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The peak of Nar Parvat as seen from Ghangharia, 3 km from the Valley of Flowers. The cliff walls on either side of the valley rise nearly 2000 feet.
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First we cross the Pushpavati the easy way.
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Edible? Dunno.
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A forest of dry birch in the centre of the Valley.
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The grave of botanist and collector Joan Margaret Legge, who fell to her death near the edge of a glacial fall. Her body was buried in the valley by the locals. Her sister arrived later and erected this headstone. Recently, it was restored by a Pune-based
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Snow-clad peaks in the distance. That's the general direction from where Frank J Smythe arrived in the Valley for the first time in British-documented history.
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Potpourri all around, and the fragrance of juniper and thyme.
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A feeder stream of the Pushpavati, flush with snowmelt.
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A hotshot photographer was around, taking pictures. This is his assistant.
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Dry flower pods rustle in the breeze.
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Drink deep, winter's near...
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The entrance to the Valley of Flowers, as seen from the trail.
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From the gate, the national park is 3 km. And it's not an easy 3 km.
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Towards the glacier
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Walled in on all sides.
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Leopard?
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Sunrise scales the high cliff walls to reach us well after 8 AM
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In winter, more snow would have aggregated here.
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In autumn, all the flowers were dry. Except these.
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They say this little flower is used to make Ayurvedic tooth powder.
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And these!
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Hanuman Chatti in the distant background. Beyond that difficult trail lies the path to Badrinath.
