Project

On
Geographical study on Uttarakashi ,
Chamoli, Pithoragarh

Submitted to Submitted by
Dr. Pushpa pant Preeti Negi
Department of Geography M.A. 1st Sem.
Roll.no 229030112

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Uttarkashi ,Chamoli, Pithoragarh Location Map

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 Introduction
Uttarkashi
Meaning Kashi of the north, is a town located in Uttarkashi
district in Uttarakhand, India. Uttarkashi town is headquarters of the
district. Uttarkashi is also known as SomyaKashi. Uttarkashi is a
religious place for spiritual and adventurous tourism. Uttarkashi town is
also called as Shivnagri. The town has number of temples and
ashrams. Uttarkashi is known for its religious people, weather,
education.
It is the district headquarters of Uttarkashi district. Uttarkashi is situated
on the banks of river Bhagirathi at an altitude of 1158 m above sea
level. Uttarkashi is generally known as a holy town close to Rishikesh. It
is located in the state of Uttarakhand in India. Uttarkashi is home to a
number of ashrams and temples and also to the Nehru Institute of
Mountaineering. The name of the town reflects its similarity to and
location (as north of) the city of Kashi (Varanasi).

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 Chamoli
is a district of the Uttarakhand state of India. It is bounded by
the Tibet region to the north, and by the Uttarakhand districts
of Pithoragarh and Bageshwar to the east, Almora to the
south, PauriGarhwal to the southwest, Rudraprayag to the west,
and Uttarkashi to the northwest. The administrative headquarters of
Chamoli district is in Gopeshwar.
Chamoli hosts a variety of destinations of pilgrim and tourist interest
including Badrinath, Hemkund Sahib and Valley of Flowers. Chipko
movement was first started in Chamoli. It is situated on the Ganges, lies
next to a hill named Varunavat, on confluence of two
rivers Varuna and Asi, has a ghat called ManikarnikaGhat.

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 Pithoragarh
Pithoragarh district is the easternmost district in the state of
Uttarakhand. It is located in the Himalayas and has an area of
7,110 km2 (2,750 sq mi) and a population of 483,439 (as of 2011). The
city of Pithoragarh, located in Saur Valley, is its headquarters. The
district is within the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand state.
The Tibet plateau is situated to the north and Nepal is to the east.
The Kali River which originates from the Kalagiri Mountain flows south,
forming the eastern border with Nepal.[2] The Hindu pilgrimage route
for Mount Kailash-Lake Manasarovar passes through this district
via Lipulekh Pass in the greater Himalayas. The district is
administratively divided into
six Tehsils: Munsyari; Dharchula; Didihat; Berinag; Gangolihat; and
Pithoragarh. Naini Saini Airport is the nearest civil airport, but it does
not have a regular scheduled commercial passenger service. The
mineral deposits present in the district are magnesium ore, copper
ore, limestone, and slate. There are 12 tehsils.

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 Geographical study of Uttarkashi, Chamoli,
Pithoragarh

Uttarkashi is located at 30.73°N 78.45°E.It has an average elevation

of 1,165 metres (4,436 feet). Most of the terrain is hilly. There are many
small and big rivers in Uttarkashi district. The Yamuna and the Ganges
(Bhagirathi) are biggest and holiest among them. The Yamuna
originates from Yamunotri while Bhagirathi originates from Gangotri
(Gomukh). Asi ganga and Jad ganga are some of the tributaries of the
Ganges.

Pithoragarh is the easternmost district in the state of Uttarakhand. It

is located in the Himalayas and has an area of 7,110 km2 (2,750 sq mi)
and a population of 483,439 (as of 2011). The city of Pithoragarh,
located in Saur Valley, is its headquarters. The district is within
the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand state. The Tibet plateau is situated
to the north and Nepal is to the east.
Chamoli, carved as a separate revenue district in 1960 out of the
erstwhile Garhwal district, lies in the Central Himalaya and constitutes a
part of the celebrated 'KedarKshetra'. Chamoli District is surrounded
by Uttarkashi in the northwest, Pithoragarh in the east, Bageshwar in
the southeast, Almora in the west, PauriGarhwal in the southwest and
Rudraprayag in the west. The geographical area of the District is
around 7,520 km2 (2,900 sq mi).

