If you happen to’re craving a break from the every day grind and desire a breath of recent mountain air, the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand is the proper escape. Tucked away within the Western Himalayas, this gorgeous vacation spot affords a much-needed retreat and is the proper alternative to reconnect with nature.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Website in 2005, the valley’s vibrant meadows, cascading waterfalls, and picturesque landscapes make it a haven for journey seekers and nature lovers alike.
The journey begins within the charming village of Govindghat and leads you thru quaint Himalayan villages alongside the peaceable Pushpawati River. The trek is round 17 km one-way and will be accomplished in about 4 to 5 days, relying in your tempo.
As you trek, you’ll end up immersed within the pure great thing about the valley, the place you may take within the breathtaking sights and sounds of the good open air.
Able to plan your journey? The Higher India has performed the homework for you by curating a full itinerary primarily based on insights from journey websites, bloggers and influencers. This implies your trek will probably be straightforward, clean, and stuffed with enjoyable, supplying you with the liberty to absorb each second of your journey.
So pack your luggage and prepare for an unforgettable expertise within the magical Valley of Flowers!
Why Valley of Flowers?
Think about this — you’re surrounded by lush inexperienced mountains with crystal clear streams of water operating by them. Sounds straight out of a storybook, proper? The Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO-protected website will surpass all of your expectations.
The Valley of Flowers was found by the British mountaineer and botanist Frank Smythe. In 1931, Smythe and his climbing companion R L Holdsworth stumbled upon the valley whereas coming back from a profitable expedition to Mount Kamet. Enchanted by the pure great thing about the world, Smythe wrote about his expertise in his e book, “The Valley of Flowers”, printed in 1937.
Aptly put by an Inside Himalayas article, “You don’t fairly perceive how fortunate you’re till you get there.”
“No matter you might need heard, no matter pictures you might need seen, completely nothing prepares you for that burst of color so far as the eyes can see, framed by mist-shrouded, snow-powdered mountain ranges whose tops disappear into the sky. You are feeling as if you might have arrived on the high of the world,” the article elaborates.
Nestled within the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, the place comes alive within the monsoon months blossoming with flowers of greater than 500 varieties together with the Himalayan Slipper Orchid, Brahma Kamal, Marsh Marigold, Blue Poppy, Cobra Lily, and Himalayan native Dactylorhiza Hatagirea.
Aside from the pure attract, the place can also be stated to have spiritual significance.
In response to a Way of life Asia report, “The nationwide park additionally holds a big mythological affiliation. In response to the epic Ramayana, it’s the place the place Lord Hanuman discovered the magical herb “Sanjeevani” to assist save Lakshman, brother of Lord Rama, who was injured in the course of the battle between Lord Rama and demon King Ravana.”
Methods to attain the valley?
When planning a trek to the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, it’s vital to think about essentially the most handy modes of transportation to achieve your place to begin at Govindghat. Right here’s how one can get there –
By Automobile:
You possibly can drive from main cities like Delhi or Dehradun to Govindghat. The journey from Delhi takes roughly 10-12 hours, relying on visitors and street circumstances. From Delhi, it’s also possible to avail public transport from ISBT or Delhi Gate to Rishikesh and take one other bus to Joshimath after which to Govindghat.
You’ll journey by main cities comparable to Rishikesh and Haridwar earlier than reaching Govindghat. The roads are scenic, providing lovely views of the mountains and rivers alongside the best way.
By Air:
The closest airport to Govindghat is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. From the airport, you may rent a taxi or take a bus to Govindghat. The drive from Dehradun to Govindghat is 286 km and takes roughly 10-12 hours, so that you may wish to plan your flight arrival time accordingly.
You possibly can go for public transport from Dehradun to Rishikesh after which to Joshimath and so forth.
By Rail:
The closest railway station to Govindghat is Rishikesh, which is well-connected to main cities in India. When you arrive at Rishikesh, you may rent a taxi or take a bus to Govindghat. The drive from Rishikesh to Govindghat takes about 10-11 hours.
When you attain Govindghat, you may start your trek in the direction of Ghangaria and the Valley of Flowers. Be sure to verify the native transportation choices and plan your journey forward of time for a clean journey expertise.
Day-wise itinerary
We spoke to travellers and bloggers, Himani and Sagar Patel, who travelled to the Valley of Flowers in 2019. The couple accomplished the trek in 5 days, slowly taking within the pure great thing about the landscapes.
That is their day-wise plan-
Day 1: The couple drove from Rishikesh to Joshimath. “We reached Joshimath within the night and checked into a neighborhood visitor home to recharge ourselves for the upcoming trek,” they shared.
Day 2: “We trekked until Ghangharia which is round 9 km from the start line and is at an altitude of round 10,000 ft. We stayed in a single day at a campsite in Ghangharia.”
The village serves as the bottom camp for the Valley of Flowers and has numerous keep choices, eateries and scenic views, making it an excellent place to relaxation and recharge for the remainder of the hike.
Date 3: “We wakened early the following morning and began our trek to the Valley of Flowers which was round 4 km. We then entered the Valley which is 6-7 km lengthy and ends with a glacier,” the shared.
Notice that there are not any eateries contained in the park and you’ll have to carry your personal meals. “We packed our lunch and ate it with the perfect views of the valley,” shares Himani.
Day 4: We trekked from Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib, which is a steep climb however definitely worth the effort. On the high, we loved the Gurudwara and the serene lake. Hemkund Sahib is the world’s highest Gurudwara at 4,329 m. We had a scrumptious meal on the Langar after which trekked again right down to Ghangaria to remain the evening.
Day 5: We began our journey again from Ghangaria to Govindghat, which took about 5 hours. After lunch in Govindghat, we drove again to Joshimath and stayed in a single day on the native visitor home.
Be sure you carry all of your medicines, a raincoat within the monsoons and ample quantity of ingesting water earlier than you go on the trek. As soon as you’re contained in the valley, there are not any retailers or caretakers that will help you out, the couple advises.
The place to remain within the magical valley?
Preserving in thoughts your flights/practice timings, you may contemplate staying to e book a keep in Rishikesh. Listed below are some homestays and hostels you can e book.
Since no camps or stays are allowed contained in the valley, you’ll have to e book stays at Govinath, and Hemkund Sahib relying in your itinerary. Here’s a listing of stays you can e book.
The park will probably be open for travellers and trekkers from June onwards and we advocate that this would be the finest time to plan your travels.
(Edited by Padmashree Pande; All free photographs)
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