Basic Guide to the Valley of Flowers

The Basic Guide to the Valley of the Flowers WWW.SUSANJAGANNATH.COM

What's all the fuss about? This guide for Valley of Flowers reveals the truth about this valley and access to the high Himalayas, where the valley nestles high among the glacier encrusted, cloud kissed peaks. Being only just off the pilgrim trails is both an advantage, and a disadvantage. There is one place you must trek in the monsoon downpours amidst the swirling clouds of the upper Himalaya. Don’t let the name fool you, the Valley of Flowers National Park in Uttarakhand, bordered by Nepal and Tibet, in the far north of India is a once in a lifetime deal. Important Note: This is not a “gentle or moderate” trek as many sites and operators would have you believe, access to the high altitude (3600m) glacial valley is a steep, slippery and relentlessly uphill slog frequently with gasping crowds of unfit people, as entrance to the part is restricted between 7 am and 5 pm. Hint: This means that effectively, the last time you must leave the valley to begin the descent to the turbulent Pushpavati, is 2 pm. If you have walked deeper into the valley, this window of time shrinks, be aware of this. In other words, this is an adventure, not a stroll in the park.

Where is it? Why Bother? Why is it called so? The 300+ different varieties of alpine flowers burst into bloom for a brief season, and the different varieties germinate, flower and seed in a 12 week or less period, in a sky tossed valley surrounded by some on the highest and most spectacular peaks of the Himalayas. The national park though tiny – spreads over 87.5 square kilometers is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This tiny seven kilometers long and two kilometers wide valley is at an altitude of above three km vertically up in the sky, it can be a rough walk, make sure you acclimatise before you go. The Valley of Flowers National Park is in Garhwal near to the Nanda Devi National Park in the Chamoli district. It is about 595 kilometers from Delhi, and has an altitude that varies from 3000m feet to 6000m above sea level. Read this to learn about the trek, the facilities, and whether you really need to buy that expensive adventure tour package .

Getting there The nearest airport is in Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun, about 300 kilometers away. The nearest railway stations are Haridwar and Rishikesh, 276 kilometers away. The road hugs the valley sides up along the Ganges, and then the Alaknanda, a landslide prone but utterly beguiling drive of many many hours. The base for the valley of the flowers is Ghangaria in the valley of the Pushpavati. The roadhead is at Gobindghat. It is on the route to Badrinath, so there is no particular difficulty in getting there. It is 10 - 15 hours by road from Dehradun, Haridwar or Rishikesh to Joshimath, and then another hour by road from Joshimath to Gobindghat. You can then take a share taxi from Gobindghat to Pulna, or you can take a chopper, operated by Deccan, to Ghangaria. The helicopter flight is all of 4 minutes, but you may have to wait, as the queue can be long, be aware that bad weather can cause the flights to stop at any time. From Pulna you can trek, or take a pony, or a porter to Ghangaria for the rigorous unrelenting 11 km uphill trek. It can take from 4 - 6 hours. Be prepared for rain, slippery surfaces and watch for the ethereal waterfalls, and burgeoning flowers on the way. Also watch out for begging sweepers and mule droppings. THE BEGINNING OF THE VALLEY, IS A STEEP AND WINDING 2 KILOMETERS FROM GHANGARIA. PLAN TO STOP AT GHANGARIA AND PROCEED TO THE VALLEY THE NEXT MORNING.

Things you need to know A bare minimum of 5 days is needed for this 3 km trek. Day Zero - Haridwar or Dehradun to Joshimath Day One - Govind Ghat to Ghangaria Day Two - Valley of Flowers Day Three - Return to Ghangaria Day Four - Return to Haridwar/Dehra Dun If you want to spend a bit more time, add a day more for Valley of Flowers, and a day for Hemkund Sahib. You do not need to go with a tour company, but do book accommodation in advance. There is no mobile or cell coverage after Gobindghat, though Jio was laying cables all the way up to HemKund. There is a landline available from a shop in Ghangaria, as Rs 10 per minute. A prepaid BSNL mobile may work. Altitude sickness can strike after 2000m. Altitude sickness has got nothing to do with age, fitness or stamina. Be sure to check with your doctor, and take Diamox.

