Badrinath Valley of Flowers Trekking
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Badrinath
Situated in the lap of Nar-Narayan Parvat, with the towering Neelkanth peak (6,597mt) in the background, Badrinath is one of the most revered Hindu shrines of India.It has been said that "there were many sacred spots of pilgrimage in the heaven, earth and the other world but neither is there any equal to Badrinath nor shall there be one." It is believed that to revive the lost prestige of Hinduism and to unite the country in one bond, Adi Guru Sri Shankaracharya built four pilgrimage centres in four corners of India. Among them were Badrikashram in the north, Rameshwaram in the south,Dwarkapuri in the west and Jagannath Puri in the east.
Badrinath situated at an elevation of 3,133 mt is considered to be amongst the most pious.
Best Season: May to October every year the temple usually remains open from first week of May to 2nd week of November. STD service, Post and Telegraph Office The Valley of Flowers is a beautiful meadow located at an altitude of about eleven thousand feet. It is the valley of the stream Pushpavati, a tributary of Alaknanda. Frank Smythe discovered 'The Valley of Flowers' in 1931 on his way back after a successful expedition to Mt. Kamet. Ferns, dwarf iris, dwarf larkspur, dwarf rhododendrons, primula, blue poppies, fritillaria, asters, potentillas, inula grandifloras and hundreds of other species grow wild in the valley.
The Valley of Flowers is a riot of color in August/September. Well over a thousand varieties of flowers, shrubs, orchids and plants in myriad hues, differing textures and colors paint the valley in a gorgeous display. The valley is a natural plantation surrounded by the dazzling snow clad Himalayas, a feast for the botanist and amateur alike.
Deep in the heart of the Himalayas, is this spectacular 'Valley of Flowers'. Many varieties of Himalayan wild flowers bloom here. Post Monsoons, the floor of the valley is covered with a carpet of myriad colours ! It is an awesome sight of colours with a contrasting back drop of majestic peaks.
The scope for trekking in Garhwal and Kumaon is immense. From short walks to arduous ascents to mountaineering expeditions, the diversity is staggering.
Legends associate this valley of Garhwal Himalayas with the area from where Hanumanji of Ramayana collected "Sanjeevani" herbs to revive Lakshmana, the younger brother of Ramaji. Hanumanji had to visit far-flung areas in his search for the "Sanjeevani" life - saving herbs.
In 1939, Miss Margaret Legge, a botanist deputed by the botanical gardens of Edinburgh arrived at the valley of flowers for further studies, While she slipped off and was lost for ever in the garden of the gods. Her sister later visited the valley of flowers and erected a memorial on the spot where the locals buried her. The thoughtful memorial is still there.
The Sacred Trio
This triangular trek through Badrinath, the Valley of Flowers, and Hemkund Sahib gives its trekkers some of the best trekking tours on Badrinath Trekking in India, an awesome adventure in itself. The sight of beautiful and rare flowers, snow-covered mountains and the visit to the sacred shrines of Hemkund Sahib and Badrinath make this trek an unforgettable experience.Main Attractions
Badrinath gives an idle trek tour on the mountain ranges of Badrinath. On your trek tour visit the temple of Shri Badri Vishal (3096m), one of the four dhams (holy places of the Hindus) of Garhwal (the other three being Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath), stands at the base of the mighty greater Himalayan wall that includes the Nar, Narayana and Neelkanth peaks. The sacred Alaknanda River and the Rishi Ganga stream merge into one another beside the temple. There is a hot water spring (Tapt kund) near the temple, and a depression in the Alaknanda River known as Narad Kund from where the image of Lord Vishnu (the Preserver in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer) was recovered by Adi Guru Shankaracharya (the great Hindu reformer who tried to revive Hinduism when it was on the decline during the reign of King Ashoka, a great patron of Buddhism who was promoting the religion in the land).Legend has it that Lord Vishnu came to the area to meditate after Narad (a highly learned doyen) rebuked the Lord for being immersed in worldly pleasures. Lord Vishnu sent His consort Goddess Lakshmi (the Goddess of Wealth) to Naaglok (the celestial Snake God's land beneath the sea) and chose this valley, then called Badri Van, or the berry garden, to meditate. The main image in the temple shows a meditating Lord Vishnu, seated with both hands on the lap. This posture is similar to that of the Buddha, and opinions vary on whether the idol in question is that of Vishnu or the Buddha. As a matter of fact, the Buddha is the 9th incarnation of Vishnu.
