Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is located at a height of almost 3000 meters and the place is accessible to general public from June to October every year. For the rest of the year, its covered in snow. The valley is expanded in 87 sq. km. It is part of Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park. Here you can check things to do in Valley of flowers.
Why is Valley of flowers famous?
- It is home for more than 600 flowering species, including thealpine flowers and the state flower of Uttarakhand i.e. Brahmkamal.
- Many animal species are also found such as leopard, asiatic black bear, brown bear, musk deer, blue sheep, etc.
- Pushpawati river flows alongside the snow-clad mountains, the cliffs, glaciers, the waterfalls and the thrilling beauty.
- It is a declared National Park.
- The dense forest and the fresh air are blessings to the lungs and mesmerising to the eyes.
- The mountains and the scenic beauty is experience of a lifetime.
History of Valley of Flowers
The valley is said to have been discovered in 1931 by a British mountaineer-Francis Sydney Smythe. He along with is friends lost their way and accidentally discovered this valley. In 1982, this valley was discovered a National Park. In 2005, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Things to know before visiting the Valley
- The valley is accessible only on foot.
- It is accessible only from June to October.
- One should start early from Ghangaria to have more time.
- Entry for the valley opens at 7 a.m. and last entry is till 2 p.m.
- A permit is required from the state forest department to visit the Valley.
- The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun.
- The nearest railway station is Rishikesh and from here one can take taxisor buses to reach Govind ghat.
- One can also take bus directly to Govind ghat.
- Water resistance trekking pants, warm clothes, raincoat, sunglasses,
- Some snacks, water bottles, etc. should be carried along.
ENTRY FEES
- For Indians- 150 rupees
- Foreigners- 650 rupees
Things to do in Valley of flowers
1. Trekking
- Difficulty- Easy to moderate
- Exact location- Garhwal region
- Best season- July to September
- Best way to reach- Bus
- Elevation-3658m
As the name suggests, Valley of Flowers boasts innumerable types of flowers that are treat for the eyes. The Valley is surrounded by mountains on all sides. The trekkers also witness the Valley of Flowers National Park that is famous for its endemic alpine flowers. This trek is best enjoyed in monsoon season. This place is also believed to the place from where Lord Hanuman brought the life saving herb to save Lakshman.
2. Visit Hemkund Sahib
One can visit Sri Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara that literally means ‘lake of snow’. If one find the terrain difficult, they can hire porters, helicopters to reach here. The Hemkund lake is surrounded by many peaks whose reflection is seen in clear water. It is also believed that Guru Govind Singh used to visit this place for meditation. Hemkund Sahib is dedicated to the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
Though the valley opens for general public fro June, the flowers bloom maximum in the month of August. However, August is also the monsoon month and roads might get blocked.
3. Village Expedition
On the way to the Valley of Flowers, lies Ghangaria which is the last human habitation spot before one reaches the valley. Here, two rivers, Hemganga and Pushpawati river merge. This place is usually used as a base camp by travellers going to Hemkund Sahib and the Valley of Flowers. Ghangaria has a helipad too and one can hire porter or a helicopter to avoid the difficult terrain. The place also has many hotels where all kinds of dishes are served. BSNL signal is somewhat available but not Jio or Airtel.
4. Visit to Nanda Devi National Park
The park is famous for many threatened species of flora and fauna such as Himalayan musk deer, blue sheep, etc. River Rishi Ganga flows through this park and forms Rishi Ganga gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world. Other rivers such as Alaknanda, Dhauli Ganga, Pushpawati also cross these areas.
Best time to visit is from May to October.
5. Bheem Pul
It is a natural stone bridge located in Mana Village which is 28km from the Valley of Flowers. It is built on Saraswati river that flows with its might and along with the village, it offers a scenic beauty that is mesmerising to to the eyes. It a great location for beautiful photos and videos. One can also visit Mana Village that is located near Tibet border. It is inhabited by Indo-Mongolian tribe known as Bhotiyas. As per mythology, Mahabharat was written in the Mana village by Sage vyas.
6. Bird Watching
Many rare species of birds are seen at Ghangaria, Govindghat, Hemkund lake, etc. The commonly seen birds include the Himalayan Snowcock, Black Francolin, Common Hill Partridge, Bearded Vultures ,etc. These birds are treat to the eyes and great for photography.
Staying, Food and Climate Guide
Staying in the Valley
As the Valley is a protected site, tourists are not allowed to stay there at night. They have to trek back to Ghangaria or Govindghat in order to find an accommodation. There are many lodges and hotels at these two places.
Food guide for the Valley
Once you start the trekking, there are no eating points on the way and it might take almost 7 hours to explore the valley. Therefore, it is advisable to pack and carry lunch, refreshments, etc. In the restaurants at Ghangaria which is 3.2 kms away from the valley, one can find all kinds of food including Chinese, Punjabi, and local dishes.
Climate
The area receives low annual rainfall, but heavy monsoon rain in month of July- August. There is mist all over and low lying clouds during monsoon and hence, the soil is moist. From April to June, the temperature is moderate to cool. The valley is snow laden from October to March every year.
Other places to visit in nearby
Badrinath
It is located at an elevation of 3133m and belongs to Lord Vishnu and is situated on the right bank of Alaknanda river. Joshnimath- It is one of the four maths created by Adi Shankaracharya. It is connected to Auli via cable car.
Auli
It is a famous hill station and a popular winter destination. The place has numerous adventurous activities like skiing, trekking, camping, etc. Pandukeshwar- It lies near Badrinath and is a sacred village in Chamoli
district. It is a pilgrimage site and is said to have been established by King Pandu, father of Pandavas.
Vishnuprayag
It is one of the 5 prayags located on Alaknanda river and is 32km from Badrinath. Most of these places can be visited using bus services and what is better than zingbus. here safety is priority. zingbus drivers are properly trained, coaches are built as per latest technology and safety measures. book your tickets today only on zingbus and explore the website for latest deals and offers.
WELL THAT’S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VALLEY OF FLOWERS. SO, WHAT
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