Valley of Flowers storytrek
A trek straight out of your childhood fairytales!
Heavenly. Divine. Mesmerising. Spectacular...
Best of writers have failed to describe the magnificence of the Valley of Flowers trek.
It is one of India’s oldest, and also one of the most popular treks in the Himalayas. In fact, there’s hardly anyone who hasn’t heard of the name Valley of Flowers, even folks who have never even laid foot in the Himalayas.
Bestowed with the rare and exotic Himalayan flora, the Valley of Flowers is a bouquet of nature peacefully snuggled in the West Himalayan region of Uttarakhand.
Spread over an area of 87 sq kms in the Chamoli district, the Valley of Flowers National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and forms one of the two core zones (the other being the Nanda Devi National Park) of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.
The valley is believed to have been discovered in 1931, when three British mountaineers, led by Frank S Smythe, lost their way and chanced upon this spectacular valley.
In 1980, the Indian government created the Valley of Flowers National Park, and later in 2002, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This pushed Valley of Flowers on the bucket list of trekkers from around the world.
Flora. Fauna. Waterfalls. And a trek along the Pushpawati river.
Valley of Flowers is a destination where nature blooms in full glory offering a breathtaking experience.
Exotic flowers (over 600 species) like orchids, poppies, primulas, marigold, daisies and anemones are an eye-catching spectacle. Sub-alpine forests birch and rhododendron cover parts of the park's area.
The trek to the valley offers eye-catching spectacles like cascading waterfalls and wild streams. Situated at an altitude of around 3,600 m above the sea level, the valley is also home to such rare and amazing wildlife species like the gray langur, the flying squirrel, the Himalayan weasel, and black bear, the red fox, the lime butterfly, the snow leopard and Himalayan monal, to name a few.
The trek of Valley of flowers goes through dense forests, along with Pushpawati river and can be reached by crossing many bridges, glaciers and waterfalls on the way.
What's a trek without it's story!
Remember Hanumanji's Sanjeevni booty?!
Legend has it that the Sanjeevni, the herb that gave life to Lord Ram’s brother, Laxman, also has its origin here.
Watch out for Mt Dronagiri which is clearly visible from Karchi (near Joshimath). This is where Hanumanji plucked a large part of the mountain comprising the Sanjeevni booti!
Best time to visit
The gates to Valley Of Flowers open at the beginning of June. But the best time to visit is between July and September. You can extend it to the end of September.
Even in the best months between July and September, the trek is not the same every month.
July
It is lush green.
The flowers are just beginning to bloom. Peak flowering season starts after mid-July. There are a few old snow bridges and some melting snow patches. Expect a riot of colours. Rains pick up after mid-July. The valley is least crowded in July.
You will also find a bit of snow till rains begin in full swing. But there won’t be many flowers until mid-July. Since the trek climbs to such a high altitude (14,000 ft approx.), it retains snow even in July. Only later in July, does the rain wash off the snow.
August
The first 15 days of August see a huge number of flowers Though there’s a good amount of rain at Govindghat, but at higher altitudes, it’s generally turns into a drizzle.
Monsoon clouds hang low and wash over the entire valley. Watch out for the precious Brahmakamal flower as you climb to Hemkund Sahib. This beautiful flower only grows around the altitude of 14,000 feet, hence is a rare sighting. Even the crowds are light during the initial days of August. This makes it a perfect time to explore the valley blooming with flowers.
September
Flowers have wilted by now and the valley is swelling with a crowd of pilgrims to visit the Gurudwara of Hemkund Sahib.
But there’s a different kind of beauty to this month of retreating monsoon. Skies start clearing up and you witness some clear mountain views.
Difficulty level
Do bear in mind that the Valley Of Flowers trek is not easy. It is a moderate level trek, and a steep ascent to Hemkund Sahib that will challenge your endurance. Reason why you need to prepare well for this trek.
Max altitude
Hemkund Sahib: 14000 feet
Interesting places to visit alongwith your trip to VoF
Auli
Commonly known for ski resorts and as a hill station, Auli is a region filled with a richness of beauty. With a variety of flora and fauna, it also connects itself to Joshimath via cable cars. It is a must-go for all the adventurers waiting for excitement!
Badrinath
Famous for the Badrinath temple, it is one of the holy towns in Uttarakhand. A dedicated shrine for Lord Vishnu, and part of 4 Dham yatra, it is a great opportunity to seek darshan of Lord Vishnu who resides here!
Mana Village
The beautiful, and the famous last village of India (now called the 1st village!) that has a historical significance too. The mystical Saraswati river flows from here. Situated at the Indo-China border, it is just a few kilometers from Badrinath.
Vasudhara Falls
One of the most refreshing and enchanting sights is always a waterfall. Situated near the holy place of Badrinath, it flows elegantly to join the famous Alaknanda river.
Joshimath
An enchanting town connecting to several Himalayan ranges, trekking expenditures, and sites around.
Pandukeshwar
Unmissable. It is a famous pilgrimage center situated between Joshimath and Badrinath. Legend has it that Pandukeshwar was established by King Pandu, father of the great Pandavas. This was his aboode with his wives Kunti and Madri, after giving his throne to his elder brother, Dhritharashtra.
Itinerary
Itineraries at Storytreks are different, bearing in mind that hiking for us is a medium to tell stories of the land.
Hop on!
