Sunday 10, 2021 | Prem Prakash Upadhyay | Bageshwar
Trekking to the world famous Pindari and Kafni glaciers is expected to start soon with construction of a temporary bridge across the Pindar river. The trekking route is also being repaired.
The routes leading to Pindari, Kafni and Sunderdhunga glaciers were damaged due to the rains. Apart from this, a temporary bridge built across the Pindar river near Dwali was also washed away. Due to these reasons treks to these destinations could not be started from September 15. The Public Works Department (PWD) Kapkot has started the work of repairing the roads. Apart from this, temporary wooden bridges have also been almost completed. Every year, temporary wooden bridges are built to enable access across Kafni and Pindar rivers. If the water level of the rivers rises, the movement gets disrupted.
The Kapkot region in Bageshwar district has major potential for adventure tourism. Tourists from all over the country and abroad come here for trekking and other related activities.Pindari, Sunderdhunga and Kafni glaciers attract a considerable number of tourists.The condition of the access routes to Pindari, Sunderdhunga and Kafni glaciers has not improved much. Many of the routes which were destroyed in the 2013 disaster are still rough. The route leading to these glaciers remains risky near Kharkiya and in other places.
PWD Kapkot executive engineer SK Pandey informed that a bridge has been built in Pindar river near Dwali. With this, adventure tours to Pindari and Kafni glaciers are expected to start soon. Apart from this, the work of repairing the damaged routes is also going on.
The district tourism officer Kirti Chandra Arya said that after the repair of the trekking route and the construction of a temporary bridge, about 150 porters and guides will get employment. The distance of 65 kilometres from district headquarters to Kharkia is covered by vehicle. From Kharkia to Dwali one has to walk 5.5 kilometres.The biggest problem in the trekking route was in Dwali itself but the situation will be easier once the bridge construction is completed.
Apart from this PWD Dak Bungalows in the area are also another aspect of the issue. The bungalow built during the British era on the Pindari track is in dilapidated condition. The bungalow built in Kapkot has also become dilapidated. The PWD bungalow is at risk due to landslide in Loharkhet while the condition of the Dwali bungalow is also bad. The Furkiya Dak Bungalow is also in a dilapidated condition. The district Panchayat has built a bungalow on the Kafni route but that too has been damaged.
