The Valley of Flowers

The stunning landscape of The Valley of Flowers National Park in northern India's state of Uttarakhand, bordered by Nepal and Tibet, comes alive with the monsoon rain. This high-altitude Himalayan valley has around 300 different varieties of alpine flowers, which appear as a bright carpet of color against a mountainous snow capped background.

The Valley of Flowers National Park is located in Chamoli Garhwal, close to Nanda Devi National Park. It’s about 595 kilometers (370 miles) from Delhi, and has an altitude that varies from 10,500 feet to 21,900 feet above sea level.

Getting to The Valley of Flowers:

The nearest airport is in Dehradun, 295 kilometers (183 miles) away, and the nearest railway station is in Rishikesh, 276 kilometers (170 miles) away. The closest you can get to The Valley of Flowers by road is Govind Ghat. This requires around a 10 hour drive to Joshimath, then another one hour to Govind Ghat. From Govind Ghat it’s a 13 kilometer (8 mile) trek along a steep, narrow, but well defined mountain trail to base camp at Ghangaria. This will take between 4 to 8 hours, depending on your fitness! The start of the main valley, where all the flowers are, is a further 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Ghangaria.

When to Visit The Valley of Flowers :

The Valley of Flowers is only open from April to October as it's covered in snow the rest of the year. The best time to visit is from July to August, when the flowers are in full bloom after the first monsoon rain. If you go before July, you’ll find hardly any flowers at all.

Valley of Flowers Opening Hours:

To prevent trekkers and livestock from taking too much of a toll on the park, access to The Valley of Flowers is restricted to daylight hours (from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and camping is prohibited. The last entry to the park is at 3 p.m. You’ll need to go from, and return to, Ghangaria on the same day.

Valley of Flowers Cost:

The entry fee is 350 rupees ($8.50) for foreigners for a 3 day pass, and 175 rupees ($4.25) for subsequent days. There’s a Forest Department check point less than a kilometer from Ghangaria, which marks the official beginning of The Valley of Flowers. This is where you pay the money and obtain your permit. It costs 350 rupees plus food to hire a porter, and around 350-400 rupees for a mule (depending on demand), at Govind Ghat for the trek to Ghangaria. Cheap plastic raincoats are also available for purchase for 20 rupees (50 cents) each.

Valley of Flowers

Valley of Flowers is a fairy-land situated high in the Himalayas of the Uttaranchal, at an altitude of 3,600 meters above the sea-level, protected by snowy mountains. Unknown to humans, for centuries this enchanting valley lay frozen during the colder months, and burst into its youthful beauty every year, as the snow melted with the advent of summer. Every year, the valley was splashed with color as it bloomed with hundreds of kinds of flowers, taking on various shades of colors as months progressed. Finally one day, nature condescended to bless humans with this heavenly sight, when Frank Smith - mountaineer, explorer, botanist - chanced upon it in the monsoon of 1931. He authored a book called "The Valley of Flowers" which unveiled the beauty and floral splendours of the valley and made the world sit up and watch. It was declared a national park in 1982, and now it is a World Heritage Site. The locals, of course, always knew of the existence of the valley, and believed that it was inhabited by fairies.

Ghangaria Uttarakhand in India

Ghangaria is a village in Uttarakhand in India. To get here one has to travel approx 350 km by road from Rishikesh which is the nearest railway station and then trek up further 21 km. Ghangaria is the starting point of the trek to Valley of Flowers; and to the Sikh Pilgrim center of Hemkund.

Ghangaria is a small village on the way to Hemkund sahib, and a popular pilgrimage site for Sikhs about 6 km from here and the Valley of Flowers, a national park known for its variety of flowers about 3 km from here. It is located in the northern Himalayan ranges at an altitude of 3049 meters in Uttarakhand state of India. It is also known as Govinddham.

Ghangaria is situated on the bank of the river Lakshman Ganga. It is the last human habitation in this tiny valley. This place is usually used by travelers as a base camp to visit Hemkund and Valley of flowers. It is only open from May till September. The rest of the year the valley is covered under 8 feet of snow.

Ghangaria can be reached after a 13 km trek from Govindghat. One can also hire a porter or mule to avoid this strenuous trekking. There is no clear road, only a path made of rocks. Ghangaria has various hotels including one from the GMVN (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam), restaurants serving Punjabi dishes, shops, camping grounds and a big Gurdwara to accommodate all the pilgrims. Only satellite telephone service is available, with only one outgoing call allowed for the entire village at any given time.

