Do you feel like walking in the sky, in the middle of the wind-kissed clouds? This may seem quite like a fantasy, but it has just become a reality in the mighty Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. A precariously perched wooden bridge at 11,000 feet, which at one time connected India with Tibet, has been renovated and thrown open for the public.
But mind you, walking on the bridge – which runs along the mountain wall and on the other side has a sheer drop of hundreds of feet- is not for the faint-hearted. Adventurous spirits will be drawn more towards it. To make the experience hundred percent safe, only 10 people will be allowed on the bridge at any given time.
The bridge is situated in the Uttarkashi district. And a large part of credit for its reopening goes to the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi Mr. Mayur Dixit.
The bridge, a part of the trading route between India and Tibet, is believed to have been built by Peshawar Pathans around 150 years ago. But it stopped functioning after the Indo-China war in 1962.
Now, 59 years after that war, the bridge comes to life once again and is likely to become a major tourist destination in Uttarakhand.
HISTORY
The ancient Gartang Gali wooden bridge is located in the Nelong valley of Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district. While speaking with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Mayur Dixit said “This is an old trading route which was used by the locals of Uttarkashi and people of Tibet. Things like spices, wool, jaggery and other local produce were traded through this route. Unlike other routes that require normal trekking, the locals formed it as a sky-walking bridge. In the earlier days, the bridge was connecting two villages, Jadung and Nelang. Both the villages were emptied after the war and the trading route was stopped.”
As the trading route stopped functioning after the war, an alternate road was made by the Border Road Organisation for people to commute.
REOPENING THE BRIDGE
Many years passed by, but the route still remained damaged and non-functional. According to Mr. Dixit, many queries regarding reopening the route came from the locals in the district. In 2015, the Centre reopened Nelong valley for tourists.
Mr. Dixit said, “The government of Uttarakhand identified this bridge and planned on renovating it as it would be a good tourist spot for the state. As the trading route was stopped 59 years back, the main purpose of renovating it was to promote tourism in the state.”
He added, “We identified traditional ways of renovating the bridge as the height and temperature barriers were a major concern for quick modifications. The work started in September last and was completed in July this year, with an approximate cost of Rs 64 lakh. Initially, no contractors or labours were ready to take up the work, but with a lot of efforts, we involved the PWD department in renovating the bridge. Deodar wood has been used in the construction and various safety measures were taken to avoid any accident.”
The wooden sky-walking bridge or Gartang Gali bridge, which goes upto 136 metre-long and 1.8 metre-wide, has been reopened and has now added new dimensions to adventure tourism in Uttarakhand.
In these days of work from home, not all good things can be done through internet alone. To feel the splash of cool air on your face, and that feeling of exhilaration which Himalayas can provide in ample measure, it’s important to set aside the computer and phone screens and step out of your homes. This bridge can be a good choice for both adventure and thrill-seekers.
