Valley of Flowers boasts its beauty in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand which is set in the majestic Ranges of Himalaya. It was discovered by Frank S Smith in the year 1931,since then this paradise has been undiscovered and stays likes a hidden gem in the laps of Himalaya. The park is administered by both the Forestry Department of Uttrakhand and the National Ministry of Environment and Forests, India. Grazing has been banned in this area since 1983 and there is no settlement in the park. The park is open for visitors during summer from the month of June to October and the park is temporarily closed for the rest of the year because it its covered by heavy snow. This real life fairyland is located in the high altitudes of Himalayas, surrounded by snow-capped mountains from all sides. Surrounded by the majestic mountain ranges and glowing glaciers, this place emits the charisma and beauty of nature like no other.
Location
The Valley of Flowers is situated in the upper region of Bhyundar Ganga near Joshimath in Garhwal. The Valley is 20 km towards northwest from Nanda Devi National Park which is across the valley of the Bhyundar Ganga. It is one of two hanging valleys, the other one is the Hemkund valley which is 10 km south towards the south. The area is on the Zanskar range of Himalayas and the highest point is Gauri Parbat at an altitude of 22,044 ft above sea level.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Valley of Flowers is from July to September. This is when you can see the the flowers bloom and fill the valley with a colourful sheet of flowers. August is the best month to witness the bloom of the flowers, however, it is also difficult to reach the destination due to heavy rainfall and also landslides.
Climate
Climatic conditions are usually dry with a very low annual precipitation, but this place experiences heavy monsoon rainfall from late June month to early September. Mist and cloud during the monsoon keeps the soil moist. From the mid April month to June temperatures are moderately cooler. The Valley of Flowers is shielded from the complete impact of the southwest summer monsoon because of the Greater Himalayan ranges towards the south. Thos place is often filled with dense fog and rain during the monsoon. The Basin and Valley are snow-bound for about six to seven months from late October to late March.
Flora And Fauna
The Valley of Flowers is home to many rare species of both plants as well as animals. Even though the density of wild animals found in this place is not high but they are rare and endangered. Some of these include Himalayan black bear, Himalayan Goral, Himalayan Musk deer, Indian Spotted Chevrotain, Red giant flying squirrel, etc.
And the flowers in this place include poppies, primulas, daisies, orchids, marigold and anemones to name a few. The Valley of Flowers has about 520 known plant species and out of these 498 are flowering plants.
How safe is Valley of Flowers?
Valley of Flowers trek is safe because it has well-marked trails. However, it is advised for you to be careful on slippery sections of the trail especially during the rainy season. The altitude gain while going from Ghangria to Hemkund Sahib must also be kept in mind as AMS might hit trekkers at such high altitude. It is always important to look at the details of the place, if you are planning to trek here, from the perspective of safety. It helps you to be mentally and physically prepared for the trek and challenges ahead.
Activities
- Trekking
- Camping
- Sightseeing
- Exploring the wilderness in the Valley
- Birdwatching
Nearby Places worth visiting
These places near The Valley of Flowers are worth a visit if you are here:
- Gorson Bugyal
- Malari
- Pandukeshwar
- Govindghat
- Joshimath
- Badrinath
- Mana Village
- Auli
Valley of flowers is indeed one of the most popular destinations for a reason. It is frequently visited by pilgrims as it is close to Hemkund Saheb. It is also a wonderful getaway from the world and into the nature. Hence, making it so demanding among the young nature lovers.
