THE MANIMAHESH SACRED LANDSCAPE A Monograph May 2016 Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage
Manimahesh Sacred Landscape A Monograph May 2016 Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage 71, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi
Report Researched and Compiled By: Team of Natural Heritage Division: Dr. Ritu Singh, Ms. Monika Sah, Ms. Ritu Narwaria, Mr. Abhishek Kumar & Mr. Sajid Idrisi Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) 71, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi-110003 Website: http://naturalheritage.intach.org/ Cover Page Pictures: Top: Manimahesh Lake with Kailash Peak in Background Bottom in Sequence from Left to Right: Manimahesh Sacred Landscape, Himachal Pradesh- Manimahesh Trek Route- Glacier on Way to Manimahesh Lake
Contents The Manimahesh Sacred Landscape 1. Introduction... 1 2. What are High Altitude Lakes?... 3 3. High Altitude Lakes- Formation, Timeline, Ecology... 7 A. The Genesis of High-Altitude Lakes... 7 B. Evolution... 9 4. Enviro- Cultural Significance of High Altitude Lakes... 10 5. Lakes in Indian Mythology... 11 6. Manimahesh Lake, Himachal Pradesh... 13 A. Introduction... 13 B. The Yatra Route... 15 C. Manimahesh Lake and its Surroundings... 31 D. Hydrology... 39 F. Religious Beliefs, Legends and Myths... 42 H. Climate... 57 I. Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation Status... 58 Flora... 58 Fauna... 62 J. Water Quality... 67 7. Threats... 68 8. Recommendations... 86 ANNEXURES... 93 Annexure I... 93 Annexure II... 99 ANNEXURE III... 109 List of Images Image 1: Hemkund Sahib, Uttarakhand: A Spiritually and Ecologically Significant Lake. 9 Image 2: Religious Activities at Manimahesh Lake, Himachal Pradesh... 11 Image 3 : Manimahesh Lake with Kailash Peak in the Background... 15 Image 4 : Town of Bharmour... 25 Image 5 : Swash Ghati Route as Seen from Banderghati Route... 25 Image 6: Pilgrims on Bhairav Ghati Route... 26
Image 7 : Yatra Route As Seen From Gauri Kund... 26 Image 8 : Devotees Trekking from Gaurikund to Manimahesh... 27 Image 9 : Camps at Manimahesh Lake... 27 Image 10 : Surrounding Meadow or Parvati Bagh, near Manimahesh Lake... 28 Image 11 : Metal Figure of Nandi Installed Near Manimahesh Lake... 28 Image 12 : Another Nandi Figure at Manimahesh Lake... 29 Image 13 : Marble Statue of Lord Shiva at Manimahesh Lake... 29 Image 14 : Pilgrims on the Day of Janmashtimi at Manimahesh Lake... 30 Image 15 : Dal Bahnana or Crossing of Lake Ceremony Held on Radhashtami... 30 Image 16: Manimahesh Lake... 31 Image 17 : Gaddi Tribesman with Trident and Other Traditional Offerings... 35 Image 18: Gaddi Tribesmen with Traditional Musical Instruments... 35 Image 19 : Manimahesh Lake- Shallow and Deep Portions of the Lake Seen Clearly... 36 Image 20: Manimahesh Lake on Janmashtimi... 36 Image 21 : The Gauri Kund... 37 Image 22 : Temple of the Goddess on the Bank of Gauri Kund... 37 Image 23: Pilgrims Circumambulating the Lake... 38 Image 24 : Temporary Shops and Free Kitchens En Route Manimahesh... 38 Image 25 : Makeshift Bridge near Dhancho... 38 Image 26 : Waterfall at Dhancho... 43 Image 27: Dhancho during Yatra Season... 45 Image 28: Resting Camps and Langars at Dhancho... 45 Image 29 : Parvati Kailash & Shivling like Structure on Summit of Kailash Peak... 48 Image 30 : Shiva Chaugan (Shiva's Playground)... 49 Image 31 : Snake like Formation on the Peak... 49 Image 32 : The Mani Darshan or Sunrise on Kailash Peak on a Clear Morning... 50 Image 33 : Pilgrims Throng at Manimahesh... 51 Image 34 : Bathing at Manimahesh Lake... 52 Image 35 : Devotees Collecting Water from the Lake... 52 Image 36 : Pilgrims Carrying Back Water from the Lake... 53 Image 37 : Mundan Ceremony at Manimahesh... 53 Image 38 : Devotees Performing Rituals in the Lake... 54 Image 39 : Flowers of Saussurea gossypiphora and Pleurospermum brunonis sold in Shops... 54
