Benital which is located at an altitude of 2,600 meters in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, amidst the picturesque mountains, lies a beautiful hill station and meadow. This location is ideal for stargazing and studying celestial phenomena. It has been developed as India’s first Astro Village.
As part of this plan, an Astro Camp was also organized in Benital . Its high altitude provides a clear view of the sky, making it one of the best places in India to observe stargazing, eclipses, and the Milky Way. The high meadows offer views of famous Himalayan snow peaks like Trishul, Nanda Devi, and Chaukhamba. The area is surrounded by dense pine and oak forests, making it a good place for camping and eco-tourism.
According to the 2011 census, this village is a very small village with a population of only four families and 23 people. It is located approximately 16 kilometers from Karanprayag.
As part of the Astro Village, a large telescope and a night-vision astronomical dome have been installed here, offering close-up views of eclipses, meteors, and constellations. Organizations like the Uttarakhand Tourism Board and Starscapes regularly organize Astro Camps, rocket-making workshops, constellation identification competitions, and astronomy sessions. During the day, you can enjoy activities like trekking, bird-watching, and cycling, while enjoying the 270-degree panoramic view of the Himalayas
The months from April to June are considered ideal for escaping the harsh winter cold and enjoying the natural beauty of the lush green velvet landscape. The bright Torridor shower is also visible here on November 7th.
Declaring as Astrotourism Hub
The official launch of developing and declaring it as Astrotourism Hub took place in the year 2021, during which India’s first Bhaav Astro Party was also organized in December 2021, which was jointly developed by Uttarakhand Tourism Development Food and Chamoli District Administration in association with Ashok Leyland.
This project was started under the supervision of the then Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana. After this, the responsibility of development was handed over to Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, who in collaboration with a private astronomy institute, made it India’s first official Astrotourism Hub.