Botany Department organized an Educational Trip to Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh
Department of Botany, DAV College, Jalandhar organized a three day trip to Dalhousie under the aegis of Kashyap Botanical Society. Dalhousie is a beautiful hill station in Himachal Pradesh, established in 1854 by the British Empire in India as a summer retreat for its troops and bureaucrats, the town was named after Lord Dalhousie who was the British viceroy in India at that time.
Dalhousie is situated at an elevation of 2400m above sea level between 32.53N – 75.98E coordinates. The area is a natural habitat of many medicinally and economically important tree species such as Rhododendron, Quercus, Pinus, Cedrus, Picea etc. Members of genra Urtica, Girardinia, Rumex, Polygonum, Asplenium, Pteris, Funaria, Marchantia, Selaginella etc. are chief phanerogams inhabiting this area. Keeping in view, rich flora of the area, an educational trip of BSc. I (Medical) students was organized by Department of Botany.
Trip started with the blessings of Principal, Dr. B.B. Sharma, who encouraged students to participate in educational excursions so as to have practical knowledge about plant collection and flora of a particular area.
On first day, staff and students visited Nainikhad and Chamera Lake, located at an altitude of 736 m from sea level in Chamba District. This artificial Lake has been set up along with Hydroelectric Project, to promote water sports activity at the lake and offers irrigation facilities to many villages that are expanded in and around chamera lake.
On second day, flora of Khajjiar valley and Panch Pulla were explored. Khajjiar valley is called ‘Switzerland of India’ and is famous for its many meadows and pneumatic beauty. Its vegetation chiefly includes lichens and pteridophytes. Panchpulla and Satdhara falls are also beautiful spots with rare biodiversity. Satdhara streams are believed to have medicinal value.
The trip concluded with visit to local areas around Gandhi Chowk.
Trip proved very informative for BSc.I students since they observed plant species included in their syllabi, growing in their natural habitat. Dr. Komal Arora Swami (Head, Dept. of Botany; Incharge, Kashyap Biological Scoiety), Dr. Lovleen (Asst. Professor) and Sh. Sushil Kumar (Lab Attendant) accompanied students for this education tour.
