Valley of Flowers National Park
About Valley of Flowers National Park
Far From City: 0 kms from city center
Cost:
About Valley of Flowers National Park
Weather:
Time Required:4-5 hrs
Open Time:7:00 AM - 5:00 PMLast entry- 2:00 PM,
Every year the valley opens up on 1st June and closes on 21st October.
Cost:
3-day pass -Indian Tourists: INR 150,Foreigner Tourists: INR 600
Flora and Fauna at Valley Of Flowers National Park
The entire valley is covered with flowers of every colour and type which gives a magical quality to the place. It has more than 650 species of flowers present including Blue Poppy, Cobra Lily, and Brahmakamal. The area is also home to several rare and engendered animals. A diverse population of fauna can be found in the valley including Asiatic black bear, blue sheep, brown bear, blue sheep, black and brown bears, and yellow-throated marten. A variety of birds too can be found here including the Himalayan golden eagle, Himalayan snow cock, sparrow, snow pigeon, and Himalayan monal.
The park also contains a high diversity as well as a density of flora and fauna of the west biographic zone with threatened species including Himalayan musk deer, snow leopard and other plant species. Spread over an area of 71,210 hectares, the park has a buffer zone surrounding it measuring 514,857 hectares. Populations of Galliformes and mountain ungulates which are prey to snow leopard and other carnivores are supported in this entire area located in the Western Himalayas Endemic Bird Area.
Trek To Valley Of Flowers National Park
The trek of Valley of Flowers is bound to give you one of the most beautiful trekking experiences. The trek begins at the Pulna Village or Govindghat after crossing the Alaknanda River across the hanging bridge. You can view the snow-clad peaks between the green and the Rocky Mountains after passing the Pulna village. The 7 km track between Pulna and Bhyundar Village comprises of cold water springs and waterfalls. The area appears pink and dark red due to the presence of Rhododendrons in the region.
After resting for some time, the trek continues on the right bank of the Laxman Ganga till a log bridge is encountered. After crossing over to the left bank, the trail becomes steeper. You will reach Ghangharia which is the base camp of treks to Valley of Flowers 2 km from here.
History of Valley Of Flowers National Park
There were three British mountaineers named Frank S. Smythe, R.L. Holdsworth and Eric Shipton who went off track while they were coming down from Mt. Kamet in 1931. They accidentally reached this valley which was covered with alpine flowers and was very exotic. The beauty of the place left them in admiration, and they ended up naming it 'The valley of flowers'. Later on, one of the three climbers Frank S. Smythe wrote a book on it too and named it Valley of Flowers. The locals also always knew that this beautiful valley existed and believed that fairies and Gods resided here.
Best time to visit Valley of Flowers National Park
Since the valley of flowers is covered by the Himalayan Mountains, it remains covered with snow most of the year. Heavy rainfall and dense fog can be witnessed at the place during the late summer months as well. The ideal time to visit the place is from mid-July to mid-August as colourful flowers start growing in this season with the settling snow. The climate is pleasant with warm days and cold nights.
How to Reach Valley of Flowers National Park
Air:The nearest airport to the Valley of Flowers is Jolly Grant Airport. You can take a taxi to reach Govindghat from where the trek of 16 km to reach the valley of flowers will begin.
Rail:The nearest railway station to Valley of Flowers is present in Rishikesh from where you can either hire a taxi or public bus to reach Govindghat. From here, you can further begin the trek to reach the valley.
Road:Valley of Flowers is well-connected by roads till the Pulna Village. From here, you will have to begin with the trek in order to reach the valley.
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Tips
1. The hike is a little exhausting so make sure to take small breaks on the way.2. Ensure that you carry lots of spare clothes in case you get rained on.3. Also, carry some food along with you for the hike.4. Since the accommodations start getting crowded, it is advisable to book a place to stay in advance.5. To make the trek more comfortable, you can also hire a porter at Govind Ghat.6. There are no toilets on the trekking route or in the valley, so you will have to relieve yourself in nature.
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