Valley of Flowers

UK Hill Web Story A hidden Himalayan meadow in Chamoli that bursts into colour every monsoon. Photo: Rohit Sharma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

It begins at Govindghat

A 10 km trail climbs past waterfalls and forest to the village of Ghangaria, the only place to stay. Photo: Vinayaraj · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Found by chance in 1931

British climber Frank Smythe wandered in after climbing Kamet. His book made the valley famous. Photo: Rohit Sharma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The blue poppy

Look for the delicate Himalayan blue poppy along the trail from mid-July to August. Photo: Vinayaraj · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Brahma Kamal

Uttarakhand's state flower blooms high on the slopes in August, wrapped in papery petals. Photo: Rohit Sharma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Hemkund Sahib

A steep 6 km climb from Ghangaria leads to a Sikh shrine beside a glacial lake ringed by peaks. Photo: Harshit SR · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Plan your visit

Open 1 June – 31 October. Peak bloom is mid-July to mid-August. No overnight stays inside the park. Photo: Rohit Sharma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons Read the full Valley of Flowers guide

Photo credits

Valley of flowers national park, Uttarakhand, India.jpg — Rohit Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Govindghat to Ghangaria trek - during LGFC - VOF 2019 (22).jpg — Vinayaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Valley of flowers national park, Uttarakhand, India 01.jpg — Rohit Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Meconopsis aculeata - Blue Poppy on way from Gangria to Valley of Flowers National Park - during LGFC - VOF 2019 (1).jpg — Vinayaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Brahma kamal at Valley of flowers national park, India.jpg — Rohit Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Hemkund Sahib and Lokpal Lake.jpg — Harshit SR, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Valley of flowers national park, Uttarakhand, India 03.jpg — Rohit Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Text © UK Hill. Images cropped for this story.