Alluring Wild Flower Images From Uttarakhand

Snow melting in early summer in Himalayas, exposes the the green lustrous glass land interspaced with wild flowers of myriad of colors. Also exposed are dense green bushes on the hills with flowering of buds. Thousand species of flowers bloom and bewitch the visitors in summer months. In famed Valley of Flowers of Uttarakhand, an area protected by the forest department, different species of flowers proliferate at different point of time from June till September. Although flowering peak between mid July to mid August, my two visits happened in the month of June, when principal focus was in trekking to Sri Hemkunt Sahib. The path to valley of flowers is through a stone mud track and partly over the accumulated snow in early summer and has to be footed out as ponies are strictly forbidden. A few specie of flower which I managed to capture is presented. A few more images are from my other destinations in Himalayas. The images are presented chronologically.

Frame 1

Location: Tunganath on 8.5.2007

Frame 2

Location: Auli, Uttarakhand on 10.5.2007

Frame 3

Location: Valley of flowers on 24.6.2008

Frame 4

Location: Valley of flowers on 24.6.2008

Frame 5

Location: Valley of flowers on 24.6.2008

Frame 6

Location: Valley of flowers on 24.6.2008

Frame 7

Location: Valley of flowers on 24.6.2008

Frame 8

Location: Valley of flowers on 24.6.2008

Frame 9

Location: Striped Cobra Lily at Valley of flowers on 24.6.2008

Frame 10

Location: Valley of flowers on 7.6.2009

Frame 11

Location: Valley of flowers on 7.6.2009

Frame 12

Location: Cobra Lily at Valley of flowers on 7.6.2009

Frame 13

Location: On way to Madmaheshwar  on 1.6.2011

Frame 14

Location: Pung Bugyal on way to Rudranath on 4.6.2011

Frame 15

Location: Liti Bugyal on way to Rudranath on 4.6.2011

Frame 16

Location: Rhododendrons at Panchganga Bugyal on way to Rudranath on 5.6.2011

Frame 17

Location: Panchganga Bugyal on way to Rudranath on 5.6.2011

Frame 18

Location: Nearing Anusuya Village, Garhwal on 6.6.2011

Frame 19

Location: Nearing Anusuya Village, Garhwal on 6.6.2011

Frame 20

Location: Binsar, Kumaon, Uttarakhand on 6.11.2011

Frame 21

Location: Binsar, Kumaon, Uttarakhand on 6.11.2011

* Title frame was captured at Kedarnath in 1984

Scenic Water Body Images of Garhwal, Uttarakhand

Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand also known as Devbhoomi is source of two sacred rivers of India namely Ganga and Yamuna. The rivers and their tributaries meander along the hilly terrain on their journey downstream. A few of the rivers merge together to be called as prayag. Prayags are hugely popular and worthwhile destinations for devout and layman for their religious importance and spectacular views they offer. The high altitude glacial lakes of Garhwal hills – some of them are pilgrimage destinations offering trekkers the pleasure of some adventure which they relish. Few selected water body images from my trips to Garhwal from 2006 through 2011 have been posted as follows. 

Image 1

Caption: Devprayag top view

Description: Merely 74 km uphill from sacred town of Rishkesh, one gets a spectacular view of Devprayag, which is the confluence of rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda and flows after intermingling in form of Ganga.

Image 2

Caption: Devprayag a close view

Description: If one has the time in hand, a downward walk along the steps takes one to the touching distance of water  of  these twin rivers.

Image 3

Caption: Rudraprayag a top view

Description: Further uphill drive of another 70 km brings one to a place where one gets a grand view of Rudraprayag which is the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini. 

Image 4

Caption: Rudraprayg a close view

Description: If one can grab some more time and go down to the actual spot of confluence, the view is simply awesome.

Image 5

Caption: Vishnuprayag

Description: Leaving behind Joshimath and traveling 10 km on the way to Badrinath (30 km from Joshiarth), one definitely takes a break to enjoy the beauty of the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Dhauliganga at Vishnuprayag.   

*Image 6
Caption: Nandprayag
Description: Confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Nandakini lies at a distance of 80 km from Badrinath.

 
Image 7

Caption: Confluence of Alaknanda and Saraswati River

Description: Visitors to Badrinath invariably take a 2 km drive for sightseeing trip to Mana village and come across this wonderful confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Saraswati.

Image 8

Caption: Karnaprayag

Description: From Badrianth traveling 125 km by road, one reaches the destination of Karnaprayag - the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Pindar. Karnaprayag offers excellent tourist facilities to spend a few days on hotels overlooking the prayag.

Image 9

Caption: River Mandakini view at Kedarnath

Description: Source of river Mandakini being from glacier of Kedarnath mountain peak, the flowing river downstream along the town, makes an enticing scene of a perfect landscape.

Image 10

Caption: Yamuna river at Sayanachatti

Description: Sayanachatti is overnight destination for undertaking next days trek to Yamunotri. The view from steel bridge of roaring river Yamuna is view to cherish.

