For those who are certain about escaping the holiday trails of Pauri Garhwal and experiencing the country of Uttarakhand in a true sense, Jawargarh Village comes as a surprise. This small compromise is a small, more or less cohesive community of 14 households, situated in the development block of Dugdda in Pauri Garhwal district.
Contrary to the surrounding sprawling hill towns, Jawargarh is a small mountain village where life is lived slowly and traditionally, where the busyness and modernity of everyday life are not reflected in the surroundings, but rather the peaceful resilience of Garhwali life, bolstered by a distinct attachment to the surrounding wilderness.
Geography
The area of Jawargarh is about 36. seventy-eight acres which is very small in size. It is situated in the wild and dwindling Himalayan landscape of the Dugdda block under the Pathurankar Gram Panchayat. These small mountain streams or in local parlance ‘गाड़’, seasonal rivers meander through the valleys in the area and are the most significant source of water for the region, except during hot summer months when they can become too hot.
Culture
Their way of life is very traditional and based on communal life and mass birthday parties. With a population of eighty, anyone is aware of everybody. There are a few patches of shade, and a path to the peaceful hills, at local festivals and seasonal मेला (fair). The temples are deeply embedded in the landscape; the family gods or the village devotion towards the देवता is performed in small stone temples, typically placed in a quiet place on a mountain ridge (धार) or under an old banyan or pipal tree.
Local Food
At Jawargarh, the food is available, simple and totally organic. Many villagers have contact with marginal farming in the steppe farming and food is cooked with what they have just harvested:
Traditional Grains: Thick, satisfying rotis of Mandua (finger millet) or comforting bowls of Jhangora (barnyard millet) porridge.
Earthy Dals: Slow-cooked Chainsoo (roasted black gram) or Phaanu (husked black gram) and heavily tempered with a special local aromatic spice called Jakhya.
Pahadi Accompaniments: Spicy, stone ground Bhang ki Chutney (wild hemp seeds) with fresh mint and local citrus fruit juice.
Though it is in the mountains, Jawargarh remains quite accessible from most of the recovery centres in South Garhwal.
By Road: The nearest major statutory town is Dogadda (Dugadda) which is about 35 km away. But, the main entry point of vehicles and supplies into the bustling gateway city is Kotdwara. Few local shared jeeps/mountain taxis are available from Kotdwara to go up the twisting roads to reach Pathurankara.
The nearest railway station is Kotdwara Railway Station from where the region is directly linked to major cities like Delhi. Go from the station, past lovely views of the valleys, to the hills.
By Air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun is the nearest airport, which is about 120 km away from here via Rishikesh and Kotdwara. The best way to get to the hills from the airport is by private taxi.
The surroundings of Jawargarh have a deep spiritual dimension and are home to various sites of great importance:
Local Shrines: There are quiet family thans (shrines) inside the village limits and along the high ridges (dhar) dedicated to the protectors of the family.
Before you reach the village, at the bottom of the hill you can find the iconic temple of Siddhabali Temple (Kotdwara) dedicated to Lord Hanuman, which is a major shrine point for which almost everyone stops to seek blessings while travelling.
Durga Devi Temple is located close to the Dugadda-Kotdwara highway, and is a very old riverside temple that is highly revered throughout the block.
No Tourist Infrastructure: Information on commercial hotels/guest houses/registered homestay in Jawargarh is not available. There is no commercial aspect to this village at all. For those who wish to visit, it is highly recommended to stay at Kotdwara or Dugadda as they are good places to stay overnight or for those planning a trip to Kotdwara/Dugadda for a short duration, it is advisable to coordinate directly with the local contacts of the Pathurankara Gram Panchayat.
Connectivity Issues: Mobile signal is available on the higher slopes while it is buried when you go down in the valley or near a गधेरा mostly in the area of Jio and BSNL.
Resources & Cash: No stores or ATMs nearby. Take sufficient cash, medicine and filtered drinking water from Kotdwara. A traditional water source in hills is the same type of sources as outlined above in the villages, such as a नौला (ancient step-well) or a dhara.
|
The Essentials |
What to Know |
|
District |
Pauri
Garhwal |
|
Block / Tehsil |
Dugadda
Block / Kotdwara Tehsil |
|
Gram Panchayat |
Pathurankara |
|
Total Population |
~80
people (14 Households) |
|
Nearest Town |
Dogadda
(35 km) / Kotdwara |
|
Primary Language |
Garhwali
and Hindi |
|
Best Time to Visit |
October
to March (when the mountain air is cool and clear) |
The special feature of Jawargarh is that it is a symbol of an extinct lifestyle of pure hill people. With only 14 families calling it home, there are no crowds, no concrete motel blocks and no tourist noise. The perfect place for writers, researchers, thinkers or vacationers who want to experience the raw and unspoiled nature of the lower Garhwal hills in a relaxing seat to hear the wind blow through the mountains and trees.
Jawargar village is a beautiful example of the peace and sustainability of village of Pauri Garhwal. There is no hand-made views or luxuries here - The beauty is in the absolute simplicity. Whether it is the impressive harmonious music of the far distant gaad echoing in the valley, or the sincerity and simplicity of its few inhabitants, Jawargarh proves to be an unprecedented opportunity to make a slow descent towards the ground. If you're looking to write a true and unedited travel journal about the hill, then a good place to start is in this quiet village and we hope you get to stay with us longer when you're done!
Uttarakhand is not simply another country. People here name it Devbhoomi (देवभूमि), the Land of the Gods. And it feels that way. Rivers begin right here. Old temples sit on mountain tops. Morning day...