Valley of Flowers
Uttarakhand / Joshimath / 31-Aug-2017The Valley of flowers situated in the lap of the Western Himalayas in Uttarakhand, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a magnificent national park which comes under the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve at an altitude of about 11811 ft (3600 m). Valley of Flowers is world famous for its endemic flora of over hundreds of flowers. Its beautiful meadows spread over 87.5 km2, covered with heavenly flora give an unbelievable view. The awarding scene of the Valley of Flowers makes it one of the top trekking sites.
This valley is located in the upper areas of Bhyundar near Joshimath, Chamoli district. It is in the Pushpawati valley which was discovered by Col. Edmund Smyth in 1862. The area is amazing in respect of its location also, as it comes in the range of Zanskar, the Great Himalayas. Being a hotspot of biodiversity, this place also harbours some endangered animals and birds of the Himalayas. You can expect to see Himalayan Monal, Black bear, Blue sheep, Snow Leopard, Musk deer and other high altitude flora and fauna in the park.
Valley of Flowers holds extreme importance in Hindu epics, botany and history as well. Many monks have came here for their “saadhna” in the history. “Brahmkamal” the state flower of Uttarakhand is found here, during September.
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Climate of Valley of Flowers
The best season to visit is upto you. The valley shows its own kind of beauty in every season. The Valley of Flowers is at its full bloom during July-August and snow clad during May- June. However, the park is open for visiting only during June- October as for the rest of months it is snow laden.
You can expect heavy rainfalls during June to September with misty air and clouds flowing over your head. As it is an alpine valley, the temperature goes no more above 18°C during summer days.
MYTHOLOGY
It is believed that people get fainted in the Valley of Flowers due to intense fragrances of thousands of flowers blooming there. Some local people believe that fairies dwell in the Valley of Flowers. According to their beliefs, one should not wear bright coloured clothes or shout or pluck a flower, esp. the Brahmkamal, while in the valley.
How to reach Valley of Flowers
Joshimath is the nearest town to the valley which is linked to Dehradun and Haridwar. You can reach Joshimath from Dehradun by bus and it takes around 11 h. If you are starting from Delhi, you can reach to Haridwar by bus or by train and then to Joshimath.
TREK ITINERARY
The trek to Valley of flowers is moderately difficult and takes 4-5 days.
Day 1: Reach Govindghat (6300 ft).
Day 2: Drive from Govindghat to Pulna village (7200 ft), 4 km. Followed by 9 km trek to Ghangariya (9600 ft).
Day 3: Trek from Ghangariya to Valley of Flowers (11,500 ft), 3.2 km. Then return back to Ghangariya.
Day 4: Trek back 9km to Pulna village from Ghangariya. 4km drive back to Govindghat and takes around 5 h.
You can opt for going back Haridwar the same day or the next day as per your convenience.
During the trip, you can stay at lodges at the places.
Starting point of the trek: Haridwar/ Govindghat
Duration of trek: 4-5 Days
Diffculty level: Moderate
Highest altitude: 11,500 ft
Best time: June to October (Pre or Post Monsoon)
Average temperature: Daytime 18°C maximum ; Night time: 4°C minimum
ESSENTIALS:
- Warm & waterproof clothing
- A rucksack of around 60L (preferably waterproof)
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle
- Torch
- Trekking shoes or Sports shoes
- Trekking pole
- Waterproof bags or plastic bags
- First aid kit
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