This is a real plateau in the Peruvian Andes. Hours of driving through this vast expanse of plain area on the Lima-Huanuco highway gives the impression that the hilly roads have ended, until one starts descending again to Huanuco! No trees except for lots of shrubs. The picture below is taken in November which is summer in the southern hemisphere. This area is, naturally, snow-covered in winter.
Paro valley in Bhutan could be a replica of Ziro. Same vegetation and landscape - pine trees, gentle hills, paddy fields, small winding roads.
Mechuka in West Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh has the same landscape again – pine trees, ferns, gentle hills, but much higher snow-covered mountains in the background. No paddy fields. Most areas resemble dry millet-cultivated areas (lyapyo) at Ziro. Walking on the tracks is sheer pleasure. Though motorable roads are being constructed to connect all the villages surrounding Mechuka town, these tracks will continue to be used in the years to come.
Kathmandu valley is much bigger. The city has grown big, really big. The outskirts still retain what the old-timers say signify the valley that was.
German valley in West Virginia, USA. Entirely different vegetation, but same looks to laymen like me. Same landscape. Makes one really homesick.
wonderful collection.
ReplyDeleteof all these places, Ziro has the right blend of green and brown. so what if i am biased? ;)
Thanks and you are not biased. Just for information, the timings of the photography are: Ziro - February; Andes plateau - November; Paro - October; Mechuka - January; Kathmandu - September and German Valley - May.
ReplyDeleteBeautifull places. I have visited Menchuka and Kathmandu amongst the above place.
ReplyDeleteKathmandu .... well I loitered around Thamel most of the time. My visit around and outskirts of Kathmandu gave me the feeling that it smells of feudalism. It is so similar to the forts and feudal lord's structures of Rajasthan.That was some 15 years back. Nevertheless, I liked the place.
Menchuka .... Well it is a cute little place and one feels like cuddling it and keep playing by the side of river siyom. I felt like getting into some local house and sit around the fire place and start to make popcorns ( tanyi budo-nang. It defintely is a beautiful place although much smaller than Ziro valley.
Thanks, Sulu, for your inputs.
ReplyDeleteThe picture of Kathmandu here is of the city's outskirts as viewed from Shivapuri National Park. As you rightly points out, Kathmandu had been a feudal city till recently. Now, with change of system in Nepal now, we have to see how the look changes.
Good, it is our 'hatii lalyan'.
ReplyDelete