Spectrum Tours » National Parks in India » valley of flowers National Park

Valley of flowers is probably the only flower land of India, with the most extensive range of flowers and orchids that are found in India. There is also famous trek that can be taken to the Valley of Flowers if you are interested to lie in the flowerbed of nature that has been formed in this park.

Treks to the enchanting valley of Flowers National Park, in Uttaranchal start at Govindghat, a tiny town tying on the winding road from Rishikesh to Badrinath- The first 13 km to Ghangaria are amid stunning landscapes, then the trail narrows to steeply traverse meadow and forest to the park.

The discovery of this valley was almost accidental Although mentioned in Hindu mythology as Nandan Kanan (the valley where gods play), its location was familiar only to local pastoralists to whom it was the Bhyundhar Valley. In 1931, Frank S Smythe, a British mountaineer, and his four companions lost their way in bad weather whilst returning from an expedition to Mt Kamet. When the mists cleared, they found themselves in a profusion of flowers. Fascinated, Smythe revisited the valley in 1937 and, in the following year, introduced it to the modern world in his book, The Valley of Flowers. To him it was "a valley of peace and perfect beauty where the human spirit may find repose."

In 1982, an area of 87.50 sq km in the Chamoli district was declared the Valley of Flowers National Park. Satellite ../images, show that over 63 sq km of this area is under perpetual snow. Forests constitute 5.29sq km and alpine meadows, where the wealth of species bloom, cover 18.63 sq km.

The valley, 3,360-3,900 m high, offers a panoramic view of the peaks around it, with Gauri Parbat (6,590 m) and Rataban (6,126 m) towering in the east, Kunt Khal (4,430 m) in the west, Saptsring (5,038 m) in the south and Nilgiri Parbat (6,479 m) in the north. An approximately 8 km long glacial corridor, the valley measures almost 2 km at its widest part.

The park hosts over 500 species of plants, many of great medicinal importance. Over the years, several species have become depleted and a few are actually endangered. Asters, balsams, calendulas, dandelions, edelweisses, gentians, irises, senecios and windflowers are just some of the flowers that appear as the snow melts. In the monsoon months, from mid-July to late August, they display a staggering burst. A medley of butterflies and other insects come alive with the flowering, and many Himalayan birds breed during this period. The herbivorous Himalayan Black Bear conies out to graze in this time of plenty. Sightings of Brown Bear and Screw have been reported.

Excessive human intrusion over a period of time has seriously endangered the valley's floral and faunal denizens, including the Musk Deer. To safeguard this unique natural heritage, trekking, camping and various other activities have been banned since the mid-1980s and only daytime access is allowed to this incredible park.

KEY SPECIES
MAMMALS : Leopard, Himalayan Tahr, Musk Deer, Red Fox, Himalayan Weasel,
Yellow-throated Marten, Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear, Himalayan Mouse-hare, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Indian Flying Squirrel

BIRDS RAPTORS Lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, Common Kestrel, Golden Eagle, Black Eagle

ALPINE/WOODLAND/SCRUB Himalayan Monal, Koklass Pheasant, Kalij Pheasant, Himalayan Snowcock, Snow Partridge, Hill Partridge, Chukar, Red-billed Chough, Yellow-billed Chough, Common Raven, Grandala, Snow Pigeon, Spotted Laughingthrush, Variegated Laughingthrush, Plain-backed Thrush, Upland Pipit, Rosy Pipit, Rock Bunting, White-capped Bunting

WATERSIDE Brown Dipper, White-throated Dipper, Spotted Forktail, Little Forktail FLORA TREES pines, maples, firs, spruces, rhododendrons, silver birch, common yew

HERBS/SHRUBS asters, balsams, dandelions, edelweisses, gentians, geraniums, irises, lilies, poppies (Blue Poppy above), potentillas, primulas, saussurea, senecios.