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Dehradun - Valley Of Flowers

Valley of Flowers

If you are in Dehradun do spare out some time to visit a fairy land close to the city called the Valley of Flowers. The humankind was kept aloof from this enchanting valley that lay snow capped during the winter months and burst into its youthful, glorious self when the snow melted during the summer time. Every year, the valley blooms with hundred kinds of flowers that keep changing their colors as the months go by.

History

Frank S. Smythe, a botanist, mountaineer and explorer, introduced the Valley of Flowers to the world in 1931 after he discovered this wonderland with other mountaineers while returning from the Kamet mountain peak. On a cold day, they were passing by the Bhyuandar Pass when they lost trail and landed in the Valley of Flowers.

The park, which covers an area of more than 87.5 square kilometers (55 miles), was declared as a national park during 1982, while it also boasts of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main Valley of Flowers is a glacial corridor that is nearly 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) wide and 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) long.

Location

The Valley of Flowers is situated near Badrinath in the district of Chamoli, in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal region. The national park stands at a height of 11000 feet to 14000 feet above the sea level in western Himalayas.

Flora and Fauna

The flora is the main attraction in the Valley of Flowers but the region is also home to different birds, animals and reptiles.

Flora – As the name goes one can see hundreds of varieties of flowers in the Valley of Flowers. The most notable ones are Daisies, Orchids, Gymnadenia Orchides, Anemones, Marigold, Poppies, Primulas, Dactylorhiza Hatagirea, Picrorhiza Kurrooa, Taxus Wallichiana, A. Falconeri, Aconitum Heterophyllum, Polygonum Polystachium, Arnebia Benthamii, Podophyllum Haxandrum, Megacarpaea Polyandra, etc.

Birds – Great Barbets, Himalayan Monal Pheasant, Spotted Dove, Red Billed Choughs, Snow Pigeon, Himalayan Vulture, Bluethroated Barbets, Yellow Billed Choughs, Yellow-Nape Woodpeckers, Lammergeier, Scaly-Bellied Woodpeckers, Koklass Pheasant, etc.
Mammals - Himalayan Goral, Indian Chevrotain, Himalayan Weasel, Leopard, Himalayan Yellow-Throated Marten, Blue Sheep, Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear, Grey Langur, Himalayan Thar, Flying Squirrel, Himalayan Musk Deer, Red Fox, etc.
Reptiles - Himalayan Ground Skink, High Altitude Lizard, Himalayan Pit Viper, etc. are seen in the Vlley of Flowers.

Entry Fee

Visitors to the Valley of Flowers can make a three-day pass for which the entry fee is Rs.150 for Indian citizens and Rs.600 (US$600) for foreigners. For every additional day Rs.50 will be charged for Indians and Rs.250 (US$5) for foreign nationals. The permit and entry passes can be obtained from the checkpoint of the Forest Department, which is nearly one kilometer from Ghangaria. A porter can be hired for Rs.450 + food, while it will cost Rs.500 to hire a mule.

Timings

Open from 7am to 2 pm.

Best time to visit

April to October. It remains closed for the remaining part of the year. Temperature during the summer is 13° Centigrade to 27° Centigrade.

Distance from Dehradun

By Air – The nearest airport to the Valley of Flowers is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, at a distance of 295 kilometers (183 miles).

Bt Train – One has to take a train from Dehradun to Kathgodam, the distance between the two places is approximately 187 kilometers. From there one has to take a taxi/cab to reach the valley.

By Road – The distance by road from Dehradun to the Valley of Flowers is 328 kilometers (204.00 miles).

Also See: Transport Facilitates in Dehradun

Address : Near Nanda Devi National Park, Joshimath, Govind Ghat
Ghangaria, Chamoli, Uttaranchal - 246443
Phone: +91-1372-253185; +91-1389-222179.

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