Can I do the trek? If you can walk at least a kilometer, you can do the trek as there are good support services. From Govind Ghat to Ghangaria, is a moderate to difficult trek. The following are the stages and trek suggestions Gobindghat to Pulna - Steep. Take the share taxi. Pulna to the Bridge at Byundar - Moderate, well graded. You can hire a porter for your luggage, or for yourself. Yes! you can sit in a basket and be carried up! Or hire a pony for your luggage, or for yourself. Byundar Bridge to Ghangaria Camp - A steep path along a winding conifer lined route. Ghangaria Camp to Ghangaria - A short, but steep climb up to the settlement. Ghangaria to Valley of Flowers check point - Gentle slope of about half kilometer. You can hire a porter here to carry you up to the Valley. Checkpoint to Pushpavati river crossing - Gentle downslopes to boisterous river. Pushpavati crossing to Valley of Flowers - Very steep and winding 2 kms, followed by gentle slope of 1 km. SINCE THE FLOODS OF 2013 THE PATH HAS BECOME SIGNIFICANTLY STEEPER, ONCE AT THE TOP OF THE CLIMB AND INSIDE THE VALLEY, YOU'LL NEED TO WALK FOR A FURTHER 3-5 KILOMETERS AT THE MINIMUM TO SEE MORE FLOWERS.

When can I see the Flowers? The Valley of Flowers is only open from the beginning of June until the beginning of October. Check exact dates, as it depends on the ice melt. The best time to visit is from mid July to mid August, when many flowers are in full bloom. This is also the wettest part of the year, so build in time for road closures. Temperatures are between 9 to 10 degrees centigrade by night, and 15 to 20 degrees centigrade in the day, so it is cool, but not icy cold. You can buy or hire cheap jackets, ponchos, raincoats, caps and even shoes and slippers from Govindghat or Ghangaria. Best to bring your own though, and hire or buy what you've forgotten! THE BEST TIME TO VISIT IS FROM MID JULY TO MID AUGUST

What does it cost? FEES RATES The entry fee is 150 rupees for Rates fluctuate from day to day, you Indians and 650 rupees for could pay 1,000 rupees upwards per foreigners for a 3-day pass. person for a porter or a mule, for the trek to Ghangaria. The Forest Department checkpoint A local guide can cost from 1000 to less than a kilometer from Ghangaria 2,000 rupees. is where you pay the fee, enter your Hire a porter at the very minimum to name and obtain your permit. (Make carry your backpack up - you are sure you carry appropriate ID). supporting the economy! WHERE TO STAY GURUDWARAS The government-run Garhwal The gurudwaras at Govind Ghat and Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) Ghangaria are geared up for pilgrims guesthouses provide reliable budget and provide safe and clean accomodation, and advance accommodations, and free bookings are possible and vegetarian food. recommended. Accomodation and food is available to all regardless of religion, caste or There are also tent camps and gender. hotels. At Ghangaria a range of accommodations from cheap guesthouses to \"Swiss\" tents for glamping are priced anywhere between 200 rupees to 3,000 rupees per night. Western style toilets and bathrooms are available, and of tolerable cleanliness. Electricity and water supply are erratic, and often hot water is provided at extra charge by the bucketful. Steps to upper levels can be slippery and dangerous, do take care, or ask for a lower floor. Bedding is provided, you can take your sleeping bag liner if you are a bit sensitive to this.

What should I pack? CLOTHES FOOTWEAR 6-8 tops Wear well laced up hiking shoes with and 4-5 bottoms are needed. tough soles, and ensure rainproof A raincoat or poncho cover for your backpack and day pack. warm jacket sun hat Comfortable shoes for the evenings, or beanie mornings. Slippers to use in the enough socks bathrooms a small towel OTHER CAN I BUY STUFF THERE? A small flashlight or headlamp Maybe... Sunscreen and insect repellent But don't risk it! A water bottle, First aid kit including medication such as Diamox, Roko Toiletries in small containers Toilet paper Plastic bags to protect your electronic items, I had a number of ziplock bags. Trail mix to munch on the way, protein bars and chocolate.

What to eat and drink Simple down to earth food, and lots of chai is what is recommended. And don't forget to drink lots of water. There are \"dhabas\" or roadside food stalls serving basic Indian food on the route up to Ghangaria, and onto to Hem Kund, and there's is free vegetarian food at the gurudwaras once a day, at guru ka langar. There are plenty of restaurants serving vegetarian Indian/Punjabi or even South Indian food in Ghangaria. For the Valley of Flowers you must carry your own food and water from Ghangaria. Carry your own water bottles and drink water aling the way, however cold and rainy it is, as dehydration at hight altitudes is a real problem. There are pay toilets along the trekking route to Ghangaria and HemKund, but there are none in the Valley. You will have to find a bush. Stay away from water ways, as you don't want to pollute the pristine waters. WWW.SUSANJAGANNATH.COM