park, customized itinerary with pick up arrangements from Haridwar/Rishikesh and Dehradun Airport can be designed on request. 

Booking/Tickets for Nanda Devi National Park Trek 2019 

Nanda Devi Institute of Adventure Sports and Outdoor Education is offering a single window facility for visiting Nanda Devi National Park. The services include all arrangements from point of pick up to stay, food, permission and entire trekking logistics. For details please visit the Interpretive Trek section of Nanda Devi Institute.  

The Nanda Devi National park Interpretive Trek has been designed to conserve and promote the bio-cultural diversity of the Nanda Devi region. The trek is a low volume  responsible adventure tourism initiative and provides opportunities of engagement and learning about the natural and cultural history of Nanda Devi.

The folk characters Latu and Lati entertaining during the Mask Dance Festival in Lata Village

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The Sacred Mask Dance Festival of Lata village in Nanda Devi National Park INDIA

Plan a visit to experience the unique culture and mesmerizing landscape of  Nanda Devi National Park 

बिखोती कौथिग 

ग्राम लाता , मल्ला पैनखण्डा, जनपद चमोई,  उत्तराखंड,  भारत 

Mask Dance Festival at Lata village, Nanda Devi National Park, INDIA

Introduction: The sacred mask dance festival in Lata village is celebrated annually during the Hindu month of Baisakh. The term used in the Uttarakhand is Bikhoti (बिखोती) which is similar to the term Vaisakhi (IAST: visākhī), also known as Baisakhi, Vaishakhi, or Vasakhi celebrated every year during the month of April  (13-14) in India. Baisakhi is a post harvest festival and is also commemorated as the foundation day of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in the year 1699.  

Bikhoti in Uttarakhand: 

The festival of Bikhoti is celebrated in various forms in Uttarakhand region, mostly associated with  bathing in rivers and performing rituals. In the village of Saloor Dungra, also located in the Malla Painkhanda region of Chamoli, the Baisakhi is celebrated as Ramman festival which is dedicated to the village guardian deity of Bhumyal Devta. The Mask Dance is  a routine reenactment ritual is some of the villages of Malla Painkhanda such as Village Baragaon, Subhain and Suki. The villages suffered loss of their cultural artifacts during the past decades  as the traditional masks and other props of religious significance  were stolen, however, the practice is still continuing despite  the loss. 

The Mask Dance Festival of Lata. 

The Mask Dance festival in Lata is a 10 days long ritualistic ceremony. It starts with bringing the Goddess Nanda Devi to the village center Chopta. After initial ceremonies the various episodes start with first entry of more and murdi mask. 

Suppa Ceremony: All households present buck wheat  to the Goddess Nanda Devi

Narad Rishi episode on Genesis (how the world (shrishti)  was formed)

more (मोर )  episode

Episode of Lord Ganesha during the Mask Dance Festival in Lata, Nanda Devi National Park

Ishwar Raja aka Lord Shiva and Gaura episode

Latu and Lati entertaining the audience

Latu engages with audience

Lata village is the cultural capital of Malla Painkhanda region and a repository of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage.  Efforts are on to conserve and showcase the cultural heritage and traditional ecological knowledge of the Niti Valley area by designing interpretation trek to the Nanda Devi National Park. 

Book Now: Nanda Devi National Park Trek 2019

FACTS

Destination: Lata Kharak-Saini Kharak-Jhindidhar-Tolma
Age: 18years+
Duration: 6 days (from Haridwar)
Trek Strength: Low Volume (minimum10/max 15 pax)
Category: Moderate/Difficult
Inclusion: All services including stay, food, forest entry permits and camping charges after arrival on day 1 at Lata village till departure on day 6.
Exclusion: Transport pickup charges between Haridwar and Lata village. Baggage transfer charges if one desires to offload his rucksack during the trek.

Customized itinerary and pickup arrangements available

Available Dates: Between 29th April to 17 June 2019 

For details call  91-9720 633999

Nanda Devi Institute's Bird Check list of Ramisera, Corbett National Park, District Pauri, India. June 2018

Bird Watching in Corbett National Park, District Pauri, Uttarakhand 

Background:                                                                                    

As a technical recourse agency  Nanda Devi Institute of Adventure Sports organized a Nature Guide Training Program for the District Tourism Department, District Pauri, Uttarakhand,  for the local youth of villages on the periphery of Corbett National Park in District Pauri Garhwal.

