Overview:
Valley of Flowers as the name suggests that it must be some paradise of flowers with vibrant colors. It’s true Valley of Flowers is the beautiful valley situated at an altitude of 3,300 meters and it is full of myriad of colours be it purple, yellow, red, blue that forms like carpet blossoming with its own pristine beauty. It covers an area of about 87 square kms.
The valley is exceptionally surrounded with flowers which have the collection of wild flower species. And the mesmerizing Pushpawati river flows through the verdant valley.
One will find exotic 520 species of flowering plants which blooms from June, July till early September. It is also rich in its wildlife including Himalayan black bears, musk deer, brown bears and Bharal. One will also find varieties of birds and butterflies in this National Park.
Valley of flowers trek is thus one of the beautiful treks in the Garhwal Himalayas and one of the most popular attractions among travellers. The major attraction remains the blue Primula which is the most enriching flower of the entire Himalayan flowers and one will be awe-struck by its uniqueness that one will see during the peak season of mid-July to mid-August.
The trek further goes towards Hemkund Sahib at a height of 4,300 meters from Ghangaria. There one will see the pilgrimage there mainly of Sikhs so one must visit to offer their prayers and seek tranquility. Another major attraction is the tranquil and crystal clear lake which surrounds the big mountains and one can see the reflection of the surrounding peaks. The trail then continues along the Alaknanda river to Ghangaria passing through evergreen forests. From Ghangaria the path divides into two routes. One trail heads towards the Valley of Flowers and the other towards Hemkund Sahib. Valley of Flowers National Park will pass one through elements of nature, gurgling streams, ridges, forest and majestic sights of mountains. It is a complete contrast to any other trekking destinations filled with nature’s paradise. There is also a glacier which becomes visible after walking 5-7 kms where the stream flows all the way to the valley.
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Highlights:
-Scenic temples at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Joshimath and Hemkund Sahib surrounded with crystal clear lake, verdant valley and snow capped Himalayan peaks.
-Spacious views and vibrant colour which makes a dazzling variation to the views.
-Murmuring waterfalls, snow clad peaks, lush green meadows and numerous species of wild flowers.
-Getting to know the ancient culture of local people.
Best time to visit:
Best time to visit the Valley of Flowers trek would be during June- July or August- September. During June- July one can watch for spectacular waterfalls and beautiful glaciers which will relax and rejuvenate one’s soul. During this time the flowers start blooming as it experiences rain.
While during August and September the new plants start germinating as the snow melts in the month of May. One sees the ultimate blossoming of flowers to a great extent. After September one cannot visit the Valley of Flowers as the plants and flowers start drying up and the new seeds emerge for the next season.
Location:
Valley of Flowers located at a height in Western Himalayas is rich in its meadows and alpine flowers. It is situated in Uttarakhand state and one sees the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and great Himalayas. It emcompasses in the Nanda Devi Biospehere and one must visit to explore the natural beauty of flowers. Valley of Flowers also is home to rare and endangered species including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, etc.
Most common seen flowers and vegetation:
-Blue Himalayan poppy
-Brahmakal
-Himalayan white birch
-Rhododendron
Rampant weed
-Blue primula
-Daisies
-Himalayan bell flower
Wildlife and Birds one can see:
-Red giant flying squirrel
-Himalayan black bear
-Himalayan musk deer
-Himalayan goral
-Himalayan blue sheep
-Brown beer
-Himalayan monal
-Yellownape woodpeckers
So what are you waiting for?
Valley of Flowers is the lovely trek to immerself yourself to. It is the best place for photography as you capture the extremely unique and untouched biodiversity. One also sees the mighty Nanda Devi peak which is the second highest peak of India. And hence the perfect place to see solitude.