Bugyals

Bugyals are alpine pasture lands, or meadows, in higher elevation range between 3,300 metres (10,800 ft) and 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) of the Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, where they are called "nature’s own gardens".^[1] The topography of the terrain is either flat or sloped. The surface of these bugyals is covered with natural green grass and seasonal flowers. They are used by tribal herdsmen to graze their cattle. During the winter season the alpine meadows remain snow-covered. During summer months, the Bugyals present a riot of beautiful flowers and grass. As bugyals constitute very fragile ecosystems, particular attention needs to be given for their conservation.^[1]

Some of the notable bugyals are: Auli near Joshimath, Garsi, Kwanri, Gulabi Kantha, Bedni, Panwali Kantha and Kush Kalyan, Dayara, Gidara, Bagji Bugyal and Munsiyari.^[1]

Place	District	Image
Ali Bugyal	Chamoli
Auli Bugyal	Chamoli
Bagji Bugyal	Chamoli
Bedni Bugyal	Chamoli
Chainsheel Bugyal	Uttarkashi
Chopta Bugyal	Rudraprayag
Dayara Bugyal	Uttarkashi
Gidara Bugyal	Uttarkashi
Gorson Bugyal	Chamoli
Gulabi Kantha Bugyal	Uttarkashi
Har Ki Doon Bugyal	Uttarkashi
Helsi Bugyal	Tehri Garhwal
Kedar Kantha Bugyal	Uttarkashi
Khaliya Bugyal	Pithoragarh
Kush Kalyan Bugyal	Tehri Garhwal
Madhyamaheshwar Bugyal	Chamoli
Moila Bugyal	Dehradun
Moth Bugyal	Rudraprayag
Nag Tibba Bugyal	Tehri Garhwal
Panar Bugyal	Chamoli
Panwali Kantha Bugyal	Tehri Garhwal
Pushtara Bugyal	Uttarkashi
Nawali Bugyal	Chamoli

Bugyal is a fragile ecosystem and it is essential to maintain a balance between ecology and environment. In this context a court case was filed by the public objecting to erection of the prefab houses and by introducing non-biodegradable matter in the upper meadows of the bugyals by the tourism departments. It was averred that the peace and tranquility of the bugyals was getting affected. The court had ordered that the polluter must pay for the damage to environment based on absolute liability principle, which covered payment of damages to the affected people but also to compensate for all costs for restoration of the degraded environments.^[2]

• Meadow
• Grassland
• Shola

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