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Who wouldn't want to escape the heat of India? The first place where one wants to be at the height of summers is at the heights. Not only does the body crave for respite, the eyes too crave for something serenading. Not Shimla and Mussourie, but Amboli and Yumthang Valley. Read what these two breath-taking spots offer. But
what about the vast majority who can't leave and go? Read how
to make the best of Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow and Rajasthan in
sweltering summers |
Heaven on earth
Situated at an elevation of 11,800 ft, Yumthang Valley’s pristine ambience is breathtaking
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings,
Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees,
The winds will blow their own freshness into you,
While cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
— John Muir
 To put down the beauty of Yumthang Valley in words would be like slighting the creator of such a splendor. Yumthang Valley is a place whose magnificence truly knows no bounds. At a breathtaking (figuratively and literally) elevation of 11800 ft, Yumthang Valley offers an awe-inspiring spectacle of alpine pastures, rhododendron forests and the snow-cloaked peaks of the Himalayas with a babbling brook to complete the picture.
Yumthang Valley is also known by the name of “Valley of flowers”. This enchanting valley is home to a huge variety of flowers like chimals rhododendrons, blue poppies and 108 types of orchids. Yumthang is a part of the world renowned Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuar. In summer the valley is a riot of colour and a botanist’s heaven.
Besides its astonishing flora, Yumthang also offers an eye-catching view of peaks along with Pauhunri and Shundu Tsenpa. The mountains seem to kiss the sky and tower above everything else.
During summers, this valley acts as a pasture land for the wild yaks. A tributary of the Teesta flows through the valley making it all the more mesmerising in its appearance. The water is by far the clearest that you will ever see. Yumthang is the reality of many paintings that you see of valleys and mountains.
During winters, the whole valley gets enveloped in a thick layer of snow. Since there are no residents, as you walk through the snow covered valley you get the feeling of walking over virgin land through uncharted territory. A number of hot springs are scattered in the valley providing an unexpected opportunity to feel the warmth of the water even in freezing temperature. Rich in sulphur, these springs are believed to have miraculous healing powers.
For many years, Yumthang had been debarred from visitors owing to its proximity with the border of Tibet but in the recent past it has been open for visitors. Special permission is needed from the authorities before one can enter this heaven. Any effort required to gain access to this valley is well worth it.
I visited the valley with my family a few years ago. I remember that day like it was yesterday. We set out from Lachung just after breakfast in a hired jeep. I wasn’t extremely keen on seeing the valley as we had seen a lot of them in the past few days, but was I mistaken. The sky was crystal clear; it was the truest blue I had ever seen. The snow-sheathed mountains rose all around to greet us silently. The jeep turned a bend and Yumthang unfolded in all its glory in front of our eyes. The huge valley was completely green and full of colour. The mountains on both sides had a thick forest cover, the green of the trees visible beneath the white canopy. Wherever I looked the sheer beauty of nature numbed my senses. For the next two hours, we walked in the valley in total silence. We had nothing to say and it seemed that voices would disturb the serenity of the place. There was not another soul besides the five of us, who had travelled there together. It felt as though we were one with nature. The two hours passed too soon and not one of us wanted to leave. Those two hours were by far the most memorable two hours of my life. If I could go there again, I most certainly would for who wouldn’t want to go to heaven?
How to get there: Yumthang Valley is easily accessible from Mangan by regular jeeps or by hired taxis. During this journey, Lachung is the last destination prior to Yumthang. Lachung lies at a distance of approx 25 kms and serves as an excellent stopover for the tourists on course for Yumthang. However, though Yumthang has been made accessible to the tourists, yet foreigners are required to obtain the inner line permit to enter this area.
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