Beauty In The Valley

Play Ground Of Gods And Godesses

Trespassing their celestial abode was avoided although shepherds did take the liberty to graze their cattle here.

Legends associate this valley with the area from where Hanumanji of Ramayana collected. 'Sanjeevani' herbs to revive

Lakshmana, the younger brother of Rama. Hanuman had to visit far-flung areas in his search for the life-saving herbs, some named after him."

The Valley was introduced to the world as the Valley of Flowers by Frank S, Smith - mountaineer, explorer, botanist who camped here for several weeks in the monsoon of 1937 and did valuable exploratory work. He authored a book called "The Valley of Flowers" which unveiled the beauty and floral splendours of the valley and thus threw open the doors of this verdant jewel to nature-enthusiasts all over the world.

In 1939, Miss Margarate Legge, a botanist deputed by the botanical gardens of Edinburgh arrived at the valley for further studies. While she was traversing some rocky slopes to collect flowers, she slipped off and was lost for ever in the garden of the gods. Her sister later visited the valley and erected a memorial on the spot where she was buried by the locals. The

thoughtful memorial is still there and the lines inscribed on the marble slab read:

"I will lift mine eyes
unto the Hills
from whence cometh my strength"

Many streams flowing from glacial deposits in and around the Valley irrigate it and merge finally into the Pushpawati river.While exploring the Valley, the smaller streams can be easily crossed by wading across but the larger ones need to be crossed on log bridges. In case those have not been put up in time, thick glacial bridges across the streams also serve the purpose.

There are no side tracks for viewing colonies of flowers away from the main track so you can either try to wade Through

knee-deep flowers and foliage, crushing some on the way or stay on the single track running through the length of the valley without seeing the best.

You may however stand on a raised vantage point to get a better view of flowers all around. Within the main Valley; there are many smaller valleys carved out by streams of melting glaciers. On the banks of these Valleys, you can encounter the most exciting pattern of flowers. One such Valley exists along the Donagair Garh, the last of many streams. On its banks flower some of the most magnificent plants. Every moist place holds its quota of glorious flowers which grace the still air with their subtle fragrance

.

The Valley of Flowers is flanked on either side by majestic peaks, many capped with snow. The Pushpawati river, emerging from

the glacial deposits around Rataban and Nilgiri ranges, cuts through the Valley and divides it into two sectors.The major

portion of the Valley is on its right bank and is a paradise fortrekkers

The Valley of Flowers is an alpine valley, and has been formed by the retreating glaciers whose periodic advances and

retreat pulverised hard rocks, resulting in a smooth U-shaped valley which was later colonised by numerous plants adopting

themselves to the harsh climatic conditions prevailing there.The Valley remains snow covered from November to May but when the ice envelope thaws on June it is a signal for profusion of colours hidden in petals of alpine during July and August. Some important flowering plants having tremendous medicinal values are: Anemone, Geranium, Marsh, Marigold, Primula, Potentilla, Geum, Aster. Lilium, Himalayanblue poppy, Aconite, Delphinium, Ranunculus, Corydalis, Inula, Saussurea abvallata, Campanula. Pedicularis, Trysimum, Morina, Impetiens, Bistorta. Ligularia. Anaphalis Saxifraga, Lobelia, Thermophis, Trolises. Aquilogia, Codonopsis. Dactylorhiza, Cypripedium. Straw berries and Rhododendron etc.

Apart from the flowering plants, wild animals like Himalayan birds, phigents, butterflies, Tendula, Musk deer, Bharal Mountain

goats), Himalayan bear, tail less rat etc. are enchancing the beauty too. The Valley of Flowers is an irresitible treat for

naturalists, ecologists. environmentalists, zoologists, ornithologists, trekkers. tourists and pilgrims.

