Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttrakhand, India

Valley of Flowers is a vibrant and splendid national park reposing in West Himalayas. Nestled in Uttarakhand, this alluring place is famous for its charming meadows of alpine flowers. Endowed with a diverse range of endemic flora, it is picturesque in its beauty. This lush region is also home to some rare and endangered animal species. You may spot animals like Asiatic black deer, snow leopard, musk deer, red fox, brown bear and blue sheep. High in the lofty Himalayas of the Garhwal region sprawls this enchanting valley. Legends believe it to be the place from where Hanuman had collected the Sanjeevani buti for curing Lakshmana. This place has floral pastures, running streams and beautiful backdrop of the mountains.

VALLEY OF FLOWERS IS LOCATED 300 KMS NORTH OF RISHIKESH, NEAR BADRINATH

It’s a core zone of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. A colossal expanse of 87.5 sq kms and myriad alpine flowers makes this place a colorful paradise. Perched at an altitude of 3658 mts above sea level, Bhyundar Valley is the home to this surreal place. Historically, the beauty of the place was unknown to world until in 1931, three British mountaineers came here. They lost their way and happened to discover this alluring valley and named it Valley of Flowers. Later in the year 1939, Joan Margaret Legge, a botanist arrived here to study flowers. She was deputed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Krew but she lost her life by slipping from the rocky terrain. Her sister later came here and erected a memorial near the spot.

Location of Valley of Flowers

Valley of Flowers is located 300 Kms North of Rishikesh, near Badrinath. You need to Travel by Road till Govindghat and from there the trek to Valley of Flowers starts. Govindghat is 20 Kms before Badrinath.Till Govidghat there is a motor-able Road. Rishiksh is 6 Hours Drive from New Delhi, India.

Emerald mountain ranges, green meadows and white clouds fuse to create a dreamlike locale called Valley of Flowers. Cascading waterfalls are abundant while you’re traversing towards the valley. Declared as the National Park in 1982, the vibrant valley is a world heritage site as well. The pristine beauty, mystical surroundings lures nature lovers, photographers and botanists.

Valley of Flowers remains covered with a thick blanket of snow during the winter season. It is in full bloom during July, August and September. This is the best time to explore the splendor of this magnificent place. The aqua waters of Pushpawati River bifurcates the valley into two parts. Dew drops of flowers, the rhythmic sound of flowing water and the romantic breeze can be enjoyed by the visitors during the period of July to September. As per the local beliefs, this valley was inhabited by fairies. No wonder, it’s a fairy land.

Ghangaria is the base camp for the trek to Valley of Flowers. It has private lodges and hotels for accommodation. One cannot stay at Valley of Flowers, therefore Ghangaria remains an ideal place to relax and sleep. It is managed and administered by the Uttarakhand State Forestry Department and Ministry of Environment and Forests. Settlement in this park is not allowed and grazing is also banned since 1983.

A beautiful world awaits here at the endearing spot. We offer attractive trekking packages and arrangements for all budgets. You could book online and avail great prices. It’s a wonderland of natural beauty that shouldn’t be missed.

Location of Valley of Flowers

Valley of Flowers is located in Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand India. This is remotely located and it takes minimum 3 days to reach Valley of Flowers from Haridwar. The last motor-able point is Govindghat. You can check our trek itinerary page for more day wise information. It is around 500 km from New Delhi and 300 km from Haridwar. You can check our page on how to reach Valley of Flowers, we have given distances between important points and time required between them, different modes of transportation available to reach Valley of Flowers.

Opening and Closing dates of Valley of Flowers.

Valley of Flowers opens on 1st June every year and closes on 4th October, but the valley remained closed for public in 2013 after the floods in June 2013 till 4th October, 2014 as the trek between Ghangaria and Valley of Flowers was damaged. It was reconstructed by September, 2014 and valley was opened for public for 6 days from 4th October to 9th October, 2014. You can visit out best time to visit Valley of Flowers page to know what will be best time among these four months of accessibility of the valley.

