Chamoli (Uttarakhand): After several years, a variety of rare flowers bloomed near Vasuki Tal lake, which is located close to the Kedarnath Temple in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, turning the entire area into sea of blue.
Neelkamal flowers (Blue Water Lily) have bloomed in the lake, 8 kilometres above Kedarnath Dham in the Kedarnath Forest Division area at a stretch of three kilometres. With thousands of mesmerising blue flowers having bloomed in the three-kilometre stretch, the place has turned into a sea of blue.
The botanical name of this flower is 'Nymphaea nouchali'. It is said to be the favourite flower of Lord Vishnu. Neelkamal is a flowering plant that is native to the southern and eastern countries of Asia. Four types of lotus flowers are found in the Himalayan region. These include Brahmakamal, Neelkamal, Fen Kamal and Kastura Kamal.
These flowers have bloomed in abundance this time in the upper regions of the central Himalayas thanks to zero tourist activities during the Corona period.
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Speaking to ETV Bharat, Amit Tanwar, the divisional forest officer of Kedarnath Forest Division, said, "We have seen a variety of rare flowers, including the Neelkamal (Blue Water Lily), near Vasuki Tal." The officer further added that species of Blue Water Lily and Soliya are rare and are the main attraction of tourists.
Earlier on September 16, the Nainital High Court had lifted a stay on Chardham Yatra and allowed only completely vaccinated people with Covid-19 negative report for the annual pilgrimage. The court had also ordered devotees to follow strict Covid-19 protocols and also restricted the number of visitors too.
Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri are called the Char Dham and the shrines attract lakhs of pilgrims every year.
