Uttarakhand is itself a rich cultural state and there are a variety of pahadi food items and sweets you must taste if you are planning to visit Uttarakhand. When it comes to the famous sweets of Uttarakhand, there is a wide variety of delicious treats to choose from. These sweets are not only tasty but also deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the region. From the crispy and crunchy Bal Mithai to the creamy and rich Singodi, each sweet has its unique flavour and texture that will leave your taste buds wanting more.

One of the best things about these sweets is that they are made using locally sourced ingredients, such as ghee, jaggery, and coconut, giving them an authentic and wholesome taste. These sweets are not just food, but also an integral part of the local festivals and celebrations, bringing people together and creating a sense of community.

So, whether you’re a fan of sweet treats or just looking to experience the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhand, don’t miss out on trying some of the famous sweets of this beautiful region. They are sure to leave a lasting impression on your taste buds and your heart.

See also : Best offbeat places in Uttarakhand

1 – Bal Mithai

Bal Mithai is a beloved sweet from the state of Uttarakhand, India. Bal Mithai, which means “child’s sweet,” is a popular sweet from the Almora district in Uttarakhand. If you are in Almora and haven’t tasted Balmithai, then you missed the big thing. Almora Balmithai is world-famous among Uttarakhandi people. Starting our list with a bang, Bal Mithai is a local delicacy made from khoya, a kind of evaporated milk, and coated with white sugar balls. The result is a chewy, rich, and sweet treat that will leave you craving more. This desert originated in Almora, a town in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, and has since become a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

Its popularity lies not only in its delicious taste, but also in its unique texture and cultural significance. This sweet is made by frying balls of khoya (dried milk) and then coating them in a layer of sugar cane syrup. The result is a crispy and crunchy exterior with a soft and creamy interior, making it a treat for your taste buds.

Bal Mithai is an essential part of many festivals and celebrations in Uttarakhand, especially in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, and its distinct flavor and texture have made it a favorite among locals and tourists alike. Whether you’re a sweet tooth or just looking to experience the unique flavors of Uttarakhand, Bal Mithai is a must-try sweet that will leave a lasting impression on your taste buds and your heart.

2 – Singodi

Next on our list is Singodi, a coconut-based sweet that is steamed in banana leaves. This dessert is a popular snack in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and is made by combining grated coconut with condensed milk, cardamom, and saffron. The mixture is then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed until it forms a solid cake. The result is a soft and chewy treat with a distinct coconut flavor that will transport you straight to the tropics. It is one of my favorite Uttarakhand sweet.

3 – Arsa

Arsa is a traditional sweet that is typically made during festivals and special occasions in Uttarakhand. Arsa sweet is also known as Pahadi rasgullas. This sweet is made by deep-frying a mixture of rice flour, jaggery, and sesame seeds until it turns golden brown. The result is a crispy and crunchy sweet with a hint of sweetness that is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth. Arsa sweet is given to the married daughters from their parent’s side in March.

4 – Gulgula

Gulgula, also known as “Pua,” is a sweet that resembles mini doughnuts. If you’re looking for a sweet that is easy to make and will satisfy your cravings, look no further than Gulgula. This sweet is made by mixing wheat flour, jaggery, and fennel seeds to form a batter, which is then deep-fried until golden brown. The result is a crispy and sweet treat that is perfect for snacking on the go.

5 – Kafli

Kafli is a sweet that is unique to the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. This dessert is made by combining grated coconut, jaggery, and cardamom powder, which is then rolled into thin sheets and baked until crispy. The result is a flaky and crunchy sweet that is perfect for pairing with a hot cup of tea.

6 – Balushahi

Balushahi is a popular sweet in Uttarakhand that is made by frying a dough made from flour, ghee, and yogurt until it turns golden brown. The fried dough is then dipped in sugar syrup until it becomes soft and sweet. The result is a melt-in-your-mouth treat that is perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings

7 – Rus

Rus is a sweet that is made from ripe bananas and is popular in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The bananas are mashed and mixed with jaggery, cardamom, and ghee to form a sweet paste that is then rolled into small balls. The result is a sweet and fruity treat that is perfect for a quick snack on the go.

