India

Bevra's home country, India, is the world's most populous nation with roughly 1.4 billion people. Bevra is situated in the northern state of Uttarakhand, 200 miles north of New Delhi. The hatchery lies in the headwaters of the Ganges, which flows from the high Himalayas to the Indian Ocean over a course of more than 1,500 miles.

The Assi Ganga Valley

Highlighted in blue, the Assi Ganga is a 20-mile river that drops from approximately 12,500 feet to 4,000 feet and creates the valley that Bevra calls home. The Assi Ganga flows into the Bhagirathi, which eventually becomes the Ganges. At the valley's lower end sits the city of Uttarkashi, population 330,000.

Brown trout have inhabited the Assi Ganga since their initial stocking in the 1860s. The valley is made up of 9 villages focused on subsistence farming; together they support a population of 6000 people who retain many traditional ways of life. However, the valley is changing — trekking and growing domestic tourism bring more visitors each year to see its beauty.

Brown trout are only one species among the valley's rich biodiversity: Himalayan brown bears, snow leopards, Sambar deer, and even the Indian tiger are part of the region's wildlife.

Agora Village

Agora, shown on the map as Danadlka, is the highest permanent village in the Assi Ganga Valley. Its population of around 500 has lived here for more than 400 years. As the last stop on the road up the Assi Ganga Valley, Agora serves as a transport point for Bevra. Suman and Praveen, who make up half of Bevra's core team, were born and raised in Agora. Today, they both own and operate homestays and trekking businesses that form the backbone of the village's economy.

Bevra

Bevra, just a one-mile walk from Agora, is home to the hatchery. The name comes from Bevra Gad, a small tributary of the Assi Ganga River highlighted on the map in tan. The cluster of houses and farmland around Bevra Gad is also referred to as Bevra, sometimes spelled Bebra. The hatchery sits approximately 20 feet from Bevra Gad and is entirely fed by its cold, spring water. The rearing center, located just below the hatchery, also draws its water from Bevra Gad.

Following the 2012 floods, some trout were transplanted from Dodital Lake at the head of the Assi Ganga to Bevra Gad. This transfer helped establish a small population that has slowly begun to recover over the past decade.

Dodital

Dodital sits at the top of the Assi Ganga Valley at approximately 10,000 feet and was the original stocking site for brown trout in the Assi Ganga. The lake, about 1.5 miles across, is home to a large, thriving trout population. Dodital also holds deep religious significance for Hindus, as it is regarded as the place where Ganesha received his elephant head. This significance draws hundreds of trekkers each year who come to visit the lake and temple. Trout can migrate between the Assi Ganga and Dodital only for a few weeks each year when water levels are high, so the majority of trout in the lake are permanent residents.

Our Role

Bevra's mission is to restore the brown trout population in the valley while protecting the river and preserving the unique Himalayan way of life. As the valley grows and becomes increasingly connected to India's modern economy, Bevra strives to be a steadfast pillar of the community, supporting traditional values and fostering sustainable practices for generations to come.