This
part of Uttaranchal, in the upper reaches of Garhwal, is inaccessible through much of the
year. But when the snows melt and the monsoon arrives, the earth comes to life- all along
the Bhyundar Ganga river. For miles on end, flowers- orchids, poppies, primulas,
calendulas, daisies and anemones among them- in every conceivable colour, carpet the
ground. Alpine forests of birch and rhododendron cover a part of the area, and are home to
tahr, snow leopard, musk deer, red fox, common langur, bharal, serow, and Himalayan black
bear. They're elusive, though, and a trek through the Valley may not result in actually
seeing much wildlife other than the myriad butterflies which flutter over the blossoms.
The local villagers say that the Valley of Flowers is inhabited by fairies who carry off
anyone who ventures too far into their domain; and that there bloom, in the valley,
flowers with a fragrance so potent that it can make you faint. Another story would have
you believe that this valley- known in Hindu mythology as `Nandankanan'- was created when
the gods showered flowers down on earth.
The last story's actually very believable. See for yourself.
Entry Requirements
All visitors to the Valley of Flowers need to obtain an entry permit from the
Forest Checkpost at the entrance to the park, beyond Ghangaria. The fee is a nominal one-
at least for Indians, who pay significantly less than foreigners. The permit is valid for
three days, and additional charges are levied for still cameras; video cameras are allowed
only if you're carrying a special permit from the Chief Wildlife Warden in Lucknow.
Visitors are allowed into the park only during the daytime.
Access
Getting to the Valley of Flowers isn't exactly a cakewalk: getting here requires a trek of
about 17 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.
Best time to
visit
The Valley of Flowers is accessible only in the summer, between June and October.
The rest of the year, heavy snows make passage impossible, and usually block off the trail
leading up to the National Park. Although you can visit the park any time during the
summer, it's best to go in August or September, when monsoon showers turn the valley into
a mass of blooms.
Accommodation
Visitors are not allowed to stay overnight at the Valley of Flowers; in
consequence, there are no facilities for accommodation within the park. Places nearby,
however, have a fairly respectable range of accommodation facilities- none of them too
luxurious, but usually adequate. There are state-run tourist resthouses at Joshimath and
Ghangharia; both in addition, have several tourist lodges and resthouses. Accommodation
tariffs along the way can range from anywhere between Rs 50 to 700.
Further information on the Valley of Flowers National Park can be obtained from the many
offices of the GMVN (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam) in Uttaranchal, or from the Deputy
Conservator of Forests, Nanda Devi National Park, Joshimath, Chamoli District, Garhwal,
Uttaranchal.
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