Gauchar (Garhwali: Gòchàr ) is a hill town located in Karnaprayag tehsil subdistrict within Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state in India.

Gauchar is situated on the left bank of river Alaknanda and is en route to the celebrated holy destination of Badrinath.

(Gauchar's new airstrip has come up on agricultural land as a result and also because a much larger area was needed for the strip and the administrative buildings.)

The Bhotias of Chamoli District, residing in the border regions of Garhwal Himalayas, are well known for their traditional expertise in making a range of woollen garments and materials, besides processing and colouring of wool.

Before 1962, there was trans-border trade between India and former Tibet, and the import of wool was the major source of income for the Bhotia's woollens-based, indigenous cottage industry.

The Gauchar Mela served as huge market for the Bhotias to sell their ware including woollen products, precious jewels and heeng (asafoetida), and to buy good for daily necessity such as cloth and salt to carry back with them.

Gauchar Mela of Uttarakhand is a great attraction for the local people and the traders and merchants from every corner of the state.

On this side, the trade was largely carried out by the Bhotias, who inhabit the frontiers of Chamoli Garhwal, bordering Tibet.

The Gauchar Mela at Uttarakhand helped the Bhotias to sell their woolen handicrafts and buy the raw materials for the next summer trade across the borders.

All the state government departments participate in this annual event, which is a platform to showcase modern agricultural methods.

Because of its location on one of the largest pieces of flatland in the mountainous region of Uttarakhand, a 4,000 ft airstrip was constructed at Gauchar in 1998–2000 and later upgraded.

Gauchar Airport was a vital staging area for rescue and relief efforts following the disastrous 2013 North India floods which ravaged in Uttarakhand in June 2013.