In Ganghria The Larger River Pushpawati flowing from Rataban and Nilgiri Ranges across the Valley of Flowers, meets the Lakshman Ganga from Hemkund Lake(The glaciers of Haathi Parvat and SaptShring peaks forms this lake), from here Onwards River is known as Lakshman Ganga.

Hotels in Ghangaria

This place is usually used by travelers as a base camp to visit Hemkund and Valley of flowers. It remains open only through the month of May till September with rest of the year covered under 8 feet snow. Ghangaria can be reached after a 14 km trek from Govindghat .One can also hire a porter or mule to avoid this strenuous trekking. There is no clear road and has only a path made of rocks.

Travel Facts

Camp Location -

285 kms. from Rishikesh. 35 kms from Joshimath. 13 Kms from Govindghat.

Accommodation & Activities -Hotels in Ghangaria

• 25 Alpine tents with separate bathrooms. 
• Dining Tent and Open areas.
• Hot water facility.
• Various excursions and nature walks can be undertaken at the camp.
• Trek to the Valley of Flowers is an amazing experience and offers an incredibly enchanting view of nature.
• There are several places of religious importance in the immediate vicinity of the camp for the spiritually inclined.

Climate 

The Maximum Temprature may reack up to a maximum of 17C and can reach a minimum of 7C during Nights.

Best Time to Visit - From June to September

How to get there

By Road :

Drive from Rishikesh all the way up to Govindghat (272 kms) by a decent pucca (metal) road.

By Air :

The nearest Airport is the Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun.

By Train :

From Delhi to Rishikesh followed by a trip to Govindghat by road.

Things To Do 

Hemkund ( 12 km treck ) 

One of the most important Sikh pilgrimage center and the highest Gurudwara in the Himalayas (4330 Mt.). 8 km (one way) from Camp.

Valley of Flowers ( 10 km trek route from Ghangaria)

The Valley of Flowers is at an altitude of 3250 m and is spread over an area of 87.5 km.The Valley of Flowers was declared a national park in 1982. Since the Valley of Flowers is a UNESCO World Heritage Site , hence there are rules that need to be followed to help it maintain its divinity. Though unfortunately one of the rules are that you cannot camp in the valley. But just a few steps into the park and you are welcomed by the sweet fragrance of vegetation, the path has small flowers blooming on both sides. The best season to visit the Valley is from August to September when all the flowers blossom.

History of the Valley of Flowers

Nestled in the upper reaches of Garhwal, Uttarakhand among snow-capped mountains and swarmed with over 500 species of flowers is paradise on earth.

Literally speaking, Valley of Flowers is paradise on earth. Thanks to Frank S, Smith - mountaineer, explorer, botanist, who introduced this place to the world in 1931. He chanced upon this place after successfully scaling a peak in Garhwal, Kamet , which was 25,447 in height. While returning from his mission he took the western pass and lost his way and reached this valley. What a discovery it was! Its so difficult to imagine his reaction on seeing a valley filled with flowers, different colours and fragrances.

In 1937 he came back to the valley, and camped there for several weeks. He then authored a book called "The Valley of Flowers" in 1938, which unveiled the beauty and floral splendours of the valley and thus threw open the doors of this verdant jewel to nature-enthusiasts all over the world.

This place also has mythological significance. Legends associate this valley with era from where Hanumanji of Ramayana collected 'Sanjeevani' herb to revive Lakshman and this valley had also been known to the inhabitants as the Bhiyundar valley.

Paradise on earth, you will found yourself standing on a mountain dotted with exotic flowers of various colours - green, white, yellow, blue and purple. In front it ran the valley and behind were the snow-capped mountains, with glaciers melting turning into waterfalls and the water trickling by in small streams that allow you to hear the water gurgling.

The other side of the valley had denser foliage with a small amount of leftover snow scattered in places. At the end of the valley are big black mountains with snow, you can see the greenery turning into barren brown, to black and white. Ying and Yang, Greenery and Barren land, Black and White, any color you like.

Surrender yourselves to the vast expanse and radiating beauty of the place and lost yourself in its peace and tranquil.

Being in Paradise on earth and revealing every word of the feeling arised from the surronding snow, mountains, millions of colorful flowers and

their enchanting fragrances is not at all possible. We are presenting you this photo-gallery of valley of flowers just for visual feel. To feel the

actual essence behind the scene, you will be needed to visit the place.

For more information for this Destination please check india Travel Guide