Parvati Valley

Parvati Valley

Parvati Valley is a, beautiful valley,WOW!

From the confluence of the Parvati River with the River Beas, the Parvati Valley runs eastwards, through a steep-sided valley from the town of Bhuntar, in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh in Northern India. The often-precipitous valley road climbs past a side valley leading to the village of Malana and through the backpackers’ haven of Kasol where Western travellers congregate to sample the local “charas” or hashish which is ubiquitous throughout the valley. From here, the road passes through the Sikh and Hindu pilgrimage town of Manikaran and terminates at Pulga, where the construction of the Parvati Hydel Project, a hydroelectric dam, dominates the landscape.

From Pulga, the footpath climbs to a temple and small dhaba at a waterfall called Rudra-Nag, apparently after its resemblance of a water snake. Beyond Rudra-Nag, the trail ascends further through thick pine forests to the spiritual site of Khirganga (Kheerganga), a meadow at 2960m where Shiva is said to have meditated for 3000 years. The hot springs at Khirganga are extremely important for Hindu and Sikh pilgrims as well as many others who believe the waters have sacred healing properties.

From Khirganga to the beautiful site of Tunda Bhuj (3285m) the Parvati Valley cuts a steep-sided gorge through the mountains and as the altitude increases, the thick, coniferous forest gradually makes way for patches of meadowland scattered with boulders. Several tributaries join the main Parvati River and numerous waterfalls cascade down the steep valley sides. Beyond Tunda Bhuj, the conifers continue only as far as the Basuki Nal tributary but groves of silver birch continue to line the valley, quickly becoming sparse as the altitude increases.

At Thakur Kuan (3560m), the Parvati Valley meets the valley of Dibibokri Nal, which climbs towards the Northeast to the Dibibokri Glacier and Dibibokri Pyramid (6400m). The area is characterised by abundant alpine flowers and rocky outcrops glittering with mica. Beyond Thakur Kuan, the Parvati Valley ascends gradually to Pandupul (Pandu Pul) where two natural, rock bridges cross the Parvati River and a southern tributary. According to legend, these bridges were created by the massive strength of the mythological Pandava brothers.

From Pandupul, the wide valley of the upper Parvati climbs gradually through the wide, high-altitude meadowland of Odi Thatch to the sacred site of Mantalai Lake (4100m), the source of the Parvati River. Continuing east from Mantalai lake, it is possible to cross the Pin-Parvati Pass (5319m) into the Pin Valley National Park and on to the village of Mudh in the Lahul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.

References

*cite book |last=Sanan |first=Deepak |coauthors=Swadi, Dhanu |title=Exploring Kinnaur and Spiti in the Trans-Himalaya |year=2002 |publisher=Indus Publishing Company |location= |isbn=81-7387-131-0 (second edition)
*cite book |last=Chaudhry |first=Minakshi |title=Destination Himachal |year=2006 |publisher=Rupa and Co. |location= |isbn=81-291-0715-5

External links

* [http://www.shillatreks.com/place.htm Shilla treks - excellent information on and photographs of the Parvati Valley]
* [http://www.untamed-travel.com/p_High_in_India__Shiva_s_Outhouse404.asp?origin=The%20Big%20Read Untamed Travel information on the Parvati Valley]
* [http://www.himalayan-quest.com/cgi-bin/page.pl?id:14 Information on the Pin-Parvati trek]
* [http://www.himachalpradesh.us/himachal/index.php Geography of Himachal Pradesh]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Kuthi Valley — is the Himalayan valley situated in the Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand state of India. This valley is located in the eastern part of Uttarakhand.The valley is situated NW to SE direction. Kuthi valley is the last valley before Tibet.This is… …   Wikipedia

  • Manikaran — (Punjabi: ਮਨੀਕਰਨ) is located in the Parvati Valley between the rivers Beas and Parvati, northeast of Bhuntar in the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh. It is at an altitude of 1760 m and is located about 45 km from Kullu. This small town… …   Wikipedia

  • Malana, Himachal Pradesh —   village   …   Wikipedia

  • Sarpass — arpass A place nothing short of heaven SARPASS is one of the most popular trekking trails in the Sivalik Range of the Himalayas situated in the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Himalayas is synonymous to the Land of Gods and Goddesses , snow… …   Wikipedia

  • Sar Pass Trek — On way to Sar Pass colours of the morning …   Wikipedia

  • South Asian arts — Literary, performing, and visual arts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Myths of the popular gods, Vishnu and Shiva, in the Puranas (ancient tales) and the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics, supply material for representational and… …   Universalium

  • Devi — For other uses, see Devi (disambiguation). The conjoined image of three especially popular manifestations of the Hindu Divine Mother: Lakshmi (wealth/material fulfillment), Parvati (Power/love/spiritual fulfillment), and Saraswati (learning and… …   Wikipedia

  • Hinduism — /hin dooh iz euhm/, n. the common religion of India, based upon the religion of the original Aryan settlers as expounded and evolved in the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, etc., having an extremely diversified character with many… …   Universalium

  • India — /in dee euh/, n. 1. Hindi, Bharat. a republic in S Asia: a union comprising 25 states and 7 union territories; formerly a British colony; gained independence Aug. 15, 1947; became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations Jan. 26, 1950.… …   Universalium

  • Manimahesh Lake — Location Manimahesh range, Himachal Pradesh Coordinates …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”