Herbs and Health, " The Herbs of India, Tulsi (Basil) use & Benefits. "

Tulsi Or we call it a holy Basil is a great herb which have the power to fight against various diseases by improving immune system. The scientific name of this herb is Ocimum Tenuiflorum. 

 

                              The Holy Basil [Tulsi ]

This plant a perennial one belongs to Lamiaceae family. It is an aromatic plant and native to India. In general there are number of varieties of Basil but the main types of Tulsi are :- 1.Rama-Tulsi  , it is having bright green leaves. 

2. Shyama Tulsi Or Krishana Tulsi, it is having purple green leaves. 

3. The third one is common wild Vana Tulsi. 

4. Kapoor Tulsi  , having bright green wide leaves. 

The Tulsi Or The holy Basil  contains the following ingredients which make it as a queen herb.  

 Fibre, protein, Vitamin A, C and Vitamin - K. It also contains Minerals like  calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and potassium. 

Tulsi has a deep concerns with Hindu religion and Ayurveda the science of health and herbs. 

Use & benefits :- Tulsi has anti-national cancer, anti - bacterial and anti - viral properties. Since it has good amount of Vitamin - C, Zinc and iron, it is a good immunity booster. It controls the sugar levels and blood pressure. Tulsi gives relief in fever and pain. 

It gives relief in cold, cough and respiratory infections. It reduces stress . It is also good for heart, lever and kidney health. The herb has anti cancer properties and it's use as per experts advice gives good results. 

It's leaves are used in fresh and dried form as a green tea which improves the immune system. Tulsi water wash on eyes and skin also gives relief to eyes and skin problems. Tulsi green tea is available in the market. 

We must grow Tulsi in our homes and ensure its use in our daily life. 

               Use Harbal tea to boost immunity

        Chamomile tea is also a good antioxidant

                                       

                                         By :- Er. R C Verma

Pabbar River, " The Tributary of Tons River, which is tributary of Yamuna River. "

 River Pabbar is the tributary of Tons river. The Pabbar originates from South facing slopes  of Dhauladhar mountain range near UP and Himachal Pradesh. The main stream is fed by Chandranahan glacier  and Lake and springs originating from the surface. 

              Snowy Mountains Originate Rivers

The river Tons drains in river Yamuna.  Pabbar joins the Tons near the border of Uttrakhand and Himachal at the Chakrata massif. 

                                 Hill River Valley

Tons river joins Yamuna river in North Western part of Doon Valley. 

                      Evening View Of Holy Yamuna

 "Rivers are our real wealth, must be kept pollution free. "

                                         By :- Er. R C Verma

Bata River, " The tributary of Yamuna. "

 Bata river is the tributary of  Yamuna, the holy river ,daughter of Sun as per Hindu mythology. It rises from Siori springs in Dharthi ranges from a village Bagna called Jalmusa -ka Khala in tehsil Nahan of district Sirmaur and joins Yamuna at Bata-Mandi . It takes East direction  opposite to the course of Markanda river. This river is mainly fed by rain water , stored as underground water and finally appears as springs on surface. 

                       Bata merges into Yamuna

The Bata flows under surface for a part of it's length in upper reach thereafter it flows on the ground. 

Bata is a perennial one and divides Kayadra Dun into two parts. 

                               Hill View of River

             River system is our natural resources

              

                                 By :- Er. R C Verma

Herbs and Health, " The Herbs of India, wild mint its use and benefits. "

 God has blessed this planet with numbers of herbs and medicinal plants for the well being of mankind but the people have little knowledge about it. Though in our Vedas lot of scientific knowledge has been given yet the has not been included in the syllabus of learning at school level curriculum , so the knowledge only remained in books and could not reach to everyone for its best use in the well being of mankind. 

In this context today we are starting a series on the knowledge of Herbs under the heading, "Herbs and Health, herbs of India use & benefits. "

The first one in this series is Wild -mint also called Mentha arvensis :- 

                       Mentha arvensis (Podina) 

It is a very useful herb pertaining to mint family Lamiaceare. It is generally found in temperature regions of Europe, Central and western Asia, East to the Himalayas, Eastern Siberia and North America. 

           Include this useful herb in your Garden

The wild mint or we generally say Podina is containing the following ingredients which are very much essential for our good health.

1. Fibre, 2. Vitamin A, 3. Iron 4.Manganese and 5. Folate. It is a good source of antioxidants. 

Uses and Benefits :- This herb is helpful in improvement of digestive system and thus improves appetite. It improves the gut functions. It provides relief in headache, vomiting, diarrhea, urinary disorder, asthma, menstrual cramps, fever and burning sensation. 

We must include this popular herb in our diet in the form of Podina Chatni and Podina tea. 

Excessive use must be avoided.

        Grow this useful herb in your kitchen garden

It can be grown by cuttings easily. 

