Bugyals

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". 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.

View of Bedni Bugyal on the way to Roopkund

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

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
Gulabikantha Bugyal	Uttarkashi	Gulabikantha Bugyal
Har ki Doon Bugyal	Uttarkashi	Har ki Doon Bugyal
Helsi Bugyal	Tehri Garhwal	Helsi Bugyal
Kedarkantha 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.

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