Valley of Flowers Tourism
Hills Valleys, Rivers Lakes, Hill Stations,
Ideal Duration : 1-2 days
Best Time : May to October
"Serene valley of Flowers"
Valley of Flowers Tourism
Valley of Flowers is located in Chamoli district (near Badrinath) of Uttarakhand, approximately 300 km to the north of Rishikesh. This is a picturesque national park, gracing the beauty of Western Himalayas. Valley of flowers was discovered in 1931 and is a World Heritage Site for its wild untamed blooms surrounded by white peaks.
At the meeting point of the Himalayan ranges, Zanskar and Western and Eastern Himalayas, the valley of flowers discovered by Mountaineer Frank S Smith in 1931 has been declared a world heritage site for its wild untamed blooms surrounded by white peaks. Famous for its exotic varieties of medicinal herbs, it is also believed that Hanuman brought Sanjivani to the ailing Lakshmana from the valley of flowers. A perfect place to laze around the umpteen number of Himalayan water-falls, streams and paddocks and let the beauty of the place sink in.
Download Valley of Flowers PDF Guide >
What's Great?
A heavenly abode of nature in Garhwal. A delight for a flower lover.
What's not so Great?
Difficult to reach. Hostile in winters.
For Whom
Almost tailor-made for nature lovers and fearless trekkers. Suitable for backpackers touring nearby sites like Dehradun, Mussoorie etc.
An abode of flowers
The Valley of Flowers is a beautiful destination situated in the Joshimath area of the Garhwal region, almost next to the Nanda Devi National Park. Accessible from June onwards, this beautiful valley is filled with blooming flowers of rare varieties, especially the endemic alpine flowers such as golden lily, which make it a place worth visiting. Now a World Heritage Site, this site was accidentally discovered in 1931 by three tourists, Frank Smythe, Eric Shipton & RS Holsworth, while returning from a successful expedition to Mt. Karmet. So if you're touring the Garhwal region, be sure to visit this place.
Opening and Closing Dates
June 1 to October 4
Entry Fee
INR 150 for Indian and INR 450 for foreigners, respectively. The ticket is valid for 3 days from the date of purchase.
Flora
Valley of Flowers is the core zone of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. About 520 high altitude plants are found here, including a variety of flowering plants, and rare medicinal herbs.The medicinal plants, namely Aconitum heterophyllum, A. falconeri, Arnebia benthamii, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Gymnadenia orchides, Megacarpa polyandra, Picrorhiza kurroa, Podophyllum hexandrum and Taxus wallichiana dominate the area. A research nursery for promoting these rare medical herbs has been set up near the entrance, at Musadhar.
Among the flowering plants that are found in this area are Orchid, Marigold, Poppy, Daisies, Primulas, Anemone. Parts of Valley of Flower are covered with sub-alpine forests birch and rhododendron. Flowering plants account for about 490 of the 520 species found in this national park.
Fauna
Valley of Flowers has a rich fauna coverage, though the density is not too high. All the animals found are of rare and/or endangered species. Among the most commonly found animals are the tahr, while serow, goral, musk deer and bharal, blue sheep are rarely found. Other names include Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, Red Fox, Common Langur, Bharal, Serow, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Brown Bear and Pica (Mouse Hare). Professor C.P. Kala?s research recorded 13 species, but only 9 of them were sighted by him- namely the northern plains grey langur Semnopithecus entellus, flying squirrel Petaurista petaurista, Himalayan black bear Ursus thibetanus, red fox Vulpes vulpes, Himalayan weasel Mustela sibirica, Himalayan yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula, Himalayan goral Naemorhedus goral, Himalayan musk deer Moschus leucogaster, etc.
The bird population include names such as Himalayan Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Snow Partridge, Himalayan Snow Cock, Himalayan Monal, Snow Pigeon and the Sparrow Hawk. The more commonly spotted birds are lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus, Himalayan vulture Gyps himalayensis, yellow billed and red billed choughs, etc. Reptiles such as Agama tuberculata, Himalayan ground skink and species of butterfly such as lime butterfly Papilio demoleus demoleus, common yellow swallowtail Papilio machaon, common Mormon Papilio polytes romulus are also found.