8 – Kafuli

Kafuli is a traditional dish from Uttarakhand that is typically made with spinach or fenugreek leaves, but it can also be made with other leafy greens. This dish is cooked with a mixture of spices, curd, and gram flour until it becomes a thick, creamy gravy. The result is a flavorful and healthy dish that is perfect for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.

9 – Aloo Ke Gutke

Aloo Ke Gutke is a popular side dish in Uttarakhand that is made with boiled potatoes, spices, and mustard oil. The potatoes are cut into small pieces and then fried with cumin seeds, red chili powder, and coriander powder until they turn crispy and golden brown. The result is a spicy and flavorful side dish that is perfect for pairing with rice or roti.

10 – Jhangora Ki Kheer

Last but not least, we have Jhangora Ki Kheer, a dessert made from a special type of millet called Jhangora, which is indigenous to Uttarakhand. The millet is cooked with milk, sugar, and cardamom until it becomes a creamy and sweet dessert that is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth. This dessert is often served during festivals and special occasions in Uttarakhand.

Now that we’ve introduced you to the top 10 famous sweets of Uttarakhand, it’s time for you to try them out for yourself! Whether you’re a sweet tooth or a savory lover, these dishes are sure to impress your taste buds and leave you wanting more.

Q: What is Bal Mithai?

A: Bal Mithai is a famous sweet from the town of Almora in Uttarakhand. It is made from roasted khoya and coated in sugar balls, giving it a unique texture and flavor.

Q: Is Singhori similar to any other Indian sweet?

A: Singhori is similar to the popular North Indian sweet, Malpua. However, Singhori is unique in that it is wrapped in a leaf and cooked over a charcoal fire, giving it a smoky flavor that sets it apart from other sweets.

Q: Are all the sweets on the list vegetarian?

A: Yes, all the sweets on the list are vegetarian and do not contain any meat or animal products.

Q: Can these sweets be found outside of Uttarakhand?

A: While some of these sweets can be found in other parts of India, they are most commonly found in Uttarakhand and are a beloved part of the local cuisine.

Q: Are these sweets healthy?

A: While these sweets are delicious, they are also high in sugar and should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Q: Can I make these sweets at home?

A: Yes, many of these sweets can be made at home with the right ingredients and recipe. However, some of the sweets, such as Bal Mithai, require specialized cooking techniques and may be difficult to make at home.

Q: Are these sweets popular among tourists?

A: Yes, these sweets are a popular part of the local cuisine and are often enjoyed by tourists who want to experience the unique flavors of Uttarakhand.

Q: Can these sweets be ordered online?

A: Yes, many of these sweets can be ordered online from local vendors and shops that specialize in Uttarakhand cuisine. However, it’s always best to do your research and order from a reputable source to ensure quality and authenticity.

Uttarakhand is famous as the name of “the land of the gods” because there are some Hindu pilgrimage sites. Uttarakhand has a wealthy tradition of various arts and crafts like Painting, Ornament, Wood Carving, Murals of Aipan and Peeth, candle making and Temple architecture. Uttarakhand has become a great source of tourist attraction because of its multiple cultures. The people of Uttarakhand have a large spirit of inspiration because they live in a place where there is lush green, an aquamarine sky, and mountains filled with snow. The art and craft in the state of Uttarakhand are vibrant and need a thorough look. 

The state of Uttarakhand is an excellent centre to witness the outstanding items of art and craft. The variation of items of art and craft is a piece of evidence of the state’s rich cultural traditions. When you are on the mission to explore India, your best choice is to tour Uttarakhand because in this way you have an opportunity to look at the ideal craftsmanship, which is one of the hearts of the state. By exploring these art and craft items, you can look at the artistic ability of the people of Uttarakhand.

Though the state has a vast range of artistic activities, one very famous craft is wood carving. Uttarakhand is also very well-known because of this craft. The people of Uttarakhand make beautiful sceneries with the help of this craft, which stirs the designer in every way. The example of wordcraft can be seen easily in the temples and other places of Uttarakhand state. These places give proof of the magnificent woodcraft.