Valley of Flowers
Badrinath trekking adventure will take you to the Valley of Flowers,a vast concave valley in the Himalayas (3658m to 3962m). A 10 km stretch about 2 km wide, the Valley of Flowers is blocked by the massive Ghoradhungi mountain. The beautiful Pushpawati stream (according to a legend, the Pandavas, during their visit to the valley, saw flowers floating in the stream and named it Pushpawati – Pushpa means flowers in Hindi) that flows through the valley, joins the Laxman Ganga stream, flowing in from Hemkund Sahib, at Ghangaria (3048m) to form the Laxman Ganga River. Another legend associates the valley with Laxman, the younger brother of Lord Rama (the king of Ayodhya in the epic, Ramayana, and the 7th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Preserver in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer). Laxman is said to have meditated here, and the Sanjivani Buti, or the herb that saved Laxman's life when he was severely wounded by Meghnath (son of Ravana, the king of Lanka), was found in the valley.Some of the flowers that are found in the valley are the sacred brahma kamal, pink geraniums, mauve polemoniums, creamy anemones, the rosy petalled cypripedium, blue forget-me-nots, white androsace, the blue borage, large purple asters, purple and dwarf larkspurs, dwarf irises, green and chequered fritillaries, blue and yellow pansies, the indigo-coloured nomocharis, dwarf rhododendrons, pink, blue and purple primulaes, ranunculus, white and red potentillas, the Himalayan blue poppy (mecanopsis) and many more.
East of Badrinath is the exotic Valley of Flowers in a conical shape with the river Pushpawati flowing through it. This valley has been declared as a National Park to regulate camping, cooking, grazing etc. which disturb environmental conditions and endanger a number of endemic flora.
The valley is a 19 km trek from Govind ghat, where lodging and boarding facilities are available.
It was in 1931 that Frank Smith and Holdsworth stumbled into this valley while returning from their successful Kamet expedition. Their subsequent writings on the valley evoked a great deal of interest among people, both at home and abroad.
The valley was 'discovered' by the british mountaineer Frank Smythe in 1931 after a successful climb on Kamet peak. The team crossed the Bhyundar Pass in the lashing rain and mist, intent on forging a new route through the mountains back to Joshimath. As they descended into the shelter of the valley, the clouds lifted and revealed alpine meadows carpeted with wildflowers. They were greeted with the sight of primula, saxifrage, red potentillas, geraniums, asters, gentians, anemones, delphiniums, blue corydalis and wild roses. The many hundreds of flowering species lead Smythe to refer to the Bhyundar Valley as the 'valley of flowers'.
Reprints of Frank Smythe's book The Valley of Flowers can be found in Delhi.
The valley is 10 km long and 2 km wide, and is divided by the Pushpawati stream, into wich several tiny streams and waterfalls merge.
Valley Of Flowers Trekking
Ratan Vani Parvat, 6166m, from the Valley. The world famous Valley of Flowers is situated in the upper expansions of Bhyundar Ganga in the far interior of Garhwal Himalayas. The valley is spread over an area of 87.5 Sq. Kms. and is 3,250 mts. to 6,750 mts. above mean sea level. Rich references to this colouful and eye catching Valley, are found in the annals of Indian History and literature such as the Ramayana and Mahabharat.The valley of Flowers National Park starts from Ghangharia but the main valley starts after crossing the gorge and the stream starting from Nar Parvat, 3 kms. from Ghangharia. In front of the Valley stands the snowclad peak of Ratban Parvat and at the back is the Kunt Khal. Towards the left is Nar Parvat, which separates the Badrinath valley from this valley, and to the right is dense Birch forest on the hill sides.
Below the forest is the meadow. River Pushpavati flows through the valley and there are many waterfalls enhancing the beauty of the valley. The splendour and the scintillating beauty of the valley attracts tourists from all over the world. The bloom starts immediately after the melting of snow but the peak blooming period is from mid July to mid of August. Almost 300 species of wild flowers bloom here in natural way. Wherein some of the species areAnemone, Geranium, Marsh marigold, Prinula, Potentilla, Geum, Asters, Lilium, Ranunculus, Corydalis, Inula, Braham kamal, Campanula, Pedicularis, Arisaema, Morina, Impatiens, Bistorta, Ligularia, Anaphalis, Saxifrages, Sibbaldia, Cypripedium Thermopsis, Trollius, Codonopsis, Dactylorhiza, Cypripedium, Strawberry, Epilobium, Rhododendrons and numerous others. Most of the flowers have medicinal values too. The abundance of Asmanda fern in this valley is a rare sight than in other Himalayan valleys. The valley remains is bloom for three months while the looral composition keeps on changing every few days. By September the hue starts changing and autumn bids farewell to flowers and the entire vegetation remains dormant for about next five months when the valley is snow bound.
Apart from the flowers some species of Butterfly, Musk deer, Blue sheep ( Bharal ), Himalayan bear, Himalayan mouse hare and some Himalayan birds & Snow leopard are also found in this area. Due to these specialities it has always caught the attention of the nature lovers as well as the environmentalists. To conserve the nature's benevolent gift and to maintain the natural balance of the valley-the valley was declared a National Park in 1982.
