Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib

The charming Valley of Flowers National Park is a heavenly retreat for all the tourists and trekkers at large. It is bestowed with beautiful and exotic varieties of flowers and rare endangered species. Snuggled in the Western Himalayas of Uttarakhand, the Valley of Flowers is situated at an altitude of 3,658 m above the sea level in the quaint Bhyundar Valley. Located in the Chamoli district, Garhwal, the Valley of Flowers covers 87 square km expanse filled with cascading waterfalls, rustling streams, lush meadows, shimmering glaciers, and colorful alpine flowers.

This scenic valley was completely unknown and untouched till Frank S Smythe, a mountaineer discovered it in the year 1931. It was previously called the Bhyundar Valley but in 1931, it was renamed Valley of Flowers by Smythe. In 1982, this Valley came to be known as a National Park and was also enlisted in the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 2005.

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This picturesque Valley is replete with graceful snowy mountain ranges, verdant pastures, and extensive colorful, eye-catching flower carpets. The Valley of Flowers trek route boasts of untamed bushes, wildflowers, and most important herbs of medicinal significance. With the change of seasons, this varied bouquet of nature decks up with different hues and shades thereby offering different views in different seasons.

The sundown from the Valley of Flowers National Park is a treat to watch. The rolling landscapes and emerald mountain ranges turn magical at this hour. This rare Valley of Flowers houses some of the rarest flowers like Cobra Lily, Brahma Kamal, and Blue Poppy. This vibrant National Park is also home to snow leopards, musk deer, Asiatic black deer, red fox, brown bear, and flying squirrels. This spot is thronged by passionate photographers, botanists, flower-lovers who are always in search of mystical surroundings and pristine beauty.

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The Valley of Flowers trek also offers you a chance to embark on the Hemkund Sahib trek.

The Hemkund Sahib trek commences from the Ghangaria village and meanders through the dense pine and oak forests, alpine meadows, and rustling streams. Visiting Hemkund Sahib is quite an experience. It entails a steep upward trek from Ghangaria. The distance between Hemkund Sahib to Valley of Flowers is 6 km. n Ghangaria, the path gets divided into two, one leads to the Valley of Flowers, and the other leads to Hemkund Sahib. From Ghangaria, a hamlet located by the side of the holy Lakshman River, the trek to Hemkund Sahib is a tough one with steep ascends. The altitude of Hemkund Sahib is 4633 m and this enchanting trek ends at the Sikh Gurudwara in Hemkund. The alluring scenery of Hemkund Sahib and the lake make this trek worthwhile.