gauchar
Categoriesfestivals By garhwalitraveller

Gauchar Mela – Cultural and Trade Fair of Uttarakhand

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 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 peoples 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.

gauchar
Categorieslocal-destinations By garhwalitraveller

Gauchar – Valley of Flat Lands

Gauchar Chamoli

Gauchar is a small town located in Chamoli district on the riverbank of the Alaknanda River, which is about 800 fairs above sea level. Gauchar is famous for its flat land and historic trade fair, which is also known as Gauchar Mela. Gauchar is surrounded by mountains all around it. Basically, Gauchar is a beautiful valley of flatlands. Gauchar is located in the Chamoli district of Karanprayag Tehsil of Uttarakhand. Gauchar town is located on the left riverbank of the Alaknanda River.

Gauchar lies on NH 7 (which was formerly known as NH 58) and it serves as the halt for the tourists on the way to Badrinath Temple, Auli, Hemkund Sahib, and many other tourist places. Gauchar Airport played a big role at the time of the Kedarnath Flood in 2013 many people’s lives were saved through the rescue operation.

You can reach Gauchar from Dehradun via Helicopter also

Culture of Gauchar and Importance of Gauchar

Gauchar Mela Ground is very famous in the Garhwal region, where the Gauchar Fair(Mela) starts in the month of November. Gauchar Mela is one of the largest fairs in Garhwal and Uttarakhand. Gauchar Mela has been hosted for many years. In 1943, it got the largest trade fair of the Garhwal and Uttarakhand, which was hosted first by the Bhotias of Chamoli District of Uttarakhand. Bhotias mainly live in the Mana Village, which is 3 Km from the Badrinath Temple. 70 Km far from the Mana Village, China Border is situated there.

About Gauchar Mela

Gauchar Mela(Fair) is held every year in the month of November, which starts on 14 November and lasts for 7 days. Gauchar Mela is a great attraction for traders, the local peoples of Gauchar, and the peoples of Garhwal. Cultural programs are also taken there until the 6 nights of the Fair. Garhwali and Kumaoni singers and actors come there and entertain the people with their performances. Local dances and songs are also performed by the students of different Schools.

Activities to do in Gauchar

There are not many more places to visit in Gauchar, only you can visit Gauchar Airport, Gauchar Mela Ground, Riverbank of Gauchar near Bhatnagar Village. Like Nainital or Mussoorie which are the tourist hubs of Uttarakhand. Gauchar is basically a hilly town covered with mountains all around it.

Gauchar is a small town near Alaknanda River lies between Badrinath Route NH 7. 

Places to Visit in Gauchar: There are some famous temples in Gauchar like Kalinka Devi, Rawal Devta, Panneshwar Mahadev temple in Panai village of Gauchar, and Gauchar Airport.

For what Gauchar is famous for?

Gauchar, a valley town, is so famous for the historical Gauchar Mela which is held in the month of November (14 to 20) every year and also for the Gauchar airport.

Places to visit near Gauchar

  • Bhattnagar Village
  • Sidoli Road
  • Duwa Kanda Road
  • Sari Village
  • Rano Village
  • Haryali Devi temple
  • Karnaprayag

and many other few locations are there to visit in Gauchar.

Nature Visits

Gauchar is surrounded by green forests and hills and small rivers known as Gadhera in the local Garhwali language.

Shopping Area

There are many shops and stores in Gauchar. Wine shops, fashion stores, shoe stores and grocery stores have all the necessary things available there.

Accommodation in Gauchar Chamoli

Gauchar is a small town in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. As a result, there are many options for staying here like GMVN Lodge near Gref Chok Gauchar which is a 1-star hotel and restaurant. There are other restaurants and hotels like Hotel Taj Palace near the New bus stand Gaucher, Wooden Umbrella Restaurant Gauchar, Hotel Arjuna and Restaurant, Hotel Sahara (Sahara Lodge), Hotel Mohini, Kolonel Cottages, etc are the best options for staying in Gauchar.

Food Guide for Gauchar

Being a small town, there are not many big restaurants for luxury food items, but there are some hotels where you can enjoy Chinese and Indian foods at budget prices. Some popular restaurants in Gaucher are Kanak Restaurant, Om Ji, Hunger point gauchar, Prem Chowmein Center, etc.

How to reach Gauchar

Via road – Gauchar town lies on NH58 buses, taxis are available from Rishikesh directly.

Via Air – You can reach Gauchar via helicopter from Dehradun directly. Read the complete guide and information about the route, ticket pricing, and schedule.