NTI (Lansdowne) : Sainra village in Pauri district’s Dwarikhal block – the ancestral home of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, late General Bipin Rawat – is all set to become the permanent advanced training centre for the Garhwal Rifles Regiment. Following the resounding success of the first experimental advanced camp held here, in which 1,000 Agniveers completed their rigorous 14-day field training, the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre has decided to make Sainra the preferred location for all future advanced camps.
The decision was taken after officers found Sainra’s terrain far superior to previous training sites such as Sendhikhal, Dugadda, Kotdwar, and Seela. The remote, rugged hills, dense forests, and isolated surroundings of Sainra closely replicate actual border and high-altitude combat environments, making it ideal for the final phase of Agniveer training.
Brigadier Vinod Singh Negi, Commandant, Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre, Lansdowne, stated: “The first advanced camp in Sainra village proved that its environment is perfectly suited for this purpose. From now on, all advanced training camps for Agniveers will be conducted here. This will not only be our tribute to the first CDS, General Bipin Rawat, but the soil of Sainra will also inspire every Agniveer to become a brave son of the nation like him.”
After 31 weeks of initial training at the Regimental Centre, Agniveers undergo 26 weeks of basic and tactical instruction. The final 14-day advanced camp – considered the culmination of the entire course – is conducted in a remote area simulating real war-like conditions. The remaining three weeks are spent back at the centre for evaluation and passing-out preparations.
Key components of the advanced camp at Sainra include:
- Construction of bunkers and defensive positions to protect against enemy fire
- Digging of trenches with precise standards of width, depth, and length
- Survival and operational movement in dense jungle terrain
- Overcoming enemy obstacles and ambushes
- Coordination during offensive operations against hostile forces
- Night combat training and maintaining surveillance on enemy movements
- Living under extreme field conditions with minimal logistical support
Officers who supervised the pilot camp noted that Sainra’s difficult mountainous terrain, natural cover, vast open spaces for manoeuvres, and even the distance required for night marches perfectly matched operational requirements. The village’s proximity to the Regimental Centre while still being sufficiently remote made it an ideal choice. The decision has been welcomed by villagers and ex-servicemen of Sainra, who see it as a fitting honour to General Bipin Rawat, who lost his life in a tragic helicopter crash on 8 December 2021. Many believe that training training in the very soil that shaped India’s most celebrated modern-day soldier will instill extraordinary courage and patriotism in young Agniveers. With Sainra now permanently etched into the training calendar of one of India’s most decorated infantry regiments, the tiny mountain hamlet is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of warriors who will guard the nation’s frontiers.
