VANAMCOVE 
Valley of Flowers
UNESCO meadow that blooms like a garden
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
- Drive to Govindghat (Rishikesh 280 km)
- Trek/walk to Ghangaria (13 km)
- Early night — big day tomorrow
Geography & terrain
The Valley of Flowers National Park is a 87.5 km² high-altitude valley at 3,350–3,650 m in Uttarakhand's Garhwal Himalaya, above Govindghat on the Alaknanda river — a hanging meadow in the Bhyundar valley under the Rataban and Nilgiri Parbat massifs.
History & culture
'Discovered' by Frank Smythe in 1931 during a Kamet expedition — the valley's botanical fame (a UNESCO World Heritage site) grew from his account and the decades of botanical surveys since.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,000–2,500/nightMid-range
₹2,500–5,000/nightComfort
₹5,000+/nightThings to do
The flower meadows
Hemkund Sahib
Ghangaria
Pushpawati river
Rataban views
Eat & drink
- Kafuli (spinach curry)
- Bhatt ki dal (black soybean)
- Aloo ke gutke
- Bal mithai (Almora sweet)
Getting there
- Fly
- Dehradun (DED)
- Train
- Haridwar, Kathgodam, Dehradun stations
- Road from Delhi
- 250–450 km depending on valley
- Getting around
- Shared taxis and buses on hill roads
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹5,000–11,000 (2 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,000–5,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Activities
- ₹700–1,100
Month by month
Practical info
- Language: Hindi (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Jul–Sep
- Connectivity: Patchy in high valleys — offline maps essential
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- No plastic in the park — carry a refillable bottle
- Altitude 3,500 m+ — acclimatise in Ghangaria, hydrate hard
- The flowers are a June–Sep window — plan for July/August
Frequently asked questions
Mid-June to mid-September — the peak bloom is usually July–August. The park is closed (snowed under) October–May.
Moderate — 13 km in and 5 km to the meadow at altitude. Ponies and helicopters cover the first leg if you're short on legs.
Yes — entry permits at the Ghangaria forest checkpost (small fee, ID required).
UNESCO meadow that blooms like a garden
Take the break. We'll take the planning.
Tell us your dates, budget and travel style — we'll build your Valley of Flowers plan with day-by-day routing, stays, food and bookings.