‘Valley of Flowers’ — Town, Sikkim
From Tib: yum ‘meadow’ and thang ‘plains’
The broad alpine valley of Yumthang, now marketed as the “Valley of Flowers”, is a reminder that Himalayan place names often describe terrain with great precision. In spring, the valley fills with rhododendrons; in winter, it is simply a white corridor leading deeper into the high Himalayas.
For related place names see Indian Place names and Sikkim place names.
