Uttarakhand State Guide

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• Discover the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in the pages of this book, which provides comprehensive holiday planning information on popular destinations such as Mussoorie, Nainital, Rishikesh and 1-laridwar. Also unveils hidden gems such as Pokhri, Kodiya, Sonapani and Darma Valley

• Everything you need to know for a pulsating yet r peaceful holiday where to stay, eat, shop, where to find the perfect wildlife safari or river rafting camp, is provided in each destination

• The Garhwal, Kumaon and Pilgrimages sections are signposted with route and tourist guides, highlighting road routes and tourist attractions in the bigger destinations. The Wildlife section has tourist guides of each sanctuary. The Adventure section has trekking guides for each trek

• The Special section presents some of the best wellness getaways in the state and delightful reads on the cultural and culinary heritage of Uttarakhand. It also features essays that offer insights into the Uttarakhand ethos • A comprehensive back-of-the-book section has 32 pages of accommodation listings, 10 pages of travel agents listings, important numbers for transport planning and contact information for Uttarakhand’s GMVN and KMVN tourism offices

The Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, in which I have a small cottage, is no stranger to visitors. People have flocked to these mountains for centuries, following arduous trails along impossible slopes to our holiest shrines high up in the Himalaya. A close communion with awe-inspiring natural beauty is the pilgrim's bonus. Nowadays we also go to Uttarakhand to paraglide down from its heights, and raft the rapids of our holy rivers.

But the happy pictures of tourists on elephant safaris, excited rafters and blissful faces of nirvana-seekers hide a grim reality. For not even the mighty Himalaya are able to withstand the devastating effects of global warming. In Uttarakhand, it has forced every glacier to recede, dried entire lakes in Kumaon, thinned its rivers and is now changing its seasons. Forests and their precious wildlife across the state are fighting a losing battle to survive against tree-cutters. From my cottage I can see barren hills with hardly a tree on them. It is not a pretty sight.

Uttarakhand, to some extent, is trying to check the damage. It strictly controls access to its precious biores- erve, Nanda Devi National Park, and places heavy fines on those who leave behind non-biodegradable refuse. Yet, there are very few true eco-sensitive resorts and operators in the Himalaya. So how can we contribute? By seeking out operators who, while benefiting from the land, leave no impact upon it, who build with eco- friendly material, and who employ Uttarakhandis. By knowing that it takes a paper bag a month to biodegrade, a tin can about a century, a single plastic bag a million years and a single styrofoam cup, eternity.

The Himalaya needs our protection now. No matter how much you paid for that yoga-and-rafting-on-the- Ganga package, tread as lightly as the humblest pilgrim. The mere sight of the hills is reward enough. Take away nothing but memories.