The Ultimate Secret Of All About Valley of Flowers Trek
Overview:
Region: Uttarakhand
Duration: 6 Days
Trekking Level: Easy To Moderate
Maximum Altitude: 14,100 Ft.
Approx Trekking Km: 37 Kms
Best time to visit: July to September
Base Camp: Govindghat
Valley of Flowers trek is the most beautiful and wondrous Himalayan trek were the exotic and extremely beauteous blue primula blossoms in thousands. It is renowned for its floral diversity set in the midst of the Chamoli district. It is the place where you will get to know how Uttarakhand is known for Dev Bhoomi meaning the Land of the Gods.
Valley of Flowers trek is home to 600 species of flora thriving in the pleasant and cool climate of the Western Himalayas. Its floral beauty is unimaginable which makes it the dream place for nature lovers, botanists, and photographers. Valley of Flowers is recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage Site where it is bestowed in the National Park.
How to reach there:
Now Valley of Flowers trek is only possible on foot and you can opt for two routes for the same. The first one starts from a village known as Ghangaria situated at a height of 10,000 feet. To reach this village you have to trek from Govindghat which is easily accessible by road from the town of Joshimath.
Whereas the other route is particularly known as the Kunthkhal-Hanuman Chatti trail. Earlier it was the only way into the valley before the Ghangaria route was discovered. The route also serves as an escape route if another natural calamity traps the locals living in the region.
Geographical setting and Ecological zones:
As we see the valley of Flowers is a valley of Pushpawati river and is set at a higher altitude than the valley of the mainstream serves wide topography. Its mean elevation is set at approx 11,500 feet running in the east to west direction.
The valley is covered with a ring of peaks with about an elevation of 20,000 feet. The valley has also a historical as well as religious significance where there are the physical manifestations of local deities of Dunagiri, Rishi part, Kalinka, Nanda Khat, Nanda Devi are prominent ones.
The valley bed consists of crystalline rocks making it extravagant to look for. The area is covered with alpine meadows, coniferous forests where one sees the Pindrow fir, Himalayan yew, Himalayan maple, deodars, silver birch, oak, and Morinda spruce. These forests are set up to an elevation of 11,500 feet above sea level and beyond that, the landscape is surrounded by alpine grasslands.
Weather:
While trekking in Garhwal Himalayas the weather remains unstatic and can change anytime. But the weather here in the Valley of Flowers remains cool throughout the year. During summers there is dry and sunny weather and the temperature never goes beyond 20 degrees celsius. During monsoon the weather experiences rain and it feels like the heavens are torn apart. And as the raisin stops the clouds cover the sky with a thick blanket of snow which you experience till the winters. It is only by late May snow begins to melt and the weather becomes shiny.
Floral diversity:
Now you may be wondering what kind of shades of flora make the Valley of Flowers trek the exquisite and splendid one. The trek will give you the delight of rare flower species which include Euphorbia pilosa, Himalayan Slipper Orchid, Iris Cremonese’s, aconites, and rhododendrons. These species are enchanting to watch for giving you the ultimate happiness. The flowers here have the particular blooming season however you may not be able to see all at one time but what you will see will surely be amusing for you.
Creatures of the Realm:
Now not only it is known for its flowers but you will also get a sight of its vast wildlife. The rarest one is the snow leopard also known as the king of the valley which almost lives in unreachable places but you may spot it if you are lucky enough. Other species include deer species like the sambar and musk deer, bharal or blue mountain sheep, and Himalayan tahr which can be easily seen throughout the trekking journey.
You may also get to see the large bird species like lammergeiers, griffon vultures, and Himalayan griffon vultures which are truly an eye to watch too.
So what more do you want? Valley of Flowers trek has everything to offer which you cannot even imagine. So be prepared to unravel its beauty and adventures which will surely give you the experience of a lifetime.
