The reappearance of these flowers could have been sparked off by climate change, say some scientists, while others believe it is nature's way of throwing up surprises. Rhododendron flowers are used by the locals to make juice or squash having a high nutritional and market value. People are ready to harvest a second crop of the wild flower and sell its juice to tourists.

Another thing of joy in the Chakrata hills are its apple orchards. “If everything goes along fine, we should have a bumper harvest this September,” says Chetan Singh of Naitwar town in Uttarkashi district.

The apple growers have urged the Government to set up collection centres in at least a dozen remote areas as plenty of apples, which are unable to make it to the market because of lack of connectivity, are left to rot in the villages every year. Apples are grown on over 7,400 hectares in the Chakrata hills area.

Two residents of Naogaon in Uttarkashi district, Ramesh and Sangeeta, feel that the Government should introduce apple varieties that fetch a better price in the market besides promoting the local fruit-processing industries to ensure cent per cent utilisation of the crop in the region.