Valley Of Flowers

Tripoto
17th Jul 2021
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Day 1

Dehradun to Govindghat :-

It is a 10 hour long drive where you cross through Panchprayag ( Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandaprayag, Vishnuprayag ) and lofty , precipitous mountains of Chamoli, Uttarakhand.
The beautiful green picturesque landscape with slightly cold breeze provides satiation.

How to get there ?
1. By bus - Take a bus from Rishikesh/Haridwar which starts at around 5 am to Joshimath. Shared taxis are available from Joshimath to Govindghat ( 1 hour drive )
2. Book a cab.

Here are few pictures from the route.

Devaprayag- Confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi

Photo of Valley of Flowers National Park by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley of Flowers National Park by Tung Vidya

You will reach Govindghat by evening. Very few hotels are available there surrounded all around by mountains and burbling of Pushpawati river.

Walking/ sitting on the street at midnight either alone enjoying solitude or with friends is an amusement. You can literally play cards sitting on the road . That's the thing about small places and not hill stations. I met people who were brisk walking , warming up for the trek next day at midnight .
I slept by 12:30 to get ready for the trek next day, since it was my first trek I was quite a bit excited.

Day 2

Morning at Govindghat & Govindghat to Ghangharia:-

I stayed at Hotel Ganga & this is the morning view from my room.

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

The restaurant opposite Hotel Ganga is where I did my breakfast and started around 9:30 am.

You have to take a shared cab till Pulna (4-5kms) , after that you'll be in no network zone.

Starting point for Pulna

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

On the way to Pulna

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

I started my trek around 10:30 am from Pulna towards Ghangharia and reached by 3 pm. It is a 10 kms long trek where towards the end you start identifying species.

Pictures from the trek :

Pushpawati river

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

On a lighter note, shows how happy and tired I was

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Met this cute kid who was more energetic than youngsters maybe 😬

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

The trail

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

View point in between the trail

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Turbulence of Pushpawati river

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Rosa Macrophylla -The root extract of plants has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antifungal and wound healing properties.

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Ghangharia : - Flowers I found near base camp of ghangharia

Mountain Sorrel -The whole plant is used as an appetizer. The leaves are rich in Vitamin-C.

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Helipad and Base camp at Ghangharia

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

View from my room at Ghangharia

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

I met two kids ( brothers) at the base camp of Ghangharia who took me to their hotel and narrated stories about how they were rescued and airlifted during the 2013 disaster. I stayed at Hotel Himalayan , Ghangharia where the kids took me.

I spent few hours in the evening roaming around Ghangharia and slept early as the earlier you start your trek your trek to valley of flowers more you get to explore. You'll get Jio 4G network in Ghangaria .

Day 3

Ghangharia to Valley of flowers -
I woke up early in the morning it was raining that day ,  packed up myself with a raincoat. You can get cheap raincoats there itself but it is better to carry your own. I started around 7 am . For identifying the species you can talk to locals, or just google - flower species found in valley of flowers and download the sites offline for reference ( what I did ) or just get yourself a guide. The trail to Valley of flowers is steep, narrow but the view ; snow-capped mountains, lush greenery , vivid blooms, misty smell, torrential river makes it all worth it. Crossing the waterfalls during the trek is an adventure itself.

Here are few pictures of the trail and flowers I could identify and some I could not -

Fragrant Orchid

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

River anemone-In Nepal, wounds are cleaned regularly with a decoction of the roots of River Anemone. The roasted seeds are added to pickles. Sniffing crushed leaves is said to relieve headache. In India, the paste of the roots is applied on boils to

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Nettle leaved bellflower

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Bellflower vine. Honestly this is the most beautiful flower I have ever seen.

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

If only I could identify this beauty

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Another species of Orchid with Geranium behind

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Mourning widow

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Broad leaved thyme

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Wallich Geranium-reputed to help heal bruises, cuts and scrapes, eczema, hemorrhoids, nail fungus and sunburns as well as help with insomnia and varicose veins.

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Mountain angelica

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Mountain Sorrel

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

DDLJ feels ?

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Someone called it Valley of ferns; I believe the view is breathtaking.

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Rosa Macrophylla

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Hackelia

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Himalayan Balsam - used for nail and skin painting. Also used in lamp oil.

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya

Grave of the English Botanist who slipped and lost her life.

Photo of Valley Of Flowers by Tung Vidya
Day 4

Ghangharia to Govindghat and back to Dehradun.

According to present guidelines - you need to take a negative RT-PCR report with you.