Pindari Glacier in Uttaranchal :
The Pindari Glacier, in the Bageshwar district, falls in the Kumaon Himalayas and has lured mountaineers and trekkers since the last century. It is one of the most easily accessible of all the Himalayan glaciers. Pindari's rugged beauty offers a breathtaking sight, especially for the trekker who is in love with nature in all its pristine glory. The Pindari Glacier is an unsurpassable and an exhilarating experience.
It lies between the Nanda Devi and Nandakot peaks and terminates at an altitude of 3627 m. The Glacier is 5 km long, the snout is about 6 m high and 2.5 m wide and above the snout, the glacier extends for about 3 km in length and 300 - 400 m in width, between an altitudinal range of about 3600 m to 5000 m. The Pindari Glacier is located in the Pindar Valley between longitudes 79° 13'-80°02' E and latitudes 30° 15' N. It occupies an area of 339.39 sq km.
The valley is drained by the Pindar river that emerges from the Pindari Glacier. The river, in its initial course, flows through sedimentary rocks. Further to the south, it meanders through quarts schist. Granite is found in abundance in this area. The Pindar river has cut a gorge in thick glacial deposits up to nearly 10 km, resulting in the formation of spacious glacial terraces spread on both sides of the gorge. Further down, from Phurkia up to Khati, places enroute to the Pindari Glacier, one comes across numerous waterfalls, hanging valleys and tremendous rolls cliffs as the one of at Dwali. One has to go by road up to Saung which can be accessed from Almora, Bageshwar and Kathgodam and thereafter one has to trek 45 km up to zero point (Pindari Glacier). The colour of Pindari Glacier is very white and at some places, spots of light blue and brown may also be seen.
Trek :
Base Camp Saung :
- Saung to Loharkhet 3 km trek,
- Lohaekhet to Dhakuri 11 km,
- Dhakuri to Khati 8 km,
- Khati to Dwali 11 km,
- Dwali to Phurkia 7 km,
- Phurkia to Pindari Glacier 5 km.
By Road :
- Saung to Bageshwar 36 km.
- Saung to Almora 109 km.
- Saung to Kathgodam 199 km.
