An extensive watercolour view of a valley from rocky outcrop. There is a flat plain in the centre and jagged peaks, some snow-capped, in the distance. In the foreground are small figures in military uniforms and cannon. Signed, inscribed & dated. The watercolour is mounted in what is likely to be its original wide gold mount, though this practice is known to have been disliked by Prince Albert who preferred white mounts.

Sir John Miller Adye was an army officer who served the British in the Crimean War and Indian Rebellion. He was also an accomplished artist, and there are three watercolours including this one by him in the Royal Collection (See RCIN 928496 and 917581). Additionally, Queen Victoria is known to have owned another drawing by Adye, titled 'The Charge of Heavy Cavalry at Balaclava' (1854), which is now untraced.

Another illustration by Adye of the Chamla Valley accompanied an article by him on the expedition of the British against the people of the Punjab frontier published in the Illustrated London News of 6 February 1864. This published illustration was drawn from the position on the Goru heights held by the British force. The British commander chose the Chamla valley as his operational base for this expedition.