Good Earth Of Himachal Valley, India

Blog number 10   24.11.2020.   nguptatravelscrapbook.blogspot.com

Good Earth of Himachal Valley, India

Tea terraces

Spaced in between my detailed travel blogs on Travel scrap-book, I have plans to post a few minor blogs in the name of Travel trivia.

During our travels to northeastern parts of India, Nepal and Tibet, we have enjoyed the scintillating and near-divine views of the following Himalayan peaks. I have recollected these names below for the sake of my own memory.

Amongst the Greater Himalayan Peaks

• North face Everest peak, Tibet 
• Cho-Oyu Peak in Tibet
• Kanchengha in Sikkim & Darjeeling (India) and in Nepal
• Annapurna peaks in Pokhara, Nepal
• Nanda Devi in Kausani, Uttarakhand, India
• Amongst the Lesser Himalayan ranges Dhauladhar in Himachal (Pir Panjal is another range in this range.
• Himachal Pradesh has a climate ranging from subtropical climate to warm (at 900 to 1800Meters) to cool and mild (1900 – 2400 meters) climate in the northern high mountain ranges.

Between these extremes of subtropical to temperate vegetational zones, in Himachal mountain ranges, one can find mixed deciduous forests of bamboo, oaks, deodar, kail, fir, spruce, juniper and birch trees. 

As the spring heads, the valleys come alive with thousands of blooming flowers, especially the wildflowers, and all eyes turn to the hills. They cultivate tea in the subtropical and humid climate of Himachal/Kangra valley.

Display of pink Rhododendrons

Rhododendron is the state flower of this hill state and is largely cultivated here. Usually, these flowers are grown at places of high altitude ranging between 1800-2800 meters. This flower is extensively used for making juices, squashes, chutneys and other beverages. Rhododendron flowers hold significant health assets and are used as a traditional medicine for curing a common cold, asthma, and digestive disorders.

It imbues a majestic tree with a sanctity that makes it precious and pious. The well being of a tree matters, millions of people worship trees in India. It is a ubiquitous sight of a decorated tree festooned with coloured threads and ribbons, offerings of food are left near these trees. A spirituality is shattered if a tree was dead because of natural causes or otherwise. I grew up in Delhi, India, with these biases surrounding nature and hence started paying attention to and started learning the vocabulary of the surrounding flora. 

I was at the deep end when faced with a large garden with the first home purchase here in the UK. Visiting, the well-stocked garden centres gave me the learning opportunity about the habitats and the names of the plants. To start with spring blooms of Daffodils, Forsythia, Magnolias, Azaleas, Camilla, Rhododendrons and Clematis followed by summer blooms of Roses, Peonies, Hydrangeas, Crocosmia, Philadelphias, wisterias and Hydrangeas to name a few. 

I spotted most of these flowering shrubs when taking nature's walk in and around my working area in Himachal and tempted to take pictures, of which I have taken the liberty to post here.  

Azaleas 

I came across a few of the animal life here in the valley.

Gaddi Goats and single Pashmina Goat

Asian Bears

By a chance event, I came across Black Asian bear in the foothills of Dhauladhar Himalayan ranges while taking a car ride to travel to the outskirts of Dharamshala.

They also call it Black Asiatic Bear, Moon bear or white chested Black bear. It is a medium-sized bear native to Asia and primarily adapted to an arboreal lifestyle. Although mostly herbivorous, these bears can be very aggressive towards human beings.

Pashmina Goats

These domesticated goats are reared by local shepherds in Himachal area but are found, otherwise mostly near Greater Ladakh. This breed of Pashmina or Cashmere Goats grows a thick warm undercoat, which is the source of Kashmir pashmina wool and world-famous pashmina and cashmere shawls.

Gaddi goats

Gaddi goats derive their name from the nomadic tribe- Gaddi, who commonly herd this breed. They are found and reared in Kangra, Kullu, Chamba, Shimla, and Spiti valley. 

Images of most attractive Pahari women in their traditional wears and jewellery