Excursion tour – Village Khirsu, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand

Date of Visit: 08, 09, 10 April 2025

Purpose: Study and identification of medicinal plants in the natural habitat of the Himalayan region.

Location Overview:

Khirsu is a picturesque hill village situated at an altitude of approximately 1,700 meters in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. Located about 19 km north of Pauri and 160 km west of Dehradun, Khirsu offers breathtaking panoramic views of the snow-clad Himalayan peaks, including Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nandakot, and Chaukhamba . The village is enveloped by dense forests of oak and deodar trees, providing a serene environment ideal for educational tours focusing on Medicinal plants, agriculture, horticulture, and botany.

Objectives of the Tour:

1. To explore the native flora of the Himalayan region.
2. To identify and study medicinal plants in their natural habitat.
3. To understand the traditional uses of these plants by local communities.
4. To raise awareness about the conservation of medicinal plants.

DAY:- 1^st

Medicinal Plants Observed:

1. Ajuga integrifolia
2. Local Name: Neelkanthi
3. Family: Lamiaceae

• Rhododendron arboreum
• Local Name: Burans
• Family: Ericaceae

• Bauhinia variegate
• Local Name: Kachnar
• Family: Fabaceae

• Woodfordia fruticose
• Local Name: Dhawai
• Family: Lythraceae

• Mallotus philippensis

• Common Name: Kampillak
• Family: Euphorbiaceae

•   Euphorbia neriifolia

• Common Name: Snuhi
• Family: Euphorbiaceae

• Acacia catechu

• Common Name: Khair
• Family: Fabaceae

1. Berberis chitria

• Common Name: Daruharidra
• Family: Berberidaceae

• Solanum indicum

• Common Name: Brihati
• Family: Solanaceae

•  Sida cordifolia

• Common Name: Bala
• Family: Malvaceae

• Boerhavia diffusa

• Common Name: Punarnava
• Family: Nyctaginaceae

• Abrus precatorius

• Common Name: Gunja
• Family: Fabaceae

Agricultural and Horticultural Practices

Khirsu’s economy is predominantly agrarian, with villagers cultivating a variety of crops suited to the temperate climate. The terraced fields are rich in biodiversity, supporting both staple and commercial crops.​

Commonly Cultivated Crops

• Matar (Peas)
  Botanical Name: Pisum sativum
• Masoor (Lentils)
  Botanical Name: Lens culinaris
• Mooli (Radish)
  Botanical Name: Raphanus sativus.​
• Gobhi (Cauliflower)
  Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea
• Apple
  Botanical Name: Malus domestica
• Chiku (Sapodilla)
  Botanical Name: Manilkara zapota
• Nashpati (Pear)
  Botanical Name: Pyrus communis
• Pudina (Mint)
  Botanical Name: Mentha spicata
• Gehun (Wheat)
• Botanical Name:- Triticum aestivum
• Jaee (Oats)
• Botanical Name:- Avena sativa

DAY:- 2^ND

Second day we visit Bhainswada gaon, there we contact a local who cultivated medicinal plants and we moved for long trek along withhim inside the forest, Along trek we found following medicinal plants.

Medicinal Plants

• Acacia arabica (Babul)
• Cirsium spinosissimum
• Eugenia jambolana (Jamun)
• Berberis lycium (Kingora)
• Valeriana wallichii (Tagar)
• Rubia cordifolia (Manjistha)
• Saussurea lappa (Kushtha)
• Smilax china (Chopchini)
• Picrorhiza kurrooa (Katuki)
• Bergenia lingulate (Pashanbheda)
• Aconitum heterophyllum (Ativisha)
• Melia azedarach (Mahanimb)
• Viola odorata (Banafsa)

DAY :- 3^RD

We left our homestay, Visited three temples

• Gaura Devi Temple
• Devalgarh Temple
• Dhari devi Temple

Field Activities:

• Guided walk through forest trails with local experts.
• Collection of field notes and plant samples .
• Interaction with local villagers to understand ethnobotanical uses.
• Photography and GPS tagging of plant locations.

Learnings:

• Importance of medicinal plants in traditional and Ayurvedic medicine.
• Sustainable harvesting and conservation practices.
• Role of local knowledge in preserving biodiversity.

Conclusion:

The tour provided a valuable hands-on learning experience in plant identification, ecology, and ethnobotany. Khirsu’s rich flora and the hospitality of the local community added to the educational value of the trip. Emphasis was placed on the need to conserve medicinal plant species and promote eco-tourism and education in such biodiverse areas.