Of the over thirty species of Rhododendron in Nepal the most renowned is Rhododendron arboreum, known as Gurans in Nepali. There are extensive and magnificent Rhododendron arboreum forests throughout the country ranging in elevation from around 1,400 to 3,600 meters. Rhododendron is a very widely distributed genus, occurring throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere and extending to areas in southeastern Asia and northern Australasia. It does not occur naturally in South America or Africa. However, the highest species diversity is found in the Himalaya.
The name rhododendron is derived from the Greek words rhodos (meaning rose) and dendron (meaning tree). There are over 1,000 natural species of rhododendron, including many bushy species and a number of trees that grow to heights of up to thirty meters. Many of the tree species will take years to reach flowering, at least twenty or more, while at least fifty years is needed for a tree rhododendron to reach its optimum form. Worldwide there are numerous Rhododendron societies and many species are cultivated throughout the world as ornamentals and hybrids, largely due to their beautiful flowers.
There are over 28,000 cultivars of Rhododendron in the International Rhododendron Registry held by the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK. Rhododendrons are botanically related to azaleas, blueberries, heathers and mountain laurels. Of the over thirty species of Rhododendron in Nepal the most renowned is Rhododendron arboreum, known as Gurans in Nepali. There are extensive and magnificent Rhododendron arboreum forests throughout the country ranging in elevation from around 1,400 to 3,600 meters. Starting at elevations of around 1,400 meters the flowers are a vibrant red. However, as altitude increases the color begins shifting to pink, gradually becoming pure white as elevations approach the species’ upper limit of 3,600 meters.
For Nepalis the most beloved of the tree rhododendrons is the Lali Gurans, or red one, and it has a special place in the people’s hearts, culture and economic life. In March and April it blankets the hills with great beauty, heralding the coming of Spring with warmer days and the promise of bountiful harvests to come. Red is also a most auspicious color commonly used for “tikas” and women’s saris during weddings and major festivals such as Dashain and Teej. Due to its special qualities and widespread distribution in the country’s hills Lali Gurans is the national flower of Nepal. In addition to this, in December 2006 during the reconciliation period following the civil conflict, Nepal adopted a new national emblem incorporating Lali Gurans.
According to reports in The Rising Nepal newspaper, the new emblem symbolizes “national unity and people’s sovereignty” and “reflects spirit of loktantra (republic) marked by inclusiveness and gender parity.” The new emblem contains the flag of Nepal, Mount Everest, green hills and yellow colour symbolising the fertile Terai region together with male and female hands joining to symbolise gender equality. Superimposed on the hills is a white silhouette in the shape of Nepal. All of these symbols are encircled by a wreath of red rhododendron flowers. At the base of the design a red scroll carries the national motto in Sanskrit: (jananī janmabhūmiśca svargādapi garīyasī), which translates as “Mother and the motherland are greater than heaven.”
The beauty of the flowering rhododendrons draws thousands of trekkers to Nepal every year. Trees begin flowering at lower elevations in early March and the season can extend into May at the higher elevations. The most extensive forests are in the eastern part of the country though there are still patches of forest in the far west. The major areas for seeing rhododendron while trekking are Langtang National Park, Makalubarun National Park, Milke Danda-Jaljale Himal (a transverse mountain range in the east which separates the Tamur and Arun river systems), the Upper Tamur River Valley, Ghumte Hill of Baglung and the Annapurna Conservation Area. The Pulchowki hills in the southern part of the Kathmandu Valley are an easily accessible place to see Lali Gurans. Seeing these beautiful flowering forests against the backdrop of the majestic Himalaya, while enjoying the wonderful hospitality of the Nepali people, is surely worth a trip from anywhere in the world.
The name rhododendron is derived from the Greek words rhodos (meaning rose) and dendron (meaning tree). There are over 1,000 natural species of rhododendron, including many bushy species and a number of trees that grow to heights of up to thirty meters. Many of the tree species will take years to reach flowering, at least twenty or more, while at least fifty years is needed for a tree rhododendron to reach its optimum form. Worldwide there are numerous Rhododendron societies and many species are cultivated throughout the world as ornamentals and hybrids, largely due to their beautiful flowers.
There are over 28,000 cultivars of Rhododendron in the International Rhododendron Registry held by the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK. Rhododendrons are botanically related to azaleas, blueberries, heathers and mountain laurels. Of the over thirty species of Rhododendron in Nepal the most renowned is Rhododendron arboreum, known as Gurans in Nepali. There are extensive and magnificent Rhododendron arboreum forests throughout the country ranging in elevation from around 1,400 to 3,600 meters. Starting at elevations of around 1,400 meters the flowers are a vibrant red. However, as altitude increases the color begins shifting to pink, gradually becoming pure white as elevations approach the species’ upper limit of 3,600 meters.
For Nepalis the most beloved of the tree rhododendrons is the Lali Gurans, or red one, and it has a special place in the people’s hearts, culture and economic life. In March and April it blankets the hills with great beauty, heralding the coming of Spring with warmer days and the promise of bountiful harvests to come. Red is also a most auspicious color commonly used for “tikas” and women’s saris during weddings and major festivals such as Dashain and Teej. Due to its special qualities and widespread distribution in the country’s hills Lali Gurans is the national flower of Nepal. In addition to this, in December 2006 during the reconciliation period following the civil conflict, Nepal adopted a new national emblem incorporating Lali Gurans.
According to reports in The Rising Nepal newspaper, the new emblem symbolizes “national unity and people’s sovereignty” and “reflects spirit of loktantra (republic) marked by inclusiveness and gender parity.” The new emblem contains the flag of Nepal, Mount Everest, green hills and yellow colour symbolising the fertile Terai region together with male and female hands joining to symbolise gender equality. Superimposed on the hills is a white silhouette in the shape of Nepal. All of these symbols are encircled by a wreath of red rhododendron flowers. At the base of the design a red scroll carries the national motto in Sanskrit: (jananī janmabhūmiśca svargādapi garīyasī), which translates as “Mother and the motherland are greater than heaven.”
The beauty of the flowering rhododendrons draws thousands of trekkers to Nepal every year. Trees begin flowering at lower elevations in early March and the season can extend into May at the higher elevations. The most extensive forests are in the eastern part of the country though there are still patches of forest in the far west. The major areas for seeing rhododendron while trekking are Langtang National Park, Makalubarun National Park, Milke Danda-Jaljale Himal (a transverse mountain range in the east which separates the Tamur and Arun river systems), the Upper Tamur River Valley, Ghumte Hill of Baglung and the Annapurna Conservation Area. The Pulchowki hills in the southern part of the Kathmandu Valley are an easily accessible place to see Lali Gurans. Seeing these beautiful flowering forests against the backdrop of the majestic Himalaya, while enjoying the wonderful hospitality of the Nepali people, is surely worth a trip from anywhere in the world.
