Unexplored Sarmoli A Kumaoni Village Tour Package
Location: Kumaon
Duration: 5 Nights / 6 Days
Features
Holiday Type: Unexplored Places
Interest Type: Group Tours
Package Type: Village Tours
Location: Kumaon
Duration: 5 Nights / 6 Days
Holiday Type: Unexplored Places
Interest Type: Group Tours
Package Type: Village Tours
Sarmoli :- Sarmoli, steeped in a history of being along an ancient trade and pilgrim route with a present which is uniquely rural and rich in both cultural & natural diversity is a small village in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. Set amidst the majestic towering Panchachuli peaks, on the banks of Gori river and located close to the tri-junction of the international borders of India, Nepal and Tibet, the village offers a unique frontier flavour.
Bariza Holidays with the help of Rural Odyssey, along with the people of Sarmoli, offers you an unforgettable experience of Sarmoli. You will have a chance to explore the local culture by dwelling in houses of the local people. You can share your life experience with them to help in making a positive impact in their lives and aid in earning a Livelihood for a better future. Families welcome you to share your cooking skills, learn to solar bake, cook with fresh ingredients and get back to the basics for those so inclined. One can learn to weave with wool on traditional looms, weave baskets using montane bamboo–crafts that are seasonally engaged in and are integral to the community that is highly dependent on its forests And rich natural heritage. We invite you to come and have this authentic and unique cultural experience !
Places Of Interest :- Munsiari Bazaar, Nanda Devi Mandir and Danadhar.
Please Note :- These rates are valid for Indian Passport holders only, foreigners are requested to, please cross check the rates with our tour experts before booking the package.
Important Note :- This is a proposal of quotation and not a confirmation of booking. Rates are subject to revision, hence we requests our customers to check the current rates with our Tour Experts in the moment of confirmation of the services or before the final booking...
We will assemble at Anand Vihar ISBT, Delhi at 2000 Hrs ; get to know your fellow travellers before we board the Uttarakhand Roadways Volvo bus to Haldwani, Uttarakhand at 2100 Hrs.
We will reach Haldwani at around 5 AM, and will start our journey to Sarmoli in a Traveller van. The journey enchants you with a picturesque view of old mountain towns of Nainital, Almora, Seraghat, Berinag and Thal, and Kalamuni Pass (9000 feet above sea level). We will finally descend into the Gori valley and reach Sarmoli by early evening. It’s a beautiful drive as you drive past the Kosi River near Almora, Sarayu at Seraghat, and Ramganga at Thal, and finally enter the Gori Ganga watershed. We will make stops on the way For refreshments and meals (breakfast and lunch) at nice food joints, with breathtaking views all over the place. In Sarmoli, we will be welcomed by our hospitable hosts and splendid Panchchuli peaks. To rejuvenate you, we have arranged for twin sharing rooms (in the homes of native people) with Clean fresh linen and duvets, and attached western bathrooms with running water. All the rooms are comfortable and quiet with a view of majestic Panchchuli peaks. We will end the day with a freshly prepared organic dinner with our hosts or in private as per your wish.
Today, we start the day with a guided tour of the village, and get to understand the Sarmoli community, their farming practices, connection with the forests and their rich culture. As we walk around, we will visit few homes of various social and caste groups, understand the cultural and architectural aspects, witness the traditional weaving on looms with wool (maybe try it as well) and learn about the civic amenities such as water sources and innovations in use of solar power. Women of Sarmoli are the powerhouse of the village. Alongside managing the home stays and working in fields, they also run an enterprise “Maati Sangathan”, a collective that run across 50 nearby villages. We will visit Maati Sangathan where you’ll get to interact with the worker’s to know about the functioning of this enterprise, and can also shop locally produced handicrafts including finely woven pashminas and other woollen wear, furnishings, and locally grown organic food products. Post lunch, we will visit Tribal Museum which is founded and managed by Mr. S. S. Pangtey. The museum is his life’s work and dedication towards preserving and protecting the local Bhotiya Tribe (a scheduled tribe that used to trade with Tibet). A half day visit to this museum will give you a glimpse of the old Bhotiya culture which once flourished in the region. In the evening, there’s an optional visit to Munsiari Bazaar, Nanda Devi Mandir and Danadhar. The Bazaar is set between three villages and is a one road Bazaar. Seek the blessings of local goddess in the temple and get a bird’s eye view of the Gori valley from the Vantage point of Danadhar.
Today, we will understand the region’s seasonal farming practices, enjoy the rich folk music, dance, and interact with village communities. We will start the day with the guided tour through the neighbouring villages of Sarmoli and Shankhdhura to tune into the seasonal agricultural practices. This will give you an insight On how the locals have stuck to the methods of organic farming, despite harsh conditions, and still live a content life. Those adventurous enough can walk up to the grassy ridge slopes of the ‘ghas mang’ or the fodder grass patches where there will be hectic cutting of grass for winter feeding of the livestock. Post lunch, we will have a community get together where we will enjoy the folk music, dance, and healthy fruitful discussions.
We will spend the day leisurely with the nature, walking on the stony pathway with a stream running along to the Mesar Kund (a pond nestled in an old Oak forest). Mesar Kund has a very interesting folklore associated, which will be described during the walk. On the way, just before the ancient Mesar Kund, the village community (with their bare hands and efforts) has built another pond, also known as the Mesar Kund (new one) to keep the water stream running through the village throughout the year. With every step, view of Panchchuli will take our breath way, and it keeps getting better and better..
Today after the breakfast, we will say goodbye to the village and its wonderful people, and trace our steps back toward Haldwani. From Haldwani, we will board the Volvo Bus to Delhi, and reach there next day early in the morning.