Some of India's most valued and rare natural heritage can be found in acres of seasonal wildflowers, some of which bloom just once in a while and are hidden away in protected areas and national parks. Said to have been discovered in 1931 by three British mountaineers, the Valley of Flowers National Park in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand is famous. The UNESCO World Heritage Site forms one of the two core zones of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, the other being the Nanda Devi National Park.
The journey to this beautiful place is a long trip. You have to hike up from a point called Govindghat. After many hours, you reach Ghangharia, which is the overnight halt for the valley. As of now, visitors must travel about 12 kilometres from Ghangharia, the trek's starting point, to reach the Valley of Flowers. Reports say that officials have approved the construction of a 7.2km road linking Pulna to Bhyundar village in Chamoli district. It is estimated that the distance to the Valley of Flowers will drop to about 5 kilometres with the opening of the new road.
Not only that. The trip to the pilgrimage site of Hemkund Sahib, a holy gurdwara located near the ice-bound Hemkund Lake, will also be simplified by the road. Starting at Ghangharia, the current 15km walk to the Sikh shrine will now only take roughly 8km thanks to the new road.
The Valley of Flowers boasts a stunning meadow consisting of approximately 500 species of beautiful, vibrant Himalayan flowers. According to legend, Hanuman visited this site during the Ramayana when he was tasked with obtaining the Sanjeevani Buti. The valley is situated near the Pushpawati River.
The notified area of the valley is 87.5 sq km and lies above 10,500 feet. It is under snow from November to April. The valley has a range of altitudes and vegetation. When in bloom, it is like a radiant canvas. There are over 600 flower species, such as orchids, poppies, primulas, marigolds, and daisies. Sub-alpine birch forests and rhododendron cover some parts of the park's area. In May, large parts of the valley are full of blue primulas. In June, it is the purple-red of geraniums that dominate. This gives way to herds of lanky, fragrant polygonums in September. Monsoon is when maximum flowers bloom. The valley is also home to a number of endangered animals such as the Himalayan snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer and other exotic plant species. More info here.
It is usually open from June to October (it remains covered in snow during other months). Camping is not allowed in the valley. The summer settlement of Ghangharia (or Govind Dham) is the base for excursions here. Camps are set up just before Ghangaria.
Entry: Indians INR 150
Foreigners: INR 600
Permits are valid for three days.
Timings: 7 am to 3 pm
Photography Free; Videography: Indians: INR 500; Foreigners: INR1,500.