Valley of Flowers- Hemkund Sahib Trek

Valley of Flowers (“Phoolon ki ghaati” ) trek is a beautiful monsoon trek in the West Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, spread over 87 sq km, stretching around 2 km wide and 8 km long. 

Valley of Flowers National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve has two core zones: Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi National Park.

It is bounded by Rataban peak and Tipra glacier in the upstream direction. On the clearer days, the mighty Himalayan peaks of Nilgiri Parvat, Bhyundar Khal, Rattaban, Gauri Parvat can be viewed.

Valley of Flowers is carved by the glacial action of river Pushpawati. River Pushpawati streams through the Valley of Flowers. River Laxman Ganga from Hemkund Sahib unite river Pushpawati, below Ghagaria and continues as Laxman Ganga or Bhyundar Ganga. This finally drains in river Alaknanda at Govindghat.

Valley of flowers was accidentally discovered by a group of mountaineers in 1931, while on the way back from an expedition to Mount Kamet. It was led by Frank S. Smythe. Eric Shipton and RL Holdsworth were the other team members. They reached Bhyundar valley via Bhyundar Khal Pass instead of Mana village as planned. That’s when they stumbled upon this beautiful valley covered with colorful flowers still hidden from the outer world.

.Valley of Flowers National Park was founded in 1980 by the Indian government. It was later recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

Mythological connection: According to Hindu mythology this is Nandan Kanan, the garden of Lord Indra. River Pushpawati was named so by the Pandavas as they saw flowers floating on this river.

Hemkund Sahib is the World’s Highest Gurudwara, situated at an altitude of 14,400 ft. The reflection of Saptrishi peaks can be seen on the snow-fed lake on clear days. This lake is fed by the melting glaciers of Hathi Parvat and Saptrishi peaks. Apart from the Gurudwara, there is the Laxman temple near the lake.

Selecting the month:

June end: Snow patches are found at the higher altitude. A few species of flowers start blooming, though the majority starts blooming in July.

July: Rain keeps on gaining pace from mid-July onwards. Mid-July is the peak flowering season and the whole valley is lush green.

August: The most of the flowers have bloomed and the valley is at its full glory. The second half of the month has clearer skies, offering a good view of the valley.

September: Most of the flowers start wilting by now. The majority of the crowd is that of the pilgrims to Hemkund Sahib.

• Trekking to Valley of Flowers is an eye soothing experience for the nature lovers when the most of the Himalayan trekking trails gets closed down during the monsoon. Rain is not heavy at the higher altitude.

• Being a “Tea-House” trek, this trek is considered an ideal trek for the first timers including family and kids.

• Most of the trail is well paved and easy gradient. Still it is labeled as Easy to Moderate trek as the ascend from Ghangharia to Hemkund Sahib is steep and one gains almost 4000 feet of altitude in just 6 km, making that section a moderate trek.

• Bramhakamal (Saussurea obvallata): It is an endangered specie native of Himalayas found above 4500m of altitude. Flower blooms from July till October. Plenty of these will be welcoming you as you ascend to Hemkund Sahib.

• Around 520 species of flowers and plants can be found here. Many of them are known to bear medicinal properties. Animal gazing and camping is strictly prohibited here as there are number of plants which are threatened or endangered.
• Mules are allowed on the trail from Govindghat to Ghangaria and Hemkund Sahib but are forbidden to enter the Valley of Flowers. (Move to the mountain side to be safe, whenever you see the mules crossing your way.)

• Helicopter service is available from Govindghat to Ghangaria.

Fauna of Valley of Flowers:

Asiatic black bear, Leopard, Snow leopard, Brown bear, Civet cat, Musk deer, Blue sheep, Serow, Gray langur, Flying squirrel, Himalayan weasel, Black bear, Red fox are a few of the animals residing in the National park. Bird-watchers look for: Snowcock, Partridge, Monal, Pheasant, Vultures, Eagles, Laughing- thrushes, Warblers, Yuhina, Nuthatch, Honeyguide, Woodpeckers, Flycatchers, Magpies, Robins and Redstarts, Sunbirds, Accentors, Rosefinches. Various colourful butterflies, moths and bees also intensify the charm of the valley.

