About the Place
Gwaldam is a small hill town on the border of the Garhwal and Kumaon regions, in the district Chamoli of the Garhwal area, at an elevation of around 1930 m above sea level. It is 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Baijnath, the medieval Katyuri rulers’ capital, and 25 kilometers (16 miles) from Kulsari, Nanda Devi Raj Jat’s famed camp station. Gwaldam is a beautiful area of green forest surrounded with apple orchards. Nanda Ghunti, Nanda Devi, Maiktoli, and Trishul may all be seen from Gwaldam. The roads are well-kept, and the path to Gwaldam winds through deep woodlands of rhododendrons and oaks. Gwaldam is also the beginning point for numerous treks, including the well-known Roop Kund trek. It also serves as a gateway to high altitude pastures such as Bedni and Ali Bugyals. Because it is located on the border of the Garhwal and Kumaon areas, it has a mix of culture and accent from both.
How to Reach
Gwaldam is approximately 20 kilometers from Baijnath and approximately 40 kilometers from the beautiful hill station of Kausani.
From Delhi: Gwaldam is nearly 500 km from Delhi via Haridwar, Rishikesh route. Follow Delhi-Meerut Expressway upto Meerut, and then follow Meerut Haridwar Highway upto Haridwar. Then follow Rishikesh, Devprayag, Rudraprayag, and Karnaprayag. From Karnaprayag, follow the road to Tharali along with Pindar River. Gwaldam is nearly 23 km from Tharali.
Gwaldam is 473 km from Delhi via Hapur, Moradabad, Bazpur, Nainital, Ranikhet, Kausani, Baijnath, and Gwaldam.
Things to Do
The best thing to do in Gwaldam is to go on treks that begin at a nearby location named Benatoli. A path from Benatoli leads through the jungle to the Bandhangarhi temple. At an elevation of roughly 2260 meters above sea level, this is one of the region’s oldest temples is devoted to Goddess Dakshina Kali and Lord Shiva. A short hike from the temple provides panoramic mountain views. There is another trail that leads from Benatoli that goes across a woodland ridge and ends at a temple called Agyari Mahadev, which is devoted to Lord Shiva. The distance between this old temple and Benatoli is only 4 kilometers. Two kilometers southeast of Benatoli lies a hilltop shrine. This location can be reached by traveling through Gwalnaag’s deep woodland. The meadows of Dhula, which are above the forest, are perfect for skiing in the winter. Honored by the snake god, the viewpoint provides an unmatched perspective of the Garhwal and Kumaon region. From here, peaks such as Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Nanda Kot are visible.
In Gwaldam, 1.5 kilometers from the market, there is a tiny Buddhist settlement. The Baudh Math (Bodh Mandir) is worth seeing. The sanctum is lined by statues of numerous Buddha incarnations. A lovely valley view may be seen from here, through lines of multicolored prayer flags.
Machhi Tal, a fish breeding center founded by the British in 1928, can be visited. This magnificent location in the calm of a thick forest is located 9 kilometers from Gwaldam on the way to Dewal.
Angora farm is only a kilometer distant from Gwaldam. There are goats and Angora rabbits on the site. Wool production is prevalent in this region.
Places of Stay & Eat
Nature’s Treat Resort, Gwaldam: https://www.naturestreatgwaldam.com/
GMVN Gwaldam: https://gmvnonline.com/
SaffronStays Tridiva, Talwari
Gwaldam Forest Rest House
Trishul Hotel