Garhwal City Guide
Decipher yourself in the beauty of the meadow which will leave you spell bound. Entice yourself in the spectacular zone of India with greenery all around.
Location : On the upper expansions of Bhyundar Ganga in Chamoli district of Uttaranchal
About Valley of Flowers
The world famous Valley of Flowers is situated in the upper expansions of Bhyundar Ganga in the far interior of Garhwal Himalayas. The valley is spread over an area of 87.5 Sq. Km and is 3,250 mt above the sea level. The rich references of this colouful and eye catching valley are found in the texts of Indian history and literature like that of Ramayana and Mahabharat. But due to it being nearly inaccessible, it had disappeared from the tourists map. In 1931, Franksmith, a British mountaineer having lost his way while returning from successful expedition to mt. Kamat, reached this valley which was full of flowers. He got overwhelmed by its enchanting beauty and named it as "Valley of Flowers".
The famous Valley of Flowers, with the largest concentration of various species of wild flowers, is off the Rishikesh-Badrinath road, 16 km from Govindghat. A virtual treat to the eyes, this beautiful valley in the Himalayas was established as a reserve in the year 1982. The park, smallest national park in the Himalayas, was created to protect the catchment area of the Pushpavati river. This stream emerges from a glacier then tumbles downward to meet the Ganges. The park is perched on the upper reaches of the Bhyundar Ganga of Chamoli district of Garhwal. The Pushpawati River flows by the valley while the awesome Rataban peak forms a spectacular backdrop.
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit the valley is during July and August when innumerable varieties of flowers bloom and present a spectacular sight. The valley itself is 10 Km long and about 2 Km wide in conical shape, with the river Pushpavati flowing through it. After one gets down at Govindghat on the main Badrinath highway, it involves a trek of 15 Km to reach Ghangaria, from where a further short trek of 5 Km leads one to the edge of the valley. The valley ranges between 3352 and 3658 mts. in altitude.
Getting There
Getting to the Valley of Flowers isn't exactly a cakewalk; getting here requires a trek of about 20 Km. The nearest major town is Joshimath in Garhwal, which has convenient road connections from railheads such as Hardwar and Dehradun, both about 270 Km from Joshimath.
From Joshimath, a vehicle can be hired to take you to within 17 km of the park, to the settlement of Gobindghat. The route from Joshimath to the Valley of Flowers goes along the main road to Badrinath; roughly midway along this road, a minor road branches off to Gobindghat, the roadhead for the Valley. From Gobindghat, a trek of 14 km brings hikers to the tiny settlement of Ghangaria, beyond which the toll gate to the National Park is about 3 km.
Air : The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun (315 Km).
Rail : The nearest railhead is at Rishikesh, 270 Km from Joshimath.
Road : Off the Rishikesh-Badrinath road, 16 km from Govindghat (24 km from Badrinath).
