A National Park in The Himalayas

A National Park in the Himalayas

Guarded by the majestic Himalayan peaks, Valley of flowers covers a vast stretch of 87 square kilometre area, casing numerous species of alpine flowers. This enchanting meadow blessed with a diverse species of flora and fauna, falls in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Apart from beautiful wild flowers, the place is also abode of several species of butterflies and endangered species of animals including Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, Blue Sheep and Asiatic Black Bear. Numerous waterfalls, Glaciers and forest falls en route this pristine valley.

About Valley of Flowers

The Valley of Flowers was introduced to the outer world in 1931, when eminent British Mountaineers Franks S. Smythe and R.L. Holdsworth accidently reached this valley after their trek to Mount Kamet.

The region which is rich in variety of flora and fauna was declared National Park of India in 1982 and now it is a UNESCO world heritage site. The valley is located at the remarkable area where Himalayan range, Zanskar range, Western and Eastern Himalayas converge. Remaining frozen during winters, this mesmerising beauty unfolds its magical charm during the month of July, August and September when more than hundred species of many-hued flowers pops up. During that span the whole green valley gets covered with lively and vibrant carpet of full bloomed flowers; calling nature admirers, enthusiast photographers and botanists from all around the world. Blue elevated peaks and white clouds create the perfect backdrop for colourful meadows.

Valley of Flowers was closed for two years after the Uttarakhand flood destroyed and washed away major bridges to reach the valley. Later they were constructed and in 2015, thousands of travellers visited the valley and feasted their eyes upon the ravishing beauty of nature.

Best time to visit

The Valley of Flowers National Park remains open for the tourists from 1st June to 31st October. It remains covered with snow in winters. The valley thrives with blooming flowers during rainy season when the snow melts. The best time to visit the place is during July, August and September.

Attraction of Valley of Flower according to the changing season

June – In this season there will be no rain to affect your plan and you can watch beautiful glaciers and some certain species of flowers. Also in this month, the place is flooded by a lot of pilgrims for Hemkund Sahib.

July and August – This is the best time to visit the place as it is the high time when you can see maximum number of varieties of flowers.

September – In this season flowers starts drying up and shedding their seeds on the earth for the next season. This is the last month for visiting the valley.

How to reach the place

The nearest major town from Valley of Flower is Joshimath, which is well connected with roads from Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun. Here, we are providing a short itinerary for the place.

Day 1 – Haridwar to Govindghat Distance – 300Km Time taken – 10 – 12 hours by road Main Charm of the Journey – Beautiful views of rivers on the way.

Day 2 – Govindghat to Ghangharia Distance –13 Km Time taken – 8 – 10 hours by trekking Main Charm of the Journey – Cascading waterfall, snow-capped mountains and Bhusandi Lake.

Note – You may hire mules or porters. Helicopters are also available but their flights depends on the weather condition.

Day 3 – Ghangaria to Valley of Flowers and back to Ghagaria.

Ghagaria is the small settlement from about 3 Km from Valley of Flowers.

Distance – 13 – 14 Km Time taken – 7 – 8 hours by trek Main Charm of the Journey – Unparalleled beauty of valley full of flowers and pleasant environment.

Day 4 – Ghagaria to Hemkund Sahib and back Distance – 12 Km Time taken – 8 – 9 hours by trek Main Charm of the Journey – Scenic sights and beautiful flowers en route to the holy lake which is situated at an altitude of 13,500 meters.

Day 5 – Trek from Ghangaria to Govindghat. Drive to Joshimath

Day 6 – Return journey from Joshimath to Haridwar

The charming place is best to behold the well-preserved beauty of bright coloured flowers in the midst of valleys. Visit this wonder of nature at least once in your lifetime.