Valley of Flowers Trek is located in Uttarakhand’s ‘Abode of God’, in the Chamoli District of the Garhwal region, and is known for its meadows of rare alpine flowers. A trip to this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site is an excellent way for nature enthusiasts, mountaineers, and botanists to appreciate the eponymous Himalayan valley, which is rich in biodiversity and surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
You will journey through an off-the-beaten-path, lonely hamlets, abandoned places, and numerous types of flora and animals on your way to this breathtaking beauty, which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The valley, which is located at an elevation of 4,389 metres, is home to endangered creatures such as the brown bear, blue sheep, Asiatic black bear, and snow leopard.
A trip to this floral metropolis is famed for triggering an incomprehensible elation in hikers’ minds, since it is one of the country’s few natural botanical gardens. When one of my friends, who is an avid hiker, asked me to join her in the Valley of Flowers, I immediately agreed.
We started our journey at 4 a.m. the next day. Traveling through Dehradun reminded me of so many wonderful vacation experiences. We arrived in Haridwar, the beginning point for the Valley of Flowers hike, quickly.
The expedition began with a path connecting Haridwar and Govindghat. We travelled from Rishikesh to Govindghat through Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, and Karanprayag. The site can also be reached via Lord Badrinath’s winter home and Joshimath. Don’t miss the sacred confluence of the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda Rivers, which together create the River Ganges, along the journey.
The road is exciting when one realises the spectacular convergence of these two rivers, despite the fact that it is a long journey. Because you are likely to become tired, it is recommended that you take a brief stop and relax in a beautiful apple orchard along the road.
It was time for us to proceed from Govindghat base camp to Ghangaria after some rest. The Valley Of Flowers trip begins with a 14-kilometer gentle ascent from Govindghat to Ghangaria on the first day. We were fascinated by the splendour of several waterfalls and lush flora. Furthermore, the villagers informed us that the ‘Hemkund Sahib,’ the world’s highest Gurudwara and the most venerated of all Sikh Shrines, is located nearby, at an elevation of 4,329 metres.
Ghangaria serves as a base camp for the Valley of Flowers trip, and visitors can take advantage of a variety of amenities, such as leasing a mule or taking a helicopter ride. We had reserved accommodations at the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, which is widely regarded as Ghangaria’s premier hotel.
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We began our walk through Ghangaria to Valley of Flowers the next day, after enjoying some delectable Aloo Paranthas. The most challenging part of the trek was battling strong gusts, but it was encouraging to see hikers assisting one another to keep moving forward comfortably. We saw thousands of flowers in full bloom as we climbed to a height of 3,858 metres to reach the Valley of Flowers.
A magnificent and lovely sight dazzled our eyes. Balsam flowers, which were beautiful light pink, blue, and orange in hue, greeted me at the park’s entrance, followed by Himalayan Slender Tape Vine, Meadow Rue, Dwarf Globe Flower, and Marsh Marigold.
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