Raithal - sustainable village in Uttarakhand
Raithal- a sustainable village in Uttarakhand
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Crispy views of the majestic Himalayas from Raithal
About 45 kilometres from Uttarkashi town in Uttarakhand, Raithal keeps away from the tourist’s map. On the contrary , raithal is a popular spot for travellers and specifically, trekkers who pursue the Dayara Bugyal trek.
Raithal is thriving with local life, blessed with crisp and clear views of the Himalayas and most importantly, an upcoming sustainable hotspot.
The population of the village is about 1200-1500 and a majority encourage and get involved in community programmes like farming (potato, green peas, wheat and a host of other seasonal crops), promoting traditional homestays, harnessing local bees for honey-making, using natural resources like solar energy, and initiatives for women empowerment . A lot of local young men also work as responsible trekking guides and porters.
Enjoy sunny mornings in the hills
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Raithal is brimming with activities for the curious traveller. From inspiring yoga mornings to leisurely walks, this village depicts ideal Himalayan mountain life. A village walk unravels traditional Garhwali architecture (wooden houses with carved windows), local way of life (women husking rice, children playing outdoors), flourishing local vegetation and relics of history.
The five-storied Panchpura
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Panchpura, the 500-year old house of a feudal landowner Rana Gambhir Singh, stands deep-seated in the village. This five-storied wooden wonder is earthquake-resistant and has prominent auspicious carvings on the window. The main house was connected by an iron chain to the opposite granary (kuthar). Currently the house is unoccupied, since the family has grown beyond to accommodate all its members.
Someshwar Temple in the Village
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The main temple of this village is Someshwar temple, dedicated to Shani and Shiva deities. It is believed to be as old as the existence of the village itself and faces the majestic Shrikant peak of the Himalayas.
The main festival in the village is Phulyar Mela, when five villages (Raithal, Bhatwari, Kyark, Bandrani and Natin) come together to pluck auspicious Brahmkamal (heavenly flowers) from the high altitude meadows—which is believed to be a medium of blessings from the god.
For professional mountain-bikers, cycling within and around the village is a rewarding option. Cycles are available on rent , and many local young boys also participate in the sport.
To understand sustainability further, visitors are welcomed to sneak peek at Raithalhomestay. This is an initiative to empower locals where village tourism experiences like milking cow buffaloes, getting hands-on with farming, developing a new skill like weaving or investing in quiet day hikes are encouraged.
One of the two remaining original temple structures
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A few metres below the main village of Raithal is the striking sun temple. The temple bears resemblance to the temples built by the Katyuri empire in 6th to 8th century. It used to be a cluster of five temples. However, now only two remain. In the centre of the premises is the new reconstructed Shani temple and eastwards it is adorned with remnants of Shiv Linga and Surya temple.
Where to stay
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A typical Garhwali house converted into a homestay
Raithalhomestay
450 year's old House
In an attempt to support and enable local livelihood, the village has collaborated to form local homestays which give travellers an insight into traditional homes that once existed. These typical ancestral Garhwali houses are now used essentially to attract tourism.
What to eat
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Mandua ki roti topped with homemade white butter
All accommodation options in Raithal include meals. They serve local home-cooked and farm-fresh food. From a preparation of fiddlehead fern (locally called lingda), delicious thick gravy of nettle (kandali saag), soup made of local pulses (gehet ki dal) and slow-cooked mutton, accompanied with local wheat bread (mandua ki roti) and locally grown red rice are specials from the area. Barnyard millet pudding (jhangore ki kheer) is a perfect Garhwali dessert to finish.
Getting there: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the closest airport which is about 225 kilometres away.
Book homestays directly. Get in touch with Prithviraj Singh Rana
Book adventure trails in and around Raithal with Jayraj Singh Rana
Buy local: product from Vijay Singh Rana; local art and crafts and handwoven souvenirs from Himadri Emporium, near Bus Stand in Uttarkashi town.
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