Gori Ganga

The Gori valley, Hansling in the distance

Gori Ganga (also Ghori Ganga and Gori Gad) is a river in the Munsiyari tehsil of the Pithoragarh District, part of the state of Uttarakhand in northern India. Its source is the Milam Glacier, just northeast of Nanda Devi. The village Milam is located one kilometer below the snout of the glacier. Here a left-bank stream called Gonka joins the Gori. The valley provides the approach route for access to peaks such as Nanda Devi East, Hardeol, Trishuli, Panchchuli, and Nanda Kot.

The Gori is also fed by glaciers and streams flowing from the eastern slopes of the east wall of the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, and those flowing west from the high peaks of Panchchuli, Rajramba, and Chaudhara, including the Ralam Gad and the Pyunsani Gadhera. The Kalabaland-Burfu Kalganga glacier system also flows into the Gori Ganga Valley from the east.

Madkote dam, one among many constructions in the fragile valley

Goriganga joins the Kali River at Jauljibi.

Etymology

In the local language "gori" means white or fair. "Gad" and "ganga" both mean river. The water of this river froths and contains white clay/sand, so it looks white most of the time.