           Rosemary the beautiful aromatic herb

     Include Chamomile tea to enjoy antioxidants

                        

                                       By :- Er. R C Verma

       

Asni River, " The tributary of Giri-ganga which falls into Yamuna. "

 Asni river is the tributary of Giri-ganga flowing through a steep gorge across the offshoots of Nag-Tibba ridge. It flows along the V-shape valley of varied slopes and Joins the Giri-ganga near Sadhupul between Solan and Chail in Himachal Pradesh which merges into Yamuna. The Asni is also called Ashwini river. 

         Beautiful View of River flowing along Valley

There is a beautiful picnic spot at Sadhupul between Solan and Chail. People used to enjoy the nature here. 

           Beautiful view at Sadhupul near Chail

Chail is also a beautiful tourist place full of panoramic views of nature. 

                    Beauty of nature near Chail

                                           By :- Er. R C Verma

Giri -Ganga River, " Tributary of Yamuna. "

 Giri-ganga the important tributary of Yamuna river rises from Kupar Peak, which is just above Jubbal town flows through centre of Shimla hills and flowing down in South - Eastern divides the Sirmaur district into two equal parts called as Cis-Giri and Trains Giri regions. 

           Beautiful View of River, mountain nature

The Giri-ganga merges with Yamuna river upstream of Paunta Shahib and below Mokkampur.  The Jalal river tributary of Giri-ganga originating from Dharathi ranges adjoining Pachhaad joins it at Dadahu from right. The river Asni  which is tributary of Giri-ganga joins  Giri-ganga at Sadhupul near Chail. 

    Paunta Shahib on the bank of Yamuna H. P. 

The Girinagar Hydel Project of 60 MW in two units 30 MW each. The project is completed and being maintained by Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board. 

          Enjoy the View of Mountains and River

   

                                            By : - Er. R C Verma

 

YAMUNA "The holy river, which has been a deep relationship with Lord Krishna. "

 Yamuna , the holy river also known as "Kaalindi " originates from Yamunotri , Champasar glacier enters Himachal Pradesh at 'Khadar-Majri in district Sirmaur and flows about 22 Km in Himachal Pradesh having catchment area 2320 square kilometers. 

The total length of Yamuna river upto it's confluence in Ganga at Prayaagraj is 1376 Km , with catchment area 366223 square Kilometres. 

          Historic Taj Mahal on the bank of Yamuna

Yamuna is worshipped as" goddess Yamuna " the daughter of Sun and sister of Yama. Lord Krishana has been a deep relationship with Yamuna ji. Lord Krishna has spent is childhood near Yamuna river doing his various" Rad Leelas". In deep water of Yamuna he caught the  Kalia Nag when Lord Krishna was a little child and broken his ego by doing Baal -Leela. 

               Yamuna Originates from Yamunotri

The Yamuna is the Eastern most river in Himachal Pradesh. The main tributaries of Yamuna are Tons, Pabbar and Giri. The river Giri is also called Giri Ganga. The Giri Ganga is originating from just about Jubbal town in Shimla district near Kuper peaks. Tons is originating from Yamunotri. The tributary Pabbar originates from Chandarnahan Lake at Chansal parvat peaks tehsil Roharu district Shimla. 

          View of Yamuna near Taj Mahal at Agra

 The other tributaries :-

Jalal river :- It is small tributary of Giri originating from Dharathi range  in Himachal Pradesh and joins Yamuna at Dadahu in Sirmaur district. 

Markanda River :- It is also a small river in Nahan  in district Sirmaur. 

Andhra River :- It is a tributary of Pabbar and in turn drains into Tons. It originates from a small glacier in Chirgoan hills of Shimla district and merges with Pabbar at Chirgaon. 

The River Yamuna finally merges in to holy Ganga at Prayaagraj after all long journey of 1376 Km. 

   Prayaagraj the  Sangam Ganga Yamuna Sarsvati. 

River System of Himachal Pradesh

 The Indian River system is divided into two categories based on its origin , in simple words we say , the system is named, from where it is originated. 

1. River System originating from Himalaya is named as Himalayan river system. 

2. The river system originating from Peninsula is known as peninsular river system. 

Since Himachal Pradesh is situated in Western Himalayas  it is covered under Himalayan river system. 

            Himalayan river system provides water

              to major part of Indian sub -continent 

Himalayas have a very huge storage of moisture in its snowy mountains, lakes and subsurface. This huge storage of moisture, which is present in the form of snow, fresh water and subsurface water is one of our natural resources having great influence on climatic conditions in Indian sub-continent. 

             Himalayas, a big storage of moisture

The topography and geography of Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh forms a drainage system of water coming as result of snow melt, subsurface water coming out as springs and rains which flows in small  channels and further discharge in big channels called rivers thus a drainage system is followed by the water known as river system. 

    Himachal comes under Himalayan river system

The Himalayan river system is comprised of three drainage systems. 

1. Indus River system

2. Ganga River system. 

3. Brahmaputra River system

Himachal Pradesh is also a state of five rivers flowing through it in addition to Punjab. Four rivers out five flowing through Himachal Pradesh found mention in Rig Veda. The rivers mentioned in Rig Veda are Asikni now known as Chenab, Arjikya now known Beas, Purushani now called as Ravi and Sutudri or Shatadru now known as Satluj. The fifth river flowing through Himachal Pradesh is Yamuna, originating from Yamunotri  has mythical relation to Sun. 

