Gartang Gali Bridge Trek

Overview

In the 17th century, the Pathans of Peshawar, along with residents, prepared the world's most dangerous path by cutting the steep hills of the Himalayas for the movement of villages Nelang, Jadung and Bhot area in the Jad Ganga valley of Uttarkashi district at an altitude of 11 thousand feet above sea level. Whose inspiration was inspired by Seth Dhaniram ji, a resident of village Nelong at that time. This 140 m long wooden staircase (Gartangali) has been a witness to the Indo-Tibetan trade. According to Mr. Narayan Negi and head Mrs. Sarita Rawat, resident of Nelang / Bagori, before 1962, Indo-Tibetan traders and residents of village Jadung, Nelang used to travel through this route by loading goods on yaks, horse-mules and sheep. The army also used this route for ten years after the Indo-China war. But, due to non-use and maintenance of Gartangali for the last 40 years, its existence was vanishing.

The Nelong valley of Uttarkashi district is adjacent to the China border. India's Sumla, Mandi, Nila Pani, Tripani, PDA and Jadung are the last posts on the border. Due to being strategically sensitive, this area has been declared as Inner Line Area. There is a strict vigil by the army every step of the way and there is a ban on going without permission. But there was a time when the Nelong valley used to be full of Indo-Tibetan merchants. Dorji (the merchants of Tibet) used to reach Uttarkashi via Gartangali of Sumla, Mandi, Nelong with wool, leather clothes and salt. Then there used to be a haat in Uttarkashi. That is why Uttarkashi is also called as Badahat (big market). After selling the goods, Dorji used to return from here with items like oil, spices, pulses, jaggery, tobacco etc.