Valley of Flowers timings (Opening and closing timings of the valley)

Valley of Flowers opens at 7.00 am every day and last entry is allowed till 2.00 pm. You need to get out of the valley by 5 pm. You should be at the entry gate at 6.45 so as to take your entry ticket sooner and enter by 7.00 am. You should start back by 1.30pm so as to reach back by 5.00 pm.

Valley of Flowers entry fee.

Entry Fee for Valley of Flowers

Like entry fee for most of other tourist places in India the entry fee is separate for Indian nationals and foreigners. Entry fee for Valley of Flowers is Rs. 150 for Indian Nationals and Rs. 600 (US$ 10 Approx) for foreigners. This entry ticket is valid for 3 days for any extra day Indians need to pay Rs. 50 whereas foreigners need to pay Rs. 250. To take a professional video camera inside the valley Indians need to pay Rs. 500 and for foreigners it is Rs. 1500 for a day.

Sr. No.	Desciption	Indian (in Rupees)	Foreigner (in Rupees)
1.	Entrance Fee (in Rs.) Per Head for first Three Days	150	600
	For additional each day	50	250
2.	Camera Fee
	Still Camera (Non-Professional)	Free	Free
	Still Camera (Professional)	Free	Free
	Movie-Video (Non-Professional)	Free	Free
	Movie-Video (Professional)	500	1,500
3.	Filming Charges
	Feature Film Per Day	100,000	200,000
	Documentry Film Per Day	10,000	30,000
4.	Securit for above
	Feature Film Per Day	100,000	200,000
	Documentry Film Per Day	50,000	100,000

We organize trekking tours to Valley of Flowers. to visit Valley of Flowers kindly fill in your contact details on “contact us” form. we will contact you soon

Valley of Flowers Pictures

Following are some of the pictures of Valley of Flowers taken in Various seasons. For more photos of Valley of Flowers please visit our Valley of Flowers Photo Gallery page. There are many pictures of the valley given there, including pictures of flowers, landscapes and earlier groups taken by us to the valley.

Valley of Flowers videos

Kindly watch patiently these videos of Valley of Flowers, and if you like them please do not forget to share this page with your friends

Below is video of Valley of Flowers including clips of different locations and different flowers

Click on the thumbnail to view the video

Best Time To Visit Valley of Flowers The best time to visit Valley of Flowers depends upon your liking as the valley is always beautiful. If you want to see maximum number of flowers July and August is a good time, if you want to see lot of glaciers you should visit in June, to see Brahamkamal flowers at Hemkud August and September is a good time.	Valley of Flowers trek itinerary Detailed itinerary for Valley of Flowers trek explaining the day wise altitude gain, distance travelled, mode of transportation available and time required to travel between different destinations. Guidance on various options available to skip trekking between Govindghat and Ghangaria.
Valley of Flowers Tour Packages We also provide packages for trek to Valley of Flowers. If you wish to come with us you can visit this page to see our offers and departures to the valley in upcoming season.	Valley of Flowers Photo Gallery We have been going to valley for many years and have lot of pictures of the Valley of Flowers and our groups, they are classified in various galleries like flowers gallery, birds’ gallery, earlier groups gallery, landscapes and many more, just surf through our galleries to have a virtual tour to Valley of Flowers.
Things to carry for trek to Valley of Flowers When you are on a trekking tour you should know what are the things to carry for the trek. We have many years of experience and based on that experience we have made a list of things to carry for trek to Valley of Flowers.	How to Reach Valley of Flowers It is important to know before starting the trip that how to reach Valley of Flowers? How many days are required for the trip to the valley? Distances between various points and time required to travel between them.

