About Valley of Flowers National Park The region of Valley of Flowers is rich in varied flora and fauna. The valley of flowers was declared as the National Park of India in the year 1982 and it is now a UNESCO world heritage site. The virgin beauty of this mystical valley has always lured botanists, nature lovers and adventure lovers. Tucked at 3,658 meters in Bhyundar Valley, the Valley of Flowers in sprawls over a vast expanse of 87.50 square kms, measuring 8 km long and 2 km wide. Valley of Flowers is the second core zone of the blessed with numerous , silvery glaciers and thickets that greet the visitant at every step. , a tiny hamlet situated 13 km from is the last human habitation centre on the way to Valley of Flowers.Activities in Valley of Flowers
- Trekking – Adventurers and nature lovers visit beautiful Valley of Flowers which offer travelers with abundant natural beauty in the form of waterfalls, verdant hills covered with pine and oak trees, gushing rivulets and streams and of course, myriad flowers. - Pilgrimage – Hemkund Sahib is one of the most revered Sikh shrines in Uttarakhand and thousands of pilgrims partake in arduous pilgrimage every year. The shrine sleeps under a thick blanket of snow during winters.
- Village Tourism – Ghangaria is the last inhabited village one encounters on the Valley of Flowers trek. One can explore the beautiful village situated at the confluence and learn about their rustic way of life, customs and beliefs. You can also visit Byundar Village enroute Ghangharia from Govindghat.
Valley of Flowers Travel Tips - Valley of Flowers trek is opened to public on 1st June every year. The park remains open from the month of June to October. - Start early from Ghangharia to have more time at hand when you are in the Valley of Flowers. It is a world heritage site and therefore you need to enter your names in the register, pay the entry fees and declare all plastic bottles you are carrying along. - Entry to Valley of Flowers opens at 7.00 am every day and last entry is allowed till 2.00 pm. You should start back around 1 pm so as to reach back by 5.00 pm. - Carry extra pair of Socks, Torch, Poncho/Raincoats, Extra Batteries for your Camera - Though the Valley is beautiful in May, June and September. But for maximum number of flowers in July and August are most preferred months. - Tourists should inquire about the weather and road conditions especially during the monsoons, before planning their trip to Valley of Flowers. Staying in Valley of Flowers Being situated in the protected wildlife area, no one is allowed to stay for the night at mesmerizing Valley of Flowers, therefore there is no accommodation in the Park. So, one has to trek back to either Ghangaria or Govindghat in order to find an accommodation in the same day. You can stay at private lodges and hotels at Ghangaria, the base camp for your trek to the Valley of Flowers. Valley of Flowers Food Guide There are no eating points in the valley and it takes around 5 to 8 hours to explore the valley. It is highly recommended to take packed lunch, refreshments in your day pack, if you are heading towards the flowers valley. Only place you will find restaurants is at Ghangharia, where north Indian vegetarian food is served along with few popular Chinese, Punjabi and Garhwali dishes. Apart from that, one can find eating options at the hotels which have in-house restaurants. Note: Be a responsible tourist and do not leave anything behind in the valley. Do carry back all the packaging material/waste and wrappers along with you and dump it at Ghangharia. Cre: eUttaranchal