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Rivers

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 Pithoragarh
The district abounds in rivers some of which originate within the fold of the district
and,assuming a peripheral course along the borderline, enter the Garhwal region
and eventually merges into the Ganga and have thus been geographically
grouped under the rivers of the Ganga system. These are:

Kali :
The river Kali originating from trans Himalayan zone forms the continuous border
with Nepal all through its course from Kalapani to Tanakpur where terminating its
serpentine hilly course it finally enters plains and is then called Sharda. Along its
vast catchment in the entire northern and eastern parts of Pithoragarh, the Kali is
almost a human presence,masterful yet benign.The Kali river possesses an
immense potential for irrigation and hydro electric generation and a project for the
construction of a massive dam at Pancheswar is pending under political
negotiations with Nepal.
Gori:
Originating from a dual source in a glacier near south of Untadhura ridge feeding
the eastern branch, and another glacier near Milam feeding the western branch,
the Goririver joins the Kali at Jauljibi.
Dhauli :
Dhauli is, infact, a combination of two head waters namely Dharamganga and
Lassar with the glacier close to Darma pass as their source and, taking a south
eastern course, finally joins Kali and serves as its important tributary.

Kutiyangti :
This river originates from a small glacier along the southern base of
Lumpiyadhura Pass and is a tributary of Kali.

Sarju :
Originating from the extreme south of adjacent Almora district, the river Sarju
makes the south west boundary between Pithoragarh and Almora and, finally, at a
point at Pancheswar, it joins Kali along with Panarriver.

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 Ram Ganga :
Forming the boundary between Almora and Pithoragarh districts the Ram Ganga
originates from the Namik glacier. The river is fed by numerous small and big
rivers and finally joins Sarju at Rameshwar.There are scriptual evidences which
bearout that the great sage Vasistha also performed penance here and that the
river Sarju originating from the feet of Lord Vishnu has journeyed to the ashram of
Vasistha.The river is held in great reverence and is traditionally associated by the
Hindu population of the district with the belief that it is gifted with the power of
condoning their sins and hence is a preferred spot for cremation.

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River system of Chamoli

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 Alaknanda
Alaknanda, traversing a distance of 229 kms. before it confluence with Bhagirathi
at Devprayag and constituting the Ganga, is the major river. The Alaknanda
originates at a height of 3641 meters below Balakun peak 16 km. upstream from
Badrinath form the two glaciers of BhagirathKharak and Satopanth. The two
glaciers rise from the eastern slopes ofChaukhamba (7140 Meters) peak.

Pindar
Pindar or Pindari River originates from Pindari Glacier in Bageshwar. It passes
small towns and villages like Devaal, Tharali, Kulsari, Harmani, Meeng,
NarainBagar, Nalgaon, Simli inhabited in Pindar Valley and finally merges with
River Alaknanda at Karanprayag and thereafter flows as Alaknanda. The
Pinddarriver, before joining Alaknanda, is fed by Kaliganga and Bheriganga.

Saraswati
The Saraswatiriver has its origination in Deotal and Ragastal nearly 60 kms
ahead of Mana the last Indian village. Locals believe that this the same river that
is mentioned in Vedas and purans to be hidden and is believed that it virtually
merges the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna at Prayag. The Saraswatiriver is
visible for few 100 mts. at Mana village and then it merges with Alaknanda. The
bubbly frosty waters of the river rage down with a tremendous force. Facing the
river, stands a small Saraswati temple and self proclaimed India's last shop can
be spotted too which marks itself as "Bharat kiaakhri chai kidukaan".

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River system of Uttarkashi

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 Bhagirathi
The Bhagirathi is a turbulent Himalayan river in the Indian state of Uttarakhand,
and one of the two headstreams of the Ganges, the major river of Northern India
and the holy river of Hinduism. In the Hindu faith, mythology, and culture, the
Bhagirathi is considered the source stream of the Ganges. However, in hydrology,
the other headstream, Alaknanda, is considered the source stream on account of
its great length and discharge. The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join
at Devprayag in Garhwal and are thereafter known as the Ganges.

Tons
The Tons is the largest tributary of the Yamuna.It flows through Garhwal region
in Uttarakhand, touching Himachal Pradesh. The Tons thrust is named after this
river.
Its source lies in the 20,722 feet (6,316 m) high Bandarpunch mountain, and is
one of the most major perennial Indian Himalayan rivers. In fact, it carries more
water than the Yamuna itself, which it meets below Kalsi near Dehradun,
Uttarakhand.