Frequently asked questions About the Valley

Can senior citizens visit Valley of Flowers? Senior citizens also want to come to this heaven on earth but they are confused about whether they can do it or not. We have been taking senior citizens to the Valley of Flowers. There are options of helicopter and ponies to skip trekking.	What type of shoes is appropriate for Valley of Flowers ? When you go for trek you should wear appropriate type of shoes so that your main concentration is on trekking and enjoying nature. We have seen that shoes of many people breaks while trekking and sometimes people develop blisters.
Minimum age to visit Valley of Flowers Whether kids can do the trek to Valley of Flowers or not? What is the minimum age requirement to visit the Valley of Flowers? Please read this full page to get the answer to this question. Couples with young children willing to visit Valley of Flowers can go through this page.	Number of Days required in seeing Valley of Flowers Minimum number of days recommended going for trek to Valley of Flowers. Why we need an extra day for the trip. Read full report with pictures of the valley.
How difficult is Valley of Flowers trek. Trek difficulty of the Valley of Flowers trek. Vital statistics are given here. How much altitude is to be gained every day while trekking? How much distance is to be covered every day? What is Fitness level required for the trek?	Valley of Flowers after floods. Valley of Flowers has witnessed a massive flood in 2013. We were the first to report that the flowering area of the valley is totally intact. Now the Valley of Flowers has become again accessible and all the treks and bridges have been reconstructed.

Spiti Valley: 9 Things to Know Before You Go

Ladakh's lesser-known neighbor, the cold mountain desert of Spiti, is for travellers who dare to drift from the tourist trails. Spiti's postcard villages remain remotely tucked away in the lap of the mighty, barren Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh, and it is here that you can hike along Snow Leopard and Himalayan Wolf habitats, visit monasteries dating back over a 1000 years, sample a fascinating culture and cuisine different from the rest of India, and meet the kindest of people who live the harshest of lives. This is a world within a world, as Rudyard Kipling once described it. 
When you decide to make your journey to Spiti, these are things you should know before you go:

1. WEATHER IN SPITI AND WHEN TO GO  

Spiti remains practically cut off from the rest of India for 6 months of the year. Thick Himalayan snow blocks the mountain passes, making it almost impossible for road transport to pass through, even on the Shimla-Kinnaur route. The summer months from late May to late September are therefore the best time to visit Spiti. As the weather warms up, the snow slowly melts and gets cleared away to open up road travel to the valley.

With only 250 days of sunshine in a year, winter in Spiti is a harsh affair. Temperatures on average drop to -30 degrees Celsius, and the lack of any modern form of heating means most families cuddle together in a single room in the house and keep warm around wood fire. To survive the harsh conditions, the Spitian people celebrate festivals and most family affairs (birthdays, weddings) in the winter months, stocking up on food and local alcohol; the winter months are privy to Spiti's unique and introspective culture, though survivable only by extreme adventurers!

Demul village in Spiti. Photo by Umesh Nanawarre.

2. HOW TO REACH SPITI

There are 2 road routes leading up to the Trans-Himalayas of Spiti; one from Shimla via the Kinnaur valley, and the other from Manali. The former takes a minimum of 2 days, with a night's halt in Kalpa or Reckong Peo, and though longer, gives more time to gradually acclimatize to the altitude. The latter takes 12-14 hours, depending on road conditions. 

Crazy things our travellers do on the precarious mountain roads from Kinnaur to Spiti. Photo by Vandhana Mohanraj.

3. WHAT TO PACK

As a cold mountain desert, the weather in Spiti is almost confusing! The sun's rays are harsh enough to burn your skin, while shaded areas remain cool enough to wear a jacket. It's best to pack clothes in layers, and carry full-sleeve T-shirts, sun hats, sun glasses and any other sun protection you can find. Good walking shoes are a must.

4.  GOING INDEPENDENTLY OR IN A GROUP

Whether you travel by yourself or join a group trip is a personal decision. The villages of Spiti, though remote, are home to some of the kindest, friendliest people in India, and very welcoming of solo travellers. You do need a heart for adventure though - from the precarious journeys on rickety state buses, to hitchhiking with strangers, to travelling without a plan (most guesthouses or homestays can't be pre-booked online). Alternatively, you can join one of India Untravelled's group trips to Spiti, designed in collaboration with a local organization with varying degrees of adventure, hiking, culture and sightseeing, planned such that your carbon footprint in this ecologically sensitive region remains low.

