Valley Of Flowers....

It’s a local belief that fairies exist in the ‘Valley of Flowers’. The name was gifted by Frank Smith a British mountaineer and botanist who accidently discovered the valley while finding his way back from an expedition to Mt. Kamat, in the year 1931. Situated high in the Himalayas of the Uttaranchal, it is at an altitude of 3,600 meters above the sea-level, protected by snowy mountains.


Displaying an unabashed view of the magnificient bounty that Nature is, the valley is akin to a huge canvas with a million hues! Spread out over an area of 87.5 Sq. Kms., it is accessible only in the months of summer i.e. between June and October while the rest of the year it’s snow season. Besides being home to hundreds of flowers,it’s a haven for flower-lovers, botanists and trekkers alike, who cannot find excuse enough to emabark on a trip to this paradise. A detailed study of the valley has claimed the existence of 520 species of plants of which 498 are flowering plants. Orchids, Poppies, Marigolds, Daisies, Brahmakamals and Lilies lay out a rich carpet of welcome.

As a variety of butterflies flit about busily enhancing its beauty, the presence of rare animals like the Red Fox, Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, Tahr, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Brown Bear and birds like the Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Snow Pigeon make it even more enchanting. These living beings however, are the only ones to enjoy the pleasures of the valley throughout the year.

The nearest major town is Joshimath, located at a distance of 17 kms. Joshimath is the place where Adi Shankaracharya set up a 'mutt' in the 8th century. It is conveniently connected by roads from Haridwar and Dehradun, both at an estimated distance of about 270 kms. From Joshimath it’s an hours’ travel to Gobindghat, where a trek of 13 kms through steep and narrow but well defined paths lead upto to a small settlement called Ghangaria, located just 3 kms. away from the valley.Ghangaria has hotels with electricity and mobile towers. As one proceeds, one can experience the welcoming feel of the valley at the Pushpavati river itself!

Even a small flower from Natures’ bounty is enough to fill every cell in our body with joy and delight. To behold flora and fauna that extends upto the horizon, is nothing less of a divinely magical experience beyond the grasp of words. No doubt, the splendour and the scintillating beauty of the valley attracts tourists from all around the world. The Valley of Flowers, which is now a World Heritage Site, was declared a national park in the year 1982, in a bid to preserve this benevolent gift of Nature as well as maintain the natural eco-balance of the valley.



Indeed, this place proves true the saying, "Reality is restricted by your imagination"