Let’s discuss some art and craft in detail in Uttarakhand:

Paintings in Uttarakhand:

Uttarakhand is rich with greenery, natural beauty, dense forest, and sky-hugging peaks, all of which have been asked as inspiration from generation after generation of Uttarakhand.  Therefore, you can also see some of the fantastic works of painting in the state of Uttarakhand. The most popular is the Garhwal School of Painting, which is visited by many people. Uttarakhand is home to one of the most attractive and defining Families or schools of the Pahari School of painting, known as the Garhwal School of Painting. Painting of Uttarakhand spans from the folk arts of the women of Kumaon to the most beautiful small-scale arts of Garhwal.

Uttarakhand’s paintings are special and various. Garhwal in Uttarakhand is famous for the Mughal style of painting, started by a Mughal prince during the considerable Mughal region. The women folk of Kumaon practice Aipan, an in-demand art form of Kumaon.  by drawing many geometric and other gods, objects of nature walls, paper and pieces of cloth are decorated. 

Another kind of painting is called Peeth, where the floor of the seat of goads and goodness is decorated with geometric designs. Wall painting is one more form of painting, it is one of the early traditions of the region. On the occasion of the wedding, the walls and doors of the bonuses are decorated with wall paintings.

Traditional Ornaments:

The state of Uttarakhand is well-known for its ornaments. Silver and gold jewellery is an important part of traditional Uttarakhand clothing. When you tour Uttarakhand, you see women wearing gold earrings and sometimes having various piercings in their ears. 

People in Uttarakhand have different inherited backgrounds like Brahmins, Rajputs, and tribal populations like Jaunsari, Bhotia, and Tharu. That’s why the traditional attires do have a lot of differences. 

In the Kumaun region, married women wear big naths made from gold covering. These are regarded as compulsory. In the Garhwal region, a married woman was assumed to wear hansuli. Sindoor, along with bindi was also compulsory for a married woman. Even today, a Gulaband is a clear quality of a married woman. It is drawn on a maroon or blue strip with gold square pieces ordered on it.

Wood Carving:

The most famous craft of Uttarakhand is complicated wood carvings. Every home is decorated with wood carvings in Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand wood carving is very beautiful. It will bring the protection of the godly into your home. The windows, rugs, carpets, baskets, doors, copper utensils or the folk art Aipan created by Uttarakhand have a special connection to nature in their designs. The designs made by their people are unique, they are very creative in nature. Seeing their beautiful temples is 

Witnessing their creativity. The wood carvings of Garhwal and Kumaon are famed for their simple yet elegant and appealing designs.

Rich people can still praise the carved architecture in religious places like temples and homes. The architects improve the art of woodwork and were famous for their astonishing and stylish designs. Almost every door of Uttarakhand’s houses has wooden and well-designed doors. The maker used to do special netting to fill the windows open places to give it an alike effect to a screen. 

The amazing wood-carved admiration can be seen in famous tourist landings places such as the Temple of Srinagar, Chandpur Fort, Pandukeshwar, etc. If you want to see the best place of miniature on the stone, you should go to the various temples of  Uttarakhand.

Murals of Aipen and Peeth:

Uttarakhand has much to provide in the divinity of their art and culture. Every home and place of worship is embellished with some sort of mural done as a proper wall painting or as Aipan and Peeth. 

The holy geometric design of Aipan and Peeth divinely clarifies complications. On all special occasions and household ceremonies and customs, like wedding ceremonies, Aipan is done. These designs have holy geometry, and people believe that they bring god blessing and luck. Peeth is a painting made all over the sitting area of Gods and Goddesses with the support of rice paste decorated with colourful natural dyes.

Temple Architecture:

Temple architecture in every part of India has always been looked down on by the kings and people in charge there. Anyone who wants to view the beauty of Uttarakhand state likes to explore the perfect architecture of the temples of Uttarakhand. Temple architecture is one of the crafts which is supported by the king and queen of states.  Temple architects are seeing it in every corner of the state. So, you’ll have time to spend searching the rich temple architecture. These temples contain large stone walls that are 

Furnished with different ornamental models and metal idols. These temples were also a place to meet with thinkers. 

