Apart from being a religious place, Hariyali Devi’s forests harbour several herbs.
As I climb Hari mountain in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, the Hariyali Devi temple atop the peak some 2,850 metres above the sea level comes into view. Those willing to pay obeisance to the goddess, Hariyali Devi can be reached via National Highway-58 from Rudraprayag. The view that greets me is breathtakingly beautiful. Lush forests cover the mountain in stark contrast to the other peaks devoid of vegetation. Though classified as a reserved forest, local people consider it a sacred grove, an enchanted place, ruled by divinity. In fact, stretching over 5.5 sq km, the green expanse is regarded as one of the largest sacred groves in India. A wide variety of forests, including oak mixed pine forests and broad-leaved forests of Lyonia and Rhododendron, are seen. The herbaceous layer underneath mainly comprises herbs like Thalictrum foliolosum (leafy meadow-rue), Hedychium spicatum (kapur kachri), Geranium walichianum (lal jari), Reinwardtia indica (pyoli) and Swertia chiraita (chiraita), says a study published in the book, Conserving the sacred: for biodiversity management.
Denne historien er fra January 01, 2018-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra January 01, 2018-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