520 species of recorded and identified plant and flowers can be seen during your trek to Valley of flowers. Here are a few species to name:

Himalayan Blue Poppy (Meconopsis bella), Brahma Kamal (Saussurea obvallata), Himalayan Rose (Rosa Macrophylla), Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa), Woolly Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis Triplinervis), Himalayan Mini Sunflower (Cremanthodium ellisii), Himalayan Cinquefoil (Potentilla Atrosanguinea), Silky Woundwort (Stachys emodi), Whiskered Commelina (Commelina benghalensis), European Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea), Jacquemont’s Cobra Lily (Arisaema jacquemontii), Large Bellflower (Campanula latifolia), Himalayan Milk Vetch (Astragalus himalayanus), Himalayan Monkshood (Aconitum ferox), Purple Stalked Gentian (Gentiana pedicellata), Creeping Aster (Aster diplostephioides), Himalayan Thyme (Thymus linearis), Woolly Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis triplinervis), Himalayan Rhodiola (Rhodiola himalensis), Whorled Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum verticillatum), Devendra’s Balsam (Impatiens devendrae), Purple Stalked Gentian (Gentiana pedicellata), Showy Inula  (Inula orientalis), Himalayan Typhonium (Typhonium diversifolium), Himalayan Thimbleweed (Anemone obtusiloba).

References:
Concise Flowers of the Himalaya, illustrated edition by Adam Stainton & Oleg Polunin, ISBN: 9780195644142.
Pocket Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subontinent, Grimmett & Inskipp, ISBN: 9780195651553.
Birds of India, Om Field Guides by Krys Kazmierczak, ISBN: 9788187107040.
National parks of India by R.S.Bisht, ISBN: 8123001789.
EDC (Eco Development Committee), Bhyundar

Books to read on the flora of Valley of Flowers:

The Plants of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary by the Wildlife Institute of India

Myth and Reality of Valley of Flowers by Prof. Chandraprakash Kala

Ecology and Conservation of Valley of Flowers National Park by Prof. Chandraprakash Kala

Confirmation policy

• Email on booking@meandmountain.com or WhatsApp on +91-9051055011 the following details: Name of the participant(s), Name of the event, Date of the event, Email address (Note: This is not the Enrolment form) and proceed with the online payment either via the payment link shared via WhatsApp or the payment section on the website.
• Mode of payment: only online
• The participants will receive the Confirmation email and Ticket via email within 48 hours.
• Ater the confirmation, you will need to send the dully filled, signed and scanned forms (Enrolment, Medical & Self-declaration) to booking@meandmountain.com, before commencement of the expedition.
• The forms can be downloaded from the links below or ‘FORMS’ section in the home page.
• It is mandatory for all the participants to submit all 3 forms before the expedition, in absence of which Me and Mountain shall have a full right to deny the entry of that participant to the particular expedition.

Cancellation policy

• Cancellation done any time after the booking of the event shall be adjusted in any event later with ‘Me And Mountain Global Adventures Pvt Ltd’ only via Adjustment voucher. The Adjustment voucher will be valid for 1 year from the date of the event cancelled.
• Refer the section on Cancellation/Refund Policy for the detail cancellation policy.

Discontinuation policy

• In an event of a participant deciding on discontinuing the event mid-way due to any circumstance other than medical condition requiring emergency evacuation, he/she will require to do so by signing the ‘Discontinuation form’ after which he/she is set to go on own. In such situation the participant will neither be eligible for the Refund or the Adjustment voucher.

• Cardiovascular training
• Jogging/ running
• Free hand stretching
• Walk daily at least 2-3km

• Consume less spicy diet at least 7 days prior to the trek.