Tucked away in the Garhwal Region of Uttarakhand, 210 kilometres from Dehradun is Kalap, one of the state's best kept secrets. At a height of 7,800 feet, overlooking the Tons River, surrounded by deodar and pine forests, this quaint village is remote and beautiful. With a rich history and warm and welcoming people, this village makes for the perfect place to explore in Uttarakhand.
The people of Kalap are believed to be descendants of the Pandavas and the Kauravas (from the Mahabharat). The main temple in this village is dedicated to Karna, the warrior. The villagers of Kalap and the neighboring villages even have an entire festival dedicated to the moving around of the idol of Karna. Come January, the villagers perform in the Pandav Nritya, a dance form through which stories from the Mahabharata are brought out. The local songs and folklore are all surrounding the village and its unique traditions.
Since the village is remote, and practices minimalist and sustainability. The food consists of things grown by the villagers through the practice of organic farming. Some of the local foods that you should try here are Bichhoo Ghaas (Himalayan Stinging Nettle), Linguda and Wild Mushrooms.
The main form of occupation in Kalap is agriculture and rearing sheep. The steps farms are where millet, potatoes, wheat and beans are grown. The wool from the sheep is dyed organically by the villagers and woven into cloth. The residents of the village take great pride in weaving clothes for travelers in 36 hours or less while they are visiting. The winters see harsh snowfall with 3-5 feet of snow while the summers are pleasant.
How to get there?
The nearest railway station and airport are in Dehradun. It takes 6-8 hours by car or 10 hours by bus to reach Netwar, the nearest road to Kalap. The only way to reach Kalap is walking. There are two routes to get to Kalap – a summer route and a winter route. The summer route is 8 kilometers and the winter route is four kilometers. From Kotgaon to Kalap is 4.5 kilometers which takes three to four hours to trek.
Check out this first hand experience of Kalap by our Tripoto Family Member and share your pictures and experiences of travelling to Kalap with us.
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