In a landmark initiative blending science and tradition, the Uttarakhand Forest Department has identified and documented 161 sacred natural sites (SNS) across the state for the first time. These include sacred forests, groves, high-altitude meadows, and lakes.
Of the 161 sites mapped, 83 are sacred forests, 62 sacred groves, 12 alpine meadows, and four revered high-altitude water bodies — Nandi Kund (15,748 ft), Satopnath Taal (15,100 ft), Hemkund Sahib (14,200 ft), and Kak Bhusandi Taal (14,763 ft).
"This is the first systematic scientific documentation of Uttarakhand's sacred natural sites that goes beyond groves and includes lakes and bugyals. As the state navigates the challenges of development and environmental change, sacred groves offer a beacon — a model demonstrating that safeguarding nature begins with respect, reverence, and community stewardship," said Chief Conservator of Forests Sanjiv Chaturvedi. It was under Chaturvedi’s guidance this one-year study was conducted in 2024.
Researchers Manoj Singh, Yogesh Tripathi, and Dikshit Pathak from the forest department’s research wing conducted field surveys, GPS mapping, ecological assessments, and ethnobotanical documentation. The study recorded 147 plant species from 47 families, including rare and endangered plants like Picrorhiza kurrooa, Trillium govanianum, and Saussurea obvallata.
As per the researchers, these sacred groves play vital ecological roles — they regulate microclimates, conserve water, prevent soil erosion, and provide safe habitats for rare flora and fauna in a changing environment.
In Garhwal, at least 46 sacred groves were mapped, including Ulkagadi temple in Pauri, Anusuya Devi in Chamoli, Surkanda Devi and Chandrabandi temple in Tehri, Latu Devta in Chamoli, and Tungnath in Rudraprayag, all rooted in alpine forests. The region also hosts sacred sites like Rudranath, Madhmaheshwar, and Hemkund Sahib, known for both spiritual pilgrimage and endangered alpine plants.
Kumaon has over 90 sacred groves, largely protected under traditional van panchayats. Key sites include Dhwaj in Pithoragarh, Jageshwar temple forest in Almora, Hat Kalika Temple’s oak-pine forests, and the grove near Golu Devta temples. Champawat’s Hingla Devi forest is among the densest oak groves, while Thal Kedar in Pithoragarh — Uttarakhand’s first biodiversity heritage site — hosts over 200 medicinal plant species.
Researchers caution that these sites face growing pressures from tourism, encroachment, grazing, fuelwood collection, and declining traditional beliefs among youth. Sacred groves near tourist hubs such as Tapkeshwar and Sahastradhara are already showing signs of ecological stress.
The study recommends formally including SNS in forest management and biodiversity conservation plans, empowering local communities — especially women and youth — through participatory management, and combining traditional reverence with modern conservation tools.
Funded under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) scheme, the initiative highlights the deep connection between Uttarakhand’s ecology, culture, and spiritual heritage. Preserving these sacred sites, researchers say, could be key to the state’s sustainable future.
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