Day 0
Overnight train to Haridwar. Or drive down, if you wish to.
Day 1
Drive down to Joshimath.
Distance: 320 kms
Drive duration: 10-11 hrs
The drive from Rishikesh to Joshimath is a beautiful one.
Along the tributaries of Ganga, the road hugs the mountainside and you see the forests and valleys of Garhwal below you. Once you cross the village of Pipalkoti, the entire scenery changes. You suddenly see the stark difference in the landscape when approaching the Greater Himalayan Range.
Like we mentioned earlier, look out for the big Mount Drongiri from Karchi. This peak will also give you company for the entire trek duration.
Day 2
Drive down to Govindghat, the last motorable station for the trek.
Govindghat is the famous town that serves as the basecamp for lakhs of tourists and pilgrims visiting Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib.
Duration: 30 minutes
Drive distance: 16 kms
Trek to Ghangharia.
Ghangharia is your base-camp for both Valley of Flowers and the Hemkund trek.
There is now a motorable road to Poolna which reduces the trekking distance from the earlier 13 kms to 9 kms. Grab a shared jeep for the 4 kms ride to Poolna.
Trek duration: 6-7 hours
Trek Distance: 9 kms
Altitude gain: 7,800 ft to10,500 ft
Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Gradual ascent throughout on a well- defined trai, usually full of Sikh pilgrims walking up and down.
Despite the heavy pilgrim traffic everyday, you will be charmed to notice the cleanliness on the trail. All thanks to volunteers who sweep the trail every day. You will trek the 9 kms distance from Poolna to Ghangaria all the way along the Pushpawati river.
Ghangaria has a helipad, and half a kilometre ahead of the helipad is the one-street village of Ghangaria, replete with hotels, restaurants and a Gurudwara.
Day 3
Trek to Valley of Flowers and back to Ghangharia.
Trek duration: 6-7 hours
Trek distance: 3.7 km each way
Altitude gain: 10,550 ft to 11,550 ft and back
Difficulty: Easy
Leave Ghangaria early by 6 am to allow yourself the entire day to spend at Valley of Flowers.
There is a gate to buy entry tickets to the valley. Walk inside and notice the small flowering plants springing up on either side. A kilometre into the gate, there is a scenic bridge across a stream gushing below.
Tall rocky mountains rise before you.
The stream flows below you and there are small, hard snow patches by the side.
Trek along for a couple of kilometres on the flat path and the valley opens up on your right.
The entire valley is generally a riot of colours – green, yellow, red, blue; if you happen to be there at the right time.
The valley is a botanist’s dreamland! One can find flowers, leaves, and buds of various shapes, sizes, and colours, all growing together. Notice various types of bees and insects hovering on these strange flowers.
Walk further into the valley and you will be engulfed with an amazing scent, which, thankfully, cannot be captured by a camera to create reels!
The valley stretches 5-7 km further until it ends with a glacier visible at a distance. The stream flows through the valley. Take off your shoes and dip your feet in the icy cold waters to wash off any memories of the concrete jungle you've come from!
Prominent flowers that you will see in July-August include Meadow Geranium, Snake Foil, Hooked Stick Seed, Himalayan Rose, Blue Poppy, River Anemone, White Leaf, Hog Foot and Dog Flower.
Day 4
Trek from Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib and back.
Trek duration: 9-10 hours
Trek distance: 8 kms, each way
Altitude gain: 10,550 ft to 14,107 ft
Difficulty: Moderate-difficult.
Leave early, by 6 am.
Steep ascent to reach Hemkund Sahib.
If you think it's difficult to get up at 5 am, then just strain yiur ears and you'll hear bhajans emanating at 4.00 am from the Gurudwara. And by 5.00 am, you hear people outside the gate of the Gurudwara, chanting in the chorus and the horses being readied to go up to Hemkund Sahib.
Get hold of a hot cup of chai, and start moving.
Be sure to tuck in your raincoat or a poncho, your best ally alongwith your walking stick on the Hemkund trek!
Pass the deviation to Valley of Flowers.
After about 2 hours of walking, you are higher than the tree line and the views begin to get better. After another hour of slow walking with numerous breaks, you begin to feel reduced oxygen levels in the air. A melting glacier lies on the way.
Take breaks liberally while climbing up the steep path. These breaks are important as going up fast could only invite altitude sickness. Do not sit down during these breaks. Sitting down causes your muscles to relax and getting back on track can get very difficult.
An hour of stiff climbing brings you to Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara.
The famous lake, which lies just behind it, remains frozen for six months. Warm yourself in the Gurudwara and have generous helpings of hot tea and numerous eatables offered by the sikh devotees.
Walk around to the opposite side of the Hemkund sarovar. It’s crystal clear, undisturbed waters reflect the mountains surrounding it. It's a sight that can only be experienced.
Savour it.
Around Hemkund, the Himalayan flower, BrahmaKamal grows abundantly, since it grows at high altitudes only.
There's a beautiful little Laxman temple just behind the Gurudwara.
Don't miss it.
Day 5
Leave early morning and trek back to Govindghat.
Drive back to the Joshimath hotel.
Relax.
Day 6
Leave for Haridwar.
Catch the overnight train to Delhi.
Get lost in the memories of a lifetime :)
Gallery
Some of our pics from this trek.
Each pic here tells a story of it's own!