The Valley of Flowers is the most beautiful valley in the Western Himalayas in the Garhwal region of the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is a dream trekking destination for trekkers all over the world. As its name implies you will get different types of Himalayan flowers and the region is also rich in different types of Himalayan flora and fauna. Book your flight quickly with Southwest Airlines Reservations.
This valley has an interesting history. This valley is actually the result of an accidental discovery in 1931 by the British climber Frank Smit. He was returning from the Himalayan expedition, so he inadvertently took the wrong path and reached there. After seeing the most beautiful formation of various flowers, this valley resembles an elaborate carpet on the land from a height, which he named – “Valley of Flowers”. There are also some myths related to this valley which is home to fairies and deities. The valley is a national park recognized in 1982 as Nanda Devi National Park and later in 2004, it became UNESCO Mab Reserve.
Uttarakhand is under the authority of the Forest Department
Trekking requires 17 km to reach the Valley of Flowers. Delhi will be best for traveling to Joshimath from where you can take a train, bus, or private taxi to reach Haridwar or Dehradun. The trekking starts from Govindgarh where it is 24 km before Shri Badrinath Dham, a major pilgrimage center for Hindus. Govindghat is a small place near Joshimath. For the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib, the route from Govindghat to Ghangaria is the same, then the way one goes to the valley and the other to Hemkund Sahib.
By Train:
Haridwar is the nearest railway station which is well connected to major cities of India. Trains like Nanda Devi Express are the most preferred trains to reach from Delhi. Joshimath is 280 km from Haridwar, so you can take a government / private bus or take a private taxi to reach there. It will take 10–11 hours to reach and time may also depend on traffic conditions.
From the way:
When you reach Haridwar, various means of road transport are available to reach Joshimath.
By flight:
The airport has Dehradun Jolly Grant Airport which is strongly connected with Delhi and is well connected with major airports of India via Delhi.
Best time to go
June to September is the best time to visit and enjoy the scenic views. On 31 October this valley is closed by the Forest Department every year. From November to February the region experiences heavy snowfall and the flowers dry up and release their seeds. As soon as the snow melts after March, the flowers bloom till the month of June. travel program
Day 1: Haridwar to Govind Ghat
As soon as you get refreshed and reach Haridwar, you start your journey towards Govind Ghat. It will take 11 hours to reach Govind Ghat as you have to cover a distance of 291 km. As soon as you check-in at the hotel/guesthouse/homestay after a long drive. Relax a little and enjoy your evening with dinner.
Day 2: Govind Ghat to Ghangharia
Start your day with a delicious breakfast. Pack your bags and start heading towards Ghangharia. The distance between these two places is 14 km. It will take 5-6 hrs to reach. Check-in after stopping. Explore the surroundings. Dinner and night stay at Hotel Ghangharia.
Day 3: Ghanagharia to Valley of Flowers
Get up early in the morning, have your breakfast, and begin the trek towards the Valley of Flowers. The valley is at an elevation of 3505 meters above sea level. The length of the trek is 5 km on one side. As you reach the entrance to the valley, get your ticket to be amazed by the most beautiful views of the valley. In the valley, you will see Himalayan roses, geraniums, and many species of flowers. As you complete the journey and have lunch back at Ghangharia. Take a rest at the hotel.
Day 4: Ghangharia to Hemkund Sahib
To get to the holy place of Hemkund Sahib, get up early in the morning and start trekking, where you will take the blessings of Shri Guru Nanak Ji and Shri Guru Govind Singh Ji. There is also a holy lake. There you will experience Brahma lotus flowers which only grow at high altitudes. Send your whole place back to this holy place in Ghangaria.
Day 5: Ghangharia to Govind Ghat
Waking up early in the morning, have breakfast, and go back to Govind Ghat. Check-in and relax at Govind Ghat Hotel.
Day 6: Govind Ghat to Haridwar
Board the bus to reach Haridwar for the ongoing journey with sweet memories of the journey.