Yamuna
The Yamunais the second-largest tributary river of the Ganges by discharge and
the longest tributary in India. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a height of
about 4,500 m (14,800 ft)on the southwestern slopes of Bandarpunch peaks of
the Lower Himalaya in Uttarakhand, it travels a total length of 1,376 kilometres
(855 mi) and has a drainage system of 366,223 square kilometres
(141,399 sq mi), 40.2% of the entire Ganges Basin. It merges with the Ganges
at TriveniSangam, Allahabad, which is a site of the KumbhMela, a Hindu festival
held every 12 years.

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 Availability of Minerals
 Pithoragarh
S.NO. NAME OF MINERAL Availability

MAJOR MINERAL

1. Limestone 950 Million Metric Ton

2. Dolomite 200 Million Metric Ton

3. Magnetite 180 Million Metric Ton

4. Soap stone 160 Million Metric Ton

Chamoli
Magnestie - This is of an average quality is crystalline in nature, and is found
associated with crystalline dolomites and sometimes with soapstone. The
Magnesium carbonate found here is also of average quality and its mineralisation
has also been reported to occur in the district.
Soapstone or Steatite - This white saponaceous stone resembling pipe
clay is obtained in as lenticular body and is associated with mineral pyrites, which
adds a color to it, and in places with magnesite. it can be mined for use as filler in
soap and in the cosmetic industries. In the past various utensils were made of it
which, when polished, had the appearance of marble.
Copper - The copper mines in the district are extensive and of reputed during
the period of Hindus and The Gorkhas rules. All the rich mines have since being
exhausted and at present they do not offer a fair field for the employment of
capital.
Iron - Small and sporadic occurrence of iron are known to occur in several parts
of district but are of hardly any economic important. Iron ore, rich in haematite,
and magnetic ore, with haematite and siderite, also occur in the district.
Uttarakashi
The knowledge regarding occurrences of minerals in the district is scanty. As per
stray surveys, soap stones, iron, copper, graphite, lime stone, kyanite and mica
deposits occur in the district.

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 PASSES

Uttarkashi
Rupin Pass | 4,690 meters
Nalgan Pass | 4,500 meters
Borasu Pass | 5,360 meters
Bali Pass | 4,900 meters
Lamkhaga Pass | 5,300 meters
FachuKandi Pass | 4,230 meters

Chamoli
Mana Pass | 5,610 meters
Niti Pass | 5,070 meters
UntaDhura pass | 4,900 meters
Traill’s pass | 5,400 meters

Pithoragarh
Sin La | 5,495 meters
Lipulekh pass | 5,200 meters
Nama pass | 5,200 meters
LampiyaDhura pass | 5,540 meters
BalchaDhura pass | 5,338 meters
RalamDhura pass | 5,630 meters

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 History
CHAMOLI
The region covered by the district of Chamoli formed part of the PauriGarhwal
district till 1960. It occupies the northeastern corner of the Garhwal tract and lies
in the central or mid-Himalayas in the very heart of the snowy range described in
ancient books as Bahirgiri, one of the three divisions of the Himalayan mountains
Chamoli, the district of "Garhwal" the land of forts. Today's Garhwal was known
as Kedar-khand in the past. In puranasKedar-khand was said to be abode
of Hindu God. It seems from the factsvedaspuranas, Ramayna
and Mahabharat that these Hindu scriptures are scripted in kedar-khand. It is
believed that Hindu God Ganesha first script of vedas in Vayasgufa situated in the
last village Mana only 4 km (2.5 mi) from Badrinath.According to Rigveda (1017–
19) after Inundation (Jalprlya) Sapt-Rishis saved their lives in the same village
Mana. Besides there the roots of vedic literature seemsto be originated from
Garhwal because the Garhwali language has a lot of words common
with Sanskrit.

PITHORAGARH
Pithoragarh, After its conquest by Bhartpal, the Rajwar of Uku (now in Nepal), in
the year 1364, Pithoragarh was ruled for the rest of the 14th century by three
generations of Pals, and the kingdom extended from Pithoragarh to Askot.
According to a TamraPatra (inscribed copper or brass plaque) from 1420, the Pal
dynasty, based out of Askot, was uprooted by Chand kings. Vijay Brahm (of the
Brahm dynasty from Doti) took over the empire as King. Following the death of
Gyan Chand, in a conflict with Kshetra Pal, the Pals were able to regain the
throne.ChandDynastyIt is believed that Bharti Chand, an ancestor of Gyan
Chand, had replaced Bams, the ruler of Pithoragarh, after defeating them in 1445.
In the 16th century, the Chand dynasty again took control over Pithoragarh town
and, in 1790, built a new fort on the hill where the present Girls Inter College is
situated.