Final words

Here I have explained the famous arts and crafts of Uttarakhand. You can also get any of them whenever you visited this heavenly place. And don’t forget to bring love gifts from this world. 

Gauchar – A Hilly town located in Karanprayag Tehsil of Chamoli district in the Uttarakhand State of India. Gauchar is famous for Gauchar fair and Gauchar Airport. The Gauchar valley is also known as the Valley of Flat Land, located on the left bank of river Alaknanda. Gauchar lies between Rudraprayag and Karanprayag on the Badrinath route NH58. Gauchar is surrounded by 7 hills. Gauchar is well known for a historic trade fair known as Gauchar Mela.

About Gauchar Mela

The Gauchar Mela is a cultural and traditional fair held annually in the Gauchar town of the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand It is one of the largest and oldest fairs in the state. Every year thousands of people visit Gauchar Mela and this cultural and trade fair is held between 14 November to 20 November.

Gauchar Mela is a cultural and trade-related fair that has been held for decades in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Gauchar Mela of Uttarakhand is a great attraction point for local people and other traders all around the state. The Gauchar fair is held on the 14 of November every year. This fair is a trade and industrial fair, where traders from different states come to Gauchar to sell their products. The fair holds 2 types of themes: sports and cultural activities. Sports activities are done in the daytime and cultural activities are held in the evening, in which different schools participate and win prizes.

See the below video of Gauchar mela 2023, we will create a new video of Gauchar Mela 2024 this year and will update it.

History of Gauchar Fair

Gauchar mela is a historic trade fair held on the 14th of November every year in the Gauchar town of Chamoli district. Gauchar town falls en route to Badrinath temple. The first version of Gauchar Mela was organized in the year 1943, so you can imagine how historic this fair is. This fair was established between India and Tibet to increase trade. Gauchar Mela is one of the attraction points and hundreds and thousands of people visit Gauchar every year on the occasion of Gauchar Mela. There are many other places near Gauchar you can consider visiting.

At that time, the trade was one-sided and carried by the Bhotias(in amount), who inhabited the frontiers of Chamoli Garhwal. But in winter the whole region is covered by heavy snow due to the high altitude and these people migrate to lower regions(Joshimath)in winter for 6 months.

The fair helped Bhotia people to sell their woolen clothes, handicrafts, spices(Faran the famous spice) and other stuff and buy the raw materials for the next summer trade across the Indo-Tibetan borders. It was not only a local fair or fair between the peoples of Uttarakhand and Bhotia, people from all over north Indian states like Uttar Pradesh(UP), and Punjab attended it.

After India’s independence (165 August 1947) Gauchar Mela was organized by the UP government and in 2000 Uttaranchal was separated from UP after that the fair was organized by the Uttarakhand government as an industrial, cultural, and development fair. It is the biggest fair in the region for the promotion of trade and culture. All the departments of the state government participate in this annual event and showcase their agricultural methods and techniques.

Attractions at Gauchar Mela

One of the primary attractions of the Gauchar Mela is the trading of pahadi items, clothes, toys, pahadi vegetables and many more. This fair is so old and it has been 73 years since this fair was organized.

Apart from trading, the Gauchar Mela also features a variety of cultural events and entertainment. Traditional folk music and dance performances, along with local cuisine stalls, add to the festive atmosphere. Visitors can indulge in delicious Garhwali dishes and immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Importance of Gauchar Mela

The Gauchar Mela holds significant economic and cultural importance for the people of Garhwal. It provides an opportunity for farmers, local people of the region and district and traders to showcase and sell their items .Additionally, the fair serves as a platform for preserving and promoting traditional practices and customs that have been passed down through generations.

Overall, the Gauchar Mela is not just a marketplace but a celebration of the vibrant rural life and cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. It attracts locals and tourists alike, offering a unique glimpse into the agricultural and cultural traditions of the Garhwal region.