The story of Simla  

• The distance from Kalka railway station to Shimla by cart is 58 miles.

• It is surrounded by the territories of thirty minor independent chiefs.

• In recent years it has extended from one end to the other fully six miles in length. The officer gazette describes Shimla as “exquisite.”

• The journal of the Tour through the part of Himalaya Mountains by James Baillie, published in 1820, describes the account of the war in which Gurkhas and British were engaged in 1815. To revenge the uprising in the area between Sutlej and Yamuna, British gave a tough defeat to them.

• Among other place where Gurkha retained their military posts by Ochterlony were Sabathu and Kotgarh.

• Gerard brothers’ diary dated August 30^th, 1817, ran: “Shimla a middling sized village where a fakir is situated to give water to travellers.”

• A writer describes road to Jakhoo: “the road was steep and rocky in several places, and through kelo and oak trees very thick undergrowth which is full of bears and hogs.”

• In 1831, a talented French traveller describing Shimla said it was “the resort of rich, idle and invalid. Now there are over 60 houses scattered on various Hills.”

• A journal from year 1834 tells us that the road leading from club to Chota Shimla was then called ‘Combermere road’ and that to Elysium Hill, ‘Bentinck road.’ 

•  The original site for, the half timbered building of the General Post Office was completed on 3^rd July 1883 and originally exhibited both Neo-Tudor and Swiss-Bavarian architectural forms with decorative wooden work. In 1972, a fire damaged the exterior of the building, which was then repaired retaining some essential elements of the facade.   

Himachali music

The true essence of Himachal Himalaya can be derived out from spectacular landscape, people and its rich culture. Having remained topographically isolated for ages, these lofty mountains and deep valleys nurtured the music in harmony to its beauty.

The life in mountainous regions has been regarded tough, especially northern part of the state remained almost unrecognized to the rest of world till the end of this century.

Music which echoes in the deep valleys here describes devotion of devotee to Lord Shiva, Goddess Kali, numerous local deities, and natural magnificence. Love tales creates a soulful aura and unfurls the strong relationship of human emotions and his strong relationship with nature.

The music of Himachal Pradesh includes many kinds of folk songs from the area, many of which are sung without a accompaniment.

Jhoori is a type of song that celebrates extramarital romance. It is popular in Mahasu and Sirmaur, and is accompanied by a female dancer.

Samskara songs are sung a festival and celebrations by women from some of the higher castes. These songs are based on ragas, comprising of compositions of Indian classical music.

Ainchaliyan are religious songs, sung at the bride’s house after a wedding and at the home of an unmarried girl. In Chamba-Pangi, wandering musicians plays a khanjari (tambourine) and perform too.

Himachal music also features a white variety of drums, including dammama, gajju, doru, nagara, Chambi dhol, Dholki and dafli.

The wind instruments include Shehnai, karnal, rana singha and flute.    

The wild flowers of Western Himalaya

Anemone obtusiloba

(Wind flower)

Elevation: 2400-3600m

Anemone or windflower is a perennial herb; with white to deep blue flowers measuring 2-5cm. While the flower often has five petals and the leaves are deeply three lobed and further divided into segments with toothed edges. This lovely flower adores the valleys, meadows, grazing grounds and mountain trails of Himachal Pradesh from the early May to July.

Berberis aristata

(Himalayan Barberry)

(Kashmal)

Elevation: 1600-3000m

This medium-sized shrub about 2-3m is widely branched bearing cluster of yellow flowers. After long winters in the Himalayas the plant blooms from late February to March and the clustered purple berries appear in the month of June.  However the flowering and fruit is altitude dependent.  Tri-toothed thorns, yellow branches and elliptic leaves with spines at the edges are the adaption of the plant against animals. The plant prefers sunny exposed valleys and is widely spread in Himachal Pradesh.

Locally the bush is used as a hedge around the terraces, the berry is quiet common among school going kids and birds. The plant is good source for dye and tannin. The plant is also vitally important in the Ayurvedic form of medicine, curing urinary problems, contains an alkaloid Berberine that allow it to act in anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-tumor, and anti-diabetic.

Cotoneaster microphyllus

(Bhedda, Zhunjuru)

Elevation: 1600-3600m

Growing mainly on the exposed rock surfaces this low multi-branched evergreen shrub forms mats and penetrates its roots through the crevices of rocks. The leaves are small and elliptic in shape with dark green mucilage covered leaves. The ripe fruit is red in color and favorite of birds.

 Mainly grazed by the Sheppard flocks, in some parts of Himachal the branches are used in basket making.

R. Brunonii

(Himalayan Musk rose)

Elevation: 1200-2700m

Right from the month of May, this lovely Himalayan Wildflower invigorates the surroundings with its fragrance. A tough bush resembling other roses with tiger toothed prickles and small clusters of white flowers bearing five petals.

Commonly found growing along with Himalayan barberry and mainly used as a hedge around the terraces in upper Himachal Pradesh.

