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The valley of flowers Trek
When it comes to the Himalayas, the valley of flowers trek is one of the most popular treks in Uttarakhand. The valley of flowers, itself is famous for its spellbound beauty and mesmerizing views of the flowers. It is one of the oldest treks in India, so for every adventure seeker, it is a place to be.
“The earth laughs in Flowers” – Ralph Emerson
The valley of flowers was declared a national park by the Indian government in 1980. And it got world-level recognition after UNESCO designated it as a World Heritage site. This made travelers all-round the globe travel to this beautiful valley.
Valley of flowers trek difficulty:
The trek is not very difficult. Even a beginner with a basic level of physical fitness can easily do this trek. The valley of flowers trek distance is around 38 kilometers, which needs to be covered in 4-5 days. The valley of flowers trek is easy, but the trek to Hemkund Sahib will surely check your physical fitness levels. So before going on this trek, make sure you at least have basic physical fitness.
The hard climb to the Hemkund Sahib can make you feel dizzy because of the altitude. But this is common at the height of 9600 feet to 14200 feet, so do not get afraid. Just take deep breaths and calm yourself down. Do not try to walk fast in order to react quickly, take adequate rest, and then climb slowly to the summit.
If you are thinking of climbing fast, we suggest you do this only if you are a trained mountaineer, otherwise, altitude sickness can cause you some problems.
What’s special in the valley of flowers?
Come on! You will see one of the most beautiful valleys in the world in front of your eyes. What else one can wish for?
The valley of flowers is very wide and deep, here it seems like the sky is meeting the earth with all its glory. The mesmerizing view of the valley and the flowers will make you forget everything. The scent of the flowers will leave you refreshed, and believe me that the amazing scent of these flowers leaves a mark on your mind, it goes with you till your lifetime. And you will realize that the experience you have had here, was all worth it.
The flowers are all around, blooming like they were just waiting for you. These flowers will make you feel like someone has painted the valley with all the possible colors in the world. The view of the valley becomes breathtaking when the white fluffy clouds come near to you. These clouds will come so near to you that you will feel like these clouds are talking to you, you can literally feel the clouds.
The valley is famous for its beautiful flower Brahma-Kamal (the state flower of Uttarakhand). Brahmakamal is a poppy cobra lily. It is believed that Brahma kamal only blooms only for one night in a year. It is also known as the Night-blooming cereus, the lady of the night, etc. Local people believe that one who can witness a Brahma kamal blooming is the luckiest person on the earth. Brahma is the god in Hinduism, and this flower is believed to be connected to Brahma, that’s why it Is called Brahma-kamal. But we will suggest you not fall for its beauty, it does not smell very pleasant and that’s why people do not bring them home.
Public transport to Valley of flowers :
First, you have to reach Haridwar / Rishikesh via train or bus. From Haridwar/Rishikesh, you can board buses towards Joshimath, You should leave Haridwar/Rishikesh early morning (Max. up to 7 AM) because it’s a long hilly road and takes 9 to 10 hours. For a comfortable travel experience, the best option is to pick Vishwanath Express Bus services.
The bus for Govindghat leaves from the Rishikesh bus station at 4 am in morning. You can also take some other bus going to Badrinath or Joshimath.
From Joshimath, there will be sharing cabs / Bolero to reach Govindghat. Rest from Govindghat to Pulna you can take a shared Bolero if road conditions allow it. From Govindghat, there are options to book Pony, Palki, or Porter. And if weather conditions are good then you can go by helicopter as well. Ganghria is a common base point for the Valley of flowers and Hemkunth Sahib.
Best time to visit Valley of flowers:
The valley opens for tourists on 1st June every year and closes in October last or November first. So only during this time, you can visit this beautiful valley.
July is the best time to visit the Valley of flowers. Here we will give you a month-wise description of the valley of flower:
June last- July first:
You’ll see greenery everywhere. During this time, flowers start blooming but not to their fullest. You’ll see snow-laden hills in this season also. There will not be much crowd there during this time.
August:
The time for the flowers to bloom to their fullest, there will be rain during this time, but in the valley, it may not be raining. During this time the valley remains crowded.
September:
All the flowers are gone, and at this time the pilgrims start their journey towards the valley.
Throughout the year, the weather keeps changing. Due to its height from the sea level, the average temperature remains low throughout the year. In monsoon, the cloud and fog cover the entire valley.
During winter, the snow covers the valley completely, but the valley does not open to tourists in winters.
Things must know before the trek to Valley of Flowers :
- Pack an extra pair of woolen clothes and socks. Do not forget to pack your raincoat and power bank.
- Travel only in the months of May to September. However, if you want to see the real beauty, visit the valley in July.
- If you are planning the trip with your friends and or family, then you can book a taxi in order to reach Govindghat, it will cost you around INR 8000 from Rishikesh.
- Valley of Flowers gate opens at 7:00 AM, So plan earlier and try to go deep inside the valley, At least try to touch the view of Pushpawati river at 4km from the entrance.
- You need to carry some documents with you, like an identity card (Aadhar or voter ID). Remember the ID card is mandatory.
About your stay in the valley of Flowers:
Unfortunately, you can’t stay in the valley at night, because the valley is an ecologically sensitive area.
Camping is not allowed in the valley or for that matter during the entire trek. Though there are lodging facilities in ghangaria. You can also stay at Govindghat.
Food guide:
There are no places in the valley where you can have food, so pack some food for you from the base camp. And do remember to bring back all the plastic and wrapper that you carry with you.
In Ghangaria, you can find some places where different kinds of food are being served.
Entry fee for Valley of Flowers:
There is a fixed entry fee for the travelers. Indian tourist have to pay INR 150 and foreign tourists have to pay INR 600
Valley of flowers trek route:
First day: From Rishikesh to Joshimath
The valley of the flower is in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The trek starts from Govindghat, and in order to reach here, firstly you have to reach Joshimath.
The total distance for this journey will be around 250 kilometers, which will take around 9 to 10 hours minimum. You can board a bus from Rishikesh bus station or in case you do not get any bus, you can book a taxi from Rishikesh (That will be a little costly )
Tip: If you are traveling from Delhi or for that matter from any other place, then you should try to reach Rishikesh a day before the journey. Do take some rest before starting your journey.
Second day: From Joshimath to Govindghat
The next morning after breakfast, you will head towards Govindghat and after that to Ghangaria. The distance is approximately 22 kilometers, it will take you nearly an hour to reach Govindghat. After reaching Govindghat, you will trek to Ghangaria, that day you will stay at Ghangaria. It is the base camp for the valley of flowers and Hemkund Sahib trek.
Third day: Ghangaria to the Valley of flower
This is the day to finally reach your destination, the trek from Ghangaria to the valley of flowers is 7.5kms long. And it will take you around 2 hours in order to reach the valley of the flower from Ghangaria., The trail going through the middle of the colorful flowers will leave you spellbound. You can enjoy the beauty of the valley filled with different types of flowers. After spending some time in the valley, you have to bid goodbye to that beautiful place, because you are not allowed to stay there at night. You will trek back to Ghangaria the same day.
Fourth Day: Ghangaria to Joshimath
After having breakfast, you will go back to Govind Ghat and then drive back to Joshimath. You will stay at Joshimath tonight. You can also visit the Hemkund Sahib if you decide to stay at Ghangaria.
Fifth Day: Joshimath to Rishikesh
On the fifth day, you will leave back to Rishikesh.
If you are planning to stay in Rishikesh, Click here to know about the places to visit in Rishikesh.
Team View Uttarakhand wishes you a beautiful and memorable journey.
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