Valley of Flowers

Location: Nestled in the upper expansions of Bhyundar Ganga near Joshimath in Gharwal region.
Area: 87.50 sq km
Famous For: Alpine flora species
Activities: Trekking, Photography,

Introduction:
Nestled in the high Himalayas of Chamoli district of Garwhal regions in Uttarakhand, Valley of flowers is a picture perfect valley of colorful flowers. As the name reflects, Valley of flowers is a fairy land of innumerable flowers that bloom to create a heavenly sight. It is perched at an altitude of 3, 600m above the sea level, surrounded by snowy mountains.

This enchanting valley remain hidden for several centuries. During winter season, the entire Valley of flowers lay frozen but as soon as summer season begins, the valley splashed with colors of various kinds of alpine flowers. Thanks to Frank S. Smythe, a mountaineer, explorer, botanist has discovered this alluring valley in the monsoon of 1937 and brought it to limelight. He had also authored a book named “ The Valley of Flowers” that unveil the floral splendors of the region.

In the year 1982, Valley of flowers has attained the national park status and now due to its unique treasures of flora, it has gained the title of a World Heritage Site. The breathtaking beauty of the region charms large number of environmentalists, botanists and trekkers. Valley of flowers is a land where some 520 celebrated floral species like the Brahmakamal, the Blue Poppy and the Cobra Lily are available. Apart from numerous alpine flowers, Valley of flowers is also home to some rare wildlife species such as the Asiatic black bear, Snow leopard, Brown bear, Musk Deer, Blue sheep and colorful butterflies.

In And Around:
Beside the floral beauty of the region, Valley of flowers is also surrounded by some more exotic locales. Some of the nearby excursion to Valley of Flowers are

Hemkund Sahib: Hemkund Saheb is a popular trekking destination. It is just 15 km trek from Govindghat. A tranquil lake named Hemkund(4329) is also located here. It is a highly revered pilgrimage destination for both Hindus and Sikhs. A pious Gurudwara and a Laxman temple is built very near to this lake that woo lots of pilgrims every year.

Joshimath: It is one of the famous pilgrimage destination of Hindus in Uttarakhand. It was established by Adi Guru Shankaracharya in 8th century. Temples of Nav Durga and Narsingh are available here. Joshimath also serves as the base camp for trekking to Valley of flowers.

Best Time To Visit:
The best suitable time to visit this enchanting flowerful pastures is from July to August. During this period, the snow of the area started to melt and weather become very pleasant. It is the time when flowers also blossom.

Activities To Do:
Trekking: Valley of flowers is a paradise for trekkers. The well defined mountainous trails provide an ample of opportunity to explore each and every nook and corner of this floral valley. Trekking is a best option for such an excellent visual treat.

Photography: Valley of flowers is a picture perfect land and photography is an ideal way to lock the mesmerizing beauty of this valley into one's memory. Photography will also help you to cherish the scenic beauty of the region in later years.

Hotels And Wildlife Resorts:
Ghangaria near Valley of Flowers has some accommodation facility. Some of the hotels and wildlife resorts of the region are
Forest Rest House at Ghangaria

How To Reach There:
By Road: Valley of flowers is well connected by road. Joshimath is the nearest town to Valley of Flowers. After a 10 hour drive from Joshimath to Govind ghat and 1 hour drive from Govind Ghat one will get closer to Valley of Flowers. From Govind Ghat it is a 13-kilometer (8 mile) trek along a steep, narrow, but well defined mountainous path to base camp at Ghangaria. This will take between 4 to 8 hours, depending on the fitness of a person.

By Rail: Tourists can also reach to Valley of Flowers by train . The nearest railway head to Valley of flowers is in Rishikesh, which is at distance of 276 km(170 miles).

By Air: The nearest airport is in Dehradun, 295 kilometers (183 miles) away from Valley of Flowers.