The trek continues along Pushpawati. A couple of kilometres ahead, the river is crossed overto its right bank on another

bridge and this trail goes upto the Valley of Flowers. Snow bridges can be seen spanning the river but their strength should

be properly judged if they are to be used to cross the river

The Valley becomes accessible from late April when the snow starts melting and flowing down the buttrssnes and gullies. The

spring avalanches pouring down the slopes provide appropriate moisture for flowers. The moist turf begins to pulsate with

life and from the dead herbage of the previous summer, innumerable shoots of countless plants rise expectantly as though in anticipation of the warm life-giving breath of the approaching monsoon.

Primulas cover up shelves and terraces in colour of the most heavenly French blue. Their soft petals covered with dew, like

galaxies of pearls, emanate sweetest of scents. In the lush meadows drifts of snow-white Anemones drench the ground.

Anaphalles and Potentillas start establishing their colonies, With the arrival of rains in June, Balsam, Geranium,

Pedicularis and many other species, mostly in pink and red set the dominating colour pattern of the Valley without subduing

other seasonal shades of yellow, purple and white

Although the main land of the Valley is about 4 kms. from Ghanghria, flowers and foliage in exotic varieties can be spotted

throughout the route. Immediately after crossing the Laxman Ganga, colonies of blue Hackelia uncinata, commonly known as

'forget me not' can be seen in the midst of shrubs and foliage along the roadride. Primulas, Morinas, wild roses and many

other species are quite abundant.

The pinkish glow of the Valley can be attributed to the large colonies of Androsace. Marsh orchid. Geranium. Pediculsris and

the carpetting Thymus. all in near pink. Splashes of golden lily and creamy bell-shaped Codonopsis are also seen.The pink

Pedicularis gives way to its yellow cousin-the mainstay of the August bloom. Yellow flowers bedeck the Valley as July

proceeds - Pedicularis, Grandiflora. Ligularia, Saxifraga and Potentillas. The Potentillas are the first to appear and last

to disappear in the Valley.

Tso Moriri - A Blue Pearl In Highland

High Altitude Tso Moriri

Changthang is a vast high altitude plateau situated in the north-east of the region, bordering Tibet. The altitude varies between 14 to 15000 feet. It is the home of Changpa nomad tribes, a pastoral community who eke out living from their flock of pashmina goats and sheep. Temperature during winter falls below - 50 degrees C. It is a desolate wilderness, a haven of tranquility. No soul is seen for miles and miles. Occasionally tents of the nomads and their herd only are met with in these astounding landscapes.

In such absolute wilderness and an ocean of silence, at an altitude of 4572 m, 240 km from Leh lies a serene sapphire-blue lake, Tso Moriri, alive with variety of water birds during summer months. The region has many hot water springs and.abundance of wildlife enjoying their undisturbed habitat. There are three different routes to reach the plateau and Tso Moriri. Route that follows upstream of Indus River is the easiest, shortest and without any high altitude pass. We follow this route. It is a lonely and long way to the Lake.

On a beautiful tuesday morning,cool and pleasant with clear blue sky, we were all set for the night out and camping in the farthest land in Ladakh.On Leh-Manali highway, past Karoo we reached Upashi. Here we left the Manali highway and continue along picturesque Indus valley,past Himya and Kere we reached hot water spring at Chumathank on the bank of Indus.Steaming hot water oozes out at several places from the spring. From one of the locations it is piped to the bathrooms for bathing. The water of the spring has therapeutic value.

After a drive of 5 km we left Indus valley, crossed Indus River and turned east. We now followed a small singing brook passing through a narrow valley at times widening but mostly narrow with bare rocky hills staring from above.There was rich green vegetation on the valley floor and around villages. The rose-bush - the omnipresent flowering plant of Ladakh,was in bloom and showed its presence everywhere; in sheltered pockets and in bare rocks devoid of soil and the air was filled with their pleasant aroma.

The valley opened up at Kiari, became broad for some distance then closed into a narrow terrain. We reach a picturesque spot of Namshang on the edge of a stream carpeted with green grass on which stood a small parachute tent restaurant, providing snacks and hot cup of tea. This was a lone shop in a lonely place.Few pasmina sheep wee grazing nearby in a green patch.we were in Changthang Plateau, the high altitude bald pastures between 14 to 15000 feet elevation. This was an expansive empty space in the tranquil wilderness, where wild animals move about freely with the time and space entirely to themselves or to the animals of the nomadic herders.

