Pindari / Kafni Glacier in May Last week 2008

Almoraboy

kida ghas is also known as yarsa gamboo. it is a mixture of insect + plant. basically, it is a small grass that grows on an insect. the insect lives under the snow in the winters. when the snow melts, the people come to collect this grass. it is used as an aphrodisiac - sort of like a plant which serves the purpose of viagra.

it is very expensive. last year the value of this thing went up to Rs. 300,000 per kg. it is usually traded across the lipulekh pass. i think from this year the rule in place is that villagers can only sell it to KMVN people. KMVN will then sell it in the international market.

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Amitava343

alo for VIGRA Ihave seen it in the Milam region

dream_traveller

thnx almora boy for info. Why KMVN coming in the way of trade when today's ecomony is based on open market-economy concept. Let them do the business and make most of the proffit. Obviously there should be check and balance with some regulatory system..but government should not play the role of middle men play the role of facilitator for market linages and business development.
still my questions remain regarding glacier in pindari. If in the month of october dont find glaciers in the route of pindari does it make sceneray not so good or glacier no glacier doesnt matter?

Almoraboy

yes, that is the major area for yarsa gamboo.
the trouble with this plant is that it is difficult to grow it or cultivate it artificially - like you would grow any normal crop. otherwise, many villagers will turn into millionaires over s single year

Almoraboy

there was a lot of violence associated with it. some people were murdered and their share was stolen from them. they even arrested a guy from nagaland in dharchula and he had more than Rs. 3,00,00,000 worth of yarsa gamboo with him. he was trying to smuggle it to delhi. hence, the gove decided to regulate this market. otherwise, even the government would not get any tax benefits form this trading. maybe, if the security situation got better, this market would once again be unregultated.

Almoraboy

i think october will be a good time to go. last year, i tried to go to pindari in winters, but could not do so due to time constraints. however, if you have the right enthusiasm, you can do it any time of the year. i think, for the normal tourist, may-june and sept-october are the best periods.

Almoraboy

check this: http://almoraboy.blogspot.com/2008/0...i-pindari.html

dhakuri artea this january. it was lovely

tarungoel

More on "Kida Ghas" or "Ghas Keera" or "Yarsa Gamboo" from http://envfor.nic.in/paryaabs/v20n12/pa-12-eco.doc.

Most of the insects are known to feed on plants but there are certain plants which grow only on insects, complete their life cycle at the cost of insect life and consequently combination of these two become very useful and medicinal for the human health and welfare. Cordyceps sinensis Berk, is a fungus occuring at certain alphine meadows situated at 10000-13000 feet altitude in the district Pithoragarh of Kumaon Hills of Central Himalayas. The mummified insect filled with fungal hyphae, locally known as Ghas Keera or Yarsa Gamboo is used to cure a number of human diseases.

Dilliwala

The road goes upto Loharkhet now. Don't know if all of it is metalled, but it's certainly jeepable from what I hear.

AvidTrekker

Some discussion on Im took place last summer on kidaa ghaas at this thread.

Seems a thriving cottage industry now.
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