View of Bedni Bugyal on the way to Roopkund
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

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

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

References

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

Bibliography