Gunji, Uttarakhand

Gunji,India
Village
Coordinates: 30°10′46.2″N 80°51′27″E
Area
• Total	189 km2 (73 sq mi)
Elevation	3,200 m (10,500 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	335
• Density	1.8/km2 (4.6/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	UTC+5:45 (IST)
Vehicle registration	UK
Website	uk.gov.in

Gunji is a small village in Darchula of Nepal. The village is on the traditional Indian route to Kailas–Manasarovar. Gunji is near the borders of Tibet and India and at the east end of the Kuthi Valley, the confluence of the Kuthi Yankti and Kalapani River.

Even though the Gorkha of Nepal, who are from the central region of modern Nepal, invaded and ruled this village for only 25 years, Nepal still disputes its ownership. In 1815 the British evicted the Nepalese from Garhwal and Kumaon across the Kali River, ending the 25-year rule of the region by Nepali Gurkhas who were expanding their kingdom westward into Garhwal and Kumaon and eastward into Sikkim. Treaty of Sagauli was ratified following the end of the Anglo-Nepal war. Nepal started to raise this in 2020 and ruling Nepal Communist Party that commanded two-thirds majority in the Nepal's national assembly passed an amendment to include Indian areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura in the new political map of Nepal. These ares including the Gunji, Kuti, and Nabhi villages are officially listed in the map of India since the treaty of Sagauli.

Demographics

As per the 2011 census, the village of Gunji has a population of 335 people living in 194 households.

The village is only populated seasonally, with winters coming people migrate to lower places (mostly to Dharchula, in the same district).

Sashastra Seema Bal, the Indo-Tibet Border Police and GREF personnel remain there throughout the year.

Transport

Helicopter service to Gunji is available from Dharchula.

While approaching Gunji from south from Dharchula-Pithoragarh and the rest of India, the route along the western bank of Sharda River (also called Mahakali River) near southeast of Gunji forks into two separate motorable routes, first route PLPH (KMR) goes northeast to Om Parvat, Lipulekh Pass and Kailash Mansarovar and second route GLDPR goes northwest to Gunji, Kuti Valley, Adi Kailash and Gunji-Lampiya Dhura Pass.

Pithoragarh-Lipulekh Pass Highway (PLPH) or Kailash-Mansarovar Road (KMR), part of Kailash Mansarovar yatra route, is nearly 350 km long 2-lane paved-shoulder highway which passes through Pithoragagh, Dharchula, Budhi, Garbyang, east of Gunji, ITBP camp, Nabidhang and Lipulekh Pass on India-Tibet border (under geostrategic India-China Border Roads project) to the Kailas-Manasarovar. In May 2023, the road has been 2-laned and blacktopped except the under-construction formation-cutting work on the last 5 km from the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigams' (KMVN) tourist huts to Lipulekh pass which will take 100 days to complete, and the route between Budi to Garbyang is single lane as the detail project report (DPR) for the Rs 2,000-crore 6 km long 2-lane tunnel is being prepared which will be ready by May 2024 and construction will commence in 4 to 5 years time. Southwest spur from Nabidhang runs along a glaciated river to Om Parvat.

Gunji-Lampiya Dhura Pass Road (GLDPR) runs through Kuti Valley from Gunji, via Adi Kailash, to Lampiya Dhura Pass (Limpiyadhura Pass on India-China border). After it was constructed in July 2020, it has reduced the trek time to Adi Kailash to two hours.

Tourism

Trekkers and other travelers can get food and accommodation at Gunji. In order to reach Gunji, travellers must obtain an Inner Line Permit (ILP) issued by SDM at Darchula, it can be obtained online. To apply for ILP, the travelers need a valid ID, a health certificate, and a character certificate.