Gauchar Mela is an annual trade fair held in November at Gauchar, a hill town on the left bank of the Alaknanda River in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Gauchar falls on the way to Badrinath temple. Gauchar Mela is one of the biggest trade fairs of Uttarakhand in which regional products produced from cottage industries of Uttarakhand are showcased and traded. Along with trade, Gauchar Mela showcases a variety of regional songs, dances, and cultural performances and holds a special place in the cultural fair.
The Gauchar Mela started in 1943, was inaugurated by the then Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Barnedi. Traders from the Tibetan regions of Dapa, Diphu, Gianying, and Tholing used to sell wool, deer musk, shilajit, black salt, and many Ayurvedic products. However, trade with Tibet ceased in 1962 due to problems with India and China. Due to the flat land of Gauchar, it used to act as an airstrip in the past. While returning from Badrinath, the queen of the region decided to use the land as a pasture.
She bought the land from the villagers, and since then, it has been used as a grazing ground. This is how the name Gauchar originated. Gauchar was the property of the Panwar kings until they donated the land to the Badrinath temple. The land is still under the Badrinath temple and should not be used for any kind of agriculture or other activities.
Gauchar Mela Uttarakhand is one of the most important trade fairs of Uttarakhand. The fair starts on November 14 and lasts for about a week. Since the Gauchar Mela showcases the arts and crafts of different regions of Uttarakhand, it plays an essential role in promoting the trade and culture of Uttarakhand. In particular, an industrial fair, the Gauchar Mela, encourages the cottage industry by providing a platform for people to display their products to the residents, traders, and tourists. All the departments of the state government participate in the fair where they introduce modernity.