"Flight?.. Are you kidding?" "No one knows about flights at this time."
"Yes, a few hot air ballons which people use to fly upwards and to about 8-10 kms."
"Journey overseas is performed by sea voyage and takes time."
"What more can you tell me about the purpose of your journey and about yourself?" The Doctor asked.
"The year is 1867 and a few years ago the Pushpawati Valley had been discovered in India. The news has come that there were exotic and rare plants as well as flowering plants in abundence in this valley.
"I am going to India with other in my group to see this place and do a study on the flowers."
"My father is a Botanist and I have been studying under his guidance. He is heading this study."
"India is directly administered by the United Kingdom and is called British India or the British Raj, It includes areas ruled by indigenous rulers, but under British tutelage called princely states."
"This system of governance commenced in June 1858, after the first war of Indian Independence of 1857. The rule of the British East India Company was transferred to the Crown, i.e. Queen Victoria and lasted till 1947. The British Raj extended over almost all of present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, except for small holdings by other European nations such as Goa and Pondicherry.
This area is very diverse, containing the Himalayan mountains, fertile floodplains, the Indo-Gangetic Plain, a long coastline, tropical dry forests, arid uplands, and the Thar Desert."
"Can you describe to me the type of clothes you all are wearing?"
"Well, I am suppose to be wearing a victorian type gown, but that cannot be worn while travelling. The skirts are flatter at the front and projected out more behind having all sorts of decoration like puffs and strips covering the skirt with lace all over. Embroidery in silver or gold is also in fashion. These dresses require gauze lining to stiffen it, as well as multiple starched petticoats. Even the clothes women need to ride horses sitting sideways have similar designs."
"When we go out for walk then there is a walking costume consisting of a loose jacket and matching skirt. The skirt is drawn up for ease of walking over an ankle-length underskirt or petticoat and hoops. There is a bowler-like hat wrapped in a scarf or veil to finish the attire."
"Men, on the other hand, wear an overcoat with very wide lapels, wide cuffs, a contrasting (probably velvet) collar, and braid trim over a frock coat, waistcoat, and trousers which appear to be made of matching fabric, a large necktie loosely looped and secured with a stickpin, and then tucked into the waistcoat."
"OK, that means Victorian Era. The clothes identify the era easily," said the Doctor."What else can you tell me," he enquired further.
"I have had my dress modified. No stiffining or corsets in my clothes. The skirts are above ankle length so that I can walk and climb hills etc and even ride a horse as a man would, not sideways as women do in this time."
"I am about 5'5" tall. Quite slim, a red head, with blue eyes and a sunny disposition. I studied Botany in the UK."
"I am very happy to be going on this journey."
"I feel I belong to India though I am from England."
"What is your name and what is your age?" Dr Dimitrius asked.
"My name is Margret Smith and I am 24 years old."
"You are very quiet now, why?" He asked.
"A month ago we reached Bombay and took the train to Delhi and then from Delhi to Pragyaraj. The total distance we travelled was about of 2000 km."
"The trains, at that time were not so comfortable, like they are today. Upon reaching Pragyraj after a week we rested and then started the journey on horse drawn buggies to the nearest as we could to the mountains. The valley is about 866 Km from Pragyraj. From a place called Chamoli the rest of the journey would be on horse back or foot."
"The Valley of Flowers as this place is called now is at an alt.i.tude of 3542 meters above sea level. The area occupies 87 square kilometers in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, The Valley of Flowers is set against the backdrop of the majestic Zanskar Ranges. This virtual paradise on earth has been unknown to the outside world till the great Mountaineer Frank S Smith officially discovered it in the year 1931. "Many explorers and Botanists had visited this place earlier too."
" Bounded by the magnificent mountain ranges and glittering glaciers, this place unfolds its charisma and charm of nature as soon as the snow melts and the valley sheds its sleepy nature. When the monsoon clouds began to drizzle, the valley shows its flowery face and the entire region gets covered with a carpet of colourful flowers."
"Thank you for giving us a detailed account about the valley of flowers," said the Doctor and continued, "What happened next."
Well, We set camp and started to do our studies of the plants as well as making sketches and drawing, some coloured ones too. Some of us took the plants and dried them in a particular way to make a harbarium."
"There was one student of father who was always trying to show me down on some pretext or the other."
His name was Jonathan Swift. I think he did not like me." I do not know why as I had never run into him before."
One day he cornered me as I had ventured a bit further away from the camp. No one was near visible range or earshot.
He started arguing with me on an issue about a friend of his who had committed suicide because of me. I was zapped. I did not know any such fellow who would have killed himself because I did not love him back.
He lost his cool and started pushing me around. I realised that he meant me harm.
The altercation took us to the edge of a cliff. Soon both of us toppled over. I think we both died.
"OK, Margret, now I want you to come back to the present life of Tania."
"I will count backwards from 10. When I reach 1 you will be wide awake. ok."
As the Doctor counted from 10 backwards to 1, Tania woke up from her trance like state.
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