Valley of Flowers

I have never been to this intriguing place but yet it beckons me relentlessly. I read the book with the eponymous title written by its discoverer Frank S. Smythe, a mountaineer, botanist and an explorer.

In the book he recalls how by happenstance he spotted it:

"Dense mist shrouded the mountainside and we had paused, uncertain as to the route, when I heard R.L. Holdsworth who was a botanist as well as a climbing member of the expedition, exclaim: "Look!" I followed the direction of his outstretched hand . At first I could see nothing but rocks, then suddenly my wandering gaze was arrested by a little splashes of blue, and beyond it were other splashes of blue, a blue so intense it seemed to light the hillside...."

Holdsworth writes, "All at once the day seemed to brighten perceptibly. Forgotten were all the pains and lost porters."

Thus the world came to know the existence  of  The Valley of Flowers.

The valley had a profound impact on Smythe as he  wistfully reminisces,... "Others will visit it analyse it and probe it but whatever their opinions, to me it will remain the Valley of Flowers, a valley of peace  and perfect beauty where the human spirit may find repose."

Talk of serendipity!!

Guide to the Valley of Flowers

Trek to the Valley of  Flowers

Out door camping and Out door activities

1. Camp Crysalid, Junga 350 kms from Delhi, Shimla district.
How to get there:
Shatabdi to kalka. another 1 hour drive by car.

Camp is spread over 7 acres of terraced land on a ridge.
Activities: Rock climbing, stream walking
Accomodation : In tents.
Facility of conference room.



2. Camp Crysalid, Dharamshala, in village Mohal Tou, Kangra district.
Altitude 5000 ft.


Total distance Delhi-Chandigarh- Dharamshala 520 kms. travel time approx 12 hours.

Accomodation: Country cottages and Tented.

For family and corporate team building exercises.



3. River Rafting. Shivpuri, Uttranchal.
Distance from New Delhi 245 kms. Nearest station Haridwar.
Travel time 7 hours.

It is one of the most exhilarating high voltage sporting activity that you can indulge in. Any body from the age of 12 to 60 years can do it. It is not an expensive sport. You do not need to know swimming nor are you required to have any previous rafting experience. The best part is that it is quite do-able over the weekend.

Leave by Friday evening in an overnight bus/car/train from Delhi. You will reach Shivpuri in the early hours of the morning.

After short rest and an early breakfast you can be ready to meet the white fanged fury of the Ganges. As the Ganges comes cascading down after traveling hundreds of kilometers from its source in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, through series of deep gorges, it is at its merciless best- frothing and fast flowing. It is a raw and a savage country.

A 45 minute drive takes you to one of the higher points on the river from where you start your roller coaster ride down to the calmer waters. The ride is over is 20 minutes. Such is the pace of the water as it flows down to Rishikesh.

The waters of the river are treacherous and fast flowing. However with life jackets you are safe. It is essential that the instructions of the guides are strictly followed.

You can spend the whole of Saturday and Sunday morning river rafting and leave for Delhi after an early lunch.

The rapids are graded on a scale of 1 to 6 The grading is done on the basis of the level of difficulty and danger involved.

Grade I- Very easy.

GradeII- Moderate.

GradeIII- Difficult.

GradeIV- Very difficult.

Grade V- Extremely difficult.

GradeVI- Suicidal!

Bookings need to be made before hand, since the camps are generally booked weeks in advance.The booking can be made in with any of the following adventure groups.

I had been 6 times and am looking forward for more!

So why not give it a try!

Few of the companies involved in these activities are:

• Snow Leopard Adventures P Ltd
• Wildrift Adventures
• Himalayan River runners

4. Tree House Resort, Jaipur

The resort is located at just an half an hour drive from the pink city of Jaipur on the NH8. A little expensive, but it is unique -very different from a normal resort.

5. Tree House Manali

6. Farm Houses and Farm stays in Haryana

a) Surjivan Farm

Location: While travelling from Delhi, it is before IMT Manesar. From NH8 turn left for Classic Golf Resort.
b) Laksh Farms

Location: Village Mangar, off Gurgaon-Haryana highway. 30 minutes drive from Chattarpur Mandir.


7. 4. The Kikar Lodge   70 kms from Chandigarh.

Jiling in pictures

Call it one man's dream that's given life to many others' dreams. When Steve Lal left the wonders of city life to make his nest in the foothills of the Himalayas in Kumoun' district, he adopted this life in its entirety. He married a local girl, built cottages where city-dwellers could come and find a quiet holiday and enjoy the pleasures of rural mountain living.

The trek to Jiling Estate takes about a half hour';s stiff climb from the nearest road. Drive half an hour from Bhimtal and then trek for another half hour through pine forests to reach the sylvan Jiling Estate.

There's no phone, no television but plenty of electricity, warm water and crackling fire. Most of all, there's an unbeatable view of the snow-capped mountains in the distance and the pine forest closer.

Don't miss out on the pleasant friendly chatter of Steve's wife Parvati and the pet deer Banaroo who follows her around like Mary's little lamb. Both Parvati and Banaroo are only too eager to make friends with you and share the never-ending problems of life on the estate and how climate change that world leaders debate is a reality they have been living with. When she was a little girl winters meant thick layers of snow that would not allow them to even open their doors. But today she has not had snow in her backyard for over two decades. The traditional flora of Jiling too has undergone a change.

Enchanting Lal Mahal Palace, Rajasthan

Location: About 30 Kms from Jaipur.While coming from New Delhi you turn off left
towards Ramgarh lake, from NH8.There is a fork at NH8 just before Jaipur.
Take the left end of the fork and almost immediately turn left for
Ramgarh.
Travel time from Delhi: 4.5 hours.
Best time to visit: November to April.

A very convenient weekend get away from New Delhi is this place near Jaipur.

A hunting lodge of the erstwhile rulers of Jaipur it is now a Motel, built in the midst of fields. You have the option of staying  either in the rooms of the Motel or in the air conditioned tents (with attached bathrooms) pitched on the sprawling gardens surrounding the motel.

We obviously stayed in the tents. The garden has a swimming pool and a panoramic view of the surrounding Aravali mountains.

There is an ancient temple almost half way up the mountain to explore. The climb is a bit stiff, but the large concrete steps help you along. There is also an ancient dilapidated fort nearby. The quietude of the place, the crumbling walls  and the smell of the droppings of the bats, gives you an eerie feeling. It is difficult to imagine that this place, in the distant past, must have resonated with sounds of laughter and chatter; where men and women folks congregated to interact socially.

For people with strong legs there are the mountains to climb and explore. These look very steep from afar, but they are climbable. My 6 year old son climbed with us.At the summit again there are skeletons of ancient structures  and a temple which function on certain auspicious days. The place was deserted. The view of the rolling ridges all round made me think that I could be anywhere up north in the Himalayan ranges.

You have the choice of having your dinner either in the dining hall or in the dimly lit lawns next to the pool with the brooding silhouette of the mountains for company!

A place worth visiting for a weekend get away -for a little bit of adventure and wholesome mountain climbing!

.