Valley of Flowers

Pretty Valley

The Valley of Flowers is one of the richly diverse National Parks located in Uttarakhand. 

The very mention of the State brings to mind some of the finest sights of nature, and the Valley of Flowers, which is famous as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is no exception.

It is mainly famous for the vast stretches of colorful meadows of alpine flowers and almost extinct animal species such as the snow leopard, Asiatic Black Bear, and red fox.

Historical Background:

A British mountaineer named Frank Smythe had successfully scaled Mount Kamet. During the descent, he stumbled upon the Valley of Flowers.

After the discovery, the region soon became popular among tourists and particularly among trekking enthusiasts.

Enveloped by snow-beat mountains and covered with sprouts – around 500 species. 

Counting the unpretentious Brahmakamal, the cobra lily, the Himalayan edelweiss, and the beautiful Himalayan blue poppy.

Reported a National Park in 1982, the Valley of Flowers reaches out over a locale of 87.50 sq km- a domain which has persistently gotten in pervasiveness among nature accomplices, just as among beaver adventurers throughout late years.

Things to do:

The region is reachable via the Rishikesh or the Jolly Grant Airport. Once you start the trek, it is a long and tiring journey, but the sights are worth the trouble. 

Be sure to have the stamina for a strenuous trek, and you can enjoy nature at its best.

One of the first stops for many during their travel to the Valley of Flowers is the Hemkund Sahib, a famous Sikh shrine. 

Besides, the region's natural beauty is unparalleled, and it is regarded by many as one of the most beautiful places in the Himalayas.

Major Attractions:

Trekking to this place is an experience you should not miss out on. 

The Joshimath, dedicated to the Atharva Veda, is old math serving as both a religious and historic site besides being a tourist attraction for the sightings at such high altitudes.

The sacred village of Pandukeshwar and the beautiful nearby hill station of Auli are other significant places to visit around the Valley of Flowers.

Mana and Govind Ghat are some of the other places that deserve a visit while you are up for a Valley of Flowers sightseeing.

What to eat and other info about Valley of Flowers:

Cafés are serving traditional Indian food along the course up to Ghangaria. You'll also discover shops in transit from Ghangaria to Hem Kund and free food at the holy place. 

Notwithstanding, you'll need to get your food from Ghangaria to the Valley of Flowers as none is accessible. 

Note that there are not many washrooms along the traveling course and none in the valley. Hope to soothe yourself in nature. 

The vast majority will find that their cell network inclusion vanishes after Govind Ghat.

Also Read- 5 Most Popular Treks Of Uttarakhand

People and Culture:

Rishikesh, which is nearby, has a unique culture, and celebrations of Basant Panchami and Makar Sankranti are popular here.

The International Yoga Capital is Rishikesh, and the people here around the Valley of Flowers are friendly and polite.

Local Food and Popular Shopping Items:

The food options here are not plentiful, and we would strongly advise that you pack some food with you for your trip to this heavenly destination. 

The local hotels and places of residence offer delicious Indian food, but the options are somewhat in limit.

There are not many shopping options around here, but you can pick out some delightful handicraft items from Rishikesh, where there are multiple shopping destinations for the tourist.

What are some offbeat places near Valley of Flowers?

Pandukeshwar 

There are two famous sanctuaries in Pandukeshwar. Yogadhyan Badri Temple, one of Sapta Badri hallowed places, and the other are Lord Vasudev Temple. 

Pandu is accepted to have introduced the bronze picture of Vishnu in the Yogadhyan Badri hallowed place. Copperplate engravings are found here to show the rule by early Katyuri Rajas. The locale was known as Panchal Desh, presently known as Uttarakhand. 

The icon of managing God Lord Vishnu is in a reflective stance, and along these lines, the place is called Yoga Dhyan Badri. 

Vishnuprayag 

Located at somewhere 32 km from Badrinath and 11 km from Joshimath, Vishnuprayag is one of the Panch Prayag of Alaknanda River and lies at the conjunction of Alaknanda River and Dhauliganga River, in Chamoli locale of Uttarakhand. 

It is a well-known trek place in Uttarakhand state. 

The Alaknanda River, which starts in the eastern slants of ice sheet fields of Chaukhamba, is join by the Saraswathi River close to Mana and afterward streams before the Badrinath sanctuary.

Best Time to Visit:

The region has a comfortable climate throughout the year but for the main attractions of the trek through the Valley of Flowers, plan your trip during the months of mid-July to mid-August.

Availability of Accommodation Type:

Accommodation is never an issue in the Valley of Flowers as there are decent hotels and home-stay arrangements nearby. 

For instance, you could stay put at the Blue Poppy Swiss Cottage Camps or Hotel Kuber.

The Valley of Flowers Camp Ghangria and Hotel Dronagiri are some of the other living options available here.

Travel Tips to Remember for Valley of Flowers

1. Permit three days to finish the journey - one day from Govind Ghat to Ghangaria, another day for the Valley of Flowers, and then for the trek back. 

2. If you have an additional day, you can also visit Hem Kund. It has a beautiful mountain setting with a high lake. 

3. Govind Ghat and Ghangaria become very busy from July to September with Sikh travelers en route to Hem Kund (a Sikh holy place with the most elevated height in India), so it's a smart thought to book services ahead of time.