| Garhwal Rifles | |
|---|---|
 Regimental Insignia of the Garhwal Rifles and Garhwal Scouts | |
| Active | 1887 – present |
| Country |  India |
| Branch |  Indian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | 27 battalions |
| Regimental Centre | Lansdowne, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand |
| Nickname(s) | Snow Leopards
The Royal Garhwalis The Veer Garhwalis Gallant Bhullas |
| Motto(s) | Yudhaya Krit Nishchaya (Fight With Determination) |
| War Cry | Badri Vishal Lal Ki Jai (Victory to the Sons of Lord Badrinath) |
| March | Badhe Chalo Garhwaliyon |
| Anniversaries | 5 May 1887 |
| Decorations | 3  Victoria Crosses1  Ashoka Chakra7  Param Vishisht Seva Medals1  Uttam Yudh Seva Medal 25  Ati Vishisht Seva Medals (including 1 Bar)4  Maha Vir Chakras10  Kirti Chakras43  Vir Chakras49  Shaurya Chakras13  Yudh Seva Medals122  Sena Medals (including 2 Bars) 30  Vishisht Seva Medals (including 2 Bars)1  Jeevan Raksha Padak |
| Battle honours | Post-Independence Tithwal, Jammu and Kashmir, Nuranang, Buttur Dograndi, Punjab, Gadra Road, Rajasthan, Hilli, East Pakistan, Operation Pawan, Batalik, Dras, Kargil |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Insignia | A Maltese cross with Lion Capital of Ashoka |
The Garhwal Rifles, are an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was originally raised in 1887 as the 39th (Garhwal) Regiment of the Bengal Army. It then became part of the British Indian Army, and after the Independence of India, it was incorporated into the Indian Army.[2]
It served during the frontier campaigns of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well in both World Wars and the wars fought after independence.[2] It is mainly made up of Garhwali people from seven districts of Uttarakhand's Garhwal division: Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal, Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal and Haridwar.[3][4]
Today it has well over 26,000 soldiers, organized into twenty one regular battalions (2nd to 22nd), two battalions of the Territorial Army (121 Inf Bn TA and 127 Inf Bn TA (Eco)) and three Rashtriya Rifles Battalions (14 RR, 36 RR, 48 RR).[3] The 1st Battalion has since been converted to mechanized infantry and forms part of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment as its 6th battalion.[2] The regiment has a specialized scout battalion of Garhwal Scouts also known as "The Snow Leopards", it is an elite infantry battalion specializing in long range reconnaissance and extreme high-altitude warfare. Garhwal Scouts are stationed permanently at Joshimath. The soldiers from Garhwal Scouts wear red scout badges on shoulders on both combat and ceremonial uniform.[citation needed]
The regimental insignia incorporates a Maltese cross and is based on the defunct Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) as they are a designated rifle regiment.[citation needed] Unlike regular rifle regiments, they are one of ten such units marching in the regular paces used in the Indian Army's ceremonies.[citation needed]
- ^ "Lt Gen Cherish Mathson appointed Colonel of Regiment of Garhwal Rifles".
- ^ a b c Pandya, Prashant (November 2016). "Commemorative Stamp on Third Battalion The Garhwal Rifles released on 19th November 2016". Indian Philately Digest. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ a b Pike, John (2018). "Military: Garhwal Rifles". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ said, Mangal Singh Chauhan on. "The Garhwali Soldier". Indian Defence Review. Retrieved 21 October 2022.