Bugyals

View of Bedni Bugyal on the way to Roopkund

Bugyals are alpine pasture lands, or meadows, in higher elevation range between 3,300 metres (10,800 ft) and 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) of the Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, where they are called "nature’s own gardens".[1] The topography of the terrain is either flat or sloped. The surface of these bugyals is covered with natural green grass and seasonal flowers. They are used by tribal herdsmen to graze their cattle. During the winter season the alpine meadows remain snow-covered. During summer months, the Bugyals present a riot of beautiful flowers and grass. As bugyals constitute very fragile ecosystems, particular attention needs to be given for their conservation.[1]

Some of the notable bugyals are: Auli near Joshimath, Garsi, Kwanri, Gulabi Kantha, Bedni, Panwali Kantha and Kush Kalyan, Dayara, Gidara, Bagji Bugyal and Munsiyari.[1]

List of Bugyals

[edit]
Place District Image
Ali Bugyal Chamoli Ali Bugyal
Auli Bugyal Chamoli Auli Bugyal
Bagji Bugyal Chamoli Bagji Bugyal
Bedni Bugyal Chamoli Bedni Bugyal
Chainsheel Bugyal Uttarkashi Chainsheel Bugyal
Chopta Bugyal Rudraprayag Chopta Bugyal
Dayara Bugyal Uttarkashi Dayara Bugyal
Gidara Bugyal Uttarkashi Gidara Bugyal
Gorson Bugyal Chamoli Gorson Bugyal
Gulabi Kantha Bugyal Uttarkashi Gulabikantha Bugyal
Har Ki Doon Bugyal Uttarkashi Har Ki Doon Bugyal
Helsi Bugyal Tehri Garhwal Helsi Bugyal
Kedar Kantha Bugyal Uttarkashi Kedarkantha Bugyal
Khaliya Bugyal Pithoragarh Khaliya Bugyal
Kush Kalyan Bugyal Tehri Garhwal Kush Kalyan Bugyal
Madhyamaheshwar Bugyal Chamoli Madhyamaheshwar Bugyal
Moila Bugyal Dehradun Moila Bugyal
Moth Bugyal Rudraprayag Moth Bugyal
Nag Tibba Bugyal Tehri Garhwal Nag Tibba Bugyal
Panar Bugyal Chamoli Panar Bugyal
Panwali Kantha Bugyal Tehri Garhwal Panwali Kantha Bugyal
Pushtara Bugyal Uttarkashi Pushtara Bugyal
Nawali Bugyal Chamoli Nawali Bugyal

Conservation issues

[edit]

Bugyal is a fragile ecosystem and it is essential to maintain a balance between ecology and environment. In this context a court case was filed by the public objecting to erection of the prefab houses and by introducing non-biodegradable matter in the upper meadows of the bugyals by the tourism departments. It was averred that the peace and tranquility of the bugyals was getting affected. The court had ordered that the polluter must pay for the damage to environment based on absolute liability principle, which covered payment of damages to the affected people but also to compensate for all costs for restoration of the degraded environments.[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Tmh, p. 1.93.
  2. ^ Bhatt 2004, p. 51.

Bibliography

[edit]