Dhankar Lake. Would you have it all to yourself or share the view with fellow travellers? Photo by Kushagra Singhal.

5. GETTING PERMITS

Indian identity holders going to Spiti, from Shimla or Manali, do not require permits to enter Spiti. Foreign identity holders entering Spiti via the Kinnaur route from Shimla require inner-line permits, since this route takes you very close to the Tibetan border. Permits can be obtained at Reckong Peo near Kalpa, and take upto a few hours to be issued.

6. CONNECTIVITY

Only BSNL Sim cards obtained in Himachal Pradesh work in Spiti, and that too only in Kaza (Spiti's administrative capital) and some of the lower villages. There is a single cyber cafe in Kaza, that draws on the army satellite to offer an internet connection whose speed reminds you of the dial-up days! 

Remotely tucked away, the villages of Spiti. Photo by Piyush Patni.

7. ACCLIMATIZATION AND FITNESS

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The high altitude of Spiti (3300-5000 meters) needs considerable acclimatization for every traveller, whether or not it's your first time to such an altitude. It's best to make your journey up slowly, either via Shimla, halting halfway in Kinnaur, or by spending the previous night in Manali on the route via Rohtang Pass. Those with lung or heart conditions, or known breathing problems, are advised to consult their doctor before journeying up to the valley.

8. HOMESTAYS IN SPITI

Some Spitian families, in the higher, more remote villages, have opened up their homes and hearts to travellers, with the help of Ecosphere, a social enterprise that works on the sustainable development of the region. Though basic, Spitian homes are roomy and spacious, with the mighty Himalayas in their balcony! The Spitian toilets are dry and de-composting in nature; you have to squat over a hole in the ground, and throw hay through it once you're done with your business. It decomposes naturally and is used as manure.  

9) MONEY MATTERS

You'll find an ATM or two in Kaza, but their functioning is often erratic, so it's advisable to carry enough cash from Manali / Shimla. There are no money exchangers in Spiti.

About Spiti Valley

The Spiti Valley is a cold desert mountain valley located high in the Himalaya mountains in the north-eastern part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The name "Spiti" means "The Middle Land", i.e. the land between Tibet and India.

Local population follow Vajrayana Buddhism similar to that found in the nearby Tibet Autonomous Region and the Ladakh region of India. The valley and surrounding region is one of the least populated regions in India and is the gateway to the northernmost reaches of the nation. Along the northern route from Manali, Himachal Pradesh or Keylong via the Rohtang Pass or Kunzum Pass respectively, the valley lies in the North East of the Indian hill state of Himachal Pradesh, and forms part of the Lahaul and Spiti district. The sub-divisional headquarters (capital) is Kaza, Himachal Pradesh. which is situated along the Spiti River at an elevation of about 12,500 feet (3,800 m) above mean sea level.

Lahaul and Spiti is surrounded by high mountain ranges. The Rohtang Pass, at 13,054 feet (3,979 m), separates Lahul and Spiti from the Kullu Valley. Lahul and Spiti are cut off from each other by the higher Kunzum Pass, at 15,059 feet (4,590 m).A road connects the two divisions, but is cut off frequently in winter and spring due to heavy snow. The valley is likewise cut off from the north up to eight months of the year by heavy snowfalls and thick icing conditions. A southern route to India proper is periodically closed for brief periods in the winter storms of November through June, but road access is usually restored a few days after storms end via Shimla and the Sutlej in the Kinnaur district.