Bergenia ciliata

(The Wax Flower)

Elevation: 1800-3800m

Growing on shady and moist rock and craggy cliffs Bergenia is easily identified by its white or pinkish cluster of flowers on a thick leafless stalk. The elliptic mucilage laden leaves with their bristly margins clings to the ground.

A vitally important plant in the ayurvedic form of medicine juice or powder of the whole plant is used urinary troubles; relieve earaches. The root is used as a tonic in the treatment of fevers, diarrhea, pulmonary infections, asthma and urinary problems. The root of this plant has a high reputation in indigenous systems of medicine for dissolving stones in the kidneys.

Geranium wallichianum

(Cranesbill)

Ratijari

Elevation: 2300-3500m

With the onset of monsoons (Late June), in Himachal Geranium family adores the forest and the trails shrubbery. The palmately leaves are divided into 3-5 lobes and toothed around the outer edges. The flowers are deep pink and purple blue. With a wide range of flowers, Geranium family is identified by its flowers, as each petal have dark rays originating from the base.

The name cranesbill originates from the long beaked fruit resembling a crane’s bill. The fruit contains seeds, when ripe they are thrown outside with a great force.

The roots of the plant are used to cure headaches and rheumatic pains.

High altitude sickness

Understanding altitude sickness

Altitude sickness—also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), altitude illness, hypobaropathy, — is a pathological effect of high altitude on humans, caused by acute exposure to low partial pressure of oxygen at high altitude. It commonly occurs above 2,400 metres (8,000 feet). It presents as a collection of nonspecific symptoms, acquired at high altitude or in low air pressure, resembling a case of "flu, carbon monoxide poisoning, or a hangover".

It is hard to determine who will be affected by altitude-sickness, as there are no specific factors that compare with this susceptibility to altitude sickness. However, most people can climb up to 2,400 meters (8,000 ft) normally.

Acute mountain sickness can progress to high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) or high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), which are potentially fatal.

Chronic mountain sickness, also known as Monge's disease, is a different condition that only occurs after very prolonged exposure to high altitude.

Causes

The causes of altitude sickness are not fully understood. The percentage of oxygen in air, at 21%, remains almost unchanged up to 70,000 feet (21,000 m). The RMS velocities of diatomic nitrogen and oxygen are very similar and thus no change occurs in the ratio of oxygen to nitrogen. However, it is the air pressure itself, the number of molecules (of both oxygen and nitrogen) per given volume, which drops as altitude increases. Consequently, the available amount of oxygen to sustain mental and physical alertness decreases above 10,000 feet (3,000 m).

Dehydration due to the higher rate of water vapor lost from the lungs at higher altitudes may contribute to the symptoms of altitude sickness.

The rate of ascent, altitude attained, amount of physical activity at high altitude, as well as individual susceptibility, are contributing factors to the onset and severity of high-altitude illness.

Altitude sickness usually occurs following a rapid ascent and can usually be prevented by ascending slowly. In most of these cases, the symptoms are temporary and usually abate as altitude acclimatisation occurs. However, in extreme cases, altitude sickness can be fatal.

Primary symptoms

Headaches are the primary symptom used to diagnose altitude sickness, although a headache is also a symptom of dehydration. A headache occurring at an altitude above 2,400 metres (8,000 feet = 76 kPa), combined with any one or more of the following symptoms, may indicate altitude sickness:

·         Lack of appetite, nausea, or vomiting

·         Fatigue or weakness

·         Dizziness or light-headedness

·         Insomnia

·         Pins and needles

·         Shortness of breath upon exertion

·         Nosebleed

·         Persistent rapid pulse

·         Drowsiness

·         General malaise

·         Peripheral oedema (swelling of hands, feet, and face).

·         Diarrhea

Severe symptoms

Symptoms that may indicate life-threatening altitude sickness include:

Pulmonary oedema (fluid in the lungs):

·         Symptoms similar to bronchitis

·         Persistent dry cough

·         Fever

·         Shortness of breath even when resting

·         Cerebral oedema (swelling of the brain):

·         Headache that does not respond to analgesics

·         Unsteady gait

·         Gradual loss of consciousness

·         Increased nausea

The Himalayan life

A thick veil of snow on incredibly high mountains and difficult lifestyle, unveils an impressive Himalayan culture, which  revals the true essence of Himachal Pradesh. Nurtured since unknown times by the harshness of the weather, difficult topography and complete isolation, people here had been associated with prominent Hindu God and dotted with more than 1020 years old monasteries still preserves rich Buddhist culture in these feebly populated pockets of Trans-Himalayas.   

Driving on NH-22 further north of Shimla, one enters the stunningly beautiful valleys of Kinnaur and Spiti which provides Himachal Pradesh its name and character. A short photo presentation reflects the difficult however enormously rich lifestyle of these heavenly abode from Himalayas!

Himalayan welcome!

The window of life.

Designing. 

 Class!

Jule Ji. 

 School days.

Speed 5 km/hr.

Himalayan expert - Mamti!

 Ring - a - ring - a - roses.......

Dancing with the Gods!