Location: Devalsari, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand

Distances: 80 km from Dehradun, 55 km from Mussoorie

Dates:  5^th Devalsari Titli Utsav@ Devalsari 6^th June (Thursday) to 11^th June 2024 (Tuesday)

 Utasv timings:

Start: First trail will begin at 1000 hrs on 6^th June 2024

End: Drop off at Dehradun Railway Station by 1830 hrs on 11^th June 2024

Boarding, lodging & activities costs:

• Charges, ex-Devalsari: Rs 13,500/- for 5N/6D per person
• Rs 11,500 for 4N/5D OR Rs 9,500 for 3N/4 D)
• Including boarding, lodging, local guides and activities.
• We can organise a pick up and drop off from Dehradun. then pick up and drop off charges (around Rs.4500) paid extra.

Background: Uttarakhand with 65% forest area is home to some terrific biodiversity. With more than 500 species of butterflies, and innumerable moth species, it is a haven for butterfly and moth watchers. The Devalsari Society, with support from NGO’s, local communities and the Uttarakhand Forest Department, has been conducting the Devalsari Titli Utsav for 4 years now, and this year, the 5th Devalsari Titli Utsav will be held in June
2024.

Purpose: The primary purpose of the Titli Utsavs is to promote lesser-known destinations in Uttarakhand, ensure benefits to local communities through community ecotourism and to support the conservation of butterflies and moth through citizen science.

Introduction: Devalsari, tucked away in the Aglar Valley, in Tehri Garhwal District, Uttarakhand, is the home of the Jaunpuris. The snow-capped peaks of the Middle Himalayas, looming in the distance, marvelous deodar, oak and rhododendron forest, surrounded by terrace fields. The Pali Gad stream flows through Bangsil into the Aglar River, winding its way through a forest landscape with altitudes varying from 1,200 m at Thatyur up to 3,048 m at Nag Tibba, the highest peak in the area. It is 80 km from Dehradun by road (55 km from Mussoorie).

About the Society: The Devalsari Environment Protection and Technology Development Society, a rural community not-for-profit organisation, was set up to promote ecotourism and conservation at involving local youth in Devalsari and surrounding villages. The main aim of the Society is to promote village-linked livelihoods while conserving the area’s natural resources and retaining its traditional and cultural practices. The Society aims to promote ecotourism with nature tourism as its focus. The Society also promotes bee keeping and supports bee colony development by providing technical training and holding camps. Finally, the Society promotes production and marketing of local organic produce and natural honey. It markets its pure, natural honey under the brand name “Deodar”. Arun Gaur of the Society was selected for the Sanctuary Asia Wildlife Service Award in 2019. In addition, the Society made it to the Top 3 in Outlook Responsible Tourism Award (Wildlife Conservation) in Dec 2019.

About the Devalsari Titli Utsav: It is proposed to establish an annual butterfly festival at Devalsari. The festival is targeted towards visitors who have some interest and enthusiasm to watch butterflies and moths, but also targeting more serious butterfly and moth enthusiasts, who may prefer only to watch butterflies and moths. It is planned to host the festival annually.
More than 160 species of butterflies, 250 species of moths, 201 species of birds, 41 species of odonates and 13 species of bats have been recorded and identified at Devalsari.
The area is home to some stunning butterflies such as the Woolly-branded Peacock (Uttarakhand’s State Butterfly), Hairy Angle, Golden Emperor, Bluetail Jester, Brown Argus, Siren, Grand Duchess, Western Courtier, Wonderful Hairstreak, Water Hairstreak, Fawn Hairstreak, Dark Blue Royal and Walnut Blue amongst many others. The butterfly and bird checklists of Devalsari are available on request.

Proposed workshops & activities

• Butterfly, moth & bird watching in Devalsari and Benog.
• Fun workshops on butterflies and moths for children.
• Butterfly and moth identification workshops.
• Heritage and village walk.

Planned Nature trails

• Lungsu nala (lower part)
• Lungsu nala (above Moldhar)
• Chiyana Khud + Teva
• Magra
• Benog WLS

Accommodation: A total of 40 visitors can be accommodated in dormitory type accommodation at the Deodar Ecotourism and Research Centre (DERC), tents and homestay-based accommodation in other nearby villages (Moldhar, Udalsu, etc). Attached Western toilet with the dormitory and common Western and Indian toilets exist onsite.

How to get to Devalsari

Nearest railhead: Dehradun. Devalsari is an 80 km, 3.5 hours drive from Dehradun. Road transport is the only way to get to Devalsari. 

Nearest airport: Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 115 km, 4 hours from Devalsari

Nearest town to Devalsari: Thatyur, 13 km from Devalsari

We can organise a pick up and drop off from Dehradun. then pick up and drop off charges (around Rs.4500) paid extra.

Please advise us on the date/time/pick up point for your requirement through email. Pick up/drop off point: Dehradun Railway Station. Pick up time from Dehradun: 630 am (linked to Nanda Devi Express arrival time in Dehradun). Please add this to your payment.

For your return journey, shared taxis operate from Devalsari-Dehradun every morning. This can be availed on arrival at Devalsari.