This is a trip to Valley of flowers… a paradise for this summer. While on an expedition to Mt. Kamet, Frank S. Smith an English mountaineer, explorer and botanist, discovered the valley of flowers. Busting with beautiful, lively and vibrant colours, this park spread over an area of 87.5 kms has the largest collection of wild flowers species. Hidden from the probing eyes of civilization, this valley had been known to the natives as the Bhyundar valley. Legend associates this valley with area from the place where Hanumanji of Ramayana collected `Sanjeevani` herb to revive Lakshman (brother of Lord Rama).
One can plan the trip like this:
Day 1: Delhi – Rishikesh:leave very early mourning:(240 km, 5 – 6 hrs drive)
Day 1: Rishikesh – Joshimath (255 kms, 7 – 8 hrs drive), 1,890m altitude
Day2: Joshimath – Govindghat – Ghangaria (20 km drive, 13 km trek) Ghangaria- 3,048m alt.
Day 3: Ghangaria – Valley of Flowers – Ghangaria (6 kms trek) valley of Flower -3,352 – 3,658m alt.
Day 4: Ghangaria – Hemkund Sahib – Ghangaria (10 kms trek), 4,329m altitude
Day 4: Ghangaria – Govindghat – Badrinath (13 kms trek, 25 kms drive)
Day 5: Badrinath – Rishikesh. (300 kms / 9 – 10 hrs)
Day 5 /6: Rishikesh – Delhi (240 kms / 5 – 6 hrs)
Hemkund : The high altitude Hemkund lake (4329 mts.) lies in heavenly environs. A steep trek from Ghangharia leads one to this spot in about four to six hours. It is an important pilgrimage for both Hindus and Sikhs, as well as for people from other faiths. There is a Sikh Gurudwara and a Lakshman temple built on the bank of the lake. Encircled by seven snow clad peaks and their associated glaciers, it reflects its surroundings enchantingly on its crystal clear serene waters. The glaciers from Hathi Parvat and Saptrishi peaks feed the lake and a small stream called Himganga flows out of this lake.
From Valley of flowers one can go to Badrinath also, where one can see the Kailash Mountain.
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