Image 40 : Anaphalis nepalensis used for preparing Garlands and Offerings... 55 Image 41 : Different Endangered Herbs Sold During Yatra... 55 Image 42 : Devotees collecting Coconuts and Other Offerings from the Lake... 56 Image 43: Miniature Pebble Houses (Gharontu) made by Pilgrims... 56 Image 44 : Phytolaca acinosa... 60 Image 45 : Unidentified Fungal Species... 60 Image 46 : Geranium wallichianum... 61 Image 47 : Aster alpinus... 61 Image 48 : Rhododendron campanutalum... 61 Image 49 : Unidentified Slug... 63 Image 50 : Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) near Manimahesh Lake... 63 Image 51 : Potentilla spp.... 64 Image 52 : Alpine Rush Growing near Manimahesh Lake... 64 Image 53 : Saxifraga jacquemontiana... 64 Image 54 : Achilea millefolium... 65 Image 55 : Anaphalis nepalensis... 65 Image 56 : Pleurospermum brunonis... 65 Image 57 : Persicaria affinis... 66 Image 58 : Gaultheria trichophylla... 66 Image 59 : Remaining Patch of Birch Trees in the Valley... 66 Image 60 : Narrow Path and Lack of Resting Places Create Herded Situations in Many Stretches... 69 Image 61 : Narrow Overcrowded Path Leads to Difficulty and Risk... 69 Image 62 : Fuel Wood being sold by Forest Department at Manimahesh... 70 Image 63: Crowded Landscape of Gaurikund as seen from Manimahesh... 70 Image 64: Signage Discouraging Animal Sacrifice During Yatra... 71 Image 65 : Signage Discouraging Disposal of Discarded Clothes... 71 Image 66 : Area Around Lake Encroached by Shops, Restaurants and Other Structures. 72 Image 67: Temporary Structures around Manimahesh Lake... 72 Image 68 : Mules Plying at Hadsar... 73 Image 69 : Pack Mules Transporting Supplies... 73 Image 70 : Open Kitchens Creating Waste and Pollution... 74 Image 71 : Solid Wastes Dumped in the River near Gaurikund... 75 Image 72: Solid Waste Dumping During Yatra... 75
Image 73 : Left-over Food dumped in open... 76 Image 74 : Open Garbage Dump near Lake Attracting Wildlife... 76 Image 75 : Temporary Toilets Constructed by Different Volunteer Agencies... 77 Image 76 : Diesel Generators Installed in one of the Langars... 78 Image 77 : Lack Of Proper Resting Spaces Resulting Into Health Issues During Strenuous Trek... 79 Image 78 : Medical Camp at Manimahesh... 79 Image 79 : Birch Trees Harmed by Visitors; Bark being Removed Callously Damaging Trees... 81 Image 80 : Rhododendron campanulatum Lopped to be Used as Firewood... 81 Image 81 : Visitors Plucking Herbs... 81 Image 82 : Visitors plucking Rhododendron campanulatum... 82 Image 83 : Pilgrims Carrying Back Flowers and Herbs from the Meadow... 82 Image 84 : Trees Lopped for Firewood... 83 Image 85 : Mules Fed by Fresh Fodder From Hillside... 84 Image 86: Bio-toilets designed by DRDO for High Altitude Regions... 90 List of Maps Map 1: Distribution Pattern of High Altitude Lakes in Western Himalayan Region, India 5 Map 2: Distribution Pattern of High Altitude Lakes in Eastern Himalayan Region, India. 6 Map 3: Himachal Pradesh Location... 14 Map 4 : Location... 16 Map 5: Location of Manimahesh Lake... 17 Map 6 : Different Trek Routes... 19 Map 7: Manimahesh Trek Route... 20 Map 8: Manimahesh Parikrama Trek Route... 24 Map 9: Manimahesh Kailash Sacred Landscape... 32 Map 10 : Immediate Environs of Manimahesh Lake... 34 Map 11: Hydrology... 40 Map 12: Catchment of Manimahesh Lake... 41 Map 13: Gauri Kund During Yatra... 46 Map 14: Dhancho During Yatra... 47 Map 15: Recommended Movement of Crowd for Manimahesh Yatra... 89
List of Tables The Manimahesh Sacred Landscape Table 1: Size Wise Distribution of High Altitude Lakes in India... 4 Table 2: Monthly Average Rainfall of Chamba District... 57 Table 3: Water Quality of Manimahesh Lake... 67 Table 4: List of Medicinal Plants Found in the Region.... 93