      Himalayas form the river system in Himachal

Out of three river systems of Himalayas as mentioned above two come in Himachal Pradesh which serve as perineal source of water to Indus River system and Ganga River system. 

INDUS RIVER SYSTEM :-  

Indus river system is the largest in the world and the important rivers of this system are :- The Satluj, the Beas the , the Chenab, the Ravi and the Jhelum. Four out of these five flow through Himachal and Jhelum flows in  Jammu & Kashmir. 

 The river Indus starts from Tibetan Plateau, enters Himalayas in Ladakh . 

              Indus Enters Himalayas in Ladakh

It enters Kashmir region near it's confluence with  Gurtang river. The Indus river Basin includes complete Jammu & Kashmir and most of the Himachal Pradesh. 

GANGA RIVER SYSTEM :-  

One third of Western Himalayas is covered by Ganga river system basin, The only river which is providing water to the Ganga river system in Himachal Pradesh is Yamuna. It is originating from Yamunotri. 

      Yamuna provides water to Ganga river system

  The Ganga river system basin in Himachal Pradesh commences from Eastern face of Shimla ridge to Kanchenjunga on Nepal -Sikkim boarder. The Yamuna is the longest tributary of Ganga flowing through Himachal Pradesh. 

The Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghana form the largest Delta about 350 Km wide along the Bay of Bengal named as "Sunderban ".

                     View of Sunderban Delta 

            World 's Largest Delta Sunderban

Shiv Boudi, "The holy water spring at Bachhretu, near Baba Balknath tapasthali Shahtalai, district Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. "

 Himachal Pradesh is a land of goddess and gods and is called "Dev-Bhumi " Rishi-Munies have done meditation on this land for ancient times. Here every district has  several places where ancient temples, austerity shathals of Rishi-Munies  and sacred lakes, water springs ,boulies  of religious importance are existing and lacs of pilgrims used to visit every year.

 

         Shiva Boudi at Bachhretu, near Shahtalai

             

               district Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh

District Bilaspur is very much famous for places of religious importance, the famous Shakti- peeth Shri Naina Devi ji  , Baba Nahar Singh temple Dholra at Bilaspur town, Kala Baba austerity shathals at Bilaspur town, Maharishi Markandeya austerity shathal Markanda, Shohni devi temple , Rukamni Kund near Gehrein ,Guga mandir Kot Malhot , Guru ka Lahore near Bassi, Kaula wala Tobba near Anandpur (Punjab), Shri Narsingh temple Rang on the left bank of Govindsagar  near Bhakra Dam,Baba Balknath austerity shathal Shahtalai and Shiva Bouli at Bachhretu are major religious places existing in district Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh. 

Shiva -Bouli Bachhretu is very much famous sacred place where lacs of pilgrims used to visit and take bath in its holy water and offer prayers to Lord Shiva in the ancient Shiva temple just adjoining to Shiv Bouli during a fair which is held every year from 13 th March to 14 April . 

   

                     Lord Shiva Temple Bachhretu 

                     Lord Shiva temple Bachhretu

                         In side  View of Temple 

The sacred place Bachhretu is 4 Km from Shahtalai on Ghumarwin Talai Bhakra road,where Baba Balknath has remained for 12 years as son of Mata Ratno, grazed her cows and meditated under Bodhi briksh and Gurna Jhari before  disappearance at Deot Sidh which falls in district Hamirpur  at a distance of 4 Km from Shahtalai on the boundaries of Bilaspur and Hamirpur. 

       View of Shahtalai & Baba Balknath Temple

The Lord Shiva temple at Bachhretu is built up during, 9 th century and the holy water of the spring here is sacred like waters of Ganga . Lacs of people used to take shower of this holy water from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal and abroad every year. 

                          Video of Bachhretu

Pilgrims visiting Balknath temple also visit Shahtalai temples  and Shiva temple at Bachhretu. All these temples are maintained by a trust framed by the Government. The facility of lunger is provided by the trust and also by other devoteet to the pilgrims. The Baba Balknath is a famous Sidh Peeth in North India. Near Bachhretu there is a historic fort which can be developed  from tourism point of view. 

                           View of Bachhretu Fort

The Shiva Bouli is about 51 Km from Hamirpur, 34 Km from Ghumarwin, 51 Km from Bilaspur 64 Km from Una and is well connected with road facility. 

The  panoramic view of Govindsagar lake and Shri Naina devi ji temple is enjoyable from Bachhretu. 

                 Beautiful View from Bachhretu

                      Video shoot at Bachhretu

Fair at these places are held during 13 March to 14 April on Vashakhi festival and during Shavan Navratras but in addition to this every Saturday and Sunday through out the year heavy rush can be seen. There is complete facility for parking of vehicles and staying at Shahtalai and Deot sidh both Government and private. 

   

                      Video Shoot at Bachhretu

 

         photography by :-  Rakesh Kumar

                                           Pawan Kumar

 

                                    By :- Er R C Verma