The Valley Of Flowers !!!

At a height of nearly 13,000 feet in Garhwal hills of Western Himalayas lies the valley of flowers famous for itscolourfulpastures of alpine flowers and clear streams set against snowy mountain peaks. The smoothness and flowery calmness of the fairyland kind of valley makes a wonderful contrast against some of the otherplaces to see in India. TheValley of Flowers National Parkhas been part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2004.

Flora and fauna of the Valley of Flowers

Every year, thousands of tourists flock to the Valley of Flowers (located in Uttarakhand state) to have a glimpse of its beautiful diverse landscape and catch a sight of some of the rare and endangered species of animals. Some of these tourists are not only nature enthusiasts, but also some ardent trekkers and even botanists.

The Valley of Flowers is habitat to animals like the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, brown bear and blue sheep; and rare distinguished flowers like the Brahma Kamal (a flowering plant native to the Himalayas), the Blue Poppy and the Cobra Lily. There are various species of butterflies with colors that can equally match the hues of the flowers.

List of some of the animals that can be sighted in the valley:

• Brown bear

• Snow leopard
• Bharal (Himalayan blue sheep)
• Red Fox
• Common langur (monkeys native to India)
• Tahr (an animal related to the wild goat)
• Mouse hare
• Serow (goat-like or antelope-like mammals)

Some common birds of the valley of flowers:

• Snow Pigeon

• Himalayan Golden Eagle
• Himalayan Monal
• Snow Partridge
• Himalayan Snow cock
• Sparrow Hawk
• Griffon Vulture

The meadows are filled with orchids, poppies, marigold, daisies, primulas and anemones of nearly 520 species of which 498 are flowering plants. The valley is also home to various medicinal herbs. The flowers in the valley bloom in different hues that give out great aroma of spectacular floral scent. You just have to stand there to sense it. Adding to the beauty and amazement is the changing shades of floral splendor as the day progresses; which gives the impression of being something out of the world. The forests of the valley are dense with trees with oak, blue pine and other conifers.No wonder, the locals believe it to be a divine playground, where nymphs and fairies have fun.

Trekking at the valley of flowers

The magnificent Valley of Flowers has been a major attraction for trekkers from all over world. In fact, its paradise for those who love the outdoors, they will love feasting their senses with beautiful colors, exotic floral scents and clean mountain breeze.

The trek for reaching the valley begins at Govind Ghat and ends at village of Ghangaria, which is nearly 14 km long. This particular trek is full of bliss as the travelers can see spectacular scenic beauty at its undisturbed best. It is decorated by wild flowers, waterfalls, springs, rocky boulders and in between glimpses of snow capped peaks. Ghanghria serves as the base camp for most of the treks undertaken for Valley of Flowers.

It is not so easy to get there. But if you love trekking, walking, nature, or you are an ecologist or botanist, the Valley of Flowers is for you.