The snow
on the Himalayas add majesty to the mountains
and the innumerable flowers add to its
beauty. This famous spot is not very difficult
to reach. When the sun shines hot on this
field, thousands of flowers bloom here.
Tourists from all over the world come
here. This valley was unknown till a British
mountaineer Frank Smith first discovered
this place.
In 1931, Frank Smith wanted to scale
a peak in Garhwal called Comet. While
returning after successfully completing
his mission he took the western pass and
lost his way and reached this valley after
many difficulties.
All of a sudden he came upon a sea of
flowers which totally enchanted him. He
put up a tent and stayed here for many
days. During these days he collected 260
different species of flowers. Some seeds
he took back with him. In 1937, he came
back again to this valley and stayed here
for a long time. Then he wrote a book
called "The Valley of Flowers".
Soon after this this place became world
famous. Nature lovers started visiting
this valley.
Millions of different flowers adorn this
valley. One also finds different kinds
of insects, birds and butterflies. This
valley is surrounded by high mountains
on three sides and is at a height of 3500
to 6,500 mts above sea level.
In 1982, this valley was named the Republic
Park. Its area was fixed at 87.5 sq. kms,
Some of the flowers are saxifrags, sediams,
lilies, poppy, calendular, daisies, denthus,
turmopsis, primula, dadiculatar, pontitala,
geranium, cipro nepolysis, holly, pansy,
zinnia, petunia, fox, caropsis dynthus
etc.
Many small streams flow within this valley
adding to its overall beauty. The high
mountain peaks surrounding this valley
stand guardian to this beautiful sight.
The glaciers amongst this look very attractive.
After reading Frank Smith's book many
foreign tourists came here. One of them
was an English woman called Margaret Lague
who came here in 1939. She was very fond
of flowers. On the 4th of July, when she
was trying to pick one of the rare flowers
she slipped from a rock and fell into
a chasm to her death. In her memory the
tombstone on her grave reads as "My
eyes will forever drink in the beauty
of the mountains which gave me strength
and inspiration". The tourists who
visit this valley never fail to visit
her grave and pay homage.
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