“Valley of Flowers” is the name of the Himalayan area in
Uttarakhand state in India. In 1931 the English mountaineer
Frank Smythe stumbled across the Bhyundar Valley, an 8 km long
glacier corridor in Chamoli -one of the district of Uttarakhand
state .This area, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and
carpeted with over 500 species of flowers , soon became a
protected site.
Nature had designed this valley (3,658 m. to 3962 m) for the
dedicated outdoors person .It is a 13 km trek from Govindghat to
Ghangharia. where there is a tourist bungalow. No one is allowed
to camp in the Valley of Flowers. From Ghanghria its another 4
km trek to the valley. Nealy 10 km long and almost 2 kms wide,
the valley is ringed with snow-capped mountains and watered by
streams rising in the mountains. its accessible from late April,
but grandest from late July to the end of August. Literally
hundreds of wild flowers bloom in this valley including the rare
Himalayan Blue Poppy .Tread with caution because your visit
should not endanger the things you have come to see. Also carry
a little salt. The valley is infested with leeches in the
wettest weather when the flowers are at their best. It is 36 Km
from Joshimath.,A naturalist’s delight,the valley is reputed to
be the largest repository of the wild flowers in the natural
surroundings in the world over 300 species have been
identified.Only day visits are permitted.Night halt
accommodation is available at Ghanghria.
Flowers mostly orchids, poppies, primulas, calendulas,
daisies and anemones 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,
Himalayan black bear and a huge variety of butterflies.
There is no settlement in the national park and grazing in
the area has been banned. The park is open only in summers
between June and October, being covered by heavy snow during the
rest of the year. The Government of India has now declared the
valley a National Park. It is a unique park, perhaps the best in
the whole world. May and June is the time to see rhododendrons.
Ju ne and July is the time for lilies and orchids. July and
August is for primulas, also called primrose. It is a common
name for a medium-size family of flowering plants most abundant
in the North Temperate Zone.
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