ALL THE TIME, FESTIVAL TIME
The three regions of Uttar
Pradesh namely the Garhwal Himalayas,the Kumaon Himalayas and the Gangetic plains, all
have some festival or the other the whole year round. Some of the more prominent ones
which tourists can also enjoy are as follows:
1) International Yoga Week celebrated
in the month of February in Rishikesh, the Week sees Yoga being practised on the banks of
the Ganga. It promises to be a rejuvenating experience and newcomers can also be initiated
into Yoga by experienced masters.
2) Another festival in the month of
February is Taj Mahotsav. Celebrated on a large scale it provides a culturally
vibrant platform for the finest Indian crafts and cultural nuances.
3) The month of Feb/March celebrates the Jhansi
Festival bringing alive rich folk traditions and legends recounting tales of glory,
from the pages of history.
4) March also celebrates the Indian
festival of colours - Holi. The Rang Gulal Festival at Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana,
Gokul and Baldeo brings out in a hundred enchanting ways Lord Krishna's playfulness with
Radha and the Gopis.
5) The month of April/May celebrates Buddha
Mahotsav at Sarnath where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon and at Kushinagar,
where he attained nirvana.
6) The Badri-Kedar Festival in June pays
tribute to the artistic and cultural richness of India. The eight day long festival is
held at the holy shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath high up in the Himalayas.
7) Presenting the multi-faceted culture of
Brajbhoomi - Lord Krishna's homeland - is the Vrindavan Sharadotsav in October.
Discover for yourself the traditions of a land where the sweet lore of Lord Krishna's
flute still pervades the air.
8) The Garhwal Festival in the lap
of the serene Himalayas is a festival of the people of the region. There is dance and
music and an air of festivity.
9) Come to Varansi - the eternal city -
during October/November for the Ganga Festival, and experience the ancient glory of
the holy river celebrated by devotees and visitors alike.
10) The Kumaon Festival in November brings alive the
fascinating world of the enchanting Kumaons. A joyously different holiday.
TREKKING AROUND
The Garhwal and the Kumaon Himalayas
of Uttar Pradesh offer some very exciting and delightful treks--some of them all the year
round. So pick up your backpacks and experience the Himalayas--on foot.
The Panchkedar Trek covers
Kedarnath, Madmaheshwar, Tungnat-th, Rudranath, and Kalpeshwar; while there is another
which covers Rishikesh, Gaurikund, Kedarnath, and Vasuki Tal.
You can also take one to Dodital, Hanuman
Chatti, and Yamunotri; a second to Gaumukh Nandan Van, and Tapovan; and another covering
Rishikesh, Joshimath, Govindaghat, Ghangharia, Hemkund Sahib, the beautiful Valley of
Flowers, Badrinath and back to Rishkesh.
Two of the hard, high altitude seasonal
treks cover
(a) Uttarkashi, Sahastratal, Katling, and
Vasuki Tal; (b) Gangotri, Bhojwasa, Nandan Van, Vasuki Tal, Kalinadikhal, Ghastoli and
Badrinath.
Some of the comparatively milder but still
seasonal treks cover
(a) Rishikesh, Mundoli, Wan, Bedni Bugyal,
Roopkund, Hemkund and Ghat;
(b)Rishikesh, Ghat, Ramni, Jhenjipani,
Sinyartoli, Dhakwani, Kuari Pass, Tali, Auli and Rishikesh;
(c) Rishikesh, Auli, Kuari Pass and
Tapovan;
(d) Uttarkashi, Lata, Buddha Kedar,
Panwali, Kedarnath;
(e) and one to the Milam Glacier at 4267
mtrs.
For the not-so-strong or the less
enthusiastic there are soft treks. These include :
(a) Rishikesh - Pauri - Thalisain -
Piersain - Binar- Gairsain - Rishikesh
(b) Rishikesh - Panthwari - Nagtibba -
Dewalsari - Thatiur - Mussoorie - Rishikesh
(c) Rishikesh - Ukhimath - Devariyatal -
Chopta - Tungnath - Chandrashila
(d) To Pindari Glacier at 3820 mtrs
(e) To Kafni Glacier at 3800 mtrs
(f) To Sunderdhunga Glacier at 3806 mtrs.
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