| When we travel from
Gurdwara Gobind Dham towards Sri Hemkunt Sahib
then at a distance of three kilometers a path
turns towards the world famous valley of flowers.
In this valley grow flowers of thousands varieties
and of variegated colours and fragrance. In this
world there is no such place where flowers of so
different varieties grow naturally. These flowers
grow without assistance of mankind. The life of
these flowers varies according to their species.
Some flowers fade away within twenty-four hours
and some bloom even for months.
The Valley of Flowers is a glacial corridor,
eight kilometres in length and two kilometres in
width. Its floor slopes from almost 3,500 metres
above sea level up to almost 4,000 metres. True to
its name, the Valley is carpeted with wildflowers
during the monsoon season. Of the many species
which coexist in this unique ecosystem, the most
popular among visitors are the Himalayan blue
poppy native to the region, the uncommon varieties
of primula and orchid which bloom during June, and
the impatiens, potentillas, and campanulas which
paint the valley pink, red, and purple during July
and August.
A stone path meanders among the flowers and
across streams. The flowers grow so tall that
leaving the path is difficult. Few visitors
continue beyond the first one or two kilometres
inside the Valley. They pause to photograph
flowers, drink from a mountain spring, and scan
the valley floor for a glimpse of a grave rumoured
to be there among the flowers |
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