A week-long fair on the banks of the Bhagirathi with ritual bathing, folk performances, and a vibrant local market — one of Uttarkashi's biggest gatherings.
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Naksh.iq
ISSUE Nº 47 · MAY 2026
Festival · UTTARAKHAND
Magh Mela.
January (Makar Sankranti to Basant Panchami) · Uttarkashi
Going for this? Uttarkashi in January
NakshIQ score
1/10
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January Uttarkashi is cold Garhwal — 0-12°C. The Char Dham staging town quiets down completely — Gangotri and Yamunotri temples are closed, the pilgrim traffic is zero. The Bhagirathi River runs clear winter-blue. The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) runs winter courses for serious climbers. The town is honest mountain India without tourism veneer.
Getting there
Elevation
1158 m
Nearest airport
Jolly Grant, Dehradun — 178km
Nearest railway
Rishikesh — 155km
Live in Uttarkashi
Where to stay in Uttarkashi
Monal Resort
₹1,000-2,500/nightguesthouse · Uttarkashi outskirtsClean rooms with river views. Good base for Dodital trek and Dayara Bugyal. The restaurant is above average for a small town. Staff arranges local treks and Gangotri trips.
Where to eat
Pahadibucks Cafe
Ganeshpur, Gangotri Highway · ₹₹Signaturefarm-to-table mountain breakfast
Open river-side seating only works October-May; monsoon (July-September) the river is too high. They source vegetables from their own kitchen garden — ask what's local that day.
Anushka Restaurant
Kandar Devta Mandir area · ₹Signature₹90 home-style thali
There is no menu — only the thali, served 11am-10pm. Best after 7:30pm when the second batch of dal and rajma is fresh. Cash only.
Monal Tourist Home Restaurant
Kot Bungalow Road · ₹₹Signaturemade-to-order home-style thali
Walk-ins allowed for meals if there's space — call first (01374 222270) so they can scale the dal. Trekkers with early Gangotri starts are served breakfast from 6am if pre-arranged.
Annapurna Restaurant
Main Bazaar · ₹Signaturephaanu (garhwali mixed-dal curry)
Phaanu and chainsoo are slow-cooked — they only run them at lunch, finished by 2pm. The fast-food menu (momos, pasta) goes till close but skips the reason to come.
What else to see in Uttarkashi
Vishwanath Temple
Ancient Shiva temple with a massive trident (trishul). Believed to be built during the Mahabharata era.
temple30 minNehru Institute of Mountaineering
Premier mountaineering training institute with a museum of expedition artifacts and Everest memorabilia.
museum1-2 hours
Other festivals in Uttarkashi
Other festivals in January, elsewhere
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