Culture

The Pin Valley of Spiti is home to the few surviving Buchen Lamas of the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism.Spiti valley is a research and cultural centre for Buddhists. Highlights include Key Monastery and Tabo Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the world and a favourite of the Dalai Lama.It was the location of the scenery and cinematography in the Indian films Paap, Highway and Milarepa, a biographical adventure tale about one of Buddhism's most famous Tibetan saints. The Buddhist monastery in the valley served as the locus of the set and some of the monks appeared in the film.

or: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;"> The small town of Manali was the beginning of an ancient trade route to Ladakh and, from there, over the Karakoram Pass on to Yarkandand Khotan in the Tarim Basin. Spiti is summer home to hundreds of semi-nomadic Gaddi sheep and goat herders who come to this valley for grazing their animals from the surrounding villages and sometimes as far as 250 km. They enter the valley during summer as the snow melts and leave just a few days before first snowfall of the season.

Transport

Spiti valley is accessible throughout year via Kinnaur from Shimla route on a difficult 412 km long road. Tourists from outside India need inner line permits to enter Spiti through Kinnaur. Spiti's border start at Samdo [74 km from Kaza] which is quite near to India-China border. In summer it can be reached via Manali through Rohtang pass and Kunzum pass. Manali is 201 km away from Kaza headquarter of Spiti subdivision. Due to high elevation one is likely to feel altitude sickness in Spiti.

The Spiti River originates from Kunzum range and Tegpo and Kabzian streams are its tributaries. Water draining the famous Pin valley area are also a part of the Spiti river system. Its position across the main Himalayan range deprives it from the benefit of the South-West monsoons that causes widespread rain in most parts of India from June to September. The river attains peak discharge in late summers due to glacier melting. After flowing through Spiti valley, the Spiti River meets Satluj at Namgia in Kinnaur district traversing a length of about 150 km. from the North-West beyond that it flows in South-West direction in the Pradesh. Huge mountain rise to very high ele-vations on either sides of the Spiti River and its numerous tributaries. The mountains are barren and largely devoid of a vegetative cover. The main settlements along the Spiti River and its tributaries are Hansi and Dhankar Gompa.

Madhubani Painting

Madhubani painting originated in a small village, known as Maithili, of the Bihar state of India. Initially, the womenfolk of the village drew the paintings on the walls of their home, as an illustration of their thoughts, hopes and dreams. With time, the paintings started becoming a part of festivities and special events, like marriage. Slowly and gradually, the Madhubani painting of India crossed the traditional boundaries and started reaching connoisseurs of art, both at the national as well as the international level. 

The traditional base of freshly plastered mud wall of huts has now been replaced by cloth, handmade paper and canvas. Since the paintings have been confined to a limited geographical range, the themes as well as the style are, more or less, the same. Indian Maithili paintings make use of three-dimensional images and the colors that are used are derived mainly from plants. The themes on which these paintings are based include nature and mythological events. The first reference to the Maithili painting of Bihar dates back to the time of Ramayana, when King Janaka ordered the paintings to be created for his daughter, Sita's, wedding.

Themes of Maithili Paintings

Themes of the Maithili painting of Bihar revolve around Hindu deities like Krishna, Rama, Lakshmi, Shiva, Durga and Saraswati. The natural themes that are used include the Sun, the Moon and the religious plants like tulsi. One can also find paintings based on scenes from the royal courts and social events, like weddings. If any empty space is left after painting the main theme, it is filled up with the motifs of flowers, animals and birds or geometric designs. 

Making Madhubani Paintings

The brush used for Madhubani paintings of Bihar was made of cotton, wrapped around a bamboo stick. The artists prepare the colors that are used for the paintings. Black color is made by adding soot to cow dung; yellow from combining turmeric (or pollen or lime) with the milk of banyan leaves; blue from indigo; red from the kusam flower juice or red sandalwood; green from the leaves of the wood apple tree; white from rice powder and orange from palasha flowers. There is no shading in the application of colors. A double line is drawn for outlines and the gap is filled with either cross or straight tiny lines. The linear Maithili paintings do not even require application of colors; only the outlines are drawn.