Take a break, inhale deeply, and make your way from the city to a place where life moves much slower. Without question, the only way to truly experience India is to explore its villages. Individuals looking to explore India’s true identity should visit the old villages that still maintain the heritage and customs of the past. Here is a story of Osla, a village along the trek to Har Ki Dun in Uttarakhand.
Osla Village :
Osla is a gorgeous village located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand at an elevation of 8858 ft. It is renowned as a popular trekking destination, with stunning mountain scenery and unique cultural heritage. It is a place that will be sure to leave a lasting impression on visitors.
The Har ki doon valley is also known as the Valley of Gods. At first glance, Osla village appears like any other mountain village, with rosy-cheeked children and beaming smiles. However, upon closer inspection, one will observe the dominant matriarchal system in place.
As observed in the daily routine of the villagers, women carrying heavy loads of firewood on their backs, young girls chopping logs into smaller pieces, and men weaving fabrics or cooking meals. Some villagers simply relax and chat with friends, basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun. In this community, when there is a disagreement among family members, the women’s opinions hold the most weight and decision-making power, and the villagers have their own set of rules and regulations with their government. Additionally, the village practices a reverse dowry system where the groom’s family gives a dowry to the bride’s family. The village is special for not only its beliefs and culture but also due to the lifestyle of the villagers here.
During the winter season, the villagers cultivate and store their food in wooden huts. They also rely on dried goat meat that was prepared during the summer months. Winters are harsh and cruel and the village remains inaccessible from October to March, due to heavy snowfall. Hardships have made the village self-sustainable.
To keep warm, the villagers spin thread from goat wool and use it to make thick woollen coats with a checker design of black and white wool obtained from black and white sheep. Despite their resourcefulness, medical facilities are still inaccessible to the villagers.
Why is Osla village has tourist attraction?
Osla village has mythical tales from the Mahabharata. The village attracts tourists due to the controversial temple of Duryodhan.
While the Pandavas were in exile, Duryodhan went to Osla in search of them. He was fond of the place and asked the village deity, Mahashu Devta, to give him ownership of the village. The deity granted his wish, resulting in a group of people in Osla who remained loyal to the Kauravas, particularly Duryodhan. Their devotion led them to build a temple in his honour, where they continue to worship him exclusively.
Read more about Mahashu Devta click here 👈
However, the current generation of young people does not believe in the rumours about a temple dedicated to a demon and instead asserts that the temple is devoted to their community’s deity, Someshwar, which is another name for Lord Shiva. Osla has its festivals and traditions that have been followed for ages with grace ‘Someshwar Fair’ or ‘Saawan Mela’ which is held annually from the 3rd to 5th August.
Also, this palace is famous for trekking to Har Ki Dun. It is around 7.4km from Osla village.
How to reach Osla village? :
Location: District Uttarkashi in Govind National Park. Situated on a trekking distance of 12 km from the nearest road head Takula village and comes across the way to Har Ki Dun trek. The other nearest place is Sankri.
By road: Bus and taxi are available from Delhi and Dehradun. The direct bus is available from the Dehradun Mussoorie bus stand (200km), and from Sankri taxis are available to Takula or you can trek from Sankri itself.
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