>Utkarshnegidharali at 12:46, 8 June 2021

2021-06-08T12:46:57Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Harsil
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Uttarakhand
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Uttarakhand, India
| coordinates = {{coord|31|02|N|78|44|E|display=title,inline}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Uttarakhand]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 2745
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 249135
| registration_plate = UK
| website = {{URL|uk.gov.in}}
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}
'''Harsil''', the Himalayan paradise,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Planet|first=Lonely|title=Harsil- a mini Switzerland in Uttarakhand|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.in/articles/19181/harsil-a-mini-switzerland-in-uttarakhand|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Lonely Planet India|language=en-US}}</ref> is a village, located on the banks of the [[Bhagirathi River|Bhagirathi]] River, on the way to [[Gangotri]], a Hindu pilgrimage site in [[Uttarkashi district|Uttarkashi]] district of the Indian state of [[Uttarakhand]]. [[File:Harsil Vally.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ganges]] below [[Gangotri]], near Harshil]]

Situated at an altitude of 9,005 ft (2,745 metres.) from sea level, Harsil lies 78 km. from [[Uttarkashi]], and 30 km away from the [[Gangotri National Park]] which is spread across 1,553 square km. The hill station is well- known for its natural environment and apple production.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Uttarakhand's 'Harsil Apple Festival' bears' fruit|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2020/may/24/uttarakhands-harsil-apple-festival--bears-fruit-2147179.html|access-date=2020-07-08|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

==Geography==
Harsil is connected with the Baspa valley by several passes including the [[Lamkhaga Pass]]. The village lies on the old caravan trail between Tibet Autonomous Region and India, where trade & marriages once flourished.{{fact|date=July 2020}}

==Etymology ==
A local legend says that Harsil got its name from the rivers Bhagirathi and the Jalandhari as once they had an argument over their significance. Lord [[Vishnu]], also known as Hari, was asked to intervene. He turned himself into a great stone, a shila, and absorbed their anger. Even today, after Hari-shila (or Harsil), the waters of the two rivers have become a little less turbulent.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Dheeraj|date=2019-12-02|title=Harsil - An Offbeat Place in Garhwal, Uttarakhand|url=http://devilonwheels.com/harsil-a-detailed-travel-guide/|access-date=2020-07-15|website=Devil On Wheels™|language=en-US}}</ref>[[File:Harsil.jpg|thumb|right|Harshil valley]]
==Demographic==
Over the years, a small number of ''Jadh''s, an ethnic group of the [[Bhotiya]]s, have settled here, and speak a language closely resembling [[Tibetic languages|Tibetan]]. There is also a sizeable Tibetan settlement in a close vicinity to ITPB Campus housing a [[Stupa]] (Buddhist Burial Mound) and beautifully carved wooden houses. <ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-09|title=Travel lessons on a trip to Gangotri via a Tibetan settlement|url=https://sandeepachetan.com/gangotri-via-tibetan-settlement/|access-date=2020-07-07|website=SandeepaChetan's Travel Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Pilgrimage==
The idol of the [[Hindu]] River Goddess [[Ganga (goddess)|Ganga]] (Ganges) is brought down from the shrine at Gangotri in the upper Himalayas after [[Diwali]] and kept at 'Mukhba' village near Harsil. It remains there throughout the winter when Gangotri is snowbound and inaccessible.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mukhba Valley Travel Guide – Mukhba Village Location How to Reach Mukhba|url=https://www.euttaranchal.com/tourism/mukhba.php|access-date=2020-07-08|website=www.euttaranchal.com}}</ref>

==Army area==
It is an army area, not a permanent cantonment. It is a base camp of "The Garhwal Scouts" and "Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)". Despite being a small army area, it is very important because of its nearness to China Border. On 6 November 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Harsil to celebrate Diwali with ITBP Jawans.<ref>{{Cite news|date=6 November 2018|title=PM Modi to celebrate Diwali at Harsil with ITBP Jawans|agency=United News of India|url=http://www.uniindia.com/pm-modi-to-celebrate-diwali-at-harsil-with-itbp-jawans/india/news/1398889.html|url-status=live|access-date=9 July 2020}}</ref>

==Defence Agricultural Research Laboratory==
A detachment of the Defence Agricultural Research Laboratory run by the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO), was established here in May 1973.{{fact|date=July 2020}}
[[File:A traditional house at Harsil.png|thumb|Front view of a Traditional House at Harsil, Uttarakhand]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{Wikivoyage-inline}}
[[Category:Tourism in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Villages in Uttarkashi district]]

Harsil - Revision history

>Utkarshnegidharali at 12:46, 8 June 2021