Valley of Flowers

Situated in the Garhwal Hills of the Himalayan Mountain Ranges, is the ‘Valley of Flowers’. Mysterious, splendorous, alluring, charming and enthralling – these words describe best the ‘Valley of Flowers’. This valley, which is considered to be the priceless treasure of India, would have remained unexplored and hidden from the eyes of the civilization, if it had not been discovered by Frank Smith in the year 1931. >The story goes that Frank Smith, who was a well known explorer, mountaineer and a botanist, lost his way, while he was on his way back from his expedition to Mt. Kamat. He just accidentally arrived at this valley and he was completely awestruck by its beauty

and thus he named it the ‘Valley of Flowers’.This valley, which is situated at an altitude of 3,250 meters to 6,750 meters, occupies an area of 87.5 square kilometers. The most important aspect that could be associated with this valley is that it is dominated by the alpine species of trees and plants.

The view of the 300 species of flowers in their full bloom is a heavenly sight. It’s a sight that would remain engraved in your heart for ever. It’s truly a sight that would make you feel that you have traveled to a world that is untouched by human civilization and thus has been able to preserve its pristine and serene nature. It’s a sight that would make you feel that God has painted this place with his own hands, using a blend of light and dark colors. It is undoubtedly beauty personified.

The species of flowers that dominate this valley are Poppy, Cipro, Lilies, Saxifrahs, Sediams, Primula, Petunia, Calendular, Caropsis, Pontitala, Daisies,Turmopsis, Denthus, Ciptro, Zinia, Holly, Pansy to name a few. At this valley, you would also come across, flowers that are known for their medicinal values, such as Lobelia, Himalayan blue poppy, Campanula, Pedicularis, Saussurea, Anaphalis, to name only a few.

Though it is a valley of flowers, it is also the home to several wild creatures. If you are fortunate enough then you might catch a glimpse of the Brown Bears, the Blue Sheep, the Himalayan Musk Deer, Snow Leopards and the Himalayan Tahr. Butterflies as well as various species of insects inhabit this region as well.

The cascading waterfalls, the steep cliffs, the peaks that surround this valley, simply add to the beauty of this place. It has been declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO

To reach this valley, you are required to trek from Govind Ghat and after you cross Pulna, you would be able to admire its beauty that is truly God blessed.

The best time of visit is the months of July and August.