With the verdant beauty of the snowcapped mountains in the backdrop, the green meadows and the white clouds blend to make dreamlike Valley of Flowers trek. Perched at an altitude of 14,400 ft, this trek was a sudden discovery by British traveller Frank Smith in 1931. Step into the bed of flowers while you head out for this one of a kind beautiful trek. You will start this trek from Govindghat via Joshimath which will lead you to Hemkund Sahib on day fourth. The trek is considered as an easy to moderate trek and is a favourite among the beginners as well as avid trekkers. Feast your eyes with the thousands of flowers in full bloom.
You will come across several streams casually meandering through the valley. Next, you will come across the high altitude serene lake, Hemkund 4329 metre. This lake is considered as a holy site for both Hindus and Sikhs. The trail will be a steep one but the amazing view with the seven snow-capped mountain around you will definitely make you feel enchanted. Witness the beauty of Hathi Parvat and Saptrishi peaks that feed the lake and you will find a small stream called Himganga which flows out from the lake. It is believed that Govind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikh faith had meditated on the bank of this lake in one during the ancient times.
On your fifth day, you will take the same trek route Ghangaria to Govindghat and then to Joshimath. Your trek will be a steep one from Ghangharia while enjoying some amazing view of the regions. The valley of flowers treks will take you to the world of the most beautiful and enchanting wildlife which you will cherish for a lifetime. From Govindghat, drive to Joshimath and you can witness the confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda Rivers to form the River Ganges while you pass through Devaprayag. You can also explore Auli if you wish in the evening. There are lots of valley of flowers trekking packages which will take you through the beautiful land. Spend some time with nature and capture the scenic images in your heart.
About the Destination
Known as the most beautiful trek in the world with the blue Primula, Valley of Flowers Uttarakhand is a must do trek for you. Tucked up at a high altitude this trek is renewed with the Mountaineers and adventure seekers. Blessed with exotic flowers, faunas and magnificent views this trek will take you to the world of snow clad mountains and high cliffs. High in the grand Himalayas of the Garhwal district sprawls this captivating valley. The best time to do this trek is during the month of mid-July to mid-August.
For this trek, you will have to trek from Govindghat, on the route to Hemkund Sahib, up to Ghangaria which is quite an exhilarating climb. Catch the glimpse of the Himalayan beauty while you head out on this trek. At an altitude of 14,400 ft, you will come across the large clear water lake which will make you stare at it for long. This hidden jewel is a unique habitat and home to millions of species of wildflowers such as saxifrages, sediams, lilies, poppy, calendular, daisies, geranium, zinnia and petunia. Not just this you will come across varieties of colourful butterflies as you continue your trek.
This valley is at an altitude of 3250 m and above. This valley is also a core zone of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve with an expanse of 87.5 sq km which is just a colourful paradise with alpine flowers. According to the legends, it is believed that this is the place where Pawan Putra Hanuman had collected Sanjeevani Buti to cure Laxman. Listen to the sound of birds chirping and the musical sound of the stream during the trek. The soothing breeze and the enchanting beauty lure away the nature lovers and the photography lovers.
This valley was also declared as a National Park in 1982 and is a world heritage site. One can also find a variety of rare and endangered species of animals like Asiatic black bear, brown bear, snow leopard, blue sheep and more. With the backdrop of the mountains and the scenic trail, you will feel as you have definitely landed in the land of fairies.
Valley of Flowers Trek Highlights
- Blessed with the verdant beauty of the meadows, and the exotic flowers this will be trek which will take you through small streams.
- Get a chance to witness the vivid flora and fauna of the region like saxifrages, sediams, lilies, poppy, calendula, daisies and brown bear, snow leopard, blue sheep.
- Catch the glimpse of the famous Hathi Parvat and Saptrishi peaks while you head out on this trek.
- Meet the local people and learn about the culture of this region. Also, do share a cup of tea with them.
- While at Hemkund Sahib take a dip in the holy water and purify your soul.
- Also, enjoy a lakeside camping and spend the night under the clear night sky.
Quick Facts
Altitude: 14,400 ft
Temperature: Day: 12°C-20°C and Night: 4°C-10°C
Trekking Distance: 47km
Difficulty Level: Easy To Moderate
Starting and Ending Point: The trek starts and ends at Joshimath
Railway Station: Haridwar is the nearest railway station
Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Base Camp: Govindghat