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The Valley-of-flowers is an extensive amassment of flowers, which is situated in the Himalayas. It is perched at an altitude of 3,600 metres above sea-level, protected by snowy mountains in Uttarakhand. Stretching over a vast expanse of 87.50 square kilometres, the valley is located in the district of Chamoli, upper region of Bhyundar Ganga near Joshimath in the Garhwal region.
Earlier, the valley was known as Bhyundar Valley. It was declared a national park in 1982 and is now a World Heritage Site. The Valley-of-flowers was discovered by the mountaineer, explorer and botanist, Frank Smith in the monsoons of 1931. In the same year, the renowned botanist, Margaret Legge, conducted numerous investigations of the valley to explore the new varieties.
According to the mythological stories of Ramayana, it was here that Hanuman searched for Sanjivani for Lakshman when he was injured by Indrajit. At present, no settlements and grazing is allowed in the national park. One can reach the Valley-of-flowers by trekking a distance of 17 kilometres from the nearest town of Joshimath. The trek starts from a place called Govindghat, which is small place close to Joshimath.
The Valley-of-flowers offers diversity in both flora and fauna. Various species of animals in the region can be seen such as Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, Red Fox, Serow, Himalayan Black Bear and Pika along with a huge variety of butterflies. Some of the birds including Pheasant, Himalayan Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Snow Partridge, Himalayan Snowcock, Himalayan Monal, Snow Pigeon and Sparrow Hawk can also be seen in this valley.
The valley also displays an extensive variety of flora such as Orchids, Poppies, Primulas, Marigold, Daisies and Anemones. Alpine forests of birch and rhododendron cover parts of the park's area.
From the decade long study of Prof. C.P. Kala, it has been concluded that the valley has 520 species of higher plants. Out of these, 498 are flowering plants. Besides, the valley also has various species of medicinal plants including Dactylorhiza hatagirea and Picrorhiza kurroa.
With temperatures ranging between maximum of 17⁰ Celsius to minimum of 7⁰ Celsius, the ideal time to visit the Valley-of-flowers is July to October.
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Discovered in 1931 to the outside world by Frank S Smith, Valley of Flowers is one of the most popular tourist destinations located in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand. The destination in itself is one of the major attractions set in the backdrop of beautiful Zanskar Range.
On the way to Valley of Flowers, there are some of the other major tourist attractions. Hemkund Sahib, situated at an altitude of 4,329 m above sea level, is one of the most important religious sites for Hindus as well as Sikhs.
Popularly known as Snow Lake, Hemkund Sahib is surrounded by several snow covered mountain ranges, which are together known as Hemkund Parvat. In addition, tourists visiting this lake can also explore Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib and a temple dedicated to Lord Rama.
Apart from these, tourists can also explore the two national parks, which have been recognised as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park are the two national parks. Both these national parks are known for their natural beauty and also serve as home to several endangered species of animals like Brown Bear and Blue Sheep.
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