Come winter and the Dzuko valley is a never-ending delight there. For then, the valley
turns frosty white, the river freezes and there is ice to play with and to wonder at
despite the biting cold!
In summer and in winter, the
valley affords moments of happiness and pleasure for those enthusiastic souls who find
time for brief visits there. In fact, amateur trekkers find it a challenge to scale the
imposing Mount Isso range (approximate maximum height is 9867 feet MSL) and to set foot in
the valley beyond.
In recent years the Dzuko valley had become
much prominent when trekkers started writing eloquent prose on the attractive nature of
the valley. During the summer flowering season and in mid winter many trekkers visit the
valley, quenching their thirst for a sight of the valley and relishing in its beauty and
charm.
There can be no doubt of it. The summer
experience is a breathtaking affair. The winter experience is unforgettable. Thats
how one can describe Dzuko in brief.
Situated at an impressive height of 8052
feet above mean sea level, Dzuko valley experiences temperature far below freezing point
in winter. Some local scientists are reported to have recorded the minimum temperature in
mid winter (early January) to around minus 14 degree Celsius.
This could explain the frozen condition of
river, the thick frost in early morning and the freezing water condition by late evening.
In the early hours and late evenings, water contained in steel glass freezes instantly.
Wow! Its that cold.
Ice formations is an attractive feature in
the valley. Icicles hang in rows from sheltered rock faces, giving off an icy, bluish
effect that could turn ones blood blue with delight.
Ice formations in river fallls, where there
is huge accumulation of the ice, adds majesty to the scenery more so as occurrence
of massive ice formations in the State (Manipur) is a rare phenomenon. In fact, many in
the State and elsewhere would not easily believe that snow and ice can be seen and enjoyed
in Manipur.
Ice sheets covering the upper layer of the
river are as thick as six inches, and may be more. This easily bears the weight of several
people standing at a time in the frozen river.
More enthusiastic visitors take turns to
skate on the ice sitting on large flat dishes like so many of the youngsters from
the neighboring Nagaland are good at. Others enjoy themselves caking ice blocks to make
snowman, or rolling snowballs to hit at! Playing with snow and ice in Manipur quite
unthinkable!
There is however another side to the story,
where all is not the picture of beauty and pleasure. This side of the story tells of the
unpleasant happenings to the valley with the increased inflow of visitors here.
Like in any nature reserve where the
ecosystem is of a delicate character, the fragile ecosystem of the Dzuko valley had
considerably been tampered with by reasons of human intrusion.
Trekkers are often seen mindlessly setting
on fire dry vegetation that happens to be in the proximity of the wild flower habitat,
precariously endangering the flowerbeds of the endemic Dzuko lily, the different species
of Iris, and other endemic flowering plants.
More than defacing natural rock shelters
with inscriptions and graffiti, trekkers indulge in physical harm to delicate natural
formations that provide interesting scope for scientific observation and study.
Trekkers also collect the dry seedpods of
the endemic Dzuko lily in bundles and these are reportedly sold as dry flower d�cor.
Massive plucking of the dry seedpods and uprooting of the lily roots has danger of
gradually eliminating the plant from its natural habitat.
Then again there is danger of squashing the
flowerbeds under the feet of the reckless trekkers who unmindfully wander around the lily
habitat hunting for the lilies. Then there is the littering of waste material too.
There is a general feeling among naturalist
that the habitat of the famed Siroy lily in Ukhrul has considerably been diminished by the
uncontrolled human intrusion. It is said hardly much of the endemic lilies now bloom at
Siroy peak a pitiable loss for the State.
The colourful, attractive Dzuko valley in
all its natures best would of course welcome people to come and appreciate it, but
it cannot be said that it would tolerate people coming and destroying the very reason for
which it is being favored.
This brings to ones mind the all
important question of how much of our people are aware of the need to protect and conserve
nature in the interest of our land and future.
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