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late. Dibrugheta is at an altitude of 4000 mtrs. and is about
12 kms. from Lata Kharak and here amidst the cedars, firs
and birches, is a pasture forming an oasis of brilliant green
against the drab rocky slope, and the dark forest below.
Longstaff has described this place as "the most beautiful place in
the Himalayas" and few years later Tillman observed—"a
horizontal oasis on a vertical desert."
From Dibrugheta, the party marched into Deodi and from
•there to Rhamni after crossing the Trisuli Nala. The species
observed growing commonly on the way were Rhodendron
Campanulatum, and Rheum sp., Swertia sp., Alium sp., and
bergenia Strachyi. The camping site at Rhamni is on the right
bank of the Rishi Ganga near a big rock with not much space
of pitching tents. From Rhamini, the party started for Patalkhan
on 25th September. The journey from Rhamni was quite
thrilling and at times hazardous. A scattered birch forest, often
mixed with Rhodendron campanulatum, is characteristic of the
trade. The birch was found upto Bhujgar only, which literally
means the name of birch. After crossing this strip, the next
halting station was at Patalkhan (4000 mtrs.). From there one
can see the massive Nanda Devi peak. The distance from
Rhamni to Patalkhan is only 2 kms., but in teams of trekking it
takes one complete day. From Patalkhan onwards starts the
inner sanctuary. Then there was a succession of ledges and
overhangs ending in straight climb.
The inner sanctuary
The inner sanctuary is highly picturesque. It can be divided
topographically into three main regions, northern, south-eastern
and western, with the Nanda Devi peak as the centre. To the
north and south-east of the main peak flow two great glaciers
which form the source of Rishi Ganga. The northern portion is
full of glaciers and moraine beds originating in the inner snowy
mountains ring wall and interspersed with meadows and glacial
lakes. The south eastern portion also contains glacial beds. The
-western portion is formed mainly of a large sloping meadow—
Sarsonpatal, about 3 kms. broad and 7 kms. long. This
meadow is separated from the rocky pinnacles of the main peak of
"Kanda Devi by the western Rishi Ganga. The camping site at