Asian Current

Uttaranchal - Valley of Flowers

Stretching over an expanse of 87.5 sq km in the Himalayas between 3360 and 3900 meters, and carpeted with more than five hundred varieties of exquisitely beautiful flowers, and surrounded by snow-capped mountains in the Indian state of Uttaranchal, is the legendary Valley of Flowers or the Nandan Kanan (Playground of the gods).

Situated within the Chamoli Garhwal region of Uttaranchal, the Valley of Flowers offers a panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks all around - the Gauri Parbat (6590m) and the Rataban (6126m) looming high over the eastern horizon; Kunt Khal (4430m) to the west; Saptsring (5038m) towering over the south, while the 6479m high Nilgiri Parbat stands guard at its northern boundary. Surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the world, this is a place of tremendous unspoilt and virgin natural beauty. The Valley of the Flowers has been declared a National Park in 1982 and is now a protected site. The valley is also home to some of the most endangered species like the snow leopard, musk deer, bharal, mountain sheep and the Himalayan black bear.

Apart from flowers that include Himalayan orchids, poppies, rhododendrons, primulas, daisies, geranium and many others carpeting the ground with their profuse bloom, flowering plants like calendula, aconitum, gentians, etc. that are used in preparation of medicines are also found in the Valley of Flowers in abundance.

The location of the Valley of Flowers has been a closely guarded secret with the local pundits or religious gurus till 1931 when a British mountaineer, Frank S Smythe and his companions lost their way to the base camp while returning from an expedition to Mt. Kamet, and stumbled into the valley. Mists clearing, they were astounded to find themselves sitting pretty amidst a flowery bed. Fascination drove Smythe to revisit the place in 1937 and in the following year, he introduced the place to the world in his book, ‘The Valley of Flowers’. And thus the place was appropriately named. It was “a valley of peace and perfect beauty where human spirit may find repose”, he commented.

Most of the flowers in the valley appear as the snow melts after the long winter months. During the monsoon (July-Aug) there is a burst of blooming flowers all over the place when butterflies come alive with their ethereal colors, and the Himalayan avifauna starts breeding. It surely resembles at such times the real playground of the Gods. However, unwarranted human intrusion has created many problems in the recent past and to safeguard the unique natural heritage of the place, unauthorized trekking, camping and related activities have been banned within the Park area since May 1980.

Organized treks to the enchanting Valley of Flowers National Park begin at Govindghat, a tiny hamlet in Uttaranchal that can be reached from Rishikesh and Badrinath. In the trek you will come across breathtaking landscapes against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and glittering glaciers. Thereafter, the trail narrows to gradients and rock faces till it reaches the Park through forests. At times, it gets pretty tough and the weather in the high Himalayas is often unpredictable. Nevertheless, a trek to the Valley of Flowers is worth all the hazards to reach the “Playground of the Gods.” It sure is a lifetime experience. A testimonial of the tremendous beauty of the Himalayas.