4th Devalsari Titli Utsav@ Devalsari 11th May 2023 (Thursday) to 16th May 2023 (Tuesday)   

Start: First trail will begin at 1000 hrs on 11th May 2023 

Charges, ex-Devalsari: Rs 12,500/- for 5N/6D per person (Rs 10,500 for 4N/5D OR Rs 8,500 for 3N/4 D) including boarding, lodging, local guides and activities. 

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Payment should be made through online bank transfer or UPI

Account name: Devalsari Paryawaran Sanrakshan awam Tekniki
Account number: 33940424562
Bank name: State Bank of India
Branch Thatyur
IFSC code no SBIN0004529                                                                                                                                                                    MICR code number: 249002251
(Please do send us an email on - arunapis1@gmail.com, sanjay.sondhi1@gmail.com when you make the payment)

For cancellations made 60 days before the event date, 90% of the advance paid will be refunded. For cancellations made 30 days before the event date, 50% of the advance will be refunded. For cancellations made thereafter, no refund will be made. If any cancellations on account of COVID restrictions, the advances paid will be rolled over for a similar event in the future.

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 on a paid basis. 

 Nanda Devi Express, Train number 12205. N. Delhi-Doon Dep/Arr: 2350-0540 hrs 

Nanda Devi Express Train number 12206, Doon-N. Delhi. Dep/Arr: 2330-0520 hrs. 

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. Titli Trust, with support from local communities and the Uttarakhand Forest Department, plans to hold annual butterfly and moth festivals in the state. It is intended to have two “Titli Utsavs” every year at different locations, pre- and post-monsoon, based on suitability of the location. The first of these festivals was held at Devalsari from 31st May to 3rd June 2018.

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.

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).

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.

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 152 species of butterflies, 250 species of moths and 175 species of birds have been recorded and identified at Devalsari.  The area is home to some stunning butterflies such as the Common Peacock (Uttarakhand’s State Butterfly), Golden Emperor, Bluetail Jester, Brown Argus, Siren, Grand Duchess, Western Courtier, Wonderful Hairstreak, Water Hairstreak, Fawn Hairstreak and Walnut Blue amongst many others. The butterfly and bird checklists of Devalsari can be downloaded here:
 
Butterfly checklist:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1QTmAUk94aSzP-2HNyTyb-qZY0zVxP3Bb

Bird checklist:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1dHnnRv05zRJ85cG8bG5X4KqHqS1YWT9g

Butterfly, moth & bird watching. Additional areas for exploration.
Fun workshops on butterflies and moths for children.
Butterfly and moth identification workshops.

 Lungsu nala (lower part) 

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).