Just In: Uttarakhands Enchanting Valley of Flowers Welcomes Visitors Once Again

Uttarakhand, also known as Devbhumi, is truly a land of mountains and mythologies where you will be mesmerised by the sheer beauty of the place.

One such place in Uttarakhand is the Valley of Flowers - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is now open for tourists from June-1, 2023. The valley turns into a bed of flowers when the flowers bloom painting the whole area into delightful colours with picturesque snow-clad mountains. Pushpavati, a stream of water, adds to this beautiful painting, making it a delight to see. Adding to this outward experience are the butterflies, blue sheep, musk deer, snow leopards and many other species of birds and animals.

Photo of Just In: Uttarakhand's Enchanting Valley of Flowers Welcomes Visitors Once Again by Tanisha Mundra

Doesn't this picture look straight out of a fairytale?

The valley, which is open only till 31st October 2023, saw an early bloom of flowers this year due to a glacier melt. The place takes your breath away with over 600 species of exotic flowers like Himalayan Blue Poppy, Orchids, Primulas, Brahma Kamal, Fen Kamal, Golden Rod, Jasmine, Rovan, Helmet Plower, and Golden Lily, making it a mesmerising experience.

Details about the place:

Spread over 87.50 square kilometres, the valley is a part of the Nandan Devi Biosphere Reserve. It is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, at an altitude of 3352 to 3658 meters above sea level.

Tourists have to pass through patches of heavy snow to reach the snow-capped peaks to enjoy this beauty.

The best way to experience the valley is via a four-day trek, where you will pass through beautiful terrains and meadows.

Historic significance of the place:

The place was discovered by Mr Frank S. Smythe in 1931. However, this place existed in the pages of the Hindu epic Ramayana, where it is believed that Lord Hanuman brought Sanjivani from this valley to revive Lord Lakshmana. The locales knew about this place but did not visit it due to superstition and called this place "Nandan Kanan", which means - the garden of Lord Indra.

In 1980 the Indian government declared it the National Park, and in 1982 it was renamed Nanda Devi National Park. In 2005 UNESCO designated it as a World Heritage Site.

Hotels and accommodation options at Valley of Flowers:

Ghangaria is the base camp for all pilgrims and tourists, offering budget stays.