People of Osla - An extremely remote & disconnected village in the Himalayas
Osla, a remote and rural village in the Uttar Kashi district of Uttarakhand, rests silently on the "Roof of the World" a.k.a the Himalayas.
You will pass through this village if you plan a trek to "Har ki Dun" which, when translated, means "Valley of Gods". [I'm going to upload my photographs from the camp sites and of the valley separately] I passed Osla on our way back from 'Har ki Dun', during our descent from ~12,000 feet.
In the midst of this bucolic village, you'll find ancient traditions still pretty prominent. Osla is only accessible by foot, you would need to trek a distance of approximately 15 kms from the nearest village, Taluka. The latter is approximately 40 mins away (by car) from what would be your base camp, the wonderful village of Sankri.
Osla is located at an altitude of ~9000 feet. It's a must visit place for all you trekkers, outdoor lovers, and so is Har ki Dun. Carrying approximately 50 lbs on your back is going to tire you too but you will be re-energized once you reach your destinations! Below, I've displayed the people of Osla, which gives the viewer a hint of the culture prominent in the village.
A boy from the village of Osla asked me for chocolates as we trailed through the village to our final camp site. Almost all the children asked each of us for chocolate or money.
Sadly, the village of Osla has a school which ends at Grade 5. To continue their schooling, they must go to another school which is in Sankri and far away. From the local store, I bought this boy and his friend a packet of biscuits each.
Sadly, the village of Osla has a school which ends at Grade 5. To continue their schooling, they must go to another school which is in Sankri and far away. From the local store, I bought this boy and his friend a packet of biscuits each.
A woman displaying her amazing skills while weaving a beautiful multi-colored waistband. She takes approximately two days to finish 1 waistband and was ready to sell it for Rs 1,500 (~$25).
One could argue that it's worth a whole lot more! Trust me, they were fantastic.
A boy holding up a finished Waistband while a new one is being weaved in the background.
An ailing old lady approached each of us, and others, asking for medicines but never replied to what part of her body was hurting.
Her attire, probably, best represents the ancient culture that is slowly changing in this village.
A man leaning on the side of a temple of Duryodhan (one of the main antagonists in Mahabharata)
2 kids looking, from their home, at other kids playing.
A teenage girl, carrying a heavy load of wood back to the village
Like many other girls and boys who did the same, these 2 carried the load up a decently steep trail. According to me, they climb approximately 650-700 feet or more.
Taking a break from playing among themselves, kids saw a familiar community of backpackers passing by their village
Thank you for viewing! Please feel free to leave any comments/feedback, I would really appreciate it!
