CHAPTER V 



CAMPS IN THE UPPER FORESTS 



The sacred Ganges, celebrated in earliest times and sung 

 by poets, rises in Garhwal. Its principal branches are 

 the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda, which issue, under the 

 latter name, from the hills at Hardwar, a noble and 

 mighty river, swelled in the monsoon to a huge torrent. 

 In the dry season a clear stream ; in the hot weather, fed 

 by the melting snow and glaciers, a cold, white, turbid flood. 



The most sacred place in Hindu mythology is Badri- 

 nath, where is the head source of Ganga in the group of 

 lofty peaks known as Gangotri, in Garhwal. The adjoin- 

 ing group of the sacred Nanda is in Kumaon, separated 

 only by the river Alaknanda. Here are five lofty peaks 

 rivalling the four of Badrinath, all over 22,000 feet high, 

 the giant summit of Nanda Devi, 25,749 feet, dominating 

 the group. 



It was to survey and explore the slopes of this vast 

 labyrinth of mountains, intersected by valleys of immense 

 depth and filled with huge glaciers, that the present march 

 was undertaken, to map out its forests and report on its 

 capabilities. Following upwards the course of the great 

 river flowing with many windings, one traverses the route 

 of the pilgrims who come up from Hardwar, passing the 

 celebrated stations of prayer which commence at Benares . 

 These are Deoprayag, Nandprayag, Kamprayag, Vishnu- 



