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A lady, John Margaret Leggier ventured into valley in 1939 and lost her life by slipping from a rock. In 1944 her sister built a memorial in her name. |
In old scriptures
it is named as Nandan Kanan. Although
the locals were aware of its existence as fairy
land but the credit of discovering
this 10x2 Km colorful scratch goes
to the famous mountaineer and
botanist Frank Smyth
in 1931 while he was returning from an expedition and named
after his famous book
'Valley Of Flower' published in 1937.
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I shall lift my eyes on to the hills,
from whence cometh my strength.
Inscribed on the memorial of John Margaret Leggier |
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The
trek begins at
Govindghat on the way to
Bradrinath 30 Km from
Joshimath, after crossing Alaknanda
on a hanging bridge. The
14 Km track runs parallel
to the Laxamanganga
up to Ghaghria which is
the base camp for both
valley of flowers and HemKund Sahib. 3 Km from
Ghaghria after crossing a log bridge the route
separates on the left
and the track
continues along with the Pusphawati
river surrounded by majestic
snow clad peaks. |
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During
July - August there is a profusion of colours
all around and the valley is filled
with fragrance and scent of blue
Primula, Poppy, white
Anemones, pink and red
perfumed Brahma Kamal, Balsam, Geranium,
Yellow Pansies, Peduncularis & Ligulae
and Purple Asters. Apart
from wild flowers the area
is also inhabited by lovely
butterflies, musk deer, mountain
goats Ghorar), Himalayan bear
and beautiful birds
like Chakor and Monal among the music of
rivulets surrounded by majestic peaks.
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Travelogue