Hemkund Sahib
Hemkund Sahib is another magnificent trekking adventure on the high ridges of Himalayan mountain lying on the Badrinath trek route. As the name itself suggests – Hem (snow) and Kund (lake), is a high-altitude lake (4329m) surrounded by seven huge snow-covered mountains collectively called Hemkund Parvat. Close to the lake is a Gurudwara (Sikh temple) that is a pilgrimage centre for Sikhs and Hindus from all over the world.It is said that Shri Guru Govind Singh Ji (the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs and the founder of the Khalsa Panth) meditated on the very banks of this lake where a number of sages and religious teachers from the Hindu mythology, including Rishi Medhasa of the Markandeya Purana, and King Pandu (the father of the five Pandavas), performed penance. Besides the Gurudwara, you can also see a temple here. The lake is the source of the Laxman Ganga (Hem Ganga) stream that merges with the Pushpawati stream flowing from the Valley of Flowers, at Ghangaria. From this point on, the river is called Laxman Ganga.
Situated at a height of 4329 mtrs. near the Valley of Flowers, is the holy lake Hemkund, associated with Guru Govind Singh. Encircled by seven snow-clad peaks and their associated glaciers, the crystal clear serene waters of the lake reflect the surroundings enchantingly. The glaciers from Hathi Parvat and Sapt Rishi peaks feed the lake and a small stream called Himganga flows out of this lake.
According to the holy Granth Saheb, it is believed that Guru Govind Singh, the 10th Guru of the Sikh faith, meditated on the banks of this lake in one of his earlier births. It has not only become a place of pilgrimage for the Sikh community but also for the Hindus and people of other faiths. There is a Sikh Gurudwara and a Lakshman temple built on the bank of the lake. According to the legends, Lakshman was brought here after he fell unconscious in the war with Ravana. From Ghangaria, it is possible to follow the Laxma Ganga to the lake at Hemkund (4329m). In the Sikh holy book Dasam Granth, the Sikh guru Gobind Singh recounts that in a previous life he meditated on the shores of a lake surrounded by seven snow-capped mountains. In 1930, a teacher from a Sikh religious center recognised this lake as Hemkund. As the valley of flowers has been an attraction for botanists worldwide since 1930's, Hemkund has become a main pilgrimage for Sikhs. Most pilgrims wash themselves in the icy waters of the lake
Badrinath and Mana
Badrinath is a Hindu holy center (dham) as Yamunotri, Gangotri and Kedarnath in the area, lying beneath the snow-capped peak of Nilkantha (6957m). About 3 km north of the village is the small Bhotia settlement of Mana, the last village before the Tibetan border, just over 30 km away. It was before an important trading village between India and Tibet. During winter, the villagers retreat from the heavy snows to Joshimath and Chamoli.Approach
The valley is approachable from Govindghat. There are two ways to reach Govindghat. Rishikesh-Srinagar-Karnprayag-Joshimath-Govindghat-(Distance approx. 270 Kms. On Haridwar-Badrinath highway) Haldwani-Ranikhet-Karnprayag-Joshimath-Govindghat (Distance approx. 332 Kms.) After crossing the Alaknanda river at Govindghat, an ascending bridle path along Bhyundar Ganga leads to Ghangharia which is 13 km. Away from Govindghat, from wher the Valley is only 3 kms.Itinerary
Day 1 - Drive 256 km from Rishikesh to Joshimath(1890m). Lunch en route. Dinner and overnight stay at the GMVN rest house. There are a number of hotels as well in town.Day 2 - Breakfast and drive 22 km, with packed lunch, to Govindghat (1828m) and trek 14km to Ghangaria (3048m) via Bhyunder along the Laxman Ganga through an enchanting route. Ghangaria is a beautiful place located at the confluence of the Pushpawati and Laxman Ganga streams. Dinner and overnight stay at the GMVN rest house or tent.
Day 3 - Breakfast and trek 5 km, with packed lunch, along a gradual ascent to the Valley of Flowers. Trek back to Ghangaria the same day. Dinner and overnight stay at Ghangaria.
Day 4 - Breakfast and trek 6km, with packed lunch, along a steep ascent to Hemkund Sahib. Trek back the same day to Ghangaria. Dinner and overnight stay at Ghangaria.
Day 5 & 6: Breakfast and trek back 14km with packed lunch to Govindghat and drive 22km to Badrinath. Dinner and stay at the GMVN rest house in Badrinath.
Day 7 - Breakfast and drive 300 km to Rishikesh. It is roughly a ten-hour drive. Lunch en route.
http://www.travel-wisely.com/eco-trekking/valley_flowers.htm
http://www.greatindianoutdoors.com/trekking-india/valley-of-flowers.htm
http://www.capertravelindia.com/india/valley-of-flowers-trekking.html
http://www.Uttarakhandtourism.in/valley-of-flowers.html
http://www.kalindikhaltrek.com/kalindikhaltrek-valley-of-flowers.html