The Valley of Flowers National Park, nestled in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, is open to tourists from June 1st to October 31st. The Valley of Flowers is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated at an altitude of 3,658 meters. You can witness the vibrant alpine blooms, including species of wildflowers such as Himalayan blue poppies, orchids, and marigolds, as well as the majestic views of the Himalayas.

The Valley of Flowers is part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, where you may get a chance to see blue sheep, musk deer, Himalayan monal, and even snow leopards.

Registration for the Valley of Flowers

The Uttarakhand Forest Department has introduced a new online registration system for tourists planning to visit the Valley of Flowers in 2025. In this section, I will brief you on the process and share tips:

  • Visit the official website for registration: https://valleyofflower.uk.gov.in, as online registration is compulsory.
  • Fill out the basic information required on the site. The first phase is to select the trek and visit date, moving forward with the Guest Registration, where basic information is needed.
  • In the Guest Registration section, you need to update the Identity Proof. For Indians, you can share a Passport, Voter Card, PAN card, and Student Identity Card. For foreign nationals, a Passport Number is essential. You don’t need to upload the ID proof; you just need to mention the number of your selected ID Proof.
  • If you are fond of natural photography and facility charges are applied, details are:
  • SLR Lens Below 300mm: No Charges for Indians. Foreign nationals are to pay Rs. 1000/-
  • SLR Lens more than 300mm: Indian National to pay Rs. 500/-, whereas Foreigners are to pay Rs. 1500/-.
  • Professional Camera: Indians are to pay charges of Rs. 750/-, and Foreigners are to pay Rs. 2000/-.
  • The next and last part of the registration is “Confirm & Pay. Indian Nationals to pay Rs. 200/- (Excluding facility charges), and Foreign Nationals to pay Rs. 800/-.

    Travel Guidelines: Valley of Flowers

    I am sharing some travel guidelines to make your journey smooth, here they are:

    • For National Park Visit and Trekking, Online Registration is compulsory.
    • Minors will be permitted with an adult guardian.
    • No Camping is allowed inside the Valley of Flowers National Park and the Auli Gorson Trek.
    • Check Local Weather updates and Route updates before starting the trek.
    • Entry Timings: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
    • If you are trekking for the first time, I assure you that you are on the right track. The trek to the Valley of Flowers is easy to moderate, though the altitude can be a factor.
    • The weather in Chamoli district is unpredictable, so carry rain gear.
    • Essentials to carry on the trek:
    1. Trekking Shoes, Raincoat, and Umbrella.
    2. A reusable water bottle and a small bag for trash.
    3. Basic Medicines, Snacks, and Power Banks.

    Best Time to Visit the Valley of Flowers

    At the beginning of the blog, I was informed that the Valley of Flowers is open for Tourists from June 1st to October 31st. In early June, limited flowers bloom, and you may witness snow patches. The best time to trek in the Valley of Flowers is from July to August when flowers bloom at their peak.

    How to Reach the Valley of Flowers

    • Reach Rishikesh via Road Bus, Car, or Train.  If you come by air, then the nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun. From there, reach Rishikesh and follow the steps below.
    • Drive to Govindghat from Rishikesh, which is approximately. 270 km and the journey time is around 10- 11 hours. To reach Govindghat, you can hire a cab or shared jeep, no hustle if you have your vehicle. After this point, you can’t take any vehicle, so Govindghat is the last motorable point.
    • Trek to Ghangaria, which is approx. 13kms. from Govindghat. Tourists usually trek from this point along the Pashupati River, but you can hire Porters or Ponies. Once you reach Ghangaria, book hotels that budget-friendly hotels or stay at a camp. Local food stalls are there to fill your tummy.
    • Trek to the Valley of Flowers, which begins early in the morning, as the timings to visit are from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You have to go back to Ghangaria, as a night stay is not allowed in the Valley of Flowers.

    Where to Stay

    As I have already mentioned, Night Stay and Camping are not allowed in the Valley of Flowers. Your base camp would be Ghangaria, where you can get budget guest houses and lodges. There are some popular guest houses, like GMVN Tourist Rest House, Hotel Kuber Annexe, or Hotel Himalayan. In the blog, I mentioned that July to August is peak season, so you may face high prices in the hotels. I would advise you to book your stay in advance.

    Nearby Attractions from the Valley of Flowers

    1. Hemkund Sahib: A sacred Sikh pilgrimage that is only 6 km from Ghangaria, but the trek is steep.
    2. Badrinath Temple: One of the Char Dham Temples, which is approximately. 25 km from Joshimath and only 53 km from Auli.
    3. Auli: A famous destination for Skiing, but can be enjoyed only in winter. You can ride a Cable Car, go trekking in the Jungle, and experience the stunning view of the Garhwal Himalayan range.
    4. Nanda Devi National Park (core area): The entry is restricted; you can take a look from certain vantage points.

    Final Thoughts

    In this blog, I have explained about the Valley of Flowers, the registration process, and all the required details that would be needed on your journey. I hope you like the blog. Do explore the Valley of Flowers and share your thoughts or suggestions with me.

    Pack your bag and explore the unexplored places with Hema………

    Categorized in:

    FestiveMonsoonSeasonThemeTourist PlacesUttarakhand

    Tagged in:

    , , , , , , ,