 The objective of Nanda Devi Institute of Adventure Sports and Outdoor Education: 

 The main object of the Nanda Devi Institute is to design and conduct need based adventure and outdoor education program for the unemployed youth residing in the remote mountain regions of Uttarakhand. Certified by the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, NDI is offering courses in basic mountaineering, search & rescue, disaster response, and nature guide training. Nanda Devi Institute is also involved in the design and development of first interpretive trail in the Himalayas. Together with the establishment of an interpretation center at village Lata, NDI is developing the 4 days interpretive trail to the Nanda Devi National Park. NDI is also offering a Second Wind Basic Mountaineering Course for over 35 years age group. Details and training schedule of various training programs including basic mountaineering course (BMC), Ski, Disaster Response and Bird Watching can be accessed at NDI website https://ndi.edu.in 

Duration:  5 days, 11^th-15^th June 2018.

Observer:  Mr. Ajay Sharma,    Mr. Vijay Butolaand Ashwani Tyagi

Location :  The training camp venue venue was Corbett Redstart Camp at Ramisera, on the periphery of CTR, near Kotdwara, Pauri Garhwal.  Goolge Map link for reference https://goo.gl/maps/RiC4buXeV1C2

Protocol: Area  hiking  and travelling count

Birding locations:  A 2-3 kilometer up and down-stream hike and from the Corbett Redstart Camp and one day wildlife Safari session on 15^th June 2018 from Vatanvasa Gate. 

Sessions:  Morning and afternoon session’s observations between 5.30 .AM to 8.30 AM and 4 PM-7 PM.

Checklist type:  Composite

Bird checklist Ramisera, Corbett National Park, District Pauri, Uttarakhand 

#	Birds Name
1	Grey capped Woodpecker
2	Brown fronted Woodpecker
3	Lesser Yellownape
4	Great Barbet
5	Brown headed Barbet
6	Lineated Barbet
7	Oriental Pied Hornbill
8	Common Kingfisher
9	Crested Kingfisher
10	White throated Kingfisher
11	Green Bee eater
12	Common Hawk Cuckoo
13	Indian Cuckoo
14	Drongo Cuckoo
15	Alexandrine Parakeet
16	Plum headed Parakeet
17	Rose ringed Parakeet
18	Asian Palm Swift
19	Spotted Dove
20	Yellow footed Green Pigeon
21	Red wattled Lapwing
22	Long tailed Shrike
23	Large billed Crow
24	Rosy Minivet
25	Spangled Drongo
26	Asian Paradise flycatcher
27	Blue Whistling Thrush
28	Orange headed thrush
29	Oriental Magpie Robin
30	Jungle Myna
31	Common Myna
32	Chestnut tailed Myna
33	Chestnut belled  Nuthatch
34	Barn Swallow
35	Himalayan Bulbul
36	Red whiskered Bulbul
37	Red vented Bulbul
38	Grey breasted Prinia
39	Oriental White eye
40	White crested Laughingthrush
41	Jungle Babbler
42	Purple Sunbird
43	Brown capped Woodpecker
44	Indian Grey Hornbill
45	Eurasian Collared Dove
46	Rufous Treepie
47	Cinereous Tit
48	Scaly breasted Munia
49	Velvet fronted Nuthatch
50	Red Junglefowl
51	Crested Serpent Eagle
52	Greater Yellownape
53	Spotted Owlet
54	Blue throated Flycatcher
55	Scarlet Minivet
56	Crimson Sunbird
57	Chestnut shouldered Petronia
58	Kalij Pheasant
59	River Lapwing
60	Shikra
61	Oriental Honey Buzzard
62	Long tailed Minivet
63	Streak throated Woodpecker
64	Pied Bushchat
65	Common Hoopoe
66	Red billed Blue Magpie
67	Golden fronted Leafbird
68	Northern House Martin
69	Yellow Wagtail
70	White throated Fantail
71	Black lored Tit
72	Red billed Leiothrix
73	White browed Wagtail
74	Great Hornbill
75	Indian Roller
76	Russet Sparrow
77	Dollarbird
78	Black Bulbul
79	White rumped Needletail
80	Mounstached Warbler
81	Asian barred Owlet
82	White Wagtail
83	Great Slaty Woodpecker
84	Black Chined Babbler
85	Black Drongo