Gartang Gali is a staircase of wooden planks pinned to a sheer rock face in the Nelong valley, built to carry traders and their animals between Garhwal and Tibet. The route died with the 1962 war, the region was sealed, and the stairway stood empty for close to sixty years. It was restored and reopened to visitors in 2021.
What it is like
About 150 metres of gallery clinging to the cliff, with the Jadh Ganga a long way down. It is safe, restored, and railed, and it is still genuinely exposed - if heights bother you, this is not the outing to talk yourself into. If they do not, it is the most remarkable hour in the valley.
The permit
Nelong is a border area and access is controlled. Permits are issued locally, numbers are capped, and foreign nationals are generally not permitted. Arrange this in advance - arriving on the day and hoping is how people end up driving four hours for nothing. Carry photo ID.
Planning the day
Treat it as a full day from Harsil. The drive is slow, the permit formalities take time, and you do not want to be rushing the walk. Take water, sun protection and a warm layer - the valley beyond Bhairon Ghati is high, dry and much colder than Harsil in the wind.