Image 11

Caption: Tehri Dam over Bhagirathi

Description: On the way to Gangotri, one passes through the town of Utttarkashi and Tehri dam over the river Bhagirathi. The road along the hill alongside periphery of river Bhagirathi gives a spell binding view of the river and the dam.

Image 12

Caption: Hemkund

Description: A trek of 7 km from Ghnagaria takes one to Sri Gurudwara Hemkunt Sahib. The glacial lake surrounded by snow peaks at an altitude of 15,000’ leaves one awe-struck.

Image 13

Caption: On way to Valley Of flowers

Description: A trek of 2 km from Ghangaria takes one to The valley of flowers. River Pushpavati meanders underneath the snow bridge carrying with it the snow-melt.

Image 14

Caption: Deoria Tal

Description: A 2 km trek from the village on Ukhimath – Chopta road takes one to the lovely lake with the back drop of Himalayan Chaukhamba peak. 

Image 15

Caption: Water discharge

Garhwal being the region of many rivers and their tributaries flowing down stream at a high velocity, have several big and mini hydroelectric projects. The frame depicts the tail end discharge from water turbine.

  

* Image 6 of Nandprayag is captured by Sachin Vaidya.
 
** For detailed blogs on Destinations on Garhwal Himalayas, readers may log on to my travel blog site:

http://trekline.blogspot.in

Photo Story As I perceive It – Part 3

Frame 1

Caption: Cozying up 

Storyline: Not many people venture out to Shivaji Park sea beach on a sunlit morning at 11 am. Even the lazy stray dogs have gone to sleep. With distant view of Mumbai sea-link and the solitude at the place is ideal for the couple of young ones to come closer and share their thoughts.  

Frame 2

Caption: That One Will Suit You

Storyline: Not very far from the seashore, at Shivaji Park Maidan, the Durga Puja Pandal and saree stall in the evening are sure shot attractions for the visitors. The hubby seems to have his choice made up even before the better half skims through a huge stock of sarees as is customary!  

Frame 3

Caption: The First Few Alphabets

Storyline: A few months after the Durga Puja, Saraswati - the Goddess of learning, once again makes her journey to the earth. In School celebrating Saraswati puja, it is most auspicious occasion for a child to begin the journey to literacy. The child is excited, the Panditji is enthusiastic and mother is proud.

Frame 4

Caption: Threshing Is No Easy Job

Storyline: With the advent of Spring, the weather getting hotter, the tourists head for hills of lower Himalayas. Urgam (6,000’) is a tiny village in Garhwal, Uttarakhand, consisting of a few hundred villagers whose occupation is mainly agriculture. The woman is on with her job of threshing wheat grass to remove the grains, watched on by the senior member of the household.

Frame 5

Caption: The Agony

Storyline: On the hill slopes at Birthi, Kumaon, Uttarakhand, the women work side by side along with their men folk, in shoveling the mountain loads of hay. The woman is in agony with shoulder pain and the hubby looks on with concern.

Frame 6

Caption: Melee at Gaurikund 

Storyline: In early summer with snow melting in Garhwal hills, the high altitude Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath reopening, the pilgrims throng the narrow street at Gaurikund in early morning, to begin their journey. The jostling and bickering of pilgrims with pony-wallas, pittoos (porters) and palki-wallas and high decibels is quite annoying for trekkers who are impatient and want to move out of human jam to reach the trek path.

Frame 7

Caption: A Welcome Breather 

Storyline: The 14 km Kedarnath trek is an arduous one and time taking, climbing nearly 6,000’on a constant gradient. One takes numerous breaks to get his breath back and then resume. The trekking father and daughter duo take a short break and make use of the time to watch couple of young local guys frolicking on snow mass on a distant hill slope.  

Frame 8

Caption: Father In Son’s Footsteps

Storyline: The Kedarnath is base for trek to Gandhi Sarovar at the snout of Chorabari glacier which is on foothill of Kedar Massif Himalayan peaks. The early summer snowfall in 2007 made the Sarovar area risky to approach, with possibility of sinking into the lake while walking around it over the snow mass. The young man goes nonchalantly ahead on his mission with a concerned father following and keeping vigilance.

Frame 9

Caption: Moon-struck in morning

Storyline:In early summer, getting rid of accumulated snow through melting, the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh opens up to tourists. With the appearance of the deep blue sky on a sun lit morning, the moon does not go out of vision so easily. The swaying willow trees seem to make their intentions clear of reaching for the moon. 

Frame 10

Caption: In Search Of Himalayan Crow 

Storyline: There is nothing fancy about the Himalayan crow and hence nothing to crow about. Yellow beak differentiates it from the rest of the species we see every day. This not so rare bird is found in high altitudes of Himalayas. A few years back in May 2006, returning from Gaumukh, my friend spotted it hopping very close to us. I merely had a glance at it. Tired after twenty km of trek that day, I did not feel like lifting my camera! Subsequently I spotted it at Badrinath, and before I could point my camera, it was gone. The quest continued till I finally caught up with it at Rangdum, Ladakh in summer of 2012.

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