Nature · Uttarey
Forest walk to Mainbus waterfall
Walk from your homestay through terraced fields and mixed forest to Mainbus waterfall, one of the sights the Gyalshing district administration lists near Uttarey, at an easy pace with a packed lunch and a local guide.
Photo: Kayal Vizhi · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mainbus waterfall (also written Mainebas) is the walk most Uttarey families suggest to guests. The route leaves the village on paths between terraces and houses, then enters forest of oak, magnolia and, higher up, rhododendron. A local guide keeps you on the right path at the many junctions and points out plants, birds and the uses villagers make of the forest.
Allow four to five hours there and back at an easy pace, with time to rest by the falls and eat a packed lunch from your homestay. The waterfall is fullest after the monsoon in September and October, and the forest is greenest and flowering in March to May.
Wear shoes with good grip; the paths are muddy after rain and leeches appear from June to September. Carry water, a rain jacket and a small bag for your rubbish.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
How long is the walk to Mainbus waterfall from Uttarey?
Plan four to five hours there and back at an easy pace, including a rest and lunch at the falls. The exact route and time depend on where your homestay is in the village and on the state of the paths. Your host or a local guide will set the route and pace for your group.
Is the Mainbus waterfall walk difficult?
It is an easy to moderate village and forest walk with some ups and downs and narrow stretches. Children used to walking and fit older travellers manage it well. After rain the paths are slippery and leeches appear, so good shoes and a guide matter more in the wetter months.
When is Mainbus waterfall at its best?
September to early November, after the monsoon, when the water is full and the skies start to clear. In spring, March to May, the flow is lower but the forest is in leaf and flower. We avoid June to August, when the paths are slippery and the road to Uttarey sees landslides.
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