Imagine yourself standing at the height of 14000 feet in the west Himalayan range. All around you and as far as your eyes can see, there are flowers and flowers! Emerald mountains, green meadows, white clouds and colourful patches of flowers create a dreamlike panoramic view. What place is this? Can you guess?
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It is a vibrant and splendid national park hidden in the Himalayas. This alluring place is known as the Valley of Flowers. A vast area of 87.5 square kilometres and a huge variety of alpine flowers make this place colourful for nature lovers, botanists and photographers.
The Valley of Flowers is located near Ghaghariya town in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is about 300 kms north of Rishikesh, near Badrinath. There is a motorable road upto Govindghat and from there the track of this Valley starts.
This place was little known to outside world due to its remote location. In 1931, it was discovered accidentally by three British mountaineers. They lost their way while returning from a successful expedition. Theycame down to this beautiful valley searching for a way out from the mountains in the Himalayan range. Stunned by the variety and colours of the flowers, they named it as the 'The Valley of Flowers'. Thereafter, renowned mountaineers, trekkers and botanists started pouring in. Writers and poets have written essays, travelogues and poems on the enchanting beauty of this place. This Valley was declared as a National Park in 1982 and in 1988 it was included in the World Heritage Sites. Interestingly, there is a reference about this place in the Ramayana. In the battle between Ram and Ravan, Laxman was struck with an arrow shot by Meghnad, the son of Ravan. Laxman became unconscious; Ram called Sushen, the vaidya of Ravan. They prescribed sanjeevani- a miraculous medicinal plants found only on the Himalayas, far away from Shrilanka in the north part of Bharat Varsha. Hanuman flew to that place and brought the sanjeevani along with the hill. That place was the Valley of Flowers! Many Indian yogis have come here and sat for long years in meditation. Such legends are associated with this wonderful place.
'Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Park' is the official name of this site. It is designated as a centre of plant diversity. The Forest Research Institute, in 1992, recorded 600 species of angiosperms(Magnolya, a flower plant) and 30 pteridophyts(unrolling fern) in the valley surrounding. The botanists discovered 58 new plants. Many of these species are globally threatened. In 1988, 31 species of rare and endangered categories were identified in this park. Local village people are found to use 45 medicinal plants, Brahmkamal is the most famous flower for medical use and as a religious offering to the Goddesses Nanda Devi and Sunanda Devi. The dominant family in the Valley of Flowers is Asteraceae(family of sunflower) with 62 species! Other beautiful flowers are: Vajradanti Ajwayan, Blue poppies, Kanphuliya, Sallampanja, Banfsa, Balsam, Bariti, Haldiphool etc.
The park is rich in fauna. A total of 13 species of mammals are recorded and all of them are rare or endangered. There are snow leopards, grey langurs, Himalayan black bears, red foxes, Himalayan weasels, musk deer,ghorals, thars, bharals or blue sheep, flying squirrels etc. Moreover 114 species of birds are seen in this park. The main attractions are: Himalayan vultures, yellow and red billed choughs, koklass pheasants, monal pheasants, yellow-nape wood peckers, blue throated barbets and snow pigeons. There are several varieties of reptiles, butterflies and other insects too.
The Valley remains covered with thick blanket of snow during winter. It is in full bloom during July, August and September. This is the best time to explore the splendour of this magnificent place. Pushpawati riverbed is spread 6km in the Valley. Its water bifurcates the Valley into two parts.
Dewdrops on flowers, the rhythmic sound of water, rich flora and fauna, and delightful breeze of cool air are waiting for you. Listen to the call of the Valley and the dream of walking through this Valley with your friends.
