The Pricey 'Himalayan Viagra': A Kilogramme Worth Rs 20 Lakh!
A fungus that is regarded as the most expensive and unique in the world thrives in the high Himalayan mountains of the Pithoragarh district (Uttarakhand). This is in high demand in the market and is sold in millions, an unimaginable price for even a kilo of this herb.
Himalayan Viagra is the most expensive in the world?
In the traditional language, it is known as Keeda Jadi or Yarsagumba. It's also known as Himalayan Viagra.
Yarsagumba means winter worm or summer grass in Tibetan. It is also known as caterpillar fungus or Cordyceps Sinensis, and it is a significant source of revenue for the residents of Upper Dolpa.
It can be found in the Pithoragarh districts of Dharchula and Munsiyari, as well as other Himalayan states. The bug fungus is used in the development of cancer medications as well as as a potent tonic.
This insect fungus is in high demand not just in India but also in China, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Traders from those areas frequently visit Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, and, on occasion, Dharchula, to acquire it. Foreign traders purchase it through agents at a cost of around Rs 20 lakh per kilogramme.
It is the Dolpa people's main source of income
Yarsagumba is the Dolpa people's main source of revenue. While farming is practised in the lower sections of Dolpa, it is insufficient to sustain the higher Dolpa people for even a few months.
Yarsagumba is the 'lifeline' of the people of Dolpa, and it may be purchased for anywhere between Rs 200 and Rs 500 per piece, depending on the proportion and quality.
When the snow melts in the?Himalayas, the locals look for this fungus, but due to the effects of climate change, its output has been significantly reduced in the past few years. This has had an impact on the local people's livelihood. Yarsagumba is becoming increasingly scarce as a result of climate change.
The geographical distinctiveness also equips this region with Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), a prized aphrodisiac and energy enhancer found in Himalayan mountain pasturelands.
Long-distance runners in China have been accused of using Cordyceps to boost their performance on the track. Cordyceps has yet to be grown in a laboratory.
Its natural origin is gruesome: a parasitic?fungus erupts from the Swift moth caterpillar underground. Cordyceps gets its Indian name, Keeda Jadi (insect herb), from its mixed form, which has a fungus head riding a caterpillar body.?
The fungus' fruiting body also serves as a flag post. Collectors can easily detect and pocket it because it protrudes above ground.?
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