History of Valley of Flowers
The inaccessibility of this place did not allow people to know much about its presence. However, in 1931 3 British mountaineers Frank S. Smythe, Eric Shipton and R.L. Holdsworth happened to discover this place when they lost their way, returning from a successful expedition to Mt.Kamet. The valley which was full of flowers was named ?Valley of Flowers?. The Valley of Flowers was declared as a national park by the government in 1980. In 1982, the park was renamed as Nanda Devi National Park. In 1988, when the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve was established, this location was declared to be its core zone.
The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve has been a part of UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2004 and Valley of Flowers is now a World Heritage Site.
Itinerary
Day 1-Reach Govindghat (20 km before Badrinath), the last motorable point to reach Valley of Flowers. From here, the trek is for about 16 km (8-10 hours) up to Ghangaria alongside the bank of river Pushpavati for the first 9 km. The next 4 km is a slightly steep trek. However, once you reach the beautiful valley, the exhaustion will vanish in a jiffy on seeing the beauty of the blooming flowers in the once snow-clad valley, especially in the summer months.This trek can be skipped as pony, helicopter, palanquin rides are available from Govindghat to Ghangaria. However, helicopters are available as per weather conditions.Since you cannot stay at Valley of Flowers, Ghangaria which serves as the base camp has several private lodges and hotels for accommodation.
Day 2-Start from Ghangaria to reach Valley of Flowers. The distance is approximately 14 km (7-8 hours). Entry starts at 7 AM in the morning and closes at 5 PM. Hence, an early morning start is necessary. Come back to Ghangaria on the same day.
Depending on the speed and stamina, one might also cover the Pushpavati River Bed point for lunch.
Day 3-Start at Ghangaria to reach Shri Hemkund Sahib point, the highest Gurudwara in the world with a lake beside. The distance is approximately 12 km (8-9 hours), half of which is a difficult but worthy steep. Start early and return on the same day.
Day 4-Ghangaria to Govindghat.
Restaurants and Local Food in Valley of Flowers
The area does not offer many choices in food and hence it is best to pack some food for your trip here or make personal arrangements. Some hotels and lodges nearby might serve typical Indian food.
May-Octis the best time to visit Valley of Flowers
The Valley of Flowers, being a snow-clad valley almost throughout the year, is accessible to tourists only in the monsoon season, between the months of June & September. The best time to visit Valley of Flowers National Park to witness its exquisite lush green cover is in the months of July, August and September. During this time, valley has just begun to bloom, and hence not worth visiting, while the snowfall in winters makes the site not only hostile but also defeats the purpose of visiting this valley altogether.
Weather in Valley of Flowers
Loading...
Valley of Flowers in Summer (March - June)
This is not exactly the most advisable time for a visit to the Valley. The snow starts melting, and the flowers don't even bloom at this time. However, being the off-season, you can go for a trek to the adjoining trekking hotspots.
Valley of Flowers in Monsoon (July - September)
This is the best time for a visit to the Valley. The flowers are fully bloomed by now, and the snow has also completely melted away. The climate is also pleasant during these months.
Valley of Flowers in Winter (October - February)
Beginning from October, the winter season is the least advisable time for a visit to the same. The snow starts falling, and the valley becomes unbearably cold.
Monthly Weather in Valley of Flowers
Month
Avg. Minimum (°C)
Avg. Maximum (°C)
January
6
15
February
9
19
March
11
21
April
17
27
May
19
29
June
20
29
July
21
27
August
21
27
September
20
26
October
16
24
November
11
21
December
9
19
Events in Valley of Flowers
Trek to Hemkund Sahib
May - September
Set on a glacial peak surrounded by seven peaks, Hemkund Sahib makes you feel as if you've reached the feet of the Gods. Hemkund is inaccessible from October to April due to snow on the roads. However, this is can be a difficult path to tread so make sure you're in perfect health before attempting this trek.
Comments on Valley of Flowers
Post Your Comment