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Monks 'Dilemma
Monks' Dilemma
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generally Deodar on northern slopes and oaks on southern slopes. Higher up are spruce and fir forests and there is the famous Betula utilus (bhojpatra at twelve thousand feet) on the papery bark of which were written our first scriptures. Above this are alpine grass lands and around fourteen thousand feet is permanent snow line without any plants. In between these broad zones there are transitional zones, in which the species of two zones intermingle in varying proportions. Here we are in Deodar forests. I am documenting and collecting the specimen of associate plant species, many of medicinal value, in over-wood, under-wood, shrubs and herbs."
had made it clear that their journey would be slowed because she would be stopping on way to study the good forest areas along or near the road side. Vibhu was quick to acknowledge the benefits of Priya's company, "We would have been bored if we were to trail behind the military caravan at snail's pace. I must thank Priya that she would be stopping for her work and the time lag would then enable us to drive at normal speed."
Shree, "Priya, please do not have any hesitation to stop anywhere, any number of places you want and any length of time you need to do your work. We are comfortable and shall be enjoying scenic beauty with ease and shall learn about plants from you."
Having worked as a lecturer before taking the project Priya was proficient in explaining or teaching. She told them in detail about the forests and their distribution, "The types of forest and the constituent species vary mainly according to climate viz. Tropical, subtropical, temperate and alpine as temperature, rain fall and soil types differ in these broad climatic zones. Nearer equator there is more rainfall, better soils and the forests are luxuriant with good biodiversity. The farther from the equator the lesser the luxuriance and the biodiversity and forests change from evergreen to deciduous and thorny in intervening deserts. On hilly areas the climate changes from tropical to subtropical, temperate and alpine according to the height. There are edaphic variations according to difference in soil types in climatic zones. Here in the Himalayas broadly up to the altitude of four thousand feet shisham, sirus and their associates dominate. Above this is chirpine, then there is an area of kail pines up to six-seven thousand feet and then from eight to nine thousand feet
She took about one hour and stopped again at two more such places. The Army caravan had by then moved far away and they could drive at good speed. On the way Priya was pointing out the spreading habitations because of unrestricted increase in population and with that the extending agricultural fields, terraced and without terracing on milder slopes, pushing farther and farther up the green line. The forests were thin with reduced density of trees and at many places the hills were almost barren. It was late evening and getting dark by the time they reached Sonemarg and they decided to stay there for the night.
Sitting outside the hotel, sipping saffron kahawa Kashmiri tea they were simultaneously drinking through eyes the beauty and captivating charm of golden hill tops covered with white snow and glaciers shining in moonlight, smelling through nose the sweet smell of flowers in breeze and were also enjoying the melodious murmur in rustling of leaves and sitting between two damsels Vibhu was most delighted, feeling the ecstatic touch more deliberate than accidental and ladies