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 UTTARKASHI
Uttarkashi district was created on February 24, 1960 out of what then constituted
the parganas of Rawain and Uttarkashi of Rawain tahsil of erstwhile Tehri
Garhwal district. It sprawls in the extreme north-west corner of the state over an
area of 8016 sq. kms. in the rugged terrain of the mystic Himalayas. On its north
lie Himachal Pradesh State and the territory of Tibet and the district of Chamoli in
the east. The district is named after its headquarters town Uttarkashi, an ancient
place with rich cultural heritage and as the name suggests is the Kashi of north
(Uttara) held almost as high a veneration as Kashi of the plain (Varanasi). Both
the Kashi of the plain (Varanasi) as well as the Kashi of north are situated on the
banks of the river Ganga (Bhagirathi). The area which is held sacred and known
as Uttarkashi, lies between the rivers Syalam Gad also known as the Varuna and
Kaligad also known as the Asi. The Varuna and the Asi are also the names of the
rivers between which the Kashi of the plain lies. One of the holiest Ghats in
Uttarkashi is Manikarnika so is the one by the same name in Varanasi. Both have
temples dedicated to Vishwanath.

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 Conclusion
Geographical and topographical aspects

UTTARKASHI
Tourism development in mountain and remote areas also accelerated ecological
problems, like garbage trails, deforestation, disturbed flora and fauna life systems,
overcrowding, congestion, landslides etc. Garhwal Himalaya specially the upper
region of Bhagirathi like Chirbasa, Bhojbasa, etc are facing utter deforestation,
poaching and landslides. This is one side of the coin, the other side says that
tourism advocates conservation desperately (Bisht, 1994). The economic
activities of Uttarkashi-Gangotri region are being diversified for tourism. The
income of the local people and standard of living is improving due to positive
effects of tourism. But deprived of nature there will be no tourism, so tourism
weights nature conservation and tourism are essential and over all environmental
consciousness of local people and tourists is so much required to preserve the
aesthetic beauty of the area.

Pithoragarh
District poses numerous challenges to environment planners. While the densely
populated valley areas may require intervention in waste, management
operations, the native people of high altitude wants their indigenous livelihood to
be sustained. This plan focused on key thematic areas which included the
parameters necessary for sustainable development of the district. At present,
primary waste management operations are performed in the ULBs of the district
but not in an optimal way. Effective scientific management of waste is still a far cry
as dry waste management is lacking in most of the ULBs of the district. This is
having a snowballing effect as maximum waste is openly dumped. Due to
ineffective processing of waste, the economical aspect of waste is also not
realized, particulary plastic waste. DPR has been approved which is a silver
linningand,may help the district to achieve effective waste management in near
future. Biomedical waste management also lacks scientific and rules based
approach. The waste is disposed using deep burial method while machinery and
equipments required for scientific management of biomedical waste are
unavailable. Health department has taken the cognizance of all the issues which
will certainly help acknowledge the issues related to biomedical waste
management. Nagar PalikaPithoragarh has two operational Sewage treatment
plants. This pertains to high population density in this ULB. Rest of ULBs still rely
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on conventional Septic Tank+Soak pit method of disposal. Onsite/Offsite
treatment of sewage is desired in the district keepin in mind the topography of the
region. Air quality determination is still a distant dream as the district has no
monitoring station. Increase in forest fires and vehicular pollution might have
already deteriorated the air quality in the district and adjacent areas. District has
abundance of surface water sources, be it rivers, ponds, springs etc. However,
water scarcity in summer season has been a common affair nowadays. Water
resources management techniques needs to be propogated to channelize the
available water to drinking water and irrigation demand. Mining activities are
prevalent in the district as the region is rich in minerals. However, environment
clearance for mining activities has been a cause of concern.

CHAMOLI
Keeping geological, seismic and ecological constraints in mind, and to ensure
overalIstabitity of the constructed road in particular and the concerned area in
general, following suggestionsaremadefor the construction of the proposed
motorable road:A drain should be constructed bythe side of the hill along the road
in cutting. Breast/retaining wall should be constructed as per shape of the rock
and site. Road should be constructed keeping ecology and environment in to
consideration. Suitable provisions should be made for earthquake.

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 Reference
1. Uttaranchal - The Abode of Gods

2. The valley of flowers

3. The Archaeological of alaknanda valley : Central Himalaya

4. Uttaranchal year book

5. Parikshavani

6. http://www.winsar.org/bookref.aspx

7. https://www.euttaranchal.com/uttarakhand/uttarakhand-books.php

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