We resumed our journey on the dirt road and after a short drive suddenly we saw a vast beautiful lake with clear blue waters surrounded by hills. The pretty lake dominated the landscape in which brahmini ducks and geese were wading in the shallow waters.

A small village Korzok with its hilltop monastery is the only habitation in the area. We walked along the periphery of the lake beyond Korzok Village to watch the amber-pink glow of the dying day. The sun was about to set. The long rays of setting sun turned the lake shimmer with golden hue. The low hills in the surround got lit up with faint glow. It was a beautiful end of the day. Soon after night felt and it was all quiet.

We settled for the tent colony called the Nomadic Life Camp (Tsomo riri), Korzok for our night sojourn. The double flapped, double bed tents with comfortable mattresses and comforters tents look brand new and were lined in two rows. It is a neat campus with hygienic toilets with flowing water taps and flushes. A water channel passes in between two rows of tents which makes the site more romantic. It is a nice tent colony with friendly and hospitable owner and workers. The food served was rich and tasty; organic as is claimed by the owner.

It was glorious to be out here far away from home at an altitude of 14500 ft on the bank of Tso Moriri to spend the night in the Korzok village of Changthang plateau.

It was a long and dreary night; extremely cold; temperature falling below zero degree.

It was an unforgettable experience. And I can not thank god enough for this great experience. I was amazed how the Changpa herdmen live in these high altitude cold and absolute wilderness and love it! I believe they have Angels for company and are in commune with God all the time. I feel that here the earth is very close to heaven and divide is so thin that you can feel His presence and hear Him talk to you.

Colours Of Nature At Pangong Tso

Peacock Colors In Pangong Tso




Pangong Tso is a high altitude lake in the Himalayas situated at a height of about 4,500 m. It is 134 km (83 mi) long and extends from India to China. 60% of the length of the lake lies in China. The lake is 5 km wide at its broadest point.Pangong Tso can be reached in a five-hour drive from Leh, most of it on a rough and dramatic mountain road. The road traverses the third-highest pass in the world, the Changla pass, where army sentries and a small teahouse greet visitors. Road down from Changla Pass leads through crossing river called Pagal Naala or “The Crazy Stream”. The spectacular lakeside is open during the tourist season, from May to September. An Inner Line Permit is required to visit the lake as it lies on the Sino-Indian Line of Actual Control. lake is said to change more than 15 shades during the day!


That’s Pangong Tso-a lake known for its calm, clear and unending expanse. It is the biggest lake in Asia with its area falling under both India and China. One third of it is in India and remaining in China. It is 130 km long and 7 km wide.

Pangong Tso-a lake is located on the Changtang plateau in eastern Ladakh, around 140 km South-east of Leh, at an altitude of over 14000 feet.

Pangong Tso is also known as hollow lake. It is a clear symbol of nature’s craftsmanship. Its brackish water plays with sun light to produce different colour effects.


we are now, heading north-east towards the mysterious Changla Valley and Lake, famous for the changing colors of blue waters.The road begins to climb the Col de Changla, peaking at 5360m.It runs for a little while sacred to the summit, with its sight, taste, the glass of Tea, offered by the army, and emergency sanitation facilities, where it would suddenly pulmonary edema Because of the altitude ...

 
We then descended to the Changla Valley desert to pose sand dunes in places.


Despite this, some wildlife manages to survive, a few horses grazing on semi-wild few blades of grass resistant, and very bold marmots, who forget their reserves to the military always omnipresent.

 

Finally, we reached the lake. Indescribable.


We spent the night at the inhabitant in one of the few shacks that make up the village, the last limit before the border for foreigners.The meal was an opportunity to try a Ladakhi family contact.

Hotel